To Tinder or Not?

So I wasn’t sure whether or not I wanted to publish these thoughts. I was (am?) a little ashamed to be using Tinder (since the start of March) and didn’t necessarily want to admit it widely. But realising I am potentially getting carried away with how many people actually read this blog and a chat with my cousin has led to this being composed now on the train back from Sheffield. 

The said chat went like this..

Chris (cousin, aged 28) upon explaining how he met his current girlfriend to his dad: “ Cous (that’s me), are you on Tinder?”

I panicked and went “No” in an offended sort of manner.

Chris: “I am. It’s how I met [new girlfriends name]”.

Me: “Ok, I lied. I am” and that was that. We proceeded to then explain and demonstrate to his dad how Tinder worked - hilarious!

** Hold up what is Tinder? (I expect my mum is reading this, insert monkey covering face emoticon)…

So for your benefit mum Tinder is a dating app where you have pictures of yourself, set what type of person you want to meet (age, gender, proximity to you) and get the appropriate pictures to swipe left (means no) or swipe right (means yes) on. It is pretty superficial. If you like a picture of someone that likes you it is a ‘match’ and you can chat on the messenger page. You can also ‘unmatch’ people who you haven’t spoken to/haven’t spoken to you or you are no longer interested in.

In Chris’s opinion, every single 20 something Londoner is on Tinder. So what is there to be ashamed of? For me, it is a failure to meet someone ‘normally’. Well what is normal? The internet and apps are pretty damn normal these days. I’ve also moved a lot so I find that my circles are small and familiar. Not places to meet new potential boyfriends! I, like so many others am also busy! I work in the day, train in the evening and at weekends I have friends and family to see. That doesn’t leave a huge opportunity to do other things which would lead to meeting new people. I am also less likely to meet people ‘out out’ as I try to not party and drink too much (stop laughing people that know me).

I’d also heard the stories about Tinder – not to mention know people who use it that were not say what I was looking for. Safe to say I set my age and location limits carefully (also bearing in mind my new year’s reso of 24 years old plus only). But so far I have to say it has not lived up to its somewhat unsavoury name! I have chatted to guys in similar positions to myself; busy and not managing to meet people in the conventional manner.

I also discovered an alternative use to the app. I read an article about ‘tinder travellers’ which is when travellers (solo or groups) use Tinder to source a local tour guide or companion (or hook up if you’re being a cynic)! What a great idea! I then came across a guy who’d put his location to Edinburgh but lived in Dublin and asked why he’d been on my Tinder what with my 50 km limit. It turned out this was what he was doing. He asked for recommendations of places to go, had good chat and seemed harmless. I’d totally do this if I were travelling (being careful of course) – there’s definitely something to be said for a local tour guide.

Anyway it was all going well. Chat was moving towards dates and it was a laugh. My housemate and I would go on my Tinder and he’d try to guess which way I would swipe etc. He wasn’t very impressed and said I was easy to guess because I go for obvious attractive people! Well sorry! And then I got unmatched. To use a phrase I am a fan of I was abruptly furious! Don’t get me wrong, I’d unmatched people too (double standards – tell me something I don’t know) but this guy had been chatting with me and seemed pretty friendly and interested. And then I looked back and realised I’d probably been a little rude, abrupt and insensitive (all traits of mine I am afraid)… so I totally deserved it and may be just a little bit nicer in future. Being unmatched was not the best feeling even if it doesn’t actually mean much in reality.

So there you go. I am in the dating albeit Tinder, dating game. For my next blog… ‘My first Tinder date’ *insert crying with laughter emoticon*.

#girlsthatlift

Despite the crying with laughter emoticons I am receiving from my skeleton pals regarding my hashtag 'girls that lift' this is a serious blog! Today in the gym I was paid two compliments; 1) You look tanned (yes, this is a compliment to me) and 2) your arms look big. Number 2 was met with a look of horror from me whilst Alex (S+C coach) tried to retract what he meant (something about improved posture!). But he was serious and meant what he said as a compliment. Unfortunately my arms (which for those of you that don't know are quite big for a girl) are an area which whilst I'd rather they were the way they are than flabby do make me feel self-conscious.

