First Ron Hill shows me up for my malingering, now England Rugby star Jonny Wilkinson kicks me into touch.

His remarkable return to the England team after four years on Saturday against Scotland was considered a questionable decision on the part of coach Brian Ashton. Incidently, Ashton is ex-Bath rugby coach, and the England squad practised at the university facilities last week.

Wilkinson’s performance, among others, clearly lifted England, who have suffered a string of defeats leading to the departure of Ashton’s predecessor.

The risk in playing Wilkinson, if there was one, paid off. The England team seems rejuvenated, and pundits have been bewildered by the stunning form Wilkinson has shown after such a long break.

Two things are striking from a recovery point of view. On radio today, his fitness advisor Steve Black at club Newcastle Falcons remarked that with each reinjury and setback, he recovered (motivation) more quickly.

In the Times today, Wilkinson also explained the role of practice in improving his game even when he was not able to train fully, or compete:-

“I may have made my comeback in an England shirt on Saturday but, as far as I was concerned, I hadn’t really been away. Every day that I’d been out of the game, I’d been training for the day when I was back in it. So I was absent, but not in some rugby wilderness. With every injury, I had a plan: different parts of my game or my physique that I could work on.

So I don’t see myself as particularly different to Jason Robinson. He’d been away and come back, too. I’ve spent my time working for and preparing for that day, so I could come in and thrive from the off.

So, yes, it was sort of a dream comeback. But it was also one that I’d thought about, prepared for. I am delighted it went quite well, but I can’t say that it was a surprise — as in a shock — because I’d just spent three years practising for it.”

In comparison over the past three weeks with a virus, I even gave up strengthening and stretching exercises, which I guess, in some light form, would not have hurt me.

As an aside, Friday’s run was premature. I mistakenly ran up a hill, albeit slowly, when I should have chosen a very flat course, or not exercised at all. Saturday and Sunday I felt weak again, so did not train.

Resting heart rate 51

Weight 72 kg

Mood

Exercise none, but reintroduced Nike Free barefoot simulating training shoes while walking to smooth possible return to training

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5. recovery-based training reflects performance complexity