Winners take chances.
Like everyone else they fear falling,
but they refuse to let fear control them.
Winners don't give up.
When life gets tough they hang in
until the going gets better
Winners are flexible.
They realise there is more than one way
and are willing to try others
Winners know they are not perfect,
They respect their weaknesses
while making the most of their strengths.
Winners fall, but they don't stay down.
They stubbornly refuse to let a fall
keep them from climbing.
Winners don't blame fate for their failures,
nor luck for their successes.
Winners accept responsibility for their lives.
Winners are positive thinkers
who see good in all things
From ordinary, they make the extraordinary.
Winners believe in the path they have chosen
even when it's hard
even when others can't see
where they are going.
Winners are patient.
They know a goal is only worthy as the
effort that's required to achieve it
Winners are people like you.
They make this world a better place
Nancye Sims
Wednesday 30 April 2008
Thursday 17 April 2008
First race of the season!
Our first week back in the UK was awful, it was freezing and it was so windy we could only get out in our boats twice before the race at Nottingham. We were both thinking the same, why did we come back? But luckily we found this amazing coach in Worcester, Matt Brown. If it wasn’t for him I’m really not sure I could have carried on kayaking. Before Ant and I went to Australia we were actually at a very low point. Matt entered us in all the K1 races and all the K4 races too. I was so worried about racing in front of the British Canoe Union lot I really wasn’t sure I could compete yet. But you know you just have to think, no one cares about these races as much as you, so the only person you are really letting down is yourself. So basically just get out there and do it, as there will be just as much pressure built on the next race and it will be just as mentally hard!
So we did the first 500m and came middle of the pack but once that was over I felt ecstatic and enjoyed all the following races because I realised that it didn’t matter what my times were because as long as I put in 100% I know there is only room for improvement. Plus I did all my races in a much more stable boat which meant I could put on full pressure without the worry of falling in. Ant is doing really well in a sprint boat so yes she is still faster than me, but when I eventually do get in a fast boat we will see who REALLY is quicker!
Matt Brown has been an amazing support and I feel we are actually getting somewhere for the first time in a long time. Since then training has been the best we have had it since we left Nottingham! Now I feel like we can finally make a real difference and ever since competing I am highly motivated to train hard and get chunks of seconds off for the following regattas.
One thing I have learnt recently is every athlete is very complex and must be treated individually, it is easy to underestimate someone because they aren’t improving the text book way. If you look at the bigger picture there are always areas of improvement but each area progresses at different rates for each individual and it takes a good coach to recognise these and develop them with skill and enthusiasm - Matt does this.
So we did the first 500m and came middle of the pack but once that was over I felt ecstatic and enjoyed all the following races because I realised that it didn’t matter what my times were because as long as I put in 100% I know there is only room for improvement. Plus I did all my races in a much more stable boat which meant I could put on full pressure without the worry of falling in. Ant is doing really well in a sprint boat so yes she is still faster than me, but when I eventually do get in a fast boat we will see who REALLY is quicker!
Matt Brown has been an amazing support and I feel we are actually getting somewhere for the first time in a long time. Since then training has been the best we have had it since we left Nottingham! Now I feel like we can finally make a real difference and ever since competing I am highly motivated to train hard and get chunks of seconds off for the following regattas.
One thing I have learnt recently is every athlete is very complex and must be treated individually, it is easy to underestimate someone because they aren’t improving the text book way. If you look at the bigger picture there are always areas of improvement but each area progresses at different rates for each individual and it takes a good coach to recognise these and develop them with skill and enthusiasm - Matt does this.
Don’t read if your vegetarian!
I haven’t written for a while now mainly because the sprint season has started and fitting work around training can be a struggle. Luckily I like my design work unlike my sister who has endless delivering all over the country side and then there is dealing with the meat for the farm shop. Actually not long a go a customer asked my sister for some ribs, Dad was out and as there were wasn't any prepared by the in-house butcher, so Antonia thought she would use her initiative and cut the ribs from the cow she knew was hanging in the chiller.
From all our weight training squatting a large amount isn’t usually a problem but when it’s a full grown cow on your shoulder it’s another story (btw I would never do something like this!) So Antonia using all her will power gets this cow into the cutting room and attempts to saw the ribs out. If you can imagine sawing through bone then you will realise how hard it is. So after half an hour of sweating and sawing away decided this just wasn’t going to happen and went out to tell the customer in fact there were no ribs available and would she prefer a chicken? The woman just looked at her stunned and left. Then Ant looked down at her apron to see that she looked like she had just massacred something!
Ant managed to put the cow back but it looked as though a couple of alsations had been at it. She was so worried what dad would say that she didn’t tell him and that was the day before we left for Australia. Dad still hasn’t said anything to her and actually he offered her the business yesterday, so I’m pretty sure he doesn’t know she had anything to do with it!
From all our weight training squatting a large amount isn’t usually a problem but when it’s a full grown cow on your shoulder it’s another story (btw I would never do something like this!) So Antonia using all her will power gets this cow into the cutting room and attempts to saw the ribs out. If you can imagine sawing through bone then you will realise how hard it is. So after half an hour of sweating and sawing away decided this just wasn’t going to happen and went out to tell the customer in fact there were no ribs available and would she prefer a chicken? The woman just looked at her stunned and left. Then Ant looked down at her apron to see that she looked like she had just massacred something!
Ant managed to put the cow back but it looked as though a couple of alsations had been at it. She was so worried what dad would say that she didn’t tell him and that was the day before we left for Australia. Dad still hasn’t said anything to her and actually he offered her the business yesterday, so I’m pretty sure he doesn’t know she had anything to do with it!
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