So yes. I am going to talk about female bodies in sport and in general hence the tongue in cheek title #girlsthatlift.

Where do I begin?

First of all I'd like to say that I do lift. So I have nothing against other women that do - in fact I think it's great that so many women embrace weight training because quite simply it's awesome. The growing popularity in cross-fit, weight training, bikini modelling all go some way to break down the stigma that the free weights are for men and women who lift are manly. However, the idea that you can be athletic, strong AND feminine is still challenged as are the women that play sport or use weights to train.

As a sportswoman myself I take great pride in my physique. And I am happy with the way I look; I wouldn't change a thing right now because it works for me and I need this body to achieve my goals in sport. But yes, like many other sportswomen I do worry about how I look in a crop top which shows abs, or a pair of skinny jeans which expose muscular thighs etc. etc. However, I am also well aware that women look at me or other sporty women with envy wishing they could have a flat stomach or toned arms. It's a tricky one because at the end of the day my body works for me and so what if a man at a bar comments on my bicep? If he prefers a bingo wing he is clearly not the man for me! On the flipside the sexualisation of women in sport is also upsetting, it's 2015 for goodness sake! But that's another blog.

When I look at my instagram for instance I see so many examples of women who are strong and attractive. Bikini models, yoga lovers, fellow sportswomen. They are all working their bodies hard on a daily basis to achieve their dream - why do people feel the need to make rude comments about their muscles or broad shoulders? Who would rather have a flat pancake bum over some actual shape and distinction between back and legs!? Not me. Or a muffin top over a toned stomach - who doesn't want Jess Ennis' abs? Not even mentioning that the training and diet that helps achieve these physiques is far superior to a lifestyle of no exercise and poor eating habits. Who will suffer more health problems - not the person that exercises on a regular basis and eats well. And don't even get me started on mental health - exercise works wonders for confidence, stress and anxiety management and general happiness.

What does annoy me though are the so called 'celebrities' that plaster their instagram with workout videos/pictures and plates of food! I am trying not to be a hypocrite here (I have been known to do this) but I just feel it belittles the people that have worked their ass of for years, struggled with money to achieve their dream in sport yet get a fraction of the recognition that Millie Mackintosh gets for putting a video of her PT led, 1 hour (probably), posh gym workout. Worse than that are 'celebs' that make money from a fitness video their face is on (Charlotte Crosby I am talking about you). Everyone is entitled to exercise and I encourage everyone to do so just don't throw it in the faces of people that can't afford a personal chef and trainer to push you every step of the way. And earn it. So many of the 'celebs' I am ranting about will put the weight back on because the lifestyle it requires to maintain it is exactly the opposite - not maintainable. Let's praise men and women who for exercise/training/fitness is a way of life, a means to make a living or realise a dream not a fad.

Anyway back to sport! I am currently battling with the idea that I may have to increase my mass for skeleton (had to mention it). The trend nowadays for women in skeleton is to be bigger and weigh more. We joke that 'fat is fast' which isn't the case but skeleton as I am often informed is a gravity sport and the heavier you are the faster you fall. Now bearing in mind my comments a few paragraphs ago this shouldn't be an issue for me. My body is my equipment, my means to achieve in sport, I am totally pro strong women - why does it matter if I weigh a few extra kilograms? Well right now it does. Because right now I still feel feminine and attractive and I am fairly comfortable with the way I look. And it is a worry that that may change if I gain weight. So yes I am contradicting myself but I think it sums up a lot of issues that women in sport have to contend with regarding body image.

Everyone wants to be normal. The problem is there is no normal; not in sport or in real-life. I remember a campaign from a while back that photographed lots of different elite sportswomen to show that there is no 'type'. Models aren't normal either, nor are celebrities that so many women want to emulate the look of. Hashtags such as 'fitspo' and 'strongnotskinny' which supposedly promote healthy attitudes towards exercise and lifestyle do not feature normal women either! They show fitness model esque women with a thigh gap. Not too many regular beings or athletes have a thigh gap! I am not saying athlete's are normal either. We're not. But the sentiment in my opinion has a stronger message; be what you need to be to achieve your goals (whatever they are) and commit time and heart to it.

