Injury Jinxed

I always seem to be pushed to the limits and have my strength tested during my life as an athlete. Things can be going great and then a little barrier is put in the way for me to overcome as I see it I have an injury jinx!! The good thing is I have the determination and strength to overcome these testing times and I always come out fighting stronger.

As I have mentioned in a previous blog I picked up an injury in my right wrist which has been a bit of a nightmare for a few months now as I am right handed. The good thing is it hasn't stopped me from doing my track sessions and plyometric training but it has significantly affected my weight training and block work as I've not been able to weightbare on my right. I have been able to do some bobsleigh push training but only by strapping my wrist up tight and taking a handful of painkillers!! Not got for the stomach!

I had an MRI scan which showed high signal at the origin of the TFC which is the cartiledge in my wrist. So on Monday I had a diagnostic wrist arthroscopy to confirm what is going on and then decided what the next step is and maybe more surgery to repair it. I need to get my wrist fixed as I want to be able to race at some point this summer and then be ready for the Bobsleigh pre season in October.

Following my surgery on Monday it confirmed that I had a TFC tear n detacthment as far as I am aware I have had the tear repaired and have to go back and see my surgeon on 15th to find out if I need any more procedures done. So at the minute I am struggling as I can't really use my right wrist and having to do things left handed is certainly a challenge in itself but as you do you just get on with it! I know I will bounce back I am strong always have been I will overcome this and fast. I got work to do.......

Testing

So as part of GB Bobsleigh I took a trip to Bath University to undergo some testing. This involved Dexa Scan and Skinfolds.....

First up was Skinfolds - this method is used to determine body fat composition, this type of testing is an estimation of body fat by using Skinfold Calipers. It's not the nicest of testing having someone pulling on your fatty bits and measuring them and by the time I had finished I looked like a dot to dot drawing down the right hand side of my body. I'm surprised Mia didn't try to join them up with her colouring pens!!

Second test was the Dexa whole body scan - this method is used to determine body composition characteristics such as lean mass, fat mass and bone mineral density. The procedure takes a total of 7 minutes where you are required to lay as still as possible. When ever I am asked to stay still you can be sure I have an itch that just won't go away!! It's amazing when you see the final image on screen showing just the bones and muscles. I looked like I had tree trunks for legs, it was as though I had blown up like the Nutty Professer does after his slimming postion has warn off!! Haha

Following the testing I was surprised with my body fat reading as I have always struggled to control my weight as a diabetic and then having Mia where I looked like I had put on about 5 stone!! The good thing was the Dexa machine didn't shout out "Fatty on board" and the guy kindly told me my reading was very good for a women to which I replied "what even with my body folds I've been carrying since I gave birth to Mia!"

Now I have the results I can keep an eye on my progress in losing more body fat and leaning up so next time I jump on the Dexa it will shout out "Skinny Mini Muscle Machine".......Wishful thinking ;o)

Devon County Championships 2011

After going through a stop, start Winter training programme and contemplating when I would finally step back onto the track I decided that the best time to see where I am at and blow out the cobwebs would be at my County Champs........

I always enjoy competing at my County Champs as this is where I started out when I was younger and I always remember my grass roots and appreciate where I came from plus it is nice for youngsters to see top athletes at these events and help support them and it's nice to see my fathers athletes and my training group in Plymouth compete and achieve Pbs and Medals.

For me this was a good weekend and not a bad opener. I became Devon Champ over the 100m with 11.7 and 200m in 24.4 and also got Silver in the Long Jump with 5m45. The conditions in Exeter where far from perfect this weekend but you have got to run regardless it's the same for everyone. My 200 was a nice easy run for me and I didn't push myself one bit I would have liked to have run under 24secs but the wind was having none of that!! My 100m was not technically good at the start as I just popped straight up but my drive phase was good and the rest was relaxed and easy and I didn't need to get out of first gear so I was pleased with that and I am not one to be able to run on my own so to come away with 11.7 is good enough for me it's early days yet and if the electronic timing was working it would have been quicker!! The Long Jump I just do for fun and I've not jumped in a while so thought I would give it a go and break up the sprinting. The only thing that gives me the distance is my speed on the runway I have no height at all when I jump if I could master that I'm sure I would be a pretty good jumper haha

So what's next for me from here on in? Well its back to training then next weekend Loughborough International. I have GB Relay Squad practise for two days then a race on the Sunday hopefully a 100m and a run in one of the two relay teams being put out. After that I am not sure when I will race next I have not really planned my races this year apart from the UK Trials in July that's the most important one and I want to make sure I am in the best possible shape to deliever on the day.

Cool Runnings

So this weekend I was back at Bath University for some practise on the Bobsliegh. I joined the athletes on there tests as part of the Talent I.D programme.

