This one I’m less chuffed about. This was my encounter with failure of not being able to achieve what I wanted to.
The one thing that has always scared me is the bungee jump. Sky dive no worries, loved every second of it. You go down tandem in full knowledge that if you are plunging to your death someone is being paid to go with. And I don’t know of too many incidences of people being paid to commit suicide.
But the bungee requires diving by yourself into an environment that you can tangibly imagine dying in. But enough about death. It’s scary, end of.
So, I seeked out a bungee. All the ones didn’t look too inviting, this is the problem. I’ve never fantasised over dropping head first into an industrial estate.
Plus, at this stage of the project, I’m experiencing light pockets and cannot consider £70 for a 10 second blast.
So, how about 10m diving board? Could gain access to one. And tombstoning? But I cannot find an abundance of cliffs and sea round Surrey at the moment.
This thinking left me with a jumping challenge set by Liz, chair of the Friends of the Earth Croydon group that I attend.
Running up and jumping off one of the longest escalators of the London Underground going downwards.
Sounds easy enough right?
Not quite. You have to work out the speed of the steps and ensure that you exceed that. Otherwise it becomes a huge bumpy treadmill.
Then there is the rhythm. Measuring your steps is difficult when they travrl beneath you.
Then consider the stamina, all was going amazingly well until I realise the ‘stand on the right’ sign hovering by my side like an unwelcome fly. I was slowing despite stoking the same energy. After talking with my thighs I arrange some extra effort. As if sauce pans were frying in my legs I pushed up and up the relentless slope.
And there is the leap of desperation. When gradients level off I begin sprinting for the end and jumping to stationary bliss.
It came and I was done.
What never crossed my mind, did anyone try and come down this escalator during my cardio assault? I hope not.