So in the spirit of this blog I am going to embrace the change and go eat a mug cake - it's bulking season!

The Liebster Award

I am happy to report this week has been a much better week and it isn't even finished yet! The highlight of my week was undoubtedly seeing McBusted at the Hydro in Glasgow with one of my friends from home!!!! We were massive fans when we were at school and saw McFly back in the day so it was a great excuse for her to come and visit!

McBusted!!! 

Anyway mid-week I got tagged in post by Freya Prentice; a friend from Bath. She is a modern pentathlete and has recently started a blog charting her 'Road to Rio' which I love to read so take a look. The post was titled the Liebster award which I'd never heard of so I was slightly confused but it is basically a bloggers chain letter (remember real chain letters - throwback!) so here are my answers,

1. What is your "go to" running route?



This is a tricky one as I do not actually run for any substantial length of time. My training is all speed and power based so my efforts are short and sharp - I am actually an awful runner! But my favourite spot for training is Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh where we run hills on cold Sunday mornings through winter! It's a stunning and often harsh location but I love it - it gets us out of Meadowbank (where I usually train) and out into the fresh air. Plus I love hill sprints so it is one of my best sessions even if it inevitably ends with half the group throwing up and the other half in heaps dotted about the hill.

2. What is your favourite blog to follow?
I don't actually follow too many blogs. My favourites are probably 'A yellow brick blog' which is a beauty and fashion blog by a girl I know from school; Kirstie Saunders. I like the way she writes and it is useful to pick up new tips and tricks as well as for product recommendations. I am totally useless beauty wise and spend my whole life in trainers and a tracksuit so I like reading her blog to feel girly! Another blog I like is 'A lifestyle choice' by a fellow athlete and Islander (although Jersey); Gemma Dawkins. Her instagram is also amazing. This blog is all about making good lifestyle choices for you and can be quite inspirational. Plus the recipes are amazing; I get serious food envy. I am a rubbish and boring cook so I try to pick up tips and advice from this blog so that I fuel better!

3. What is the best advice you ever received?
This is a really tough one! Mainly because I am really bad at taking advice! Recently the best advice I have received is to be assertive and ask for help if you need it. I also like sayings such as 'Ask yourself if what you're doing today is getting you closer to where you need to be tomorrow' sort of things. They are everywhere on Insta etc. but sometimes they just really resonate so I remember them.

4. Who is/are your favourite training partner(s) in life or running?

Sarah and I during WWT '14

My training partner Sarah Warnock is my fav :) She's a Scottish long jumper and competed at the Commonwealth Games last year in Glasgow. She has already PB'd this year and I am excited to see what she does in the summer! She has a good attitude to training, is argumentative and driven! All good things in my opinion :) she is also a great friend and looks after me up here in Scotland! I can't not mention James Groocock either. He's one of my oldest friends and we trained together from the age of 14 or so up to 22! We don't see each other very often now but always get together for our annual Boxing Day session at home where we jump the fence at our home track. Ah and of course my Skeleton teammates (Maddy, Ellie, Brogan, Hannah, Tim, Craig, Chris and Marcus) because only they know what it is like to face a track you've never slid and do it anyway!

Sarah in CWG action (she'll kill me for this!)

5. What is your dream job?
I feel very fortunate to say I have my dream job! I work as an exercise physiologist for sportscotland. I work with high performing elite athletes and coaches supporting their programmes to help make them better athletes. It is what I have wanted to do since I went to an athletics camp when I was 13 and met a sport scientist there. I'd like to work solely in one sport in the future and also abroad. My sister in currently living in Aus and I'd like to work there as they were the guys that really got sport science going.

At work in the Games Village last summer

6. What music/songs are on your workout playlist?
I only really ever listen to music when I am rehabbing and doing bike sessions in the gym. But my playlist consists of stuff from Clean Bandit, Jess Glynne, Rudimental, Calvin Harris, Gorgon City etc. I think my no. 1 choice would be Rhianna and Calvin Harris 'We found love'. It is just so good for sprints!

