Tomorrow was meant to be my final athletics competition of the season and my last chance to get under 15secs for the 100m, which I believe I'm more than capable of doing. However, my coach won't let me run! Sniffle sniffle!
I had a cold last week and when training on Monday and Wednesday my chest tightened up very quickly and I couldn't complete the full training sessions. So I've clearly lost my fitness thanks to a cold. I still think I could have run pretty well tomorrow, but my coach said it would be better if I finished off on a high.
At the moment it doesn't feel like that though! I haven't been able to achieve what I wanted to. I am pleased with my progress this season from running an awful 16.9secs at the start to 15.1secs last month for the 100m and dropping my time in the 200m from 36.9secs to 32.4secs.
From my last competition in August up until I got ill I have been running really well, which is the frustrating part. My coach reckoned I was running about 14.6secs pace, which I would have been ecstatic to get on paper. Anyway, get over yourself Selina!
I'm now taking 3 weeks off from doing any sort of training. I may go clinically insane, but I have a few things to occupy me in the meantime. I'm off to Bognor next week with the girlys and my Open University course starts too. I'm going to write about starting the course when I get back from Bognor, as I haven't mentioned it at all so far!
Friday, 18 September 2009
Thursday, 10 September 2009
17months
It's been a long 17months now since I was put on the waiting list for my very first Guide Dog. In that time I've seen 4 friends qualify and 1 of those has had to retire their dog too. I don't know anyone else waiting for their first dog anymore and so at least I know it's my turn next!
I emailed my district team for an update today and received some semi positive news. I say semi positive as in the past when I've said positive it's ended up being negative!
Word has it they've picked up a dog especially for me. It happened so recently that the dog isn't even in the centre yet. I'm not allowed to know any further details at present just in case the dog changes over the next few weeks in its advanced training. Hopefully, it will only change for the better and appear to be a great match for me! I should hear by the end of October at the latest and if all goes well I'll be training before the year's out.
It's got me wondering what it's like. I'm hoping it's female, yellow, has a silky coat, is under 30kg and has big puppy dog eyes! Oh yeah, hope she's got a cute name too!
Fingers, toes and eyes crossed!
I emailed my district team for an update today and received some semi positive news. I say semi positive as in the past when I've said positive it's ended up being negative!
Word has it they've picked up a dog especially for me. It happened so recently that the dog isn't even in the centre yet. I'm not allowed to know any further details at present just in case the dog changes over the next few weeks in its advanced training. Hopefully, it will only change for the better and appear to be a great match for me! I should hear by the end of October at the latest and if all goes well I'll be training before the year's out.
It's got me wondering what it's like. I'm hoping it's female, yellow, has a silky coat, is under 30kg and has big puppy dog eyes! Oh yeah, hope she's got a cute name too!
Fingers, toes and eyes crossed!
Monday, 7 September 2009
Addidas Women's 5km Challenge
Yesterday I ran in the Addidas Women’s 5km Challenge in aid of British Blind Sport. I completed it in 37mins 21secs, which isn’t the best of times, but I tried! I raised £140.15 for BBS and I’m pleased with that total.
Unfortunately, I’m now ill. You try and do something good for the world and this is how you’re repaid! I was meant to have an athletics comp tonight, the Charnwood Championships, but my guide runner is injured so couldn’t have taken part anyway.
I’m hoping to be back on my feet soon, as I have my final athletics comp a week on Saturday.
Unfortunately, I’m now ill. You try and do something good for the world and this is how you’re repaid! I was meant to have an athletics comp tonight, the Charnwood Championships, but my guide runner is injured so couldn’t have taken part anyway.
I’m hoping to be back on my feet soon, as I have my final athletics comp a week on Saturday.
Wednesday, 2 September 2009
Bonjour
On Monday I returned from the south of France. We only went for a long weekend, but that was long enough! I went with my entire family and we stayed at my mum’s uncle’s place. My mum’s brother and wife also came along and this was the first time we had been on holiday with them.
When we arrived on Friday the weather was beautiful and we spent the afternoon sun bathing by the pool and took a relaxed walk around the village. It was all very tranquil.
On the Saturday we did a lot of site seeing and I found it quite tiring. I wish they had left me by the pool to absorb the sun! We went to Carcassonne Castle and up in the mountains. Sunday morning was taken up with more site seeing and finally in the afternoon I got to have a dip in the pool again.
