April 2011

Well I started this month with my birthday!!! It’s scary not being a teenager anymore!! I had the training group round to the flat and then we went out for a well deserved party!!

Unfortunately, I have had to stop working at the hotel due to an injury. Repeatedly carrying the heavy trays on my arm, with my palm up caused me an injury in my shoulder. As I’m here on the island to train it seemed counter productive to carry on. So this has meant lots of trips to the physio and again some lovely pink and black strapping! So I’m now back working where I used to work last summer to keep earning the pennies!

I have VERY exciting news this month with regard to sponsorship! A company called PS&P have given me my first proper sponsorship deal and we both had great fun writing up the contract. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their support and hope it enables me to produce bigger and better performances! Bring it on!!!

This month I had the first part of my English exam that I need in order to go to uni here later in the year. I had to do an oral – in English - yes! The aim being to sound like a Native English person! I hope I managed!! I had to read a short paragraph and then chose a topic to talk about from a given list. Guess what was on the list?!?! Going to the gym!! How lucky is that?!?!

My parents and granddad came over for 2 weeks which was nice to see them. Always good to get a break from the cleaning and cooking Heehee!! Dad set about getting the flat ready for summer which involved buying a sun lounger, a brolly some more plastic chairs etc. So now I’m all set for summer!!! We have had some awful weather over the last couple of weeks – we had heavy rain from the South so it’s full of sand from Africa. The clouds were literally brown and everything ends up covered in the dust/sand. (Note in the photo that normally the tiles are white!)

I had my first competition of the season too. However, it was one I had not prepared for, especially after being behind schedule due to my illness last month. It was an international competition that Malta host every year. It was not very successful thanks to the weather!! It was the worst wind I have ever run in!! It was minus 4.9m/s with gusts of up to minus 6m/s (the legal limit is 2m/s). It was so strong that in the curve of the 200m it blew me out of my lane! We were all driving really hard but going nowhere – My coach said it was like watching a race in slow motion! Defo one for the memory bank and goes down to experience! I have a couple more competitions next month over here in Malta then in June I head back to England for the major comps. I can’t wait – but I know I still have a lot of hard work to be done!!!

March 2011

First of all I have to apologise for the lateness of this and Aprils blog! Time has been running away!

I have some exciting news!! After following the last couple of months of success I started to look for sponsorship to help fund my dream. Much to my delight, my local gym, Total Fitness, have decided to support me. My first bit of sponsorship!!

Well it has been a very, very quiet month! I have been hitting training hard with lots of double sessions. I have started doing some longer training for the 400m to see what happened. My body has had a total shock!! I’m going to give it more time before I comment any further!! Haa!

I got a new job this month working at a 5 star hotel as a breakfast waitress. I was so relieved to find a job that fits around my training – it isn’t easy believe me!! I’m enjoying it a lot and especially working within a team. I have had to do some training courses to get me some more pieces of paper!!

The first weekend of the month was carnival. Unfortunately I was still ill so whilst the whole island was out partying I was stuck in on the sofa :-( I was sick for it last year too - I was not impressed to say the least!

February 2011

Sian is now sponsored by Total Fitness.

My roller coaster month of January definitely continued all the way through February! I have flown back and forth so much I think I deserve my own jet! Haa

As I mentioned at the end of the last blog I was selected to run for the Manchester team in the McCain City Challenge. This competition is where 8 teams from around the UK are selected and we compete to be “the last city standing”. I flew back again to England to compete. There was one small problem that the competition was on the same day as my next set of PT exams but after speaking to the company I study with we postponed the exams until a later date. So I headed to Sheffield for the comp in pursuit of the qualifying time for the UK Champs & European Trials. Unfortunately, there was a delay before my race as the men’s high jump hadn’t finished and it was across the track straight. This meant we had to spend an extra 40minutes in the call room and due to my lack of experience it got to me and by the time it came to race I had lost my focus. I had an appalling start and as the 60m is so short you can’t afford 1 mistake so I had failed to make the standard again. I was absolutely devastated!! I knew I was more than capable of running the time as I have done it several times in training. The following day I was so down it was unbelievable! My family and friends were trying their best to cheer me up but they just didn’t know what to tell me.

However, I was about to be taken on another stage of my roller coaster. Late Tuesday evening I received a phone call to tell me I had been selected for the UK Trials and European Trials after all as I showed potential, had been very close the qualifying time and that I was young and needed the experience as I had missed many years when I was younger due to injury and illness. I was ecstatic!!! I went from being at the lowest point to the highest in just a few seconds!