7. What food/drink/habit/item could you never give up?
Food - it's cliche but I don't think I could live without chocolate. Especially at Easter time - I am addicted to Malteaster bunnies! Drink - this is a tough one between gin and tea!! As I am an athlete I'll say I'd have to give up gin over tea (wow - that's a bold statement). Habit - being bossy. I couldn't stop this if I tried. Item - my cuddly toy rabbit Pancakes. I know I am 26 but she is quite simply my fav and always makes me feel better (I think I need a boyfriend!!).

Pancakes (on the right) and her pal Monkey in Igls

8. What inspires you the most to keep running and training?

I really love training; I don't think I'd ever stop being physically active. Even when I wasn't competing in LJ I never stopped training 5-6 times a week. It is just what I do. But training to be the best you can be with aims to be elite/the best in the world does require a whole new level of sacrifice and commitment. And what inspires me to live this way is the possibility that one day I could compete in an Olympic Games. It's that simple. That is the dream and whatever happens along the way would be worth it.

And that's it - thanks Freyja :) Eight questions. I nominate Gemma Dawkins and Katie McGibbon. 

Happy blogging x

Back to Reality

I have been back in Scotland now for about a week and a half. And it hasn't been an easy transition back into life here as I know it. It has shocked me a little but then I guess that having been away basically since before Christmas means that it was always going to take a little time to get back into the swing of things.

Firstly, I was home almost a week early than I expected. And I was injured. Two things I hadn't banked on. I got home on Tuesday eve and went to work on Wednesday. I'd always planned to go straight back to work; it's not like I have any spare leave to take! But what I didn't think about is that if I'd come home with the others on a Saturday I would have had Saturday eve and Sunday before work on Monday. So I lost a few days of R+R. But I usually run about full steam ahead so I didn't even think about it and just powered on.

I got some physio a few days after being back so was able to get my ankle rehab underway which was good. But I was suffering from the travel and not having the luxury of resting on a regular basis because of work. In Lillehammer I was driven about quite a lot (to dinner etc.) and I didn't do all the track walks and other physical activities meaning I could rest. So reality was a lot tougher on my ankle. But I took the best care of it that I could. Icing it under the desk at work, getting the bus into town rather than walking and working hard on my rehab.

The next weird thing hit home at the weekend. I wanted to see people I'd missed over the past few months but I had no friends :( well let me rephrase that... none of my friends were free to make plans with! Of course I wasn't expected to be home and life goes on when you're away. It's very arrogant that you expect people to be there waiting for you to get back and available to spend time with you. All my friends are successful, busy people with social lives so it is not a personal insult that they were not able to drop all plans and come keep me company. But you do sort of expect people to be wanting to see you - and they were. We just needed to find time. So I spent the weekend by myself getting life back together (I did 3 clothes washes) and running errands (shopping!) It worked out pretty well to be honest as it gave my ankle some time to rest up.

 A lot of washing :(

Just as I was beginning to get bored of my 'relaxing' weekend my housemate Lizzie got ill. I won't say it was a welcome distraction but it was a distraction. Looking after her took up most of Sunday afternoon and evening and culminated in a hospital trip at 12:50 am Monday morning!! We didn't get home until 6 am. Poor Lizzie and so much for my weekend of R+R. Anyway as she'd had a sickness bug I was advised to be wary of coming down with it over the next few days. So I took Monday off work to sleep and work at home so as not to risk passing anything on to anyone else. Lizzie went to her Mum's to be looked after and as I'd felt fine all Monday I went to work on Tuesday thinking I'd escaped this bug and rather proud of my immune system.

Famous last words. Two good training sessions and two meals out (late nights) later I woke up on Thursday feeling rubbish! No nausea or anything extreme just achy (that I couldn't pass of as DOMS) and super tired. Not like me at all. So I have spent the last few days trying to rest and stave off anything worse coming along. Luckily with my job I can work from home which saves a 2 h commute and is also good for my colleagues so they don't have to come into contact with any bug.

