The Changing Face of Physical Fitness

When I look back on my journey through exercise, I realise that there has never been a type of activity that has been consistent apart from walking.

As a child, I found physical activities like sports very challenging due to my dyspraxia. I was forced to think about every movement and for that reason nothing was natural and easy. Once I learnt how to run and ride a bike I still found myself having to think about every movement. Football was a game I loved playing but I couldn’t get my movements sorted out so I played just one half of one game for my junior school, mainly, I think, because I was a trier. I played in defence and when I was substituted we were 3-0 down but in the second half the defence shipped another 7 goals and we lost 10-0. I felt like it indicated that I was a better defender than my replacement, but the football coach didn’t seem to agree!

I played a variety of games at senior school but if you weren’t a natural player you were not given any opportunity to improve. You were put in the lowest group and given up on. This happened with rugby and cricket in my first two years and I proved to be very bad at the time at cross country running. Basically, those seven years were a real trial but, looking back, the 90 minutes of games plus the 90 minutes of PE gave me a baseline fitness level that stood me in really good stead. Along with the hiking it gave me a strong core of activity throughout my teens.

As I have recounted before I ended up becoming extremely fit when I was in the Royal Air Force. I had to rebuild that fitness after my injury and in Polytechnic I tried Kendo, which I thoroughly enjoyed but which, with its prescribed foot movements was a trial for my dyspraxic brain. I played badminton at various points but was enthusiastic rather than able. I played friendly 5 a sides in Hong Kong with my fellow teachers and enjoyed it but looked like I was completely out of my depth, which I was!

I did some weight training for a couple of years along with cycling, rowing and running machines so by the time I finished at INTO St George’s I was very fit. We have equipment at home which was bought for me to restart this training but which I haven’t used for a few years! I know I must start again and I will in 2026. Along with that I will definitely be walking more as I look to move to another level of fitness at this point in my life. Please wish me luck, as I could need it!