A few days before the trials I went to stay with my mentor in the UK to help get me focused ready for my big day and away from everyday distractions. The comp was in Sheffield again, which I now know very well. This was the biggest stage I had ever been on by a mile!! I was very excited about the whole situation but significantly by the fact that I got a bib with my name on it rather than a number – little things!! I met lots of important people including GB team coaches and selectors. It was important to get my face known as I had come from “no where” in 3 weeks and people only had a name. In my race for a change I had an amazing start but unfortunately I stumbled half way and as I said earlier 1 mistake in the 60m and your race is over. I was slightly disappointed not to run a PB but I had had an AMAZING experience and I learnt loads that will be very useful for the future. I had just been too excited!! I found it really inspiring to be at such an event and it has made me hungrier for more.

I was also lucky that whilst I was home it was my local athletics clubs annual presentation. It was great to be able to go and catch up with everybody and to be there in person to pick up my awards. I think it’s important for the younger athletes to see the older ones to give them inspiration. After all, that’s where part of my inspiration came from!

Whilst I was home I also went into school to talk to the Old Girls at a lunch. I gave a talk about my dreams and life in Malta. I had a lovely time and found it very interesting talking to other Old Girls to see how things at the school had changed and also about their own sporting experiences and interests. It was clear I had their full support and that they were proud of me – this especially touched me!

Just 2 days before flying back to the Malta I received an email to tell me I had been selected to run in the second match of the McCain City Challenge. I was excited to have been selected again and looked forward for a last chance to compete in the indoors. This comp was to be held in Cardiff. However, we had one slight problem – my parents were due in Malta to come and visit me and see the new flat and 2 days after they arrived I had to be in Cardiff!

So I flew back to Malta and spent most of the few days before my parents came sorting out last minute things and cleaning! I also had a low key competition in Malta in the middle! After much negotiation with my coach we agreed I would just jump for fun and see what happens. I’m glad to say it went very well considering I hadn’t done any training for it for the last 4 weeks and we had difficult wind conditions. My parents arrived and I’m happy to say they loved my new flat! It felt really strange cooking for them and driving them around – like role reversal! They bought me some more things I needed to make it more homely and functional. The weather wasn’t so nice for them though, lots of rain and wind but now at least they believe me how bad it is when I say the weather is bad!

With my parents busy enjoying the flat and their break I flew back to England. I flew into Bristol and stayed with my Uncle for a night before travelling across to Newport where the team hotel was for the comp. For this comp the team spirit was greater as we all stayed in the hotel the night before. This time I was selected for the 200m and the 60m and I was very happy as the 200m was before the 60m so I was looking forward to seeing what time I could run with fresh legs. However, I did not have a good race and was really ill afterwards and I wasn’t recovered by the time it came to run the 60m. I only had 20min after the 200m to be in the call room again for the 60m. On the start of the 60m I still had blurry vision and a banging headache! So again my performance was not up to scratch, but again it had all been a big learning experience and that was the purpose of the event for me. I really enjoyed being a part of a team as athletics is such an individual event. It was an added bonus that my Nan, Grandad, Uncle and Auntie also came to watch! I flew back to Malta in the very early hours of the following morning and when I woke up I felt ill. On returning to the island I went to the doctor to be told I had a throat and ear infection – I was relieved to know that was why I had competed poorly the day before as this had been bothering me.

Well after this compete roller coaster of the last 6 weeks that wasn’t planned at all I’m starting another block of heavy pre season training ready for the outdoor season. I can not wait!!!

January 2011

Well the start of the New Year has been an exciting one for me!

I moved out of the house I have been living in with family friends and moved into a flat on my own!!! It is good to have my own space and I have had great fun arranging everything. Even if though it took 3 weeks to sort the internet and telephone line - anyone would thing I was trying to build a rocket! The biggest problem I have encountered so far is trying to decide what to cook for my self twice a day!! And the quantity – I knew I ate a lot but I had no idea actually how much!!!!

Before returning from England after Christmas I competed in a low key local indoor competition so that I would have competed before the North of England Championships. This took a lot of dedication as the comp was on the 2nd Jan; so that meant no partying for me on New Years Eve - being an athlete is not always fun by a long way!! I did the 60m in a time of 7.84. The long jump was not as good as I had to go straight from the 60m to the jumps and the competition had already started so I had no time to measure my run up accurately and alter it accordingly. I also decided I would run a 200m for a bit of fun as I had never ran one indoors and due to the banked curves it is very different from competing outdoors. I loved the experience and to my surprise I won it though I did take me a long time to recover!! On getting home and talking to my mentor I realised that my 60m time was only 0.04 off from the qualifying time for the Aviva UK Trails & European Championships.

