If we asked people in the street what an exercise stress test is, many would give the same definition: the medical examination footballers undergo when they sign for another team. We can all picture it: shorts and a treadmill to run on.The organization of the Marathon des Sables forces all participantsfirst to submit an exercise stress test and an electrocardiogram. Both must be performed within the three weeks before the race. Today I had my first stress test. I was curious about the medical appointment. When I booked by phone, they insisted I bring sportswear for the test.
This afternoon, a month's worth of rain fell at once. Already running late, I also picked up the wrong bag from the car. I arrived at the office and apologised for being late and soaked. In the doctor's room, I undressed to my underwear, which, incidentally, needs replacing. The gentleman in the white coat listened to my breathing, examined my spine and did all the usual checks. Finally, he said: “Now put on your sports kit and we'll do the exercise stress test.” I opened the green bag I had grabbed from the car and froze: inside were Buzz Lightyear and my children's other toys. In my hurry, I had taken the wrong bag. I explained to the doctor that my kit was outside in the car. Seeing nobody else in the room, I decided to do the test in my underwear rather than waste more time. The centre uses an exercise bike instead of a treadmill. I climbed on, but the metal pedals meant I had to put my shoes on. Wearing only briefs and shoes, I began pedalling. As the pedals turned, I wondered how long it had been since I last rode a bike. For so long, I had done nothing but run... After a few minutes, my pulse rose and I caught my reflection in a mirror: a very different image from the one I had imagined. Flushed and sweating with exertion, I was wearing black briefs and dark shoes. However hard I tried to ignore how I looked, I wondered: “Where is that glamorous image of exercise stress tests?”