Uh Oh: What have I gone & done now…

Wednesday night was supposed to just follow the tradition the new dad having a few drinks with his mates in the time honoured “wetting the baby’s head”. It was all going so well. A dozen close friends and a few beers. Then someone had the idea of introducing Jäger Bombs…

Jäger Bomb Recipe
– 1 can Red Bull energy drink
– 1 shot Jägermeister
Pour red bull into a pint glass.
Pour jägermeisterred into a shot glass.

Drop the shot glass into the pint glass.

Chug.

Please bear in mind that I have been pretty much off alcohol since New Year’s eve. So combining 5 or 6 pints of Staropramen with 5 or 6 shots of Jägermeister was always going to be a bad idea…

I wasn’t laughing in the morning when, arising with hangover, I realised that my knee had stiffened up. With help from friends I manage to put the pieces together:

So, I’m returning from the toilets, when… Taking the three steps down to the bar at pace, I tripped… In an attempt to stay upright, I was forced to break into a run… When this failed my run ended up turning into a full dive (superman style) across the floor of the bar... This was much enjoyed by all my friends as well as the table of people at the other end of the bar to whose feet I had body surfed towards.

So I now know I must have landed on my knee, explaining the heavy bruising and why it has stiffened up. Getting like onto the bike certainly isn’t an option and I still have 11 hours training to complete this week (including a 100 miler). I feel an idiot. Can’t stop thinking that it could be something as silly as the Jäger stoping me getting to the startline rather than the broomwagon chasing me to goal.

It’s time for drastic measures. Ice. And Ibroporufen Gel. I rested the knee Thursday and Friday and felt that it was getting better – it was hurting less at least. Then Saturday I decided to test it – so hit Richmond park for a couple of fast laps. No problems. Yet more ice and gel anyway.

I completed my hundred miler on Sunday. However, feel very lucky that the knee recovered in time. All-in-all this wasn’t an experience I much enjoyed. Note to self: Need to wrap myself up in cotton wool for these last six weeks (and that includes no ‘stage-diving’). I’ve done approx 185 hours and 3,500km over the last 5 months. Be silly to jeopardise all that...