MULTISPORT
Pandemic Pandemonium
Eventually , lockdown restrictions eased , allowing outdoor exercise between 6am and 9am . Confined to exercise for three short , early morning hours , the road traffic initially consisted of hoards of ‘ sometimes runners ,’ pram-pushers , cyclists practising ‘ social distancing ’ in their troops of 14,700 riders , and people being walked by their 13 dogs , but it did not take long for the masked mania and congested chaos to subside .
Along with two colleagues , Brandon ( the Aquarium veterinarian ) and Talitha ( The Turtle Lady ), we started off by setting up a running route around the Aquarium floor . We went through a tunnel of stingrays , past flapping turtles , into a mirrored room of jellyfish , looping around the two-million litre shark tank , zooting through Indian and Atlantic Ocean displays and zigzagging staircases to the roof space for flashes of fresh air . We were so spoilt with our scenic indoor gym !
We then went further to incorporate the parking lot and its roof to extend our running area , witnessing some of the most magnificent , fiery sunrises , yet keeping it confined and within what was accepted by COVID-19 lockdown regulations . I was very tempted to adopt the attitude of some of my fellow trail runners : “ Dear Police , you can arrest us … if you can catch us ,” but my sense of responsibility triumphed over my desire for rebellion , and as a single mom of three miniature pinschers , I couldn ’ t afford to get arrested .
Work started at 7am , so we ’ d be up and running from 6am to get a decent hour in , then afternoons would be spent doing swim training in one of the big tanks . The I & J Ocean Exhibit contains 1.6 million litres of sea water and is six metres deep , allowing us to swim a stunning , salty 19m lap with stingrays , fish and turtles . We even completed the Robben Island Freedom swim challenge in this tank , swimming 7.5km for turtle conservation . Bob the green turtle was an amazing
Private lockdown gym facility , Two Oceans Aquarium Predator Exhibit
coach and companion during this time . With his impeccable breath-hold , limitless endurance and perfect personality , there is no better swim ( and life ) coach !
Since we had to stay home on our days off , creative ways to do functional training were concocted . I loaded cooler boxes with bottles of wine and an assortment of root vegetables , to be used as exercise weights . I also created a weighted bar using a broomstick , complete with reusable shopping bags packed with bricks .
A tender moment with Bob
As the season changed from autumn to winter , the frigophobic ( those with a fear of becoming too cold ) retreated back to the warmth of their isolation caves , allowing the consistent athletes space to breathe a little easier without their breaths being blocked by a Buff . Weeks went by and I became faster and stronger , but then I started to feel a pain in my left thigh . Initially , it felt like a stiff muscle , but it evolved into a deep twinge in my glute , radiating down my thigh .
As the pain persisted and intensity increased with weight-bearing activity , it started to feel all too familiar . I panicked at the thought of another stress fracture . The last one was my right femoral neck . This time , I suspected my left femoral shaft . Now they say one should never visit Dr Google to understand the symptoms of your illness or injury , and it is unlikely that your sore toe or itchy ear spells impending doom , so you should take much of what the internet throws at you with a pinch of salt . As a scientist , I add a splash of scepticism to everything I read , researching extensively until I find a reasonable , logical answer that does not necessarily involve life ’ s worst case scenario , and so , after studying medical journals and reading relevant forums , I was convinced of a femoral shaft stress fracture .
I sent myself directly to the orthopaedic surgeon , who was not convinced by my self-diagnosis and brushed it off as a minor muscle strain instead . I have ignored my gut one too many times , and the outcome is usually unpleasant ( or heavily flatulent ), so I refused to be satisfied with his uncertain suggestion .
A winter ’ s day run away from the ‘ lockdown crowds ’
Lockdown swim training with Coach Bob the green turtle
43