So this has been coming and the whole world is in panic mode. I knew something was going off a few months ago as my wife, who is a Microbiologist, started doing longer and longer hours. This ultimately led to our break to Cape Verde the other week as she was suffering. I hadn’t really been following the news and not had any panicked thoughts. However that changed the week we got back from our holiday.
While we were away cases started appearing in Italy and work had sent out communications warning about Covid-19. To be honest I didn’t really get the seriousness of it all. A colleague who I work with had their holiday cancelled to Italy – for the first time I thought about the prospect of not going on our planned Easter holiday to Germany. A week later the Shizzle got real – I took a phone call saying that my eldest had a cough and sore throat and was told to self-isolate. I hadn’t known anybody who had been through this and it really scared me. It really hit home! I was worried sick as my youngest has Asthma and I had a big argument with the boys mum about bringing him to my house to get him away from the situation. I couldn’t believe she would put him at risk, no matter how small the chance.
Work also reacted to my news – as I had had the kids at the weekend I was told I also needed to self-Isolate. This was crazy I thought – we had a boxing show at the weekend and I couldn’t afford to miss that either. Anyhow, the next day I was called into work as they had decided as my eldest doesn’t live at home then I was low risk and could come in.
In the proceeding 5 days the seriousness ratcheted up. Within 24 hours all of the charity shows I was involved in through the boxing club were cancelled, pubs and restaurants were closed and people considered at risk were being told to Isolate. I am not in an at risk group as my BMI has dropped below 40 – turns out my running may have saved my life! But my wife and one of my sons are in the ‘at risk’ group and are advised to isolate. However my wife works at the hospital and she cannot just do that. I take my hat off to her, she continues to work long extra hours selflessly putting others before herself. However I am really starting to get anxious about her health.
I also started to think about what could possibly happen in the next few weeks. It would appear that lockdown may be imminent. As such I am worried about my training. I have a Turbo trainer for my bike, a rowing machine and need a treadmill so I could continue my training should the country go into lockdown. I made a quick visit to a few shops, treadmills were selling out FAST. I could not find one anywhere. I was really depressed at the prospect of losing my base fitness. However, it turns out I have amazing family! My cousin Dave said I could borrow his. Panic over. Legend!!
Bipolar Ironman 