This month training continued to be hard but I still love every minute of it! We started to do heavier weights which I love because I’m a true gym monkey! My muscles have started to form much to my own and coach’s delight! However, this is rather inconvenient as my clothes are starting to be too small! Though I like the excuse for more clothes shopping!! On Saturdays we changed from the Triangle of Death in the sand to the dreaded steps! This is at another beach where there are 128 steps – we have to run from the top to the bottom several times – and just to make it harder they aren’t all the same size or of the same spacing so you cant get an even rhythm. When we do this session we attract lots o
f attention with us all yelling at each other then at the end when we are all spaced out down the sides throwing up!! The tourists must think us locals are crazzzzy!!!I had to fly back to England for exams for my PT qualification. What a shock I got being back in the freeeeezing cold – I was wearing sooo many clothes I looked like a fat man (well woman!!). The first weekend I had Nutrition and Weight Management which was pure theory sat in a little room with no windows – it was like being back at school! At the end of the weekend we had a theory exam which I am still awaiting the results. I also have to complete another assignment and then the module will be complete. The second weekend I had Lifestyle and Fitness Assessments which was a mix of practical and theory – much better! Although as the athlete on the course I had to do all the demos as well as the practices and the assessment on top of my training so I was absolutely shattered by the end! But I am glad to report I passed!
Whilst home I went into school to do some work with the children in Hesketh House and Beech House about having dreams and following them whilst prioritising along the way. I had a lovely time telling them about my story so far and spending time with them. With the Beech House children I did a Q & A session with each class after doing a whole school assembly – this I enjoyed the most answering their very broad range of questions and seeing their little faces so interested in the things I had brought to show them e.g. spikes, blocks, competition kit. On the way out of school in the afternoon my Dad heard a little girl recounting to her Mum what she had done during school. It went like this: “Today this girl came to talk to us and she runs hundreds and hundreds and thousands and thousands of meters. AND she lives on Treasure Island!!!” Haaa!! I love it!!!!! I obviously made an impression!
I also enjoyed spending some time with my family in between. I spent a lovely day with my Mum in Manchester and we went to watch the Nutcracker – we really enjoyed it!
Whilst I was back in England I made the most of having a sand pit (as the one here is closed whilst they repaint the lines on the track – long story!) and did my first long jump sessions since last season. I had a fantastic time and got very excited! I felt much stronger than last season and was jumping well especially as it was my first session back. I’m very happy to say that all the hard base work I put in last year and have continued to develop through seems to be paying off! Next month I have a competition over here which we are not going to focus on greatly but use it as a bench mark to see where I am up to and what needs to be worked on – I can’t wait – bring it on!!!!
