James Cracknell
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Banquo
- Posts: 20884
- Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2016 7:52 pm
James Cracknell
Whatever you think about the Boat Race, Cracknell making the Blues boat at 46 is remarkable, more so post severe brain injury. Amazeballs
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Mellsblue
- Posts: 16082
- Joined: Thu Feb 11, 2016 7:58 am
Re: James Cracknell
Unbelievable. He should be very proud of himself.
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Digby
- Posts: 15261
- Joined: Fri Feb 12, 2016 11:17 am
Re: James Cracknell
My abiding memory of him goes back to the London Marathon and his attempt to run it in under three hours, carrying around a body on the large side for a marathon and not trained for endurance running. The look of disgust on his face as he ran down the finishing straight realising he was going to just miss his target and fail was stark, and speaks strongly as to what it takes to succeed at the highest levels
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WaspInWales
- Posts: 4503
- Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2016 10:46 pm
Re: James Cracknell
It is absolutely amazing stuff from Cracknell. Regardless of his sporting background, it's a hell of an achievement...more so with his accident in mind.
Coincidentally, I've been back out road cycling for a couple of months now since my injury and I've found my performance has increased dramatically. It's kinda interesting as I'm still suffering with concentration, short-term memory and photosensitivity issues, but my fitness is through the roof at the moment. I'm comfortably knocking out 60 km solo rides at an average speed over 35 kmh, and my climbing has also improved by quite a bit and I'm probably the same weight I was before my crash. Probably bagged about 20 KOMs and countless top 10 trophies on Strava recently..some for climbs too! Well happy with that.
That said, I seem to be making some outrageously stupid decisions on the bike. I now wear my in-ear headphones in both ears for all rides. I rarely would do it before, and even then it would only be on quiet roads and I'd only wear one earphone nearside, so when I'd shoulder check, my right ear would be unobstructed. Tbh, I think it helps with concentration when cycling if that makes sense. Without the music, I find my mind wanders far too easily. Plus I figure if something is going to hit me from behind, I'd rather not hear it. More worrying, is skitching onto lorries and drafting behind them which is something I had not done before. It's not a thrillseeking buzz either. When I get home and tell the missus, even I think what a fucking twat, but the next ride out I go and do something equally as stupid like bunny-hopping things on the road when flying along at 50kmh or taking selfies!
Coincidentally, I've been back out road cycling for a couple of months now since my injury and I've found my performance has increased dramatically. It's kinda interesting as I'm still suffering with concentration, short-term memory and photosensitivity issues, but my fitness is through the roof at the moment. I'm comfortably knocking out 60 km solo rides at an average speed over 35 kmh, and my climbing has also improved by quite a bit and I'm probably the same weight I was before my crash. Probably bagged about 20 KOMs and countless top 10 trophies on Strava recently..some for climbs too! Well happy with that.
That said, I seem to be making some outrageously stupid decisions on the bike. I now wear my in-ear headphones in both ears for all rides. I rarely would do it before, and even then it would only be on quiet roads and I'd only wear one earphone nearside, so when I'd shoulder check, my right ear would be unobstructed. Tbh, I think it helps with concentration when cycling if that makes sense. Without the music, I find my mind wanders far too easily. Plus I figure if something is going to hit me from behind, I'd rather not hear it. More worrying, is skitching onto lorries and drafting behind them which is something I had not done before. It's not a thrillseeking buzz either. When I get home and tell the missus, even I think what a fucking twat, but the next ride out I go and do something equally as stupid like bunny-hopping things on the road when flying along at 50kmh or taking selfies!