I'd say I am pretty much back to normal today. I have eaten meals (well a pizza) rather than just breakfast food and am wanting tea again. I also went to town and didn't need to sleep after (I needed a 2h nap after walking to the shop yesterday). My ankle has also benefited from not really moving the past few days and the swelling is all but gone and I have managed to progress my rehab. But what have I learned from this past week or so?

My same size ankles 

Shopping Haul (all Primark and New Look at least)

Skeleton training camps are stressful. Physically and emotionally. And I need to respect that and when possible give myself time to recuperate. I went through a lot of stress in Lillehammer. Because I was injured a lot of the time I was by myself and worrying about the implications of not sliding on selection. I also didn't know whether I'd be sent home or not almost until it happened and I do not enjoy not knowing the plan. Because I'd hurt myself I am not physically where I am used to being. So I need to be patient with rehab and progression. My mid-week sessions off the back of a lack of sleep and with regards to my ankle were probably too heavy.

Illness is a funny thing. I'm still reluctant to say I have been ill. I haven't been bedridden, nor have I needed a doctor or medication beyond paracetamol. But I knew I wasn't myself, not 100%. And all I can conclude is that my body did what it could to make me slow down/stop because it needed it. I'm glad I listened. And hopefully I won't need to get 'ill' in order to take better care of myself in future. Luckily the Skeleton World Championships, Davis Cup and European Indoor Athletics Championships have all been on this weekend so I have had plenty to keep me entertained. Thank goodness for live streaming, laptops, iPad's and HDMI cables.

Skeleton v Athletics 

Just call me hop-a-long

The journey continues.

           Where the journey started 

I really enjoyed sliding in Winterberg. I didn't waste time 'stuck' like in Igls (because I was better prepared), my speeds and times were decent and I was showing progress. I liked the track and apart from a few crashes in the outrun (at the end) and a popped spur it was pretty much drama free. Of course I had plenty to work on (mainly skidding) but that's life; when do you ever sit back and say I can't be any better? Never and especially not in this sport. As a group we were becoming closer and better at working together - there were some pre Lillehammer nerves about but overal we had had a decent camp and were looking forward to moving on to Norway. 

Team love ❤️

Then the environment bit back. We were staying in apartments in a separate building to the main hotel and on Tuesday eve walking down to the pool I slipped on ice, fell off the kerb, spraining my left ankle in the process. *%#>!!!!! I could weight bear but at the same time I knew this wasn't one of those sprains that you can shake off. I'd bent my foot back falling and all the muscles in my lower leg were hurting as well as my foot and ankle. How typical, I managed to get through a week of skeleton but hurt myself walking on a rest day.

And this accident has shaped my entire time in Lillehammer and has resulted in me being sat on a train which will take me to the airport which will take me home. Four days early. So as you can imagine I'm not the happiest at the moment. If I look really hard I can see some silver lining in this situation. I mean I got to use a mini car thing round Frankfurt airport and I can go back to work and earn money when I was taking unpaid leave. The train also has wifi and is much more comfortable than the trains in the UK. But that's all I can manage. 

Initially I hoped the coaching team would let me slide. But my ankle was massive and I had a rather gangster limp going on. So I've spent a lot of time doing RICE; resting, icing, compressing and elevating. Not easy when you have to travel and move place to place just to eat but I didn't have much other choice. It didn't get better quick enough and I was soon told that unless I could run I couldn't slide. This may sound silly to you, I mean why do I need my ankle to lay on a sled and slide down an ice track? Well yes I could just be pushed off the top but the risk remained that I'd hit my ankle on the way down which best case scenario would just hurt like hell and worst case break my ankle. 

