Summery Sunday viewing

What a lovely summer Sunday morning today: Winds of 65kph, full on rain and lots of grey cloud. So yes, a wonderful morning for a “flounce”. ( I could describe my flounce as a run but that would by lying). So off I set down to the beach for a coastal run out to Owhiro Bay. I get to the surf club and see quite a strange sight. No not a pod of dolphins or orca whales (hey that’s weekday view) but about 15 blokes standing waist deep in the freezing Island Bay sea water. Seriously its cold. I’d get in, but only wearing 3 wetsuits. I run round the beach road towards were they are standing and none of them get out of the water. I can’t resist it, I have to ask what they are doing. It is Waitangi day and I did wonder if they were performing a Maori ritual or something. As I get close I can see I guy clearing away some stuff. I ask him why the men are all standing waist high in freezing water and he tells me they have been doing early morning rugby training and are standing in cold water to prevent lactic acid build-up. These guys are just playing rugby for the local club. Apparently it’s something top NZ rugby players do too! Well as NZ won the 7s last night and the mighty All Blacks are on their way to winning the World Cup this year, I think there must be something in it.

So England I want you to do your training on the English coast. I then want you to stand waist high in the waters of the English Channel to stop lactic acid build up and generally “harden up” like those tough Kiwi rugby lot. Frankly England should try anything to stand a chance of getting anywhere in this years World Cup.

As for my run: Well I ran for 40 minutes and rewarded myself with a long hot shower and a cuppa. Prime athlete I’m not!

And as for the weather: Well it has stopped raining and the winds have dropped down to 40kph. Could be worse, its 42 degrees in Sydney today.