Igls roundup

We left Igls yesterday afternoon. Good bye Annis and Mannwella (probably spelt those wrong) - the most wonderful hosts. I am now in a place in Germany called Konigssee. We are here for a push camp. As well as a skeleton track here there is an ice push track which is where we are training - working specifically on the push. 

But how did Igls go? We had 7 sliding sessions in all. Sunday to Thursday and then Saturday to Sunday. I was super excited but also a little apprehensive to be heading back out on to the ice. Would I still be good? Would my selection be justified? All the usual insecurities off the back of just having done something once. I was also looking forward to reuniting with the girls (Maddy, Brogan and Ellie) and meeting the boys again (Marcus, Craig, Chris and Tim). 

I'd been assured Igls was an easier track than Lillehammer. And after walking the track I agreed. No mega high pressure corners, not a tricky track to recall, a gentle (within reason) flowing track. So, Sunday - we had our plans etc. had our race suits, brush spikes we were ready. Still a nervousness hung over the group - our first slide on the track, first slide since Lillehammer. We all had a safe first run - excellent. It's a great feeling when you get down a track for the first time, there is always a really strong sense of group achievement after the first one. 

Then slide 2. Corner 11 - my crash. We'd been warned of crashing out of 9 so this was totally unexpected. I wasn't badly hurt (see earlier blog) just a bit bruised. So Igls may not be as straightforward as they say. Everyone else did their 2nd slide with no bother. Sliding continued in this manner for me for the next 2 sessions. I crashed four times in total in my first 6 runs (over 3 days). I got pretty good at flipping my sled back over the right way. My worst crash was probably out of 14 into the outrun; I'd already gone through an earlier corner on my side and then as a result as being as rigid as a board on my sled afterwards I hit out of the final corner, flipped and turned. Watching the crash back it looks like I hit my head (although I am pretty sure I didn't). I didn't take my third slide that day. I was struggling yet no one else was (only one other crash). 

But I went back the next day... my coach had suggested that I may be loading too far forward on my sled; unbalancing myself and causing excessive skidding down the track which snowballs and causes you to become more and more out of control. So I tried to put more of my weight through the back of the track. No such luck. Crash no. 4. Gahhhh! But I wasn't letting this track get the better of me so back up to the top I went for a second slide. And on this one I didn't crash yes!! My first smooth (uneventful) run for what felt like forever. Then my coach told me he didn't want me to slide again as he needed to check my settings as I was still skidding my way down the track. I was gutted - I'd yet to finish a session (3 slides).

So we checked my balance and yes I was slightly too far forward on the sled. So full of enthusiasm I set off for the next session (yes that's sarcasm). Did it go better? Well I didn't crash but that's about as good as it got. Ellie got whiplash in her last run so it was a little eventful at the end of the session. But for me I was satisfied, no crashes so somewhere something was going better. The next day however was very frustrating - a similar session. My recall was pretty poor so I was not working things out for myself and my coach was wanting this to be better. I finished the session (the final one of the block) really despondent. Not sure if I was good enough to be on the programme and with confidence pretty low. I needed a break and a turning point. 

I got the break. We went to St. Moritz to watch the World Cup guys slide. St. Moritz is the only natural track left in the world and it is stunning. I paid special attention to how the sliders got 'back on line'. This was where I was letting myself down - I was just going with mistakes rather than aiming to correct them and get back on line or on plan. I noticed subtle head, shoulder and knee steers or foot steers if urgent - it was also clear that top level sliders anticipated going off plan/line and intuitively had a solution. That's what I need to do; work out which steers I needed to correct mistakes and be ready for them when and if they came.

The team in St. Moritz - horseshoe corner

Back to Igls. I was pretty stroppy for our Saturday morning session. We'd not actually reviewed our last sliding session (the one I hadn't progressed in) so I felt totally unprepared and worried that I'd have another poor session and wouldn't move forwards like I so badly wanted to. But the brief feedback prior to the start and the in between runs feedback was enough and I actually put together a not so bad session. Less skidding, a lot more awareness and I was able to play about with the corrective steers I'd observed the day before. I was somewhat pacified for the time being. 

Prior to our final sessions a different coach took the video session I was in. He had a slightly different way of explaining things and this is when I got my turning point (better late than never). My last session was my best in terms of push and down time. The top half of the track was going so much better but this did have a slightly negative effect further down the track as my timings were out. But still my last two sessions gave me back my confidence and belief in myself. I wasn't far behind anyone at all. I'd just got held up crashing and skidding all over the place - I still had similar ability. I was able to finish with Igls on a positive note. And I'd have gladly stayed a few more days. Earlier that week all I wanted to do was go back to Lillehammer even if that meant corner 13 and a fat hand.

For me, Igls was testing. It challenged my belief in my ability in this new sport that is asking a huge life change. It also showed that I am resilient and stubborn; I won't give in. Yes I got frustrated and a bit stroppy but I got there in the end and learnt a huge amount doing so. Things that are so important in skeleton: feeling, awareness and recall have all improved vastly compared to Lillehammer  and progression is all I can ask of myself. After Konigssee we go home for 6 days. I will go back to work and my role will go back to being support staff not athlete. Then on the 7th Feb I will become the athlete once more and head to Winterberg, Germany our next track. And so the journey continues... I do hope that I click quicker with Winterberg than Igls though!

After our final session (L-R Brogan, Chris, Me, Marcus and Ellie)

Meet the team!!

Presenting the British Skeleton Talent Team 2015 :)

Top (L-R) - Chris, Tim, Woody (coach), Marcus, Craig. Bottom (L-R) - Ellie, Brogan, Carrie (Team manager), Maddy, Kim

Picture credentials to Ellie :) we had to be a bit PC on this one! You'll have to learn to recognise us all wrapped up!

Men:

Tim Hull, 22, badminton. Lives in Stoke on Trent.
Insights: Sunshine yellow, fiery red and earthy green - Inspirer. 'Can go boldly where no one has gone before...'

Tim Hull

Marcus Wyatt, 23. american football. Lives in Devon. @marcuswyatt14
Insights: Earth green and sunshine yellow - Supporter. 'Modest and friendly.'

Marcus Wyatt

Craig Thompson, 22. football. Lives in Exeter. @craigtomo11
Insights: Sunshine yellow and earthy green - Inspirer. 'Brings boundless energy to any situation.'

Craig Thompson

Chris Gray, 21, football. Lives in Harrogate.
Insights: Sunshine yellow and earthy green - Helper. 'Works to promote harmony in his environment.'

Chris Gray

Women:

Madelaine Smith, 20, athletics (100mh). Lives in Bath. @madelaineesmith
Insights: Fiery red and sunshine yellow - Motivator. 'I have difficulty delegating and prefer to do it myself.'

Maddy Smith

Brogan Crowley, 20, athletics (heptathlon). Lives in Loughborough. @brogancrowley
Insights: Earth green and cool blue - Coordinator. 'Maintain a calm appearance come what may.'

Brogan Crowley

Eleanor Furneaux, 21, sailing. Lives in Bath. @eleanorfurneaux
Insights: Sunshine yellow, fiery red and earth green - Inspirer.  'Will try anything at least once.'

Ellie Furneaux

And me! Kimberley Murray, 26, athletics (long jump). Lives in Edinburgh. @kimmurray88
Insights: Cool blue and earth green - Observer. 'Ensures decisions are made logically'.

Me!

So there you have it. We're almost done in Igls, our first sliding camp as a team. Tuesday we drive to Konigssee, Germany for a push camp. We then go on to Winterberg, Germany before back to Lillehammer, Norway for the last three weeks of February. Then it's 'summer' season in Bath working in the gym and on the push track. We will then all be reviewed in October before the 2015-16 winter season begins....

It's not like riding a bike

I am four slides in. It is not like riding a bike. It doesn't just come back to you.

This is not going to be negative blog. But I am killing two birds with one stone and blogging my reflections from yesterday and tomorrow so it will be critical of myself. But there will also be positives. I have also got a 30 min time limit so it shouldn't be too rambling either (winning).

Here we go...

After two days here in Igls, Austria we (the 7 successful P2P'ers) got our first slide yesterday (Sunday) at 2:30 pm. As the track is so busy this week we were in a group of 30 (!) other sliders who will compete in the EC race Thursday and Friday. Talk about intimidating. But we just got on with it.

I (and I think it is fair to say we all were) was very nervous. Lillehammer felt like a long time ago. And things have stepped up a notch. No coach at the top - no junior start. On our own, in brush spikes and race suits :)

My first slide went well for a first slide. I got round Krisel (the big 270 degree left hand corner), through 8 and didn't flip my sled out of 9. A small knock to the ankle then through the high speed labyrinth and I was up through the out run. My feedback was positive: good form, decent steers; just they could be slightly firmer/longer.

The second slide didn't go right from the start. It was skiddy (I'd pushed faster) - the top half felt reasonably ok. But I hit in the straight between 9 and 10, and 10 just did not feel like the one before. And no time to work out why. Into 11 and boom I've flipped and I can see the sky. I screamed (poor Carrie heard and legged it) but then sense kicked in 'I've got to turn back over' so I managed and then having stopped short of the exit had to push my sled up the steep out run. It was the last thing I needed. My poor teammates had heard the crash announcement and were worried where the hell I was. They then really looked after me - Ellie even taking my race suit off as I iced my (very swollen and egg like) right shoulder. But that was the worst of it - so I'd crashed. It was always going to happen.

Bit of a red shoulder from my first crash

So positives (as promised):

1. I slid a new track
2. I pushed off the top for the first time
3. After I crashed I held on to and got back on to my sled

To work on:

1. Entry to corners at top of track
2. Firmess of steers
3. Feeling/awareness

Today (Monday): Slides 3-4 

We kicked off the day with a track walk (our first one) at 6:45 am! What a way to start Maddie's birthday - no longer a teenager!It was actually a beautiful way to start the day and for me being inside the track always helps me visualise and understand my steers a lot better. We also got to watch some of the EC guys training. Seeing how it is done it great but it is often difficult to relate to us and you can't really see how they are achieving the lines.

Upon arriving back Maddie's boyfriend and mate Jordan were waiting to surprise Maddie and we got tea and cake - which was very lovely. I then had some sled work to do. Daily checks and then working on my 'balance point' and practising my steers whilst on my sled - seems to work best for me. Having walked and slid the track always improves my visualisation as I can see the track clearer and know the timings/feeling of the corners better. So far so good.

Then it got infinitely better! OUR KIT ARRIVED. Or half of it did but hey free kit is free kit! So a little distraction mid morning which perked us all up. We are starting to look and feel like a real team now. Hopefully the rest arrives soon :)

 

KITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT! :) We are so lucky. 

 

 Race suits are not so easy to get on!

Anyway the rest of the afternoon was free time (i.e. we tried on all the kit). We then left for the track and that's where the fun started. I was a little apprehensive for my first slide. Not too bad though - my shoulder wasn't sore and I knew how to rectify the problems from yesterday. But before I even go to the first corner I was having problems. I came out of the spur (the groove your sled runner goes in when you push and load).

This is roughly what went on in my head:

Push: 'Ok not bad right get on'

Load: 'SHITTTTTT (or a worse word) I'm out of the spur'

Into corner 1: 'OH MY GOD I AM CLOSE TO BEING SIDEWAYS - stick your feet out and try and get back facing the right way'

Corner 1-3: 'Bloody hell, this sled won't stabilise. My form is crap trying to control it - see where I am'

Corner 4: 'Oh that's four. Missed the first steer'

Corner 5: 'What am I doing in this corner? Oh yea late squeeze'

Corner 6: 'Ooh that's come at me fast and not the same as yesterday - this doesn't feel great I am skidding'

Corner 7: 'Right 7, let's get this shit under control. Match the pressure'

Corner 8: 'Two steers coming up - this is important for 9. Left shoulder then right. Good,, got that'

Corner 9: 'Firm steer. Wait and again. Good I didn't hit the wall - should be ok in to 10 now'

Corner 10: 'This is better. Feel the pressure and match - ok.'

Corner 11: 'God here we go..... get that steer on. Got it - bit bouncy but I am on my sled.'

Corner 12: 'Yes got that'

Corner 13: 'Good, now into 14, relax.'

Corner 14: 'Almost done, when am I in the outrun?'

Outrun: 'Stayed on the sled - yes! But so pissed I came out of the spur and had a frantic top half'

Or something along those lines... but in general I was ok - pleased with the bottom half. Not too concerned about my push.

Slide 4.

I won't give you another internal monologue but safe to say this was not a good one. Stayed in the spur - but didn't check my sled position. I then proceeded to skid down the track - no major issues through 7-10 (10 didn't feel brilliant again - always a danger) but stayed on in 11. Thought I'd got it then boom on my left hand side through 12. FOR @?*& SAKE! I pushed it back so didn't roll but was so rigid on my sled through 13 that I crashed in 14, back on my back so turned (again) and had the final straw of pushing it up the outrun towards lots of concerned faces. 

So I called my session there. Didn't take the 3rd and final slide. I was just too frustrated and my instincts told me not to push it. I feel annoyed about that now - so something to work on. Not letting my frustration get the better of me.

Positives were:

1. I am not hurt
2. My 8-9 was good. I got the new steer.
3. I am feeling 7 and 10 better.

To do tomorrow:

1. Check my sled position 
2. Work on my push position

Luckily we are getting lots of great feedback from our coaches as well as video analysis. So by the time I slide tomorrow I should have a new plan and more understanding of why today went the way it did, And I am hoping that that translates in to fewer skids and no crashes! Wishful? My stats would say so (3 crashes in 4 runs) but I am ever hopeful.

That's my 30 minutes. Good night x

Maddie - the birthday girl (she winded herself doing this!)

Subject to change

It's our third evening here and we've yet to slide. I bet you're surprised but there is so much to do before we and our sleds are ready to take to the ice. In the two days we've had so far a big learning point is that in skeleton everything is 'subject to change'. Here's what we have been doing so far...

First up, we've have been getting very very well looked after. The hotel and the staff are incredible - nothing is too much to ask. The rooms, food and service is some of the best I've experienced. Certainly on a training camp. I think it can only go downhill from here though.

The view from the window of the hotel - picture credit to Ellie Furneaux

So we've been eating well. Good for me as apparently it would be good if I can get up to 'around' 74 kg! Ahh! I also took a trip out to the track yesterday with Woody our coach and Carrie our team manager to check on our track bookings. Here is where we hit the first speed bump ... there is an Europa Cup competition on next week as well as para bobsleigh and skeleton. Plus something call Wok sliding (unless Woody is pulling my leg?!). It all equates to a BUSY track. And we are bottom of the priority list. So our training sessions are all 'subject to change'. Track walks (when you walk down the actual ice track) are also tentative as the forecast is snow and the track is predominantly uncovered. Two things we cannot control - the track schedule and the weather. All adds to the challenge of the sport (because it isn't challenging enough apparently).

Then came Sled Friday as it shall now be known. A whole day spent in the sled room. Since Lillehammer some of our sleds have been used by different sliders (namely the boys). Naughty Zak (sorry Zak) truly wrecked my saddle bolts - rounding them off so that they couldn't be removed normally! So Woody to the rescue he drills and basically burns away (singing some of my padding in the process) the bolts and my saddle is removable once more :) Now for weekly maintenance which involves greasing the parts where the runner attaches (remove the runner first) and checking all the nuts and bolts that holds the lot together. Then I need to put it back together and attach my saddle in my settings bolt it in and check it. It's not right. It's not tight enough and I need to cut away the padding and shorten the saddle. Ball ache but necessary. Then comes the taping. When you insert the padding around the steel and cover the whole lot in tape - so much taping but Patrick the Europa Cup GB coach is a master and taught us how to tape faster and neater (saviour). So you can see there's a lot of sled mechanics and general fussing to contend with. And I am not one for tools and mechanics, but it is very necessary for safety and performance. Next onto 'balance points' and 'footprints'. Basically checking your position on the sled and individualising it. I could see the light....

Oh no. I'd only gone and put my runners back in the wrong way :( devastated. It's 15 min to dinner and I want dinner! Ha! But Ellie helped my strip back the sled (all that time taping) and switch the runners. To be honest they fitted a lot better that way! Then we retape and head to dinner which is steak and JP with sour cream sauce mmmm. 

Marcus, Maddie and Tim doing sled work

Today has been more about the track. We are sliding on the Igls track which I have been told numerous times is much easier/safer/better on your body than Lillehammer. Famous last words eh? To be honest after walking up and down the outside of the track (our track walk was cancelled because of the snow) it does seem less aggressive than Lillehammer. It does have a Kreisel (a corner that is greater than 270 degrees) though which looks incredible. It also has a high speed labyrinth (sequence of short corners) which should be exciting. We have also been warned that there is a chance of flipping on your sled out of 9 - so an update on that to come! We are now ready to slide. Each of us has a plan that we started to form on the way down the track (how and when to steer/not to steer). This was further reinforced by a video analysis session this evening. So it is now a case of getting down the track and working out what is working, what is not and where to tweak/add to that plan. It is hard to visualise when you haven't felt the track but we will go through the track in our minds a lot between now and 2:30 pm tomorrow. That way we should be able to execute the plans we have made even at the high speeds we will be moving. 

Earlier in the day we all learnt the very basics of runner maintenance. Sliding damages the runners - scratches, dents etc. and we need them smooth so out comes the sandpaper and you sand them down. I learnt all about different grades of paper today - high is fine, low is coarse and the best technique to polish! Get your whole body into it - clean with acetone, whack the paper to remove shavings. It's a completely different world. 

Polishing 'David's runners'

A morning's work

This evening we have packed our bags, done some mobility, massage and core, eaten a delicious dinner (cake included), and most excitingly tried on race suits! They are not our race suits just some older ones so it is safe to say they are not the best fitting! But it gave us some laughs in our rooms this evening :) they certainly are not the most flattering and we all have the fear of having see though bottoms but I guess that will be the least of our worries when we are on the starting block about to push off (that's right from the top, walking/running first run). 

It's here. It's real. But I am really looking forward to it - can't wait to get on that track.

What to pack for a skeleton training camp

It's not even 48 hours since I landed from Banyoles and I am off again. This time to Austria, via Birmingham for my first camp as a member of the British bobskeleton talent squad.

But what I have packed? Bobskeleton due to it's mechanical nature and cold weather environment requires a little extra thought as far as packing is concerned. Here are my essentials...

Clothing. And a lot of it. Warm, winter specific kit is essential e.g. Sallopettes and ski jacket, thermals. 

As are gloves and thick socks. We also need training kit so leggings and tops. Shoes take up a lot of space, I fill mine with socks and other small items to save space. I've got five pairs of shoes with me..

Food. Athletes eat a lot and they eat often. Whilst we are catered for it is always sensible to bring snacking food. Chocolate and tea is comforting to me (we consumed an awful lot of it in Lillehammer) so these are my essentials. I've branched out this time and have brought different types of teas; green, mint, fruity and decaf in case you're wondering. I have also packed my protein and shaker as you can't always rely on the quality of food or timing. By having protein available I ensure that I am maximising the recovery and repair of muscle after training.

Torture tools! We do not have a physio on hand so it is up to us as individuals to look after ourselves. This means working on our muscles to loosen and lengthen them using an assortment of rollers, balls and bands. I will aim to do 20 min of this a day to keep myself in good nick. I'm also taking a skipping rope as warm up space can be limited and skipping is a good pulse raiser!!

A mini pharmacy. In case you don't know, sport hurts! And bobskeleton hurts more than most due to hitting walls of ice at high speeds :( It is important to stay healthy and that means not picking up bugs, illness etc. first defence and hand sanitiser are my weapons against illness - we always advise our athletes to use them at work. Vit D is really important for immune function also and a lot of countries I will be visiting have low daylight hours meaning it is diffucult to get your daily quota of vit D. I have to buy batch tested supplements now that I could be tested by the drug testers. I also have an array of painkillers - cocodemol, paracetamol and ibuprofen to take the pain from the hits and any niggles (Zoe injuries) I may pick up. Lastly, as a girl I always carry sanitary products (just incase, me or anyone else) and remembering to keep taking contraception is essential!!

Sleep aids!! A hot water bottle if it's cold (also really good when your neck is sore), an eye mask in case you're sharing/you want to sleep late on a rest day and ear plugs to block out noise. Sleep is VITAL to recovery so you need to do whatever it takes to get a good nights sleep. I also have my cuddly toy Pancakes the rabbit (yes I am 26!) as she reminds me of home and is a comfort when travelling often and missing my own bed!

Tools. Before skeleton the most tools I'd ever used let alone packed for a camp was a spike key. Today I have in my bag: a set of Alan keys, sandpaper of varying grades, a steel ruler, vernier calipers, Stanley knife, scissors, white grease, shoe goo, head torch and other stuff that I can't even remember. It is all to do with sled maintenance. Before each run you have to set your runner 'rock' which involves precise measurements and making adjustments with a wrench and Alan key. You also have to frequently check all the nuts and bolts and polish the runners. Oh, athletics was so simple. And don't get me started on taping.

(No picture sadly)

Final thoughts for packing 

1. Always always pack an extension lead - means you only need one adaptor and good if few plug sockets available

2. Roll not fold your clothes you get more in :) (see below)

3. Think about entertainment. Films on a hard drive, new books to read on your kindle, speakers so you can have a dance to let off steam...

So there you go. That's what I know so far. Part of this journey is finding out what works for me. What I need to perform to my best. 

I also get all my British skeleton kit when I get to Igls. It will be like Christmas!! So fingers crossed I will have two of everything and don't have to do any washing :) 

Row row row your boat

January the 2nd and I'm on a plane to Girona with 12 of the best rowers in Scotland and their coaches. Not your average start to a new year.

But this is part of what I do for a living. As an exercise physiologist for the sportscotland institute of sport I support coaches and athletes with sport science input into their prigrammes. So far I have been Scotland based, working out of the lab, office, local facilities etc. the highlight being the Commonwealth games which took place last summer in Glasgow. 

Now finally I got the chance to travel and support a group of athletes and coaches!! So no two day bank holiday for me, I arrived here, in Banyoles (Spain) on the 2nd January to a hotel/hostel which specialises in rowing camps. It's basic but does the job. 

Why Banyoles? Well there is a BEAUTIFUL 2km lake here so it's an ideal location for a water camp. Plus Cambridge uni are here and you've got to assume that they know what they are doing when it comes to rowing.

The office!

So what happens on a training camp? Well here's an example day for me...

6:40 am: wake up

7:00 am: receive a delivery of 12 people's pee samples to my bedroom door!!

7:00-7:10 am: analyse said pee to assess hydration status of each rower - it is important they start training hydrated

7:15 am: head to breakfast to reveal the results! Advise those who are dehydrated what and how much to drink.

7:20 am: eat breakfast myself :) I tend to go for meats plus Nutella on toast

7:30 am: time to see how the rowers are feeling, have slept and what they weigh today. Every morning each rower fills in scores on my laptop. Before they start training I sit with coaches and identify anyone who is flagging low on wellness or sleep and we make adjustments if we see fit

8:00 am: session 1. I (dressed in thermals and as many layers as I can find) go out on the launch (small temperamental boat) to watch the session with the coaches. It takes a while to learn a sport and this up close view is an excellent opportunity to gain some technical knowledge and see the training.

10:00-11:00 am: break for the rowers to rehydrate and refuel. Break for the staff to a warm up and consume caffeine!

11:00 am - 12:30 pm: session 2. Man this is a long day and it's only not even lunch time! 

This is where I come in as a physiologist. The middle session is where they pieces (or higher intensity efforts) take place. It is when I collect blood from the rowers to check what intensity they are training at. Sounds straightforward. It isn't. On dry land this is a piece of cake. On a moving boat with a moving subject in a unstable boat it is somewhat challenging!! We get it done though with no falling in or capsizing :)

My lactate station, from the jetty not the launch

1:00 pm: back to the hotel/hostel for lunch. The food here is... interesting. Plentiful in amount which is good because man rowers eat! But odd in combinations and excessively salty! Spanish omelette is a good day, whilst mystery meat stew not so good. 

2:00 pm: time for the rowers to rest before session 3. I update my spreadsheet with any data I've collected and check emails.

3:00-5:00 pm: session 3. Back to the lake; a 10/15 min walk. At this point I'll either go back on the launch as they are in crews not singles which is interesting or I'll go train myself. There is a cinder track and a gym so I have managed to keep up my own training which is good!

Two of our boys plus the Cambridge eights in the background!!

5:00-5:15pm: we run some sort of recovery for the group. This can be ice baths (not popular), ball games (popular) or yoga (mixed reaction). This helps flush (buzz word) the muscles of any waste products and is an opportunity to work on soreness and tight muscles prior to the next days training.

Ice bath (lake) recovery!!

6:00 pm: dinner. Staff and rowers are usually waiting at the door for dinner - the days are long! The highlight of the food over the 10 days is undoubtedly the white/dark chocolate spread on bread that we started having for dessert. I tried to limit myself to one slice! The rowers are literally liking the jar clean.

7:00 pm: down time. I have provided feedback on any lactate data and we've planned the next day so everyone tends to disappear to relax. I tend to sit outside the physio room as Kelly my roommate works the latest of all of us and I'm too scared to sit in my room (in a nunnery) without her.

9:00 pm: Kelly is done and we head to our room turning all the lights on as we go (it is so creepy). We will chat over the before lights off about 10/10:30. 

And that's it. Repeat X 10.

#power2podium: The phonecall

This morning I found out whether or not I'd made it on to the British bobskeleton talent squad after almost a year long selection process called power2podium.

I got good news!!!! I am on - phew! I was on a bus when my phone rang and had to leave the call. There was no way I was going to be able to hold it together in public if it was bad news. The reason I was on the bus was because I was on the way to pick up my car from a garage. So once I got in the car I pulled over and returned the call. By this point I felt physically sick with nerves. And typically Lizzie's phone was engaged as she was of course on the phone to my fellow p2p'ers. Trying to hold it together I waited and she called back and delivered the great news that the selection team were pleased with my performance and the way I conduct myself and want to explore my potential further in the sport!!

WOW!!!!! Relief and excitement were my main emotions! I was so pleased for me haha. I couldn't (and still haven't 8 hours later) really process it all. I know I'd said that if I didn't get through I would just take the whole process as a fab experience but to be honest once I'd had a taste of the life and seen how it works for past athletes on the talent squad I wanted it. I would have been bitterly disappointed to have it all end now. Anyway I rang some of the family and sent out some texts etc. Everyone did the whole 'I knew you'd get in' which made me smile! People's support and belief in me has really been astounding! Now although this blog has just been posted  there's something you need to know. I wrote it weeks ago. I found out on the 22nd December - a day I will remember for sure! But British Skeleton asked that we didn't post on social media until their media team had done the official press release so if you're reading this it means that that has happened! As you can probably imagine this is killing me! But I wanted to write my reaction down as I'll have forgotten/have new feelings by the time I am allowed to publish/post!

The next bit was hard though. My thoughts almost immediately went to my fellow athletes. Who else was in? I checked our whatsapp group and nothing. During the drive home though some of the guys were posting, and it was all bad news - they got no's. Reality sucks. I can only imagine how that feels and I'd have loved it if everyone could have gone through. We were such a strong team and now we've been cut from 19 to 8. I broke the silence of 'yes' verdicts - feeling pretty shitty and guilty about it to be honest. But of course everyone was brilliant. Slowly we worked out all the yes/no's and like I said 8 yes and 11 no.

