Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Here in Bahrain, race season is upon us … sales of lycra and overly-priced running shoes have rocketed.
Energy gels have been ordered online, specialised running socks purchased via the UK, commencement of high carbohydrate diet and let’s not forget the important roll of tape – for the men out there that suffer from the agony of chafing. Ladies, be thankful for your padded sports bra!
Bahrain has a lot on offer, aquathlons, duathlons, triathlons, 5k, 10k, 15k, half marathon, full marathon, a marathon relay and even a Grand Prix organised by Bahrain Roadrunners.
With so much on offer, my role of a running widow ensues as the husband rises early to train and disappears to bed, exhausted most nights!
Our villa takes on a new shape; with the husband’s race bike attached to a newly-purchased ‘Turbo Trainer’ sat directly in front of the television. The children complain, it’s blocking their view and the volume of the TV is turned up to an alarming level to drown out the irritating whirr of the machine.
The husband moans and groans like a child when we argue over whether the bike is a piece of modern art, or not, to be left out on display.
Various pairs of sweaty, smelly running shoes are abandoned wherever they have been removed. Swim train aids, goggles and soggy towels adorn the pool area and my kitchen basin disappears!
Then disappointment lands on our doorstep with the unpopular announcement of the cancellation of Challenge Bahrain 2015 … but I know what’s coming … Ironman70.3 Middle East Championship Bahrain.
