Para-cycling Camp - AIS

I am now home after a week at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra, where a Para-cycling camp was held.  What a fantastic week it was.  I had decided to drive up to Canberra which is around 7 1/2 hours.  A couple of reasons for this 1. I needed to take my old trike the "Red Rocket" with me just in case the new trike wasn't ready and 2. it gave me an excuse to visit my "Aussie Mum" Margo on the way up and back!

The camp was also designed to have us all meet one on one with people who would form a large part of life at the London Paralympics in the way of medical staff.  So we each had a meeting with the Recovery specialist - Jo, Sports Psych - Sarah, Nutritionist - Liz, Physio - Anouska and Doctor - Geoff. (there was a massage specialist but unfortunately he was sick the day I was to see him!)  What a wonderful group of experts!  It was great to be able to sit down with each one of them and gain a bit of insight into what it will be like in London and to know that we have a relationship with each one of them before getting there. 

We also had some training from the Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) on how to deal with the media.  That was a fun time with some of the athletes being involved in a mock press conference.  It is quite interesting that the APC want us to become involved in social media, after all it is all the rage right now and what a better way then to get all the stories out to the public, right from the athletes.  This is a stark contrast from the Olympics where social media has been banned by the AOC.

And of course we can't forget the info session on Anti-doping.  It always amazes me to think that athletes would actually consider any form of illegal drug to enhance their performance.  We were also drug tested this week as well.  It certainly isn't fun to have to pee in front of someone but that is the price we all pay for those few who decide to cheat.  So I for one am happy to be drug tested.



Can't wipe the smile off my face!


I think that the best part of the week for me was when I received my new trike!!  It has been named the "Blue Bullet", and by god it goes like a bullet!  The fact that is about 8 kilos lighter than my old steel frame and I'm almost 12 kilos lighter, I felt like I was flying.  You couldn't wipe the smile off my face all week and it seemed that at the end of every ride I just wanted to go out again or for longer!  This definitely made training much more enjoyable, even if some of the sessions hurt like hell.  But not only the fact that I was on a new trike but the fact that I rode with someone all week.  You see almost all of my training is done on my own, so it was awesome to have another athlete to train with.  Hannah is a below knee amputee and rides in the C4 category.  She is also from Melbourne and I have known Hannah for years, we met as swimmers.  Hannah has switched from swimming to cycling and will be a huge contender for World's and Para's in the next 4 years.  So it was great to be able to head out on the road and have someone there for those 2+ hour rides.

Now all this sounds after reading it that I am heading to London, well to be honest we just don't know yet!  Hopefully I will know by the time of our nationals which are on April 14-15th.  It is an exciting time but also a time to just put "head down, bum up" and train hard!  I keep reminding myself that I have put in the hard work especially since October and have learned how strong I can be.  I have had challenges that I have faced and attained, but the challenges that still face me are not to be taken lightly,  I have what it takes to keep moving forward.  With my new "blue bullet" I have been given that opportunity to look forward and envision the best possible outcome.

Peter Day our Head Coach said this week "Train with a sense of purpose and finish with a sense of achievement, crunch time is everyday".  How true this statement is, each athlete has to realize that having confidence in yourself is only one aspect of the journey, responsibiltiy is the other.  Only when you are willing to be fully responsible for your training can you be truly confident in your efforts.