Devastation

24 Aug 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , , , , ,

Lance ArmstrongWhat is one supposed to do when a person you have looked up to for many years refuses to fight allegations of being a cheat? Lance Armstrong, seven times winner of the Tour de France, the most gruelling cycle race in the world, has today decided not to contest the allegations of drug taking lodged against him, leading to the conclusion that they do hold some truth.

I am sure that there are many, many cycling enthusiasts who will feel a huge amount of disillusionment at his decision. Armstrong. who overcame testicular cancer to return to the event, was a true hero of the sport and now stands to lose all his titles as well as a great deal of the love and respect he has built up over the years.

Cycling is just another sport that has been tainted by doping. Alberto Contador, currently lying in forth place in the Vuelta a Espana, the Tour of Spain has just returned to the sport after a ban for failing a doping test. The list of sportsmen and women who have been caught using performance enhancing drugs just continues to get longer.

Do these athletes get coerced into using drugs, by the pressure of sponsors or team managers for them to perform beyond their limit? Or is it the result of highly competitive people using every option available to them to make it to the top of their sport. It would be nice to think that they had little choice in the matter, but the doubt remains.

With sports coverage at an all time high, following the hugely successful London Olympics, its influence on youngsters is greater than ever. Whilst I am devastated by the news of my hero Armstrong, I feel he has to be given a substantial punishment, if only to send a sign out to these young people, that cheating is not the way to get to the top.

As with all figures in the public gaze, there comes, with the notoriety and rewards, a responsibility to behave in a way that sends out a positive message. Knowing how much his Tour wins meant to Armstrong, I wonder how he can now hold his head high in public? It’s a huge disappointment and I hope that the truth will finally be known.

Lumps And Bumps

15 May 2012 1 Comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , ,

Lumps and BumpsIf you ride a bicycle on UK roads, you’ll know how lovely it can be to find yourself on a stretch of nice smooth new tarmac. The lumps and bumps of our older repaired roads really can rattle your bones, so the new surface is a real treat.

Life is like that too. It’s the lumps and bumps of everyday life that make you realise just how comfortable the smooth untroubled times are. But without the rough times, we would never recognise the comparison and enjoy the easier times all the more.

We all know that as we move through life, it is impossible to stay on the smooth untroubled path. The bumpy times are a simple fact, just as they are out on the road. So when they come along, just be determined, hold on tight, keep pedalling and look forward to the smoother times ahead.

A Little Bit Of Everything

15 Jan 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , ,

This weekend could not really have been much more varied, a bit of this, a bit of that, and it really has just flown by. The weather has been reasonably kind, considering we are in the middle of January, but it could have been a little warmer.

Sub-zero Swanage

Practice comes first, but then I put in a fair bit of effort cycling against the chill wind. My body and legs were fine, but my ears and my fingers hated every minute. At least it stayed dry, and having my seasonal mop of hair helped keep my head warm, but the bits that were exposed to the wind took the full brunt.

Then it was a case of playing catch-up. Staying up till 4:30 this morning, to watch New England beat the Denver Broncos, 45-10, meant a rather late start. The washing and ironing still needed to get done, so it was a case of gritting my teeth and getting on with it. Not the most fun, but the results of my determined efforts are a wardrobe full of clean, ironed shirts, and drawers full of nice fresh clothes.

If you are anything like me, putting things off always results in a nagging feeling at the back of my mind. So having everything sorted out, being able to relax for the rest of the week, is a pleasure in itself. A small victory, I agree, but better than having the guilt hanging over me. Making the most of these small wins makes life that little bit more satisfying.

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