samuri.co.uk

This was supposed to be a celebratory post combined with a stunning result at the big race but sadly it was not to be. It’s still a good post though.

From about 22 years old, I was a smoker. Not a heavy smoker it has to be said but between 3 and 5 a day during the week, maybe 6 to 8 on a weekend day. I never really thought it affected me that much, I was fit, always very active, presumably I was pumping out all the crap in my lungs when I was out doing stuff. Clearly i was just kidding myself. I was also vaguely embarassed about smoking and very few people knew I did. I certainly put in a great amount of effort to hide the fact that I smoked, I wouldn’t smoke before going to work or indeed at work. I would not smoke at all if I wasn’t able to get washed afterwards and would generally only smoke in the evenings when I was at home.

My wife gave up a few years back and commented on the smell but I carried on (I totally understand what she was talking about now though, the smell of cigarette smoke makes me gag now).

Then a few things happened that kicked me into touch.

1. I went riding with a friend down south and was really struggling on the climbs, I always thought I was quick but even though I had a bruised chest, it was clear I was not.

2. Then we went on holiday abroad, I traditionally stop smoking for the week to avoid choking everyone else. I also traditionally spend a lot of time swimming when we go somewhere hot and by the end of the week I was really noticing the beneficial effect of not smoking on my breathing.

3. On holiday both my son and wife passed ‘fat’ comments about me. A little bit joking but presumably laden with a modicum of truth. Now I’m assuming this is a relative thing, I’ve certainly never been ‘fat’, but compared to my previous svelte incarnations I guess I was carrying around a few extra pounds.

So, we got back off holiday and I just decided to stop and start getting myself properly fit again. Bin the fags, start riding like a crazy lunatic. Hard work at first, but amazing how quickly I started feeling the benefits of not smoking.  The initial boost was endurance, I could stay in the saddle a lot longer without feeling knackered. More slowly was the ability to climb and climb and climb and later still the ability to sprint. Wish I’d done it 20 years ago.

MIleage for the weeks following our return from holiday says it all really.

So, how do I feel now? Fan-bloody-tastic. I wouldn’t have been able to quit without cycling and I’m very pleased to say I very rarely feel like I want a cigarette.

Going to have a few days off the bike now to let my back sort itself out and then I’m back it to getting my deficit down which I now know is possible.