Get on track to combat pandemic’s mental and physical ill-effects
Feeling locked down? Unlock your potential by taking up a sport, advises obstacle course racing (OCR) and trail athlete DUNCAN BARRY The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about both mental and physical health-related issues – and although Malta fared comparatively well and didn’t procrastinate with too many lockdowns, many people chose to stay at home in a bid to reduce the chances of contracting the virus or out of fear of spreading the virus. And rightly so, many employees worked from home while many of those who lived alone were deprived of interacting with others. It was a fluid situation where things changed drastically from day to day and the vast majority of the population watched closely the sad developments with regards to the number of deaths that were registered worldwide daily. It was a shock to the system, as we would hear stories of people losing friends and relatives to the pandemic. The author during an OCR training session. Some, however, used this time proactively, and decided to change their lifestyle by engaging in sport and following a healthy diet. Others, however, felt hapless and indulged in not so healthy food and didn’t exercise enough. It was a choice we...