I started skipping back in January, once I'd been signed off by my Oncologist. There were a couple of reasons:
1. I'll have problems with bone density as time goes on, so it was a way of introducing light impact work. I hadn't done much but cycle for a long time, so knees and ankles needed work.
2. It started the process of retraining my cardiovascular system in preparation for getting back on the bike, which I was told not to ride during my treatment.
I used basic interval methods - skip for a time period, then squats or planks, say, for an equal period. My upper body strength was rubbish after surgery, so that had to be rebuilt as well, along with the physio exercises to maintain range of motion in chest, armpit and shoulders. I got my sword and jo out and started doing basic kata again, in between skip sets. This was about half an hour, three times per week.
I watch my body like it's an experiment these days, probably related to the out-of-the-blue cancer diagnosis. I had no symptoms or warning signs, just a recall after my routine mammogram. Things I noticed when I started skipping were:
I got stronger from the toes on up. Ankles started to stabilise, and calf muscles improved, then knees. By March I was back on the bike and not dying, although my first run over Edenfield I spent 45 minutes in Zone 5.
I wore my first skipping rope out in March. Don't buy expensive ones unless you're going all out for the weighted ones.
During lockdown, I took my 5km walk and started to jog a little, and now I run more than I walk on that loop.
Last Sunday I did my Edenfield ride again, and spent 20 minutes in Zone 5, and this morning my 5km took 43 minutes instead of 55, which is where I started.
I'm down to 77.8kg from 85 in January.
So skipping worthwhile? Yes, absolutely in my experience.
