Had you invited me to take part in a skipping challenge four or so years ago, I’d have politely declined (and probably laughed). High-impact cardio, I always said, wasn’t a bit of me. I knew and acknowledged the importance of engaging in cardio exercise for my physical and mental wellbeing but, besides dancing and walking, I’d never found a form that didn’t make me feel furious for every single second of the session. I hated that cardio made seemingly every cell in my body feel uncomfortable and, therefore, avoided it as much as possible.
Weight lifting, for the past nine years, has been my preferred activity. But, when the pandemic caused gyms to shutter for over a year, my training routine dissolved overnight. I did dumbbell circuits in my living room and tried to use the time to develop my push-up technique, but without a barbell, I began to feel bored. That’s when I first picked up a skipping rope properly for the first time.
