Sports Fitness and Injuries

Let me start with my own story.

Peradeniya university has a model gymnasium and sports facilities except a swimming pool.

No problem, there is a nice stream that flows to Mahaveli River from Hantana range.

(There is a swimming pool now, but not maintained properly).

We used to have a dip in this stream and on Saturdays, I used to take my car up and have a dip with my kids.

As an undergraduate, I used to do the military drill round the athletic track before, I play at least 90 minutes of hockey.

When there is an invitation cricket game like Kehelgamuva playing against, a foreign team we used to climb the trees to watch the game with a panoramic view.

Then I used to go to the gymnasium and play some TT or badminton.

Last thing was to climbing the rope.

I never did weight lifting or any muscle exercises.

Simple reason is "all build up" muscles disappear within 6 months.

More pertinent point  was I knew my limit and tolerance.

I only had muscle cramps twice.

Once in first year and second in the fourth year after Inter Faculty athletic meet.

I think I did 9 events (6 was the limit) including 3 relays.

If one takes the military drill it amounts to 10 or decathlon.

What kept me fit was the military drill and climbing the wall was the most difficult part.

It gives the overall balance and my glycogen store was in trim condition since the food in the halls of residence was better than at home. Muscle glycogen is released during anaerobic metabolism and each individual has a certain capacity to store glycogen.
That is the limiting factor.

There are two types of muscle fibers.
Type I slow type of fibers are seen in long distance runners. The glycogen store is released slowly and hence the endurance.

Type II fast type of fibers are seen in sprinters. They are depleted fast.

Of course fatty acida are also utilized during work load.

I think coconut pol sambol, fish (I stopped eating beef) and beef liver at home were enough to keep me fit.

No vitamin supplements, at all except Vitamin C and a glass of beer on Saturdays with a good friend.

My friends used to change every week lest I was identified as a homosexual.

I have an aversion for homosexuals especially if they are politicians.

We have plenty of homosexuals in Ceylonese politics and in our National Cricket.


Injuries and when to Retire

I have had only three injuries all my life. They were minor injuries but one needed stitches.

1. One on my forehead as a kid hit by a makeshift hockey stick made out of a tree branch.

By the way, I used to make my own cricket bat out of imported wood.

I made several and donated to my cousins and friends.

My father never helped me but may be once he made a table tennis racket which I never used.

2. One injury was on my shin when a guy who never played hockey put the stick around my leg.

We did not have a referee and he was immediately thrown out and I continued to playing after an Elastoplast patch.

3. Third injury was when I was 35 or 37.

I had come home from UK and we were playing a softball cricket game at the university hockey grounds.

We did not have 11 players and I was in placed deep mid wicket.

I got a chance to run out the batsman.

By the way, I was bad both in batting and bowling but my only asset was catching and fielding.

I took the aim and tried to throw hard and I felt a tear coming in one of my upper arm muscles (I have forgotten the name of the muscle) and I decided NOT to throw, in midway process.

I was more concerned about the injury than the run out.

Besides, I would have missed the target due to the impending tear.

It was bit painful but I immediately retired and never played a game again.

Fortunately, the tear was not bad but left a stricture and I cannot shampoo my back of my the chest, at at a particular level.

But I make it a point to stretch the torn muscle every time I have a bathe.

The bottom line is when the time comes one should retire.

Of course that injury did not interfere with my snooker and billiards.

I think with so many crush injuries to his hands I think our Sana (Sanath Jayasuriya) cannot beat me in a game of billiards.

I am joking!

If I meet him, I would offer him a cup of excellent Green Tea with a pinch of Cider Vinegar.

This combination is supposed to be good for scalp hair and I am bit like him with silver grey hair.

My advice for him, if anybody requests him to join cricket administration he should flatly refuse.

Current sports minister is a crook and S.B. is an ace crook.

"Nivan Sapa Labewa" to Cricket.

"Death to Ceylon Cricket" is the English translation.