My fat ankle, hospital trip (no break) and airport transport 

I got it. And if I'd been at work talking to an athlete in my position I'd say the same. Go home and get it looked after properly. But it was still a rubbish situation and I was upset, especially as the past few days my ankle really is a lot better. I can walk fine, even jog, go up and down steps and the swelling is almost gone. My teammates had had two sliding sessions and watching was hard and nerve wracking at the same time. We'd all gotten used to tracks with very little pressure in comparison to Lillehammer and on the first day everyone (even the more experienced sliders) struggled with the track. Maddy hit both her hands hard out of 13 (the big, mean corner) and had two golf ball lumps on her hands and I found Marcus, Ellie and Brogan at the finish all looking traumatised and worse for wear with more than a few bumps, bruises and horror stories between them. Shit got real and I realised that if I was sliding it was very likely that I would hit my ankle at one point or another.

I was provided with a welcome distraction yesterday courtesy of Maddy. She wanted to change her saddle on her sled to better protect her hands and was instructed to go buy the bolts etc and make a starts whilst the group were training. Feeling like I couldn't let her do that all by herself I went to. Cue an adventure of sorts to go find these bolts. Picture this, two blondes (me and Maddy almost look like twins) in a van, with snow chains, in thick snow, blindly following a sat nav to a hardware shop. Obviously the sat nav directed us incorrectly, we ended up going down a narrow, road thick with snow (we'd taken the chains off by this point) to a few random houses and a railway line. Across the railway line we could see the industrial estate we were supposed to be at. With no way over we put the chains back on (first time for everything) and went back up the hill to the main road. Once on the road we took them off and continued on now directed by my phones sat nav. But of course we took the wrong exit onto the motorway and needed to turn around. Eventually back on track we saw the store on the side of the motorway - yay!!! We took the exit and found ourselves somewhere we'd already been. The place where we'd first taken of our snow chains!! In disbelief we ploughed on along a snow covered road of sorts through an industrial estate and thank fully made it to the store. Relieved we went in only to be told that they didn't have bolts long enough in stock!! Our faces must have been a picture. 

The two blondes in a van (above).

Anyway we took the best they had and made it home in about 20 minutes following the main road rather than the sat nav. We were back on track. Or not - we got to the hotel and room where we can do sled work only to find Maddy's sled not there. It had been taken to the track for some reason!? Abruptly furious all we could do was sit and wait for the guys to comes back. Luckily we didn't have to wait for too long and we actually got it all done in time for the video session so we were able to join in with everyone else the rest of the evening. I was drained. I'd also had it confirmed that I was leaving and was pretty upset that I wouldn't be sliding again so had no opportunity to prove my ability (we are all still on trial). 

So now I am on my way home, I'll be back in work this time tomorrow which is strange but to be honest it will be a welcome distraction and now that I am home for a decent amount of time I can properly get back into work which I love. The next part of the skeleton journey are the summer camps in Bath so my job is very clear. Fix my ankle and go smash these camps over summer. There are about 18 talent athletes which gets cut to 6 before next season so I need to really show the coaching team what I can do or ensure I stay in this sport. 

What's is all for. Worth it.

Butterflies

It's day 4 but today was day 1 in terms actual sliding. Which meant this morning the nerves came. Although this is my third sliding camp the nerves prior to your first slide on a new track don't get much better (well not for me anyway).

So this morning... 

Breakfast at 8am, then some time before leaving at 9:30am for the track. This is when the butterflies really hit!! 45 min with not a huge amount to do. I was packed, had made my plan, visualised my plan, eaten etc just a waiting game now.

To be honest the first 3 days were a waiting game. True to an earlier blog Winterberg has fulfilled the 'subject to change' tag skeleton has earned so far. We had no hotel first night so arranged a last minute one just outside of Winterberg. Then at our proper hotel we had no space to work on our sleds so couldn't unpack. So off to the track we went to get an idea of the geography, ice, corners etc. We got a decent track walk in only to find we'd been locked in!! So all our luggage and sleds were stuck at the track when we needed them in the hotel to put together and prep for our sliding session next day. 

So we did the logical thing. We got our cases out (30kg luggage) and walked the 2 or so miles to the hotel - up an icy hill I might add. Anyway 25 minutes later Maddy and I are in our room dying of heat, sweating as we've got tons of thermal layers on. But we're home. However still sled-less. So our first session is in jeopardy. 

