Six Weeks Coming To An End

Last time I wrote I was in Dallas at MJP on a training camp with GB Bobsleigh and it was one of the best camps I have ever attended in 10days I learnt so much about myself and a lot of new methods of training and technical work I came home with a new outlook and passion to move forward.

It has been a massive challenge for me training in a plaster cast past my elbow but I never let it stop me do anything! I have been able to continue to run, weightlift a lot of it being single arm only but a lot on my legs, plyometrics, and a lot of core by balancing on my elbows! I have been working hard and have enjoyed every minute of it. The only thing I have found hard has been travelling to Bath and watching the girls on the push track as at the minute this is an impossible task for me. Anyone who is a sports person knows that this is like torture having to stand back and watch when your itching to get out there and do it , but my time will come soon. I did however help by pushing the Bobsleigh back up the hill using just my left hand so I can class that as a training session and a hard one at that I did numerous hills they where coming thick and fast!! When the girls had finished on the dry slope I got Mia a helmet and took her down with me in the Bob and she loved it, she is as mad as her mother I must add haha.

So now I am getting excited as I am back to the hospital on Thursday to hopefully have my cast removed as long as my bone has fused. I can't wait to get my arm back it's been too long.If they tell me I need to go back in a cast for longer they will have to catch me cause I shall be running from the Plaster Suite FAST! Haha. I am looking forward to being able to train to my maximum but I know I will need a lot of physio and rehab to get my full movement back but I know I can do it

Till next time.....

Dallas MJPC

So at the moment I have just finished day one in Dallas. I am currently in Dallas attending the Michael Johnson Performance Centre with the GB Bobsleigh Team on a training camp for 10 days to gain exposure to innovative training methods to optimise maximal strength expression, rate of force development, acceleration, and power & speed development.

For me this is going to be a challenge as I am in a plaster cast past my elbow on my right arm but I am here to learn, do the best I can to take part, and most of all be part of the team. I have been given the all clear to train as long as I avoid my right arm, no loading at all.

Day one saw us take part in some Physiological testing as soon as we arrived. Alot of it was about balance and movement which I found a giggle as balancing with only one arm is hard work but I gave it a go. Following this we had a Regeneration session which involved alot of work using the Foam Roller and band, I found this very helpful and something I will continue to do when I return home so when I'm at home watching the tv I can stay active at least!!


The afternoon session was more Performance testing which involved alot of jumping, squat jumps, standing long jumps, single leg jumps etc I still took part in these however my scores will probably be a little off due to my restrictions but it is still data I can work from. The last test was 10mtr sprints I couldn't drive my arm back at the start so a little delayed to hit speed but it was nice to run!

It has been a very long day and this is the first bit of exercise I have done since before my surgery so I am feeling very tired now but I can say it is nice to be back to it again. The real training starts tomorrow so fingers crossed I wake up in the morning with no aching in my arm and then I can give it a go again and see how I progress.

Will keep you all updated on my progress

Road To Recovery

Monday I saw myself in hospital having surgery which involved right ulna shortening osteotomy and repair of tfc peripheral detachment.

I had 2.5mm of the ulna removed and the bone is now held together with a fragment locking plate and 2 mini-mitek anchors used to reattach the tfc.

I am now supporting a glamorous plaster cast past my elbow for the next 6-8 weeks and when that gets removed I'm sure I will also have a lovely scar along the ulna shaft and across the ulna head so the chances of me being an arm model are now out the window!!

At the moment I have been told that I am not allowed to load or impact for 12 weeks then after that I will need to follow a strengthening programme back to full activities this is under the advice of the NHS but I am confident with the help of my sports team I will be recover a lot quicker. I am use to injury recovery, I mean I have been through it numerous times before and on the plus side I have come back better and stronger every time so this will be no different this time round!!

The down side to this injury is the fact its my right arm and I am right handed with a plaster cast past my elbow so i am facing a lot of challenges on a day to day basis but I have a very good helper in Mia who has been doing everything for me and I love her to bits!! the only thing I won't let her do is my make up. I am not leaving my house looking like a clown so at the moment I am settling for less make up and a left handed job.....Thank God for false eyelashes!!

Tough Times Ahead

My path as an athlete hasn't been a smooth ride to say the least. As an athlete we put our body through so much trauma on a day to day basis so we can be the best in our given field and sometimes our bodies just can't take the impact anymore so we pick up little niggles and sometimes serious injuries that can't see us side lined for some time but I guess that just goes with the territory.

I've had my fair share of injuries since 2003 which has seen me off the track for a few years, I've had four arthroscopes in my left knee to repair a tear, I spent 6 weeks in an aircast boot due a stress fracture in my foot and today I was given the not so good news that will see me support a cast on my right arm for the least 8 weeks but the worse is I will be out of action for around 4 months which means my athletic season is over before it has had a chance to begin!!

I know that its these things that we endure and overcome that makes us the athletes we our today. Those who know me know what kind of person I am I keep a smile on my face and a bubbly personality and ok I'm a little bit crazy. I face these challenges head on and keep up the fighting spirit and don't let it get the better of me as I'm not ready to give up yet I have so much more to achieve. But behind the smile and the crazy women who stands in front of you is as human as the next person, inside it tears you up knowing that you can't do what you live for everyday and sometimes it just get too much. I know that this is probably going to be the toughest time ever in my career as an athlete I will have my good days and bad days but its these things that make me who I am.....I'm not going down without a fight I will get through this and come out stronger than before!

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.