“Made a note in the diary on the way here. Simply says ‘bugger’.” (Captain Darling)

Well, that about covers my day so far. Today is Monday 2nd December. BRIC is a few days away and I have made the decision to withdraw.

Why? … good question. Let me try and give an answer. Back at the end of August, I had been given the all-clear to train again following an operation to repair my shoulder. I returned to lifting weights and I got back on the erg, and I began this short series of articles.

In my first post, I stated that I had three goals. One, to compete in the Irish National Para powerlifting championships. Two, Go to BRIC and set a new 50-54 PR3 2k record and third, earn selection to return to the GB masters powerlifting team.

With those goals in mind, I set to work. A 2k TT was carried out with a lung-busting 7 mins 20 secs for my first effort. Ten and one rep max efforts were made on bench-press, lifting a wonky 10 reps at 100kg and a rather nervous attempt at 125kg. Plans were drawn up, tinkered with and changed over the first couple of weeks until finally, I had a workable plan.

The work on the erg started horribly. But that was to be expected after a long break from indoor rowing. As weeks passed times reduced and meters rowed increased. (I’m now over 400k meters) while also having kept on top of the more important weight training.

That’s probably not what indoor rowers want to hear but my main goal is to get back into a GB shirt. BRIC is a side quest, but I managed to take a couple of world records in training and hope appeared on the horizon.

Weight training was equally as hopeful. The shoulder worked well, and the weights lifted, and the reps completed rose steadily.

As November began, I was discharged by my shoulder consultant. A few days later I pulled something in my shoulder. Undeterred by this new niggle I was lucky enough to compete two weeks later In Dublin. I was surprised that my humble efforts saw me claim two gold medals.

One for my weight category (I was the only one in it) but I also took the highest total weight lifted for the day having been awarded clean lifts on my three attempts. This unexpected success led to several Guinness being consumed that evening and a late check-out the following day.

The competition had served its purpose, my training was paying off and despite the niggle I had lifted cleanly, and I could now plan for the British powerlifting championship in 2025.

Unfortunately, that niggle hasn’t gone away and is now feeling distinctly worrying. This is “Bugger” number one.

I’m now booked in to see my physiotherapist with a view of being referred to my consultant to see what I have done to his good work.
Now what I call a niggle on a pressing motion isn’t going to stop me from pulling on an erg (yes, I know we push with the legs, but you know what I mean).

Now where was I?... “bugger”, ah that’s right. My shoulder is potentially buggered. But then we also have today. Today is the 2nd of December and a visit to Sheffield Northern General Hospital to see my Prosthetics Consultant. For the last 12 months, I have been having pain in my left leg (amputated side).

Now the pain generally comes in two flavours. Annoying and excruciating. Unfortunately, the annoying level of pain has become a prelude to excruciating. To find the cause of the pain I’ve recently had a Doppler ultrasound and an MRI and the results are in.

Ultrasound shows I have blocked arteries somewhere in my stump. Following the amputation 25 years ago my body has decided that it needs to replumb my blood vessels. The arteries that are blocked have tried to reroute the blood flow. My attempts to be aerobically fit have assisted positively in this replumbing but my body hasn’t done a good enough job and at times the blood supply can’t keep up with demand, particularly during hard exercise.

So, I’m now waiting to see a vascular surgeon. “Bugger” number two.

The MRI on the lower back and pelvis shows I have two areas of spinal stenosis. Which is a compression of the spinal nerve. These compressed areas are aggravated but not completely caused by the odd bulging disc that I also have. “Bugger” number three.

So, I now get to add an orthopaedic spinal consultant to my collection. If I add in the consultant who looks after my knees, I think I’m single-handedly one of the best-looked-after people in the UK. With this new knowledge, it’s been decided that max effort attempts probably aren’t de rigueur. Does that mean I stop training? Of course not. We have a cup of tea. We plan, we set new goals, and we move to achieve them.

I had hoped to write a different article to close this little series. Maybe telling you I was lifting huge weights and easily able to go sub six on a 2k (not in my wildest dreams) but I think this is the perfect way for it to end.

We surround ourselves with the best people, we learn, we make plans, we set goals, and we work hard. However, life will always present you with a “bugger” moment. You alone get to choose how you deal with it.

As for me? I hope to still set a new 2k indoor rowing record. It just won’t be this Saturday.

To all of you going to BRIC I wish you all the very best of luck and I hope you give your best and come away with well-deserved PBs.

Sean.