Bon Courage is an antidote for fear, it allows me to take a step towards rather than retreat from people or activities even if at times it feels like I put one foot forward and three back.

Much of this is related to my recent heart attack and having had my world turned upside down.

Pharma

A good degree of Bon Courage also helps me to put into perspective the mountain of pharmaceuticals I consume daily. For instance, most notably I must take blood thinners for a year to help blood flow through a lifesaving Stent which keeps my previously Infarcted heart artery open whilst it is absorbed into my body.

Not for Dogs

None of my drugs are explicitly mentioned by the UCI (Union Cyclist International), although one is named as being banned in Greyhound racing! Nonetheless the blood thinners I take do enhance blood circulation and thus the transport of oxygen in my system. This is a massive thing in blood doping and is a red flag in sports medicine.

An alarming side effect of the blood thinners is that large bruises can suddenly erupt on my body without physical provocation at any time making me look like I have been in a 10-round fight.

I take these drugs to enhance my life chances.

I additionally inject myself with Vitamin B12. Such supplements are often recommended for physical exercise and are not banned at a low dose in sport. The use of injections and intravenous drips in competition are subject to scrutiny and can be a smoking gun to anti-doping agencies.

The ticking bomb which had been counting down inside my body has been defused, and I am less in danger of a repeat than most people (especially those who think they are immune because they are fit).

Victory

Although the blood thinners may offer me sporting benefit helping to deliver oxygen to my muscles, sadly, blood pressure reducing medication holds me back especially on hills, but I won´t complain because my heart beat is low enough not to require Beta Blockers.

I assume I am a doper but unlike in my younger years this time it is under medical supervision, and have I never doped for a greater sport prowess. OK, I did once take a Paracetamol when riding the cobbles of Paris Roubaix.

I rode my road bike on a lovely summers evening and every pedal stroke feels like a victory. The route included one short sector of mild gravel and of course there was ice-cream at ride end.

On Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/12317746543