Monday flew by and we were home before we knew it. I wish I could still speak French. I loved the subject at school and regretted not doing it at A Level. I remember a fair few words, but I can’t really string a sentence together anymore.
It was a nice weekend, but I prefer family holidays without the extended family!
When we arrived on Friday the weather was beautiful and we spent the afternoon sun bathing by the pool and took a relaxed walk around the village. It was all very tranquil.
On the Saturday we did a lot of site seeing and I found it quite tiring. I wish they had left me by the pool to absorb the sun! We went to Carcassonne Castle and up in the mountains. Sunday morning was taken up with more site seeing and finally in the afternoon I got to have a dip in the pool again.
Monday flew by and we were home before we knew it. I wish I could still speak French. I loved the subject at school and regretted not doing it at A Level. I remember a fair few words, but I can’t really string a sentence together anymore.
It was a nice weekend, but I prefer family holidays without the extended family!
Thursday, 27 August 2009
World Athletics Championships 2009
The World Athletics Championships were held in Berlin for 9 days this month. The championships featured the best athletes from across 5 continents and after a spectacular Olympics last year I was glued to the TV for this event.
Britain did exceptionally well exceeding UK Athletics expectations of 5 medals and 14 top 8 finishes. We actually managed 6 medals and 20 top 8 finishes, which is great and proves that the athletics squad is getting stronger.
Our first gold medal came from the heptathlete Jessica Ennis who dominated 2 days of competition. I was then pleased to see Philips Idowu hop, skip and jump his way to gold in the triple jump with a new PB. Jenny Meadows flew around the track twice to collect a deserved bronze in the 800m, but the winner South Africa’s Caster Semenya is currently having gender tests to verify if she is eligible to run as a female! Is she a she or a he! The final individual medal came from Lisa Debrisky who has a higher voice than I do! She grabbed a silver in the 1500m and was just a 100th of a second from snatching the gold. The female relay teams were disappointing, but the men made up for it by collecting a bronze in the 4x 100m and silver in the 4x 400m.
Away from the British athletes Usain Bolt was the man of the games breaking the 100m and 200m world records yet again! He powered through both events and I still can’t get over 9.54secs for 100m! I need to get him to be my guide runner! Jamaica also picked up the gold medal in both 4x 100m relays showing they are one speedy nation!
It was a thrilling games and I look forward to the European Championships and Common Wealth Games next year. The World Championships for disabled athletes isn’t until 2011 and is being held in New Zeeland. Qualification for the games starts on September 1st this year, but apparently UK Athletics don’t have the standards yet and have advised me to work from last year’s Paralympics ones, which I will do. It would be amazing if I made it there, but my main goal is still 2012.
Britain did exceptionally well exceeding UK Athletics expectations of 5 medals and 14 top 8 finishes. We actually managed 6 medals and 20 top 8 finishes, which is great and proves that the athletics squad is getting stronger.
Our first gold medal came from the heptathlete Jessica Ennis who dominated 2 days of competition. I was then pleased to see Philips Idowu hop, skip and jump his way to gold in the triple jump with a new PB. Jenny Meadows flew around the track twice to collect a deserved bronze in the 800m, but the winner South Africa’s Caster Semenya is currently having gender tests to verify if she is eligible to run as a female! Is she a she or a he! The final individual medal came from Lisa Debrisky who has a higher voice than I do! She grabbed a silver in the 1500m and was just a 100th of a second from snatching the gold. The female relay teams were disappointing, but the men made up for it by collecting a bronze in the 4x 100m and silver in the 4x 400m.
Away from the British athletes Usain Bolt was the man of the games breaking the 100m and 200m world records yet again! He powered through both events and I still can’t get over 9.54secs for 100m! I need to get him to be my guide runner! Jamaica also picked up the gold medal in both 4x 100m relays showing they are one speedy nation!
It was a thrilling games and I look forward to the European Championships and Common Wealth Games next year. The World Championships for disabled athletes isn’t until 2011 and is being held in New Zeeland. Qualification for the games starts on September 1st this year, but apparently UK Athletics don’t have the standards yet and have advised me to work from last year’s Paralympics ones, which I will do. It would be amazing if I made it there, but my main goal is still 2012.
Sunday, 9 August 2009
A Productive Comp
My computer conked out on Tuesday, but thankfully it’s been fixed now and I’m back online!
