This month has been very much like a holiday for me: being with my family and being on active rest. Active rest is in August when we stop training for the month and just keep up a basic level of fitness so only gym and 30 minute runs three times each per week. This gives us a rest from the track and ensures we are rested ready to start heavy pre-season work.However, at the very start I had a biomechanical/strength assessment carried out to test muscle strengths and ratios. It was a very long and hard day but great fun! First my flexibility was tested – a well known weakness of mine! Then we moved onto strength and speed which involved lots of hopping exercises. For the speed we had planned to do a sprint outside on the Astroturf but due to the good old British rain we couldn’t! Next I had to do squat jumps standing on a force plate – which as the name suggests measures the force generated by my legs. Much to Theo’s (the assessor) amusement when I jumped I was incapable of only doing one and bounced out of every jump – this trace is heading to a
2nd year lecture! Last but not least I did weighted squat jumps to establish the relationship between power and velocity with the help of a little beeping gadget! By the end I was absolutely shattered as all the tests had to be at 100% - as you can see by the photo so kindly taken by my Dad when I fell asleep talking to my Mum! The results were very interesting and will be used to help design a specific programme to target the weaknesses/imbalances found.I spent a few days with my Uncle and partner up near High Force which was lovely as I hadn’t seen them for a long time. They own a restaurant/B&B so I was kept busy working especially because it was carnival weekend. I also have a few friends there who I haven’t seen in a long time so it was good to catch up with them.
In the middle of the month I headed back home to Malta with my parents for their Summer dose of sun!! It has been nice to have them over although I must admit rather strange having to ask permission to do things!
The first few days were spent sorting out “businessy” things like car insurance and tax etc. Much more exciting I got my Maltese ID card – as my parents are not Maltese my number ends in an A for alien – much to everybody’s amusement!! I also spent a morning with my Dad washing and looking after Ella and putting some Tigger decals on her so I’m identifiable!!
The rest of the time has been spent sunbathing and swimming J My brother came over for a week as well which was fab as I hadn’t seen him since Christmas and he hasn’t been to the island for 8 years. I must say he made the most of it by teasing me 24/7 about anything and everything! Much like my adopted bros (my 2 physios!) over here.
Importantly this month I finally managed to get a job in a gym. However, it’s not a “normal” gym – it’s a specialised boxing gym run by Scott Dixon who is a double World and Commonwealth champion. He has given me a few boxing lessons so I now have at least a bit of knowledge about what is going on!! It has been great fun learning to box a bit especially with someone of his skill/experience!! Next month he has a big fight on the island so part of the time I have been out on promotions: we went to the drag racing one evening - definitely an experience!!