Anyway we got the vehicles the next morning and got straight into sled work. Servicing each sled, putting the saddle back on in place, greasing and polishing runners etc. however our session did get pulled in the end as we were just too rushed and it was one thing after another. Not the sort of circumstances you want to attempt a new track in. 

I was reasonably relieved and only slightly disappointed with this news to be honest. I wasn't keen on sliding not 100% prepared or rushed. Still a little deterred by my performance in Igls I was happy to spend some more time learning the track and steers as one of my goals was to be better prepared for the track. Have the ability to anticipate the feeling and steers required using knowledge from past tracks.

ANYWAY! Fast forward to this morning ..

Much better prepared compared to the previous evening. But still not at all confident and basically dreading the first one. How can I explain this? I'm not mental, I don't hate my sport but still do it. It's just scary as hell not really knowing how the first one is going to go. Our coaches had briefed us on where we were likely to crash (!!!) and of course that's where they were positioned hoping to get some decent crash footage! Coupled with some self doubt from the last camp, how I struggled to begin with and this camp has similar characteristics. Hopefully this explains some of my apprehension. 

Once at the track a long warm up helped calm the nerves then one by one we were off. Responsible enough to be at the top by ourselves now we had one another for support. Tim went first, his run looked lovely on the camera. The nerves eased slightly. Once Brogan leaves the changing area I'm next. Hello nerves again. 

I leave the changing room, Marcus has just gone and Brogan is getting ready. Time for me to do the same - take my helmet and sled to the start block. Once Brogan goes it's just me. Off come the over shoes and I check for ice in my spikes. You can't set up your start position until you get the all clear so I wait, watching the clock which is timing Brogan's run and going through my plan in my head. Helmet on, coat off then 'next up, Kim Murray. Track is clear'. And the green light. 

That's it then. No turning back. Set the sled up - we are pushing on the left spur which is my less preferred side. Another thing to unnerve me - no one wants to pop the spur first run. But I think about my start coaching points from Konigssee and reassure myself it'll be fine. 12 steps and on. The spur pulls left so straight away I'm being challenged, having to deviate from my plan. But this is good for me as I need to learn how to get back on line. Funnily enough by now the nerves are gone and replaced by a determination and concentration to get down well. 

I stay on in 9 (as did everyone much to our coaches disappointment) and don't flip at the finish so I'm pretty happy. Then I fly up the outrun and can't get out. Hahaha! I call for help and Tim comes and lifts my sled whilst I clamber over. All very dignified :) then I have some time to recall the run before coach feedback. Overall I am pleased with my run. The key corners (7-8-9) went well and I also had a good top of the track, working to stay straight on the straightaways (not as easy as it sounds). Awareness in the higher pressure corners needs some work but that'll come. I also need to relax in the labyrinth. 

Repeat x2 and that's a training session!! 90 mins of 'training' for 3 minute or so slides. But boy is it draining physically and mentally. Lunch, gym and video and we are done for the day. 

Tomorrow we have the same again. 

This week I'm loving...

Home for five days. Five things I'm loving this week.

1. Friends and a date! Two dinners (one homemade, one out) - I've been away for the majority of the year so far and have been missing Scotland pals. And Thursday night date night was a last minute addition to the week ;)

Sygn, Edinburgh. Sundays dinner venue

2. Rowing testing. I caught up with some of the Scottish rowers that were due testing. This meant a 7am start in Glasgow and a lengthy road trip to Aberdeen. So maybe one I wasn't loving quite as much.

3. My bed. Despite leaving my cuddly toy pancakes behind at Maddy's I slept so well all week because I was in my own bed. Can't beat it.

Poor pancakes left at Maddy's 

4. Perfume. Chanel Chance to be precise.  I'd not worn perfume since Hogmanay. So Sunday eve when I was getting ready for dinner with Katie I may have gone slightly overboard. 

5. Training. Running upright and further than 15m :) I'm not a natural short sprinter; favouring the longer sprints so Thursday in particular when I did a few 120s as part of the session was lovely. Also getting to see my coaches and get some useful advice and of course my big training group!! I miss them when I am away.