Published at 12:47, Thursday, 09 August 2012

THESE Olympics are just amazing. I confess that, like many I suspect, I was a bit nervous about how the opening ceremony would go, but it was inspiring.

Tim Farron

It included everything that makes you proud to be British, it was generous spirited, imaginative, even a bit edgy. I sat on the sofa with my family and just marvelled. There was even a mention of Kendal on a suffragette’s banner which had me shouting with delight and a series of messages coming in on Twitter.

The music was the real highlight. There was no way any other nation could have put together such a magnificent selection, Orchestral Manoeuvres’ Enola Gay, Bowie with We Can Be Heroes and Dizzee Rascal doing his warm up performances before going up to Kendal Calling. I thought that it really could not get any better – but then the athletes started to perform and I realised this had just been a warm up act to the real action. Our athletes have amazed me in so many disciplines from cycling to swimming to rowing, the medals just keep coming. In the time between writing this and it appearing we will undoubtedly have put on a couple more gold medals and probably broken at least one more world record.

I do a bit of running myself, in fact, I competed in the fell race at Ambleside Sports the other day. To even run up and down those fells without embarrassing myself needs me to go out running two or three times a week but I can only imagine how much effort must go in to getting your body into the shape where you can seriously think about winning something. They must have astonishing levels of dedication, not to mention ability to keep going in the face of considerable pain. Very few people can manage to achieve this.

However, most people can manage, like me, to take part in some form of exercise and would really benefit from doing so, not just because it makes you fitter and healthier, but because it helps in getting the world into perspective. We are so lucky to live in this area where getting outside and doing some form of exercise is really easy. I get such a buzz from getting out of the house by myself for a few minutes to jog up Heversham Head and see the views across to the Lakeland Fells, the Kent Estuary and even across to Ingleborough. I hear similar tales from cyclists and swimmers. I would recommend it to anyone.

For these games to be a lasting success, they need to encourage us all to do some more exercise, whether it is running, cycling or just going for a swim. You will feel so much better for it.

Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk