Driving Uses Your Muscles

The other day, I participated in a Porsche driving school (Porsche Track Experience), and during that time, I really felt how much muscle driving actually uses.

Of course, you need strong pedal force when braking hard, and for slalom driving, I learned that pressing your back into the seat and pushing the steering wheel requires leg strength to brace yourself and core stability.

That said, I’m obviously not aiming to be a racer, so there’s no need to consciously use muscles during everyday driving.

Still, if you can maintain a healthy physique with a reasonable amount of muscle, it benefits not only driving but your daily life as well, so I’ve recently realized I need to be more mindful of this than ever before.

I’m currently 37 years old. Soon I’ll be 38, and although I still feel young at heart, I’ve noticed I get tired more easily than before and sometimes get surprised by unexpected changes in my health.

In fact, this year I focused more on my health than ever—improving my gut health, doing simple daily workouts, and paying attention to my diet for my skin—but this fall, I ended up feeling worse than ever.

My daughter passed on impetigo to me, I developed mysterious hives, and I even suffered from shingles for the first time in my life.

When I went to the dermatologist, they said, “Your immune system is weakened due to fatigue and stress.” Compared to when I was in my early 30s and working nonstop, my stress has drastically decreased, and I haven’t been doing anything particularly exhausting, so I felt a bit sorry for myself. (The only stress I can think of is parenting stress, haha)

Humans Need Maintenance Too

So recently, I decided to get a full medical checkup for the first time in my life. When I was working at a company, I had annual health screenings and could regularly check my body, but lately, I hadn’t even had a proper checkup.

Since I had no idea which hospital’s checkup was recommended, I messaged a Porsche-driving doctor who lives nearby, and they kindly gave me detailed advice. I ended up deciding to get checked at a university hospital.

Before starting this Porsche blog, I had no doctor acquaintances at all, but now I know many doctors… In many ways, I’m really glad I started this blog. (It’s reassuring in emergencies, haha)

The medical checkup at the hospital took about four hours in the morning and included a thorough examination of my entire body, including gynecological tests. The health center building was very new and so clean it hardly felt like a hospital, with the latest equipment, so those aspects were great…

But the stomach exam using a nasal endoscope was quite tough. I’d heard it was much easier than going through the mouth, but tears and saliva streamed down, and it reminded me of morning sickness. (Though morning sickness was many times worse)

After the tests, during the consultation, I was told, “No abnormalities found,” which was a relief. I was especially thrilled to hear my bone density and blood age were in the 20s, which made me want to dance, but I reminded myself not to get carried away and to continue living healthily.

To Keep Driving Your Porsche

My husband also gets a full medical checkup every year and currently has no major illnesses, but I’ve come to especially realize that being healthy is what allows us to keep driving our beloved Porsches.

Maintaining our own health is even more important than maintaining our cars.

My husband and I always look forward to updates from his heart mentor, wata-san, a Boxster owner. This year, he was hospitalized and had surgery, and for several months couldn’t drive his Boxster. He wrote about it on his blog, and his words really struck me:

Since discovering this issue, a part of me has worried, “What if I suddenly collapse and never get to drive my Boxster again?”
So while I still could, I drove my heart out—Tohoku in September last year, Kyushu in November, the Kii Peninsula in March this year, and Chugoku-Shikoku during Golden Week. (Omitted)
I faced surgery after doing what I wanted to do, and I’m truly happy that I now have a prospect of driving my Boxster again.
*Source: Wind and Light, Boxster “Valve Damage ⇒ Repair”

Wata-san, sorry for introducing you without permission… (LOL)

But I really think that’s true. Being able to drive a Porsche now is never something to take for granted. Regretting it after something happens is too late.

Of course, some illnesses can’t be detected by checkups, and accidents can happen anytime, but from now on, I’ll make sure to get a full medical checkup at least once a year and not only maintain my car but also properly inspect and maintain my own body. These days, I’m determined to become a grandma who drives a manual Porsche with bright red nails.