These last few months have been all about getting as fit as I can for the Olympics. With only 250 days till the games my training is in overdrive making it harder than ever to do the ‘normal routine’ for this time of year.
Training this month has been tough. The key advice that I have been given to improve my fitness is train hard and rest well. This is not easy when trying to stay ahead with my windsurfing. Now the UK is getting colder it is essential to travel to warmer places, but I hate being away from home for too long and training can go stale being in one place for too long. My year is now mapped out with training phases, so a balance is important and any illness is a big set back.
Biker Girl
Most of my fitness is done on my road bike, which is now fitted with a power meter. This gives me immediate feedback on how much power I can produce at certain heart rates, which is a good fitness measure. With daily advice from the team physiologist Pete Cunningham and award winning cycling coach Simon Jones I can be confident that each session is of maximum benefit. I report how I feel, before and after each session, so they can monitor it if I am over training. It is easy to over train when you are cycling, windsurfing and traveling and it can often be the activities either side of the training that takes it out of you so it’s important to maintain as simple a lifestyle as possible.
In the year before the Olympics it is normal for most athletes to put their life on hold. Personally it is really important for me that I maintain a bit of normality – regularly seeing my boyfriend and my family and enjoying my hobbies like snowboarding, golf and surfing. This means a bit of sacrificing, but its all been good so far.
Award Girl
And finally, I was really touched when I got awarded the UKWA Windsurfer of the Year, especially when other nominations were Ross Williams and Zara Davis, who I have utmost respect for. I do miss racing on the UKWA circuit, it looks like the scene is as fun as ever with a massive new generation of youths.