On Wednesday I had another athletics competition. It was the Charnwood Open again, so only at Loughborough. I’m pleased to report that I got not one, but two PBs! Woo hoo!
I had to wait until heat 14 for my 100m, as they were doing quickest to slowest. There were only 16 heats so shows how slow I am compared to the mainstream athletes. I didn’t get the best start on my 100m, but Courtney did a good job of pulling me along, as I felt I really had to push myself to keep up. I ran it in 15.1secs, which takes 2 tenths off my PB. Still aiming for that all-important 14.8secs for the B Standard for last year’s Paralympics. Nearly there now!
The organisers forgot to allocate me two lanes for my 200m, which meant I had to go in the heat before mine and therefore a quicker one. I was surprised that I finished 5th and not last! I had to wait quite a while for my time and when it came out as 32.4secs I was shocked! I only smashed my previous PB by 1.2secs!
It was a really good night and after both races I wasn’t even sure I ran that well. I went to sleep with a great big grin on my face!
I think my next competition will be on September 19th, but I’m not sure when the Charnwood Championships are. If I don’t get the Paralympic time at either competition I intend to run at the Watford Open on September 24th and that will be my very last event of the summer season.
On Wednesday I had another athletics competition. It was the Charnwood Open again, so only at Loughborough. I’m pleased to report that I got not one, but two PBs! Woo hoo!
I had to wait until heat 14 for my 100m, as they were doing quickest to slowest. There were only 16 heats so shows how slow I am compared to the mainstream athletes. I didn’t get the best start on my 100m, but Courtney did a good job of pulling me along, as I felt I really had to push myself to keep up. I ran it in 15.1secs, which takes 2 tenths off my PB. Still aiming for that all-important 14.8secs for the B Standard for last year’s Paralympics. Nearly there now!
The organisers forgot to allocate me two lanes for my 200m, which meant I had to go in the heat before mine and therefore a quicker one. I was surprised that I finished 5th and not last! I had to wait quite a while for my time and when it came out as 32.4secs I was shocked! I only smashed my previous PB by 1.2secs!
It was a really good night and after both races I wasn’t even sure I ran that well. I went to sleep with a great big grin on my face!
I think my next competition will be on September 19th, but I’m not sure when the Charnwood Championships are. If I don’t get the Paralympic time at either competition I intend to run at the Watford Open on September 24th and that will be my very last event of the summer season.
Thursday, 30 July 2009
Birthday Girl
It’s been a week and a half since my all-important 21st birthday. I really don’t feel like I’m 21, but I guess I don’t do anything that 21 year olds are actually able to do. I don’t drink, gamble, haven’t had a kid or gotten married and still live at home. Wow aren’t I a bundle of fun! I said at 16, 18 and now I’ll repeat myself at 21 I really thought I’d be more mature at this age. My mum got married at 21 and I’m certainly not ready for that commitment.
The day before my birthday Jack came over and my family, Jack and me went to Spice 45 for a late buffet lunch. It was pleasant enough. The morning of my birthday I was woken up early as Jack was leaving for work and needed to be back in London for 10am. I was hyper for about 5mins and then got tired again! I was shouted to come downstairs, but refused, as I was too tired! What I didn’t know was that my mum had already got a birthday cake out!
Anyway, Jack left without cake since I was being lazy and I tried to sleep until about 8am when the phone rang and I had my uncle and aunt singing Happy Birthday full blast. Argh, I just wanted to sleep!
At 9am I was dragged out of bed kicking and screaming! My mum insisted we had to cut the cake before my brother went to the Day Centre. The cake was circular and had pretty colourful stars on it; I had candles that spelt out 21. The cake was lush, but not exactly what I’d normally eat for breakie!
Let’s get down to the presents. You already know about my diamond ring and white gold charm bracelet. I also got a variety of clothes, a monkey holding a banana saying I love you this much, monkey key cover things, hot pink computer chair, flowers, 10 thousand bottles of Lucozade don’t ask and for the life of me I can’t remember what else! Oh yeah I got a key, bit upset I only got one key, as I remember seeing my mum’s about 10years ago and harped on how beautiful they were and how I couldn’t wait until I was 21 to get my own keys! After moaning my mum did offer to give me hers!
I went for lunch and bowling with Amy and Cara from 11am. Afterwards we got a hot choc from Starbucks and browsed the shops not that I found anything I liked. It was nice spending time with them