Staking pain

What do you put yourself through? I'm only asking because I'm not long off my physio's plinth. It's all been worthwhile, I've learned what I'm doing wrong and stupid habits I need to change, you know, mutate or die. But laying there it struck me that I'm not the only person putting myself through hardship to stay afloat in sport. Physio is one thing, however that's only tickling the underbelly of the beast. When Ciaran Power had his op years back to sort out a blood flow issue in his leg I thought to myself there's a man that won't let anything stop him. I know it was part of his professional progression, but it was some sacrifice. But he is a God. Us plebs do lesser things in our lesser worlds. If for example you have kids, you'll know the thin-line forced on you by Catholic guilt, the type that makes you question your ability at parenting as you slip out the door in all weathers and times to pursue your goals. You hope you are leading by example, showing them that dedication is good, nothing should stop you. But it is some sacrifice. Time doesn't stop.############## There's always someone who'll hydrate on Pre-Workout formulas just to get psyched for a gym session or intervals. Motivation-in-a-bottle can't be beneficial long-term but that doesn't stop the Gym-juicers. But wouldn't a double espresso from your favourite café do the same job?!!############# Silver Nitrate. Even mentioning it sends shivers up my nostrils. I now know a few people who've had their sinuses treated by this process, basically a sprong stuck up your nose followed with silver nitrate to unblock any recurring sinus/ allergy problems. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Always the sprong. That takes cojones to willingly let someone do that.############ Ever tried cryotherapy? The Royal Marines have a segment in Basic where a squad, all dressed in Arctic clothing, full rucksacks and rifles, plunge individually into a ten-foot long hole cut out of the ice above a lake. As they enter, their chests are assaulted by the cold to the point of panic. They are cajoled by their fellow recruits to swim the ten feet and not drown. You see, cryo sounds similar to me. Forcing your body to do something completely alien to it's needs. Shock solution. Would I do it? Yes. Would I have got into the Marines? No!############### Similarly I've seen all kinds of hip and knee replacements although I only know of one athlete that came back so fast from the knee op, ignoring all the protocols in order to be ready for the next season that he can't compete at all now. But there's the broken ankles from soccer, the cruciate ligament damage that is rehab-inducing, all things that people fight to come back from. Even Pantani was pictured after shattering his leg in Milan-Turin, leg wrapped in plastic to keep it dry, walking lengths of a swimming pool in utter agony.Alright, it's not Alex Zanardi but in our mere mortal world it's big. Like Ciaran, some people are just Gods.############# Add to that the 'normal' conversation I had where two beer-bellied sportif riders were telling me all about there Nurofen consumption prior to events to 'get them through' Seriously? Just to get through? To stay functioning?############# And yet we keep going. To rail against the alternative, to back away from the abyss. That could be the couch, the regret, the physical decline, the denial and disappointment.... Don't get me wrong, it's in the offing, in the post, but...hopefully not next season. If an op or procedure or time spent on a physio's plinth can keep you trucking a little longer then the outcome far outweighs the trouble you put yourself through in the first place. Memories fade, the body has a way of kicking pain into touch over time. Like the hacker clearing the hard drive. Pain, procedures, sickening worry, hopes and prayers are removed. You hope to switch on your computer one day and see, finally, an empty file waiting for your new thoughts [hopefully pain-free]. A slot in the chiropractor, a cortisone shot, yes it seems as though we are addicted to staying ahead as long as possible. In essence, nobody wants to witness their own inevitable physical decline, where their strength is gradually retarded because soon follows the feeling of being discarded.