I flew back to Malta for what was planned to be 10 good days of training with my coach, but which was disrupted as I became sick. I returned to England again for the North of England Championships with a few of my Maltese training partners who are also members of my English club. It was just supposed to be a progress check to see where I was up to and nothing more especially as this is my first year as a senior athlete. However, it started a roller coaster! In the 60m, which is not my best event, I came 3rd. However, again my start let me down and I missed the qualification time by only 0.02 seconds this time. I was really happy with the placing but I have to admit I was frustrated that I missed the time again. The following day I had the long jump and the 200m but after my success in the sprints the day before I withdrew from the jump to focus on the sprint. I’m still in shock to tell you that I won the 200m!!!! I had no idea I would do this and neither did the commentator!!! I was absolutely ecstatic – I had made the first step on the ladder to achieving my dream and very much unexpectedly!

On returning back to Malta I received an email telling me I had been selected to compete in the Manchester team in the McCain City Challenge in February. After some emails around I found out I had been selected to see if I could run the qualifying time for the trials. I felt very lucky to be given the opportunity not only to try and run the time again, that I had done several times in training, but to also represent my city. You will have to wait till the next blog to find out what happens!!!

December 2010

This month was quite busy getting ready for Christmas! Training has continued to go very well!! I had a very low key competition that we used as a progress check to see where we were up to and what needs working on. However, as ever the wind was very strong and against so all the times were rather slow. But it felt good to be back competing and I’m looking forward to ‘kicking ass’ in the new year!!

I set about flat hunting this year and I’m happy to report that I have found one! It all happened very fast – much to my parents' shock!! I move in the new year – I can’t wait!! However, I’m a bit nervous too as it will be a big change living on my own! My main concern is how I’m going to cook enough to feed myself!

I spent a day at a car show on the old air fields with my friend. We had a fantastic time letting our masculine side show!! There were all types of cars you can imagine ranging from old VW camper vans to top class Lamborghinis. My favourite was an orange sports car – mainly because of the colour!

We had a Christmas meal with the club over in Malta. It was a good night even though the food was not the best. It is a fund raiser for the club that happens every year and it’s a good opportunity for the group to meet together with our coach outside of training.

I went home for Christmas this year to spend it with the family: however, it was strange as my Brother did not make it home. My time home was very training orientated with double sessions nearly everyday – rather hard when most places close over the Christmas period! I love being home for Christmas as the close where I live are very close and we all decorate the outside of our houses so when you come down the road its like entering a Christmas wonderland. It was also good to have some snow at Christmas! Luckily, it didn’t disrupt my travelling this time!

New Year was also quiet for me as I had a competition on the 2nd of January so I wasn’t allowed to go out and party! I spent the night in with the family and then at midnight all the neighbours came out and we set off some fireworks and Chinese lanterns. They were very pretty!!

I have the Northern Championships in January which I am looking forward to and hoping to set out some markers!

November 2010

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 of 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!!!!

October 2010

This month has been a rather boring one so this blog is going to be rather short! At the start I had a flying visit to England for an MRI scan on my jaw as I have an ongoing problem. Now I have to wait until November for the results – fingers crossed they give us a clue of what is actually happening!

This month the training stepped up a gear and proper preseason death has begun! I am now doing two double sessions a week – this is where I train once in the morning and once in the evening. We are currently doing a lot of strength work for our legs and also lots of stamina work = long runs – yuk! On Saturday mornings we go to a beach to train – which sounds very nice but think again! We have to do lots of jumps up and down a rather steep sand dune followed by a section called “The Triangle of Death” which is a combination of doing high knees up the dune, jumping down, bounds, a long sprint and a jog in a continuous cycle. The name says it all! Last Saturday much to the groups amusement, my training partner decided to dunk me in the sea after we had finished – how kind of him!! Despite being in some kind of constant muscle pain at the moment I’m very pleased with the way training is going as I am feeling very fit and enjoying it lots! Although I must say the preseason sports massages hour of intense pain are things I could manage without!!

The crazy weather continued changing all the time. We also had tremendous storms and rain – the heaviest in 70years which caused absolute chaos! The whole island came to a stop and the damage caused was amazing. There is a man who makes and sells coffins and all of them floated away from him and were found half way across the island – some of them at the track as it so happened! The track was flooded very badly up to a couple of feet. But that’s not the worst part - once all the water had drained away it was covered in a thick layer of muddy sludge!! It was unusable so we had to use another track – which isn’t so good but we managed. Now they have managed to clean it up nicely apart from the sand pits – which had just had new sand put in them – they are like mud pits that are solid! The boxing gym was also flooded out and had to close to be totally redecorated.

I have been busying studying hard as I have the next units of my PT exams next month. I have also been on another burst of job hunting as things aren’t working out so well so fingers crossed I get some positive outcomes this time!