NAME : Daniel Martin
AGE : 24
SEX : Male
E-MAIL ADDRESS : dan@londontocapetown.co.uk

Lessons Learnt From Time On The Road

PROFILE:

I was born on the 18th July 1981 in Peterborough. I was blessed with very supporting parents (although I have tested their resolve to the limits on many occasions!) and from a very early age my father, a farmer, and my mother, a teacher, encouraged me to try out every sport and activity going-from mountain biking to chess, from swimming to rugby. The one thing that came from this mass activity trial is that I soon realised I wasn't actually very good at anything in particular! To be fair on the plus side of things I did realise that I was quite good at some things. I never had athletic ability or stamina but I did have a quick brain and determination. This stood me in good stead for my first great passion-rugby. Even now given the chance I'd be outside with my brother and Dad or some mates chucking the ball around.

I played to a relatively high level and by the time I was in my second year at Leeds Uni my body was starting to feel the effects of playing up age groups and playing for two or three teams a week. By the time I graduated with a 2:1 in Physical Geography I had an injury of some sort in every joint in my body except my left hip and two of the toes on my left foot. I can’t blame rugby for all my injury woes, for example I inherited the family 'bad back' (spinal over arch) and was prone to the odd mishap after a few beers. At the age of 22 I suffered a serious shoulder injury and was forced to miss a season of rugby. With a considerable amount of physiotherapy and brain numbing rehab I recovered to a level where I could play again only to blow ligaments in my knee at my third training session back. Some people would take the hint, I never was that clever!