Minor set back!

OK so testing took a turn of events.

The lunch before the dreaded 4k run test, the girls and I reveled to each other we all had been having dodgy stomachs all weekend and it wasn't just nerves! With none of us wanting to have excuses for the coach to why we maybe shouldn't do the run we just got on with it. I took 67 seconds off my last time which I was thrilled with. Straight after word had got to the coach that we had all been a bit ill so we were told if we had been to the toilet more than 5 times that day, we had to go on gut rest and was only aloud fizzy drinks! This seemed a pretty harsh way to celebrate after the run but a speedy recovery was of the essence so orders must be carried out! So then testing had to be put on hold for everyone, slowly normal training resumed and the only other test to be carried out was water on the Friday morning of reviews!

My best 500m time improved by 16 seconds from the last lot of testing and I felt I paddled as well as my technique allowed me to at this stage.

Reviews were . . . disappointing to put mildly. Both my sister and I aren't being offered the funding we hoped for. Apparently we aren't as technically advanced as the others despite all going at a similar speed! If I had written on here on Friday night it might have gone something like 'the BCU (British Canoe Union) can go to hell' but I love kayaking now and greatful for being introduced to it.

After such an amazing experience I'm not ready to give up that easily. I have been shown the goal in life I want to ac hive and believe I have the will power to take me there (technical issues can be iron out - I have only been paddling for 8 weeks!) Now I am better off because I am surrounded by a supportive family and the best friends in the world. Plus I have twice as much incentive to beat the girls who have stayed on the programme! (girls if you read this I mean that in a healthy competitive way!) One of the girls who has stayed on (who would kill me if I mentioned her name) has particularly inspired me with her positivity and you can achieve anything you want attitude. If you can't push your self on your own then you wont make 2012 anyway.

I know it will be hard but that's all part of the challenge and I have to give it a shot.

You’ve banked all your savings now make sure you spend every last penny!

Tomorrow is the start of a whole week of testing:
Monday: 4k run (where I am expected to take off 1 whole minute from the last test)
Tuesday: Weights test (more improvement)
Wednesday : Lab testing on a kayak erg with lats being taken every few minutes
Thursday: Timed pieces on the water
Friday: Judgement day (reviews)

I have decided not to let one negative thought into my brain so at the moment I am feeling confident I will improve on everything.

I am now feeling slightly sick I have written down what I have to do but nerves are healthy and make you go faster so it’s all good . . . remain calm . . . today is rest day so all I need to focus on is relaxation and the precise order of music I will play on my MP3 player tomorrow during the run. My best track to get into the zone (where I picture myself on a start line in a race) is Evanescence, Bring me to life.

There are now 6 of us left and all of us want this as much as each other but only after this week we will see who the panel of judges think have the potential to make it to London 2012.

Hopefully catch up with people at Bristol Regatta and Somerset the weekend coming x x

Regattabahn Duisburg: Sprint Kayaking World Championships Germany

After travelling for ten hours on a small bus with 6 big girls to arrive at a forest/campsite in the pouring rain and have to pitch a tent wasn’t the best start to a ‘holiday’, but never the less we got on with it. It rained all night and all day and after having heard about the heat wave in Europe none of us had packed water proofs or warm clothes so we all had to acquire them from random people/coaches feeling sorry for us.

The first 2 days were heats, then on Saturday and Sunday were finals where the weather improved 100% and racing had become very exciting. We had each been given a category and we had to observe them and talk about them every night in turn. Mine was the women’s K2, Hungry and Germany dominated every race and Germany won most over all.

Tim Brabance GB, won the men’s K1 1000m and came 2nd in the 500m. When he was being presented his medal and the national anthem was playing I think we all felt how much we wanted his place as well as being immensely proud, in fact when we watched all the the GB squad competing, now we know them and kind of feel part of the squad although we aren’t quite on it yet the thought of competing, representing Great Britain and most importantly winning seems more in our reach in the short time span we have. Seeing the racing made me really want to train as hard as possible to really put Great Britain up there with the Germans and the Hungarians.

It was an amazing experience although communal cold showers and horrid loos wasn’t oh and I got my first international win in a cycling competition on a turbo bike! (It was in one of the clothing stands and I won a cycling top).

Back in Nottingham for some more intensive training which is being taken up a notch and then more trials and dreaded lab testing in Loughborough all next week! If we get through that then we will sort out about moving here permanently. I feel ok about it now but we have got some tough days ahead of us. So if I don’t write it means I am too exhausted to as I intend as always to give 10000%

Thanks for your comments guys they mean a lot. I’m sorry I haven’t got back to you all, having a time limit on internet is such a pain.