So what is next.... whilst sort of feels like the hard bit is done it couldn't be further from the truth. It is now that the hard work starts. But first things first... the kit! Every athlete loves some kit and there's a big bag of shiny Adidas stuff on it's way to me! It's going to be like Christmas! Then on the 15th January the 8 of us go to Germany, we are back on the 31st, get a week at home and head back away on the 7th Feb to the 28th. And so it begins... the life of a winter sports athlete (god that's a weird thing to say)! I am also away the 2nd to 12th Jan working in Spain with the rowers so life is going to be mental!

I've told pretty much everyone now, just got to get things in order at work. Having a cheeky celebratory gin with my flatmate at the moment and then will enjoy Christmas at home with the family! Then the business begins - I will try to juggle a full-time and demanding job in sport with being a full-time athlete myself! Financially it will be tough - I will be taking plenty of unpaid leave and will likely need to search for private sponsorship to fund equipment, travel and patch the hol ein my salary! Blogs may become less frequent lol! Anyway it's been a rollercoaster - but with the best possible ending. Congratulations to the other guys that were selected. And to the one's that weren't I am positive that there will be different opportunities for you to shine at! At least there will be no more ice baths for you :)

I'm an adult ok?

Christmas is over and I'm on my way back home to Edinburgh. Being at home home (Isle of Wight) has got me thinking though... When do you become a legit adult?

I guess it depends on who's opinion you ask.

I often say that I don't feel like an adult. And maybe because I perceive an 'adult' as another level of maturity from my current self or simply I think you must be boring if you're an adult. But let's look at the facts. I have lived away from home for 8 years now - 6 at university and 2 working. I have a full-time permanent job which I am very proud of. Moreover it is a career, not simply a job that pays the bills. I even have a company car. I cook and wash for myself, generally look after myself and am independant. That's pretty adult. 

But when I go home I sometimes feel like I am still considered a child. Does anyone else get this? I can also act like a child too. But this year it hit me. There is no reason why, for example, that I expect someone to prepare and cook the Christmas dinner. But at the same time my family feel obliged and moreover, pressured into providing a wonderful Christmas Day for me and whichever other siblings are home. 

I don't get this sort of impression from friends back home either. I feel like their relationship with their parents is on an even level. So what's the difference? Why do I feel and act like a child and they do not. When in fact I've lived by myself for longer than all of them, most of whom have never lived more than 10 min away from their family. I live 500 miles away from mine.

Two reasons. 1 - I just alluded to, the distance. It is an occasion when I come home. And that is my own fault for visiting so infrequently. And 2 - I'm single. I don't bring a man home or have to split my time between families. So whilst ALL of my friends have significant partners and mostly also children I am still the same as when I was 20, 21 whatever. I think not having a ring on my finger, mortgage to pay is the single biggest factor as to why sometimes I do not perceive myself as adult and am not always treated accordingly. And this isn't a moan, I actually have a negative association with the word 'adult'. It sounds so boring and implies responsibilty. Things I do not want. 

I was repeatedly asked all Christmas about men, boyfriends, marriage, grandchildren etc. Yes I would like a boyfriend but I am in no rush to be married and am still anti-children. So why are people judging me on that aspect and not the fact the I have the best career out of the majority of people I grew up with, live in a fantastic city and have a vibrant life? I feel like this is an issue for a lot of women in their 20's!! Success and happiness can be achieved in so many ways. Yes, for some people getting married means they are successful. Or having a baby. Well done to those people. I'd use a different word. Settled.

It is no longer a women's only job to care for a man and produce heirs!! Hello, this isn't Game of Thrones!! As well as being able to bear children and look after men, women can have a career, travel the world, date, flirt, wear what they like, be ambitious, play sport, challenge men and more! So why go for the first guy you fall in love with? How likely is it that the guy you've met who lives 20 min away from you is your "soulmate" or your "one"???? Why not spread your wings, explore? Live life outside your comfort zone before you become comfortable. That's my motto anyway. 

So whilst it would be nice to 'do Christmas' as a married, house owner next year it's not going to happen. I probably won't be bringing anyone home to meet the parents either! Life just isn't going to go that way for me in 2015! And that's ok with me. Next year everyone is invited for Christmas and I'll cook solo!! I reckon we can just about fit in my flat. And maybe I'll start calling myself an adult for 2015.