I joined some of the guys on the 30mtr sprint test, although I had already done this I thought I would use it as some training and see where abouts I am in training after not being able to do as much in the last four weeks due to illness. I did ok didn't run as fast as I did when I went through my trials but still a 3.96 aint bad going for someone who hasn't been training!! So I was happy with that and in a few weeks time after being back in full training and full fitness I will be smashing it.

Following this the guys and myself went up to the push track for some timed runs and seeing how quick we could push the make shift Bob. I really enjoyed this part of the session. For me I couldn't do the proper push technique as I still have a damaged wrist which is still under investigation so I had to do the Talent I.D push however I still found this painful. This was the first time for me pushing for time and with the help of Paula Walker and the coaching team I managed to clock 4.066 which is good going for me first time. But the target has now been set for me and I need to push 3.999 or under so I shall be returning back to Bath soon for some more coaching followed by some timed runs and I will nail it!! Hopefully by then my wrist will be better too.

I'm enjoying this new chapter of my life and can't wait to go forward with this. I am now finally getting back into full training and looking forward to the summer track season and then starting my first ever Winter season with GB Bobsiegh!! SWEET ;o)

Hit and Miss

My body has not been my best friend lately and training has been a bit of hit and miss where I have spent most of my time feeling dead and ready to vomit!! This isn't after a monster session this is after like two runs, I've spent most of my time sleeping and even having a hyper 3year old in the house this still hasn't stopped me! This has been going on for about four weeks now so I have missed a massive part of my preparation for the outdoor season. The good news is that following a blood test there is no major underlying cause to this apart from high blood sugars and thankfully this week I finally feel like my body is back on side and ready to get back to work. So I'm taking small steps into returning back to full training and the plus side for me is it doesn't take me long to get back to full fitness.

The good thing about all this is that I've been able to spend some more time with Mia, having afternoons in the park (yes I do play on the slide haha). Me and Mia have a Pizza Hut Friday where we go for lunch, this is my rest day anyway and my day off work so I plan to continue this as we have so much fun. We've been doing some painting, however that stopped when I left the room for two minutes and Mia decided to paint my carpet and write her name on my front room door!! I brought Mia some face paint and now she won't let me take it off!! Me on the otherhand having so much free time on my hands have been doing designs on my own nails, and even if I do say so myself I think I have a hidden talent ;o)

Normally by now I would have opened up my outdoor season but this season I'm not in any rush to get out and race. The important thing for me right now is to lay down the training. 2012 is just around the corner and I want to be in the best possible shape for next year so this year I am going to be selective on my races and see how things go. I am going to test myself and see where abouts I am at when I line up for a very rare 150m at the Manchester Street Race next month! I've not done a 150 since I was about 15 so I'm sure it's going to be an experience.

Academy National Award

As you know I work as a Teaching Assistant at All Saints Academy Plymouth and this week I was pleased to help the school celebrate a top national award presented from the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

The values of friendship, respect and excellence has helped our Academy to be the first school in the country to achieve a top national GET SET Award.

The scheme gives children and young people the opportunity to promote the core values of the Games, which also include courage, determination and equality.

The Olympic message was shown by the school through a special sports day which was created when we launched the academy last summer. The activity day includes a variety of sports and is aimed at boosting team building skills throughout the student population. I received the plaque on behalf of the school from Plymouth Leander coach Jon Rudd.

Principal of the Academy Pete Grainger and the whole school are honoured to be chosen for this award and the All Saint Academy Programme is an excellent example of how London 2012 is helping to spark young people's imagination and inspiring them to get involved and make a difference.........

WELL DONE ALL SAINTS ACADEMY

It's Bobsleigh Time

So a while back I said that I may have some more news to share with you and now I can.

A while ago I travelled to Bath University to try out for the GB Bobsleigh Team and as a result of this I passed all the physical attributes that they where looking for to become a breakswoman and use my speed and strength to help push the Bob and I can now reveal that I am now part of the GB Bobsleigh Team and will be travelling to the USA on the 19th of March to train with the GB Team and you never know maybe compete in their last race of the season.

I am very excited and grateful to be given this chance and start a new chapter in my life and hopefully make it to the 2014 Winter Olympics. The good thing for me is that I can still carry on with my athletics during the Summer, but I will not be competing again in the indoors as I will be busy doing my thing with Bobsleigh and I can't wait. Who knows I could join the names of elite athletes who have competed in both the Summer and Winter Olympics, imagine that ;o)

The thing with me is I love a challenge and I give it my all to try and succeed. I am confident this is going to another amazing adventure as part of development I have some great things coming up and I plan to grasp it with both hands and make the best of it and come out on top and who knows maybe an Olympic Champion! How sweet would that be?!