GOOD LUCK AT OXFORD BRISTOL! X X

I MADE IT!!!!

Just a quick note to say I made it through to the last stage of the conformation period. I actually convinced myself I was going home yesterday, to the point I even packed all my stuff up ready.

Yesterday was extremely tense, the testing was over and everyone was talking about the following days evictions! And yes it feels like Big Brother! Then just when everyone didn't feel like socialising we were all invited to the coach of the GB senior women's house for a BBQ to meet all the girls on the squad we eventually aim to join. I think everyone was feeling as if this might be the only time we get to see them so the atmosphere was hardly lively! (not to mention the absence of alcohol!)

Reviews started at 9am this morning and it was bad news for the first 2 girls. Everyone became highly emotional at the thought of loosing friends we have shared so much with in this short space of time. It was Antonia's turn next so she was bricking it! She came back to the room where we were all waiting for the latest outcome, she had got through but still on edge as I was next and we both know how hard it would be if only one of us got through but it was good news again. Thank the Lord! It is really great having each other here, the extra moral support is priceless.

So next week we are off to Germany to watch the World Cup Sprint Kayaking Championships as well as some serious cross training!

Words can not explain how happy and relieved I feel right now.

Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance

Yesterday we were tested on our 4k run where I took 16 seconds off then another Dyno test and weights test - bench pull and bench press. Where there was NO improvement what so ever?? I don't think I should be writing on here write now but this blog site would be quite boring if I always write how great everything is!

Today we had 3 x 500m on the water. 1st one and 2nd one I was concentrating way too much on technique and made me too slow so the last one I thought sod the technique I'm just going balls out where I actually came in at the same time as the other two in my race.

Tomorrow we have reviews to find out who they are cutting, I could be in Australia sooner than I intended! Oh well apparently the surf life saving team out there are really great fun so I think I will take that up next.

I will let you know tomorrow.

Bye for now.

btw I always prepare well!

Persistence prevails when all else fails

With with more testing is sight the pressure is on to make more improvements in the short space of time since the last testing. We had an individual goal setting review and we have been told we have to reach certain targets to stay on this boot camp. At the time I found it very positive and something to aim for but training with fatigue can soon make you feel like the target is a out of sight. I found you have to quickly dismiss these negative thoughts and remember that no matter how tired you are you still have to make sure you give 100% and get as much out of the session as possible. With people around you, all potential competitors for 2012 selection there is no time to take it easy on anything!

We did some more hill sprints this week but as it was raining . . . AGAIN so for health and safety reasons we couldn’t run down the hills so our coach told us to roll down them. Yes getting on the floor and rolling down in the mud and goose s**t that seams to b everywhere. As some people know I get car sick very easily and hate all fair ground rides for the simple reason; they make me very sick! By the last hill sprint I was crawling back up the hill instead of running and Antonia was following shortly behind.

Later on that day we had our first race in K4's where we were put into random crew boats with experienced kayakers and had to race 10k! Most of us had only paddled 6k at the most in one water session and that was with countless stops, wobbles and fallings out. So the challenge was on to not just complete the race without our arms failing us but also to beat the crews with the other talent ID girls in. We all got though it, my crew didn't come last, and arms could just about reach mouth to have dinner so it was all good. Made me realise how much stronger we have to be.

Today we had a proper rest day and all went to a very posh leisure centre where they did us a special deal for being 'Women’s British Fast Track Kayaking Squad' little did they know we have only been on it four weeks! Jihan joined us for the day too and had no problem flashing her guns along with the rest of us to prove we were part of the squad.

Back Holme (yes I used it again!)

I think the novelty of being here has slightly worn off, training has upped a pace and everyone knows they have to up their game to get through the next 2 weeks. Rest has never been more important, so tomorrow we are having a sleeping workshop (no we aren’t aloud to sleep in it!) Our coach doesn’t think we are resting enough and making it compulsory we all sleep for an hour in the day!

The next two weeks are a real test if we can sustain the training and give every session 100% even if we are tired. I am finding the paddle sessions the hardest because we still aren’t entirely stable and it’s so frustrating trying to apply technique when you are still trying to balance the thing. Extra sessions on the kayak Erg seem to help and also being reminded if you have a bad session just make sure the next session is the best one you have done yet. Positive thinking and some visualization gets you everywhere!