Over the past few years, I have shared many of my lived experiences of mental health, as well as attempting over 100 “challenges” to try and show that it is fine to speak openly about how you are feeling and ask for help if you are struggling.
On Wednesday 30 September, I will be taking on the hardest physical challenge of my life … rowing 50 kilometres on an indoor rowing machine. When I originally added this to the list, the idea was mainly to see if I could be physically and mentally strong enough at the age of 56, to complete a five-hour stint on a rowing machine; but the actual event is now dedicated to the memory of Phoenix Benson, the son of a good friend and work colleague Sarah and her husband Luke, who passed away aged just five weeks towards the end of 2019.
It is an honour to have the chance to remember Phoenix and celebrate his life in this way; but there is now an added pressure as I simply cannot let down Phoenix and his parents. A number of challenges were designed to make me face my fear of failure by putting myself in situations where failure was a distinct possibility … getting up in front of an audience to perform stand-up comedy and playing a darts world champion are the two that immediately spring to mind.
I needed to prove to myself that if I did absolutely everything I could to succeed then, whatever the outcome, I should be proud of what I had accomplished, instead of focussing solely on what I hadn’t…
Back in 2006, I was diagnosed with femoro-acetabular impingement, a chronic hip condition that makes running almost impossible and even walking can get quite painful. 25 years of club cricket as well as countless hours on the badminton court and pounding the streets (I’m not sure you could call it “running”) were brought to the most abrupt end, and much as I have learned to manage a condition which will inevitably result in joint replacement, I still miss that feeling of competition.
Since completing a 2014 challenge by making my distinctly average debut as a goal shooter with Grangetown Netball Club, I have stayed involved with the club and work as a volunteer doing match reports and radio interviews for the Prem squad.
You can never replicate the feeling of actually playing sport, but having been able to watch club, Super League and international netball at relatively close quarters, the skill, speed and athleticism on court is matched by the approachability and generosity of the players off it. In my experience, the only other elite sport that provides that combination of excitement and humility is rugby league … which means that netball and netballers have had a huge positive impact on my life over recent years…
From a physical point of view, rowing is fairly “hip friendly”, so hopefully I can train well enough for my body to cope, but I’m well aware that this challenge will test my resolve as well; and I was wondering if the sport of netball might be willing to give me that extra mental strength and motivation?
Would any of my Prem/Super League/International netball friends be willing to send a selfie … literally anything; a thumbs-up, a wave, or simply a smile, so that I can build up a wall of pictures on my website and devote a certain number of the 50,000 metres to each of you and the clubs you represent?
I know Grangetown will help out (and pouting is fine Ria!) and hopefully Ireland too, but what on the surface is just a bit of fun, could make the mental difference between getting to 40km … and reaching the finishing line, so I really hope some of you will be willing to get involved, and also forward this blog to any of your friends and team mates to see if they might join in too. The invitation is extended to coaches, umpires, broadcasters … please just don’t leave me looking at a photo of me! I can be reached by Facebook messenger or by e-mail richard.kirby50@gmail.com.
I’ll be starting a diary (via this link) from 1 July to share any photos, keep a note of my progress, the inevitable ups and downs as I train alongside a full-time job in the NHS. I’m nervous about what lies ahead, but promise I will work as hard as I possibly can to make Phoenix and his parents proud. As far as the selfie idea is concerned, I’m all too well aware that it could fall flat on its proverbial, but to anyone who is kind enough to help … thank you so much, because you will be making a genuine difference x
On Wednesday 30 September, I will be taking on the hardest physical challenge of my life … rowing 50 kilometres on an indoor rowing machine. When I originally added this to the list, the idea was mainly to see if I could be physically and mentally strong enough at the age of 56, to complete a five-hour stint on a rowing machine; but the actual event is now dedicated to the memory of Phoenix Benson, the son of a good friend and work colleague Sarah and her husband Luke, who passed away aged just five weeks towards the end of 2019.
It is an honour to have the chance to remember Phoenix and celebrate his life in this way; but there is now an added pressure as I simply cannot let down Phoenix and his parents. A number of challenges were designed to make me face my fear of failure by putting myself in situations where failure was a distinct possibility … getting up in front of an audience to perform stand-up comedy and playing a darts world champion are the two that immediately spring to mind.
I needed to prove to myself that if I did absolutely everything I could to succeed then, whatever the outcome, I should be proud of what I had accomplished, instead of focussing solely on what I hadn’t…
Back in 2006, I was diagnosed with femoro-acetabular impingement, a chronic hip condition that makes running almost impossible and even walking can get quite painful. 25 years of club cricket as well as countless hours on the badminton court and pounding the streets (I’m not sure you could call it “running”) were brought to the most abrupt end, and much as I have learned to manage a condition which will inevitably result in joint replacement, I still miss that feeling of competition.
Since completing a 2014 challenge by making my distinctly average debut as a goal shooter with Grangetown Netball Club, I have stayed involved with the club and work as a volunteer doing match reports and radio interviews for the Prem squad.
You can never replicate the feeling of actually playing sport, but having been able to watch club, Super League and international netball at relatively close quarters, the skill, speed and athleticism on court is matched by the approachability and generosity of the players off it. In my experience, the only other elite sport that provides that combination of excitement and humility is rugby league … which means that netball and netballers have had a huge positive impact on my life over recent years…
From a physical point of view, rowing is fairly “hip friendly”, so hopefully I can train well enough for my body to cope, but I’m well aware that this challenge will test my resolve as well; and I was wondering if the sport of netball might be willing to give me that extra mental strength and motivation?
Would any of my Prem/Super League/International netball friends be willing to send a selfie … literally anything; a thumbs-up, a wave, or simply a smile, so that I can build up a wall of pictures on my website and devote a certain number of the 50,000 metres to each of you and the clubs you represent?
I know Grangetown will help out (and pouting is fine Ria!) and hopefully Ireland too, but what on the surface is just a bit of fun, could make the mental difference between getting to 40km … and reaching the finishing line, so I really hope some of you will be willing to get involved, and also forward this blog to any of your friends and team mates to see if they might join in too. The invitation is extended to coaches, umpires, broadcasters … please just don’t leave me looking at a photo of me! I can be reached by Facebook messenger or by e-mail richard.kirby50@gmail.com.
I’ll be starting a diary (via this link) from 1 July to share any photos, keep a note of my progress, the inevitable ups and downs as I train alongside a full-time job in the NHS. I’m nervous about what lies ahead, but promise I will work as hard as I possibly can to make Phoenix and his parents proud. As far as the selfie idea is concerned, I’m all too well aware that it could fall flat on its proverbial, but to anyone who is kind enough to help … thank you so much, because you will be making a genuine difference x