As a Physio I have to stay pretty fit. I have always been athletic and enjoyed moving. I have never, however, enjoyed cardio. No matter how fit I get (and I’ve been half marathon fit, flown around several tough mudders, hiking etc) that first 15-20mins feels like air just isn’t getting into my lungs and (this is weird I know) my ears hurt!!
However over the last 18months I have discovered mountain biking through my boyfriend. I never spent much time on a bike as a kid, I remember being distinctly awful at it. But with Azid getting injured last year I had way more time on my hands and was missing my time out on the countryside. We hired a bike and popped around Cannock chase, and although I crashed into a tree within the first minute, I fell in love. I still struggle to steer, I still fall off often but it’s the first form or cardio I’ve ever loved. My ears still hurt but I just wear a headband in all weathers, ha!
Azid was a little bit scratchy last year but nothing to note, this year it seems that he definitely does have sweet itch. It’s so heartbreaking thinking of him being so uncomfortable he itches so much he breaks his skin and you worry every time you go into the field, whether he’s impaled himself on something or scratched his skin raw. But now we know he has sweet itch, we’re doing lots of research and trying lots of things to find out what works best for him. Fingers crossed it works and we don’t get through too many fly rugs in the meantime.
Beth Endurance 