Kayaking Is A Pain In The Neck

It had to happen I guess. I'm not being fatalistic, but to expect to go from a very low level of fitness to being able to compete in the Waterford Adventure Race without an injury somewhere along the line might just be a bit too much to ask from this old body of mine. And that injury happened this morning. It's not so bad that I can't move, but it is bad enough for me to need to see a physio and the sooner the better.

For weeks I've been trying to arrange to go out for a spin in a kayak. Peter Burke who manages Union Chandlery in Cork very kindly arranged a boat for me to use, but between the jigs and the reels we haven't managed to get out in it until this morning, Bank Holiday Monday.

The conditions in Clonea this morning were lovely, if you were a surfer, but perhaps not ideal for a novice kayaker. But this is the one discipline I haven't tried yet and I was determined to at least learn the basics before getting into the water in Lismore in three weeks time. I needed at least to learn how to get into it, how to paddle the kayak and how to get out of it if it turned over. It was on the final part of those three that it all came a bit unstuck.

The waves were high and I had been getting battered a lot and had capsized and got out of the boat a few times successfully, as per the plan. But as I turned for shore the final time having paddled out 20 or 30 metres I was broadsided by a wave and again the boat went over. As I was taught, I covered by head with my hand, but as I came out I felt a twinge in my neck. And that was it.

I don't know how bad it is, probably not very bad at all, but I need to get it sorted before I lift any more weights, or I guess before I run any more. I will as ever be placing my trust in the healing hands and acupuncture pins of Caroline Gordon. Waterford Olympian Jamie Costin has sung her praises to me more than once, and she has in the past healed sports injuries for me much quicker than I expected. Here's hoping she can do it again and even faster than the last time.

It is frustrating, to say the least. On Saturday I did a 70km bike ride out to Mellary, around the base of the Sugarloaf, into Lismore and back home in the company of a couple of experienced bike riders and another newbie like myself. The pace on the flat was fast, between 30 and 40kph on average. I struggled but I kept up and was delighted with myself when we finished. My running is coming on too. I am averaging nine minute miles over seven miles, and have been doing some interval running too. It is an amazing way to wear yourself out quickly, but it's also great for building stamina. I'm stronger than I've ever been and my body is beginning to take on a shape that I haven't seen for twenty years, if ever.

I hope and pray that this neck thing is just a glitch.The clock is ticking to May 21st and I really can't countenance forgoing all the hard work that Martin Lacey in Clonea Leisure Centre and I have put in. All those lifts and squats and bench presses cannot be for nothing. All those miles on the bike and on the road cannot be squandered because of a pain in the neck. Can they?

(Ian presents Noctor 'til 6 weekdays from 4pm on WLRfm)