Cricket Lovely Cricket

My father was an excellent all round sportsman. Good enough for a professional football trial and a renowned all rounder in the  Bristol area in the days where cricket was actively covered in the Green'un. I inherited his passion for sport and his love of cricket. Sadly fate would have it that I also inherited M and, so as a young boy, while I had the desire I never had the capability. Football and then rugby at school were hard...I wanted to run but always struggled. Athletics saw me hide around the shot putt area, simply to avoid having to run.

Cricket was my saviour. Even with M, unmanaged and undiagnosed, I had the skill to be selected for the School team and to Captain my House team. A reflex catch, honed through constant practice, allowed me to be seen as a reliable short leg fielder, something that stayed with me through University. I had M issues of course, and was once run out as I inexplicably ground to a halt mid pitch...it was a 3rd run and I had simply exhausted ATP. Those watching said I looked like I was running in porridge...I had no explanation and no thought other than to try and get fitter.

Cricket meant I had a place where I could hold my own and, at an all boys school, that was important. The below are extracts from my 1st secondary school reports:

Autumn Term 1973

P.E. His determination is fitful but his enjoyment is nice to see.

House Master 

He is a pleasant, courteous and willing boy, perhaps a little shy. He ties hard at rugby but it is likely that his main contributions will not be on the games field.

Summer Term 1974

P.E. He tends to opt out much too early when faced with new, physical, challenges.

House Master

The advent of the cricket season has revealed a new dimension to him: enormous confidence. He has performed well in this sport for the House and the school and I hope this will lead to a continuation of this present exuberant attitude.

Of course until I found ketosis, in 2014, I always had M on my mind. In nets after a few balls my arms would become heavy, in matches if I ran a 2 then I'd be thinking about defending the next ball simply to avoid having to run again, fielding where I would have to chase has always filled me with dread. But I loved the game and kept coming back hoping somehow that I would break through. Of course we only know our own bodies and so I was unaware that how I felt was not normal. It was after all normal to me. Diagnosis in 2005 at the age of 43 was a huge relief as it explained so much. It did not though give me a solution.

The solution came after a fast in 2014, when, deep in ketosis, I found energy levels I had never experienced before.

Now at 64, playing County level Over 60s cricket I finally feel that M does not hinder my ability to compete. I simply have to fast and walk to make sure my body is in Ketosis. Then I can focus on the ball, and not M, while otherS at our age all have their own issues to deal with !!