[Time-sinks] Miscellaneous sports

The 8th and final part of the series introducing my plethora of hobbies will be a "bucket"post, encompassing the varied activities that I get up to that haven't already been covered. Mostly these are sports, which would be a shock to people that knew me at school!

Swimming has been a part of my life ever since I was a small child. Neither of my parents are able to swim, which made them determined that my brother and I would both learn. Swimming lessons were a weekly fixture from when I started at school until the age of 16, when I decided that I'd had enough. I used the excuse of wanting to focus on my A-levels to persuade my parents to stop forcing me to go. Truth be told I was fed up, and could no longer be bothered. Part of the reason for my dissatisfaction was, I think, the fact that I wasn't that great at it. I was ok, but near the bottom of my class as far as speed went, and I was irritated by the younger children that kept joining the lessons and going faster than me.

Cardiff International Pool. Still the nicest pool that I've ever swum in. (Credit: http://www.cardiffswimmingclub.co.uk/)

When I went to university and started getting more involved in the lifesaving club (see part 2 in this series), I started swimming again. At first I avoided going to the fitness sessions that the club had once a week, instead just swimming during their competition training sessions. Then I started going once a week or so with my friend James, as a way to hang out, chat, and get some exercise all at the same time. Shockingly, I found that I was enjoying swimming again. Doing it on my own terms, with my own goals and motivated purely on a personal level reinvigorated my interest in swimming. It also helped that I found that I'd improved quite a lot since stopping lessons. I wasn't the top swimmer in the club, but neither was I at the bottom. I started going myself, pushing myself harder and harder. At one point, during the summer that I spent on campus, I was going twice or thrice a week. I even started going along to the fitness sessions. Swimming was part of my life again, and in a big way.

Since arriving at St Andrews, I've been a regular at the fitness sessions run by the lifesaving club here. I don't go myself during the week (too little time), but during the holidays I try to go at least once a week to keep my fitness level up. My commitment to the pool has dropped somewhat (I used to joke that if I didn't answer my phone, I was either asleep or swimming), but I still enjoy the feeling of diving into the water after a long day at work to work out some stress.

Cycling is something that I've become more interested in since arriving at St Andrews. I've had a bicycle for as long as I can remember, and they've been the source of the only serious trip to hospital I've ever had - for a dislocated thumb at the age of 8 or 9. I made sure to take my bike to university with me, cycling to and from my lectures and societies every day. It was a great way to keep fit, and much cheaper than the bus! But in Coventry there wasn't much chance to just ride it around. That had to wait for the holidays, when I could take advantage of the multitudinous cycle paths near my parents' house.

This is basically what my bike looks like: a Scott Sportster hybrid, it's halfway between a road bike

and a mountain bike. Mine's much dirtier though! (Credit: evanscycles.com)

St Andrews is different though. I still ride to and from work, and lifesaving training, but the distance isn't quite so great. But in the summer, when it's a nice evening, the quiet country roads to the south of the town are a wonderful place to go for a ride. There are lots of small villages around the coast to visit, and with barely any traffic on most of the roads it's pretty safe. I struggle with the hills (my knees have taken a beating from years of swimming breast stroke and lifesaving backstroke), but the views are worth the pain.

Squash and Badminton are the two other main sporting pursuits that I enjoy. I played a bit of tennis when I was younger, but never really got the hang of it. My enjoyment of badminton stems from long weekends at Center Parcs with my family. Every May day weekend we'd head to one of the Parcs, and play lots of games of doubles. My brother and I against my parents, the unbeatable team of "baldy and shorty" as we liked to call them. It's still a rare occasion that the two of us beat our parents; Dad's skill more than makes up for Mum's lack of hand-eye coordination and vision. The family trips have trailed off as my brother and I have moved away, but I still enjoy a game against my friends whenever I get the chance.

Badminton - making schoolboys giggle since forever. (Credit: mobypicture.com)

Squash is something that I developed an interest in during my last year at school. Aged 18, we were given the option to play during games afternoons. I really enjoyed the different challenge that it presented, and have carried on playing the occasional game since then. My main opponent is my brother, when we get the opportunity, but I have managed to play friends a few times. As with badminton I wouldn't claim to have any great skill, but I make up for that with lots of effort.

When I was younger I used to really enjoy playing football with my friends, but I haven't played for years. I was decent enough defender, and never afraid to go for the ball if I even had half a chance. Most of my current circle of friends aren't that interested in playing though, and I think that my boots have been hung up for good now. Lifesaving has taken its place really as my choice of team sport, but I do occasionally miss a kick-about in the park.

Hooray!

With that, I've reached the end of my journey through the activities, hobbies and interests that I occupy myself with. Now you can see why I have no time for much else! In the coming weeks expect posts dealing with some of the subjects I've discussed in a bit more detail, as well as competition reports, thoughts on some of the sporting seasons just getting underway, and anything else that whimsy leads me write about.