Something odd has happened in the last year. When I started reffing about 4 years ago, I trained hard - regular jogging, near daily visits to the pool and gym. Last year, I bought a 2nd hand treadmill as it was cheaper than paying for gym membership. I used it religiously and felt OK during games - not perfect but not bad either. I'm an ex 2nd Row - I'm not built for speed, but I was happy with my fitness level.
In a nutshell, the last 2 years have been manic for me. I'm self-employed (office based - so I don't even get exercise in work) and my best mate and employee has been off work with the cancer. Bluntly for the last 2 years I've been doing the work of 2 men and something had to give last year especially. Sadly that something was the gym / treadmill / reading and clarifying laws etc. In short I didn't do any. None; and I'm not exaggerating. Apart from regular visits to RR.com I didn't even look at the lawbook. So, as you can imagine I started this season with a real sense of panic. :frown:
The daft thing is ... I feel better not worse - both mentally and physically. It makes no sense at all, but I don't struggle with keeping up with 95% of play, the assessors reckon my fitness isn't an issue and I don't get those nasty "Oh shit" law query moments any more. OK, I couldn't keep up with the 18 year old centre today who intercepted the ball in his own 22 and sprinted the full length of the pitch, but I wasn't that far behind him and I don't reckon I would have been much faster even when I was in my prime, and that was probably nearly 30 years ago now. If someone can explain it, please do ... because my experience just flies in the face of all logic.
In a nutshell, the last 2 years have been manic for me. I'm self-employed (office based - so I don't even get exercise in work) and my best mate and employee has been off work with the cancer. Bluntly for the last 2 years I've been doing the work of 2 men and something had to give last year especially. Sadly that something was the gym / treadmill / reading and clarifying laws etc. In short I didn't do any. None; and I'm not exaggerating. Apart from regular visits to RR.com I didn't even look at the lawbook. So, as you can imagine I started this season with a real sense of panic. :frown:
The daft thing is ... I feel better not worse - both mentally and physically. It makes no sense at all, but I don't struggle with keeping up with 95% of play, the assessors reckon my fitness isn't an issue and I don't get those nasty "Oh shit" law query moments any more. OK, I couldn't keep up with the 18 year old centre today who intercepted the ball in his own 22 and sprinted the full length of the pitch, but I wasn't that far behind him and I don't reckon I would have been much faster even when I was in my prime, and that was probably nearly 30 years ago now. If someone can explain it, please do ... because my experience just flies in the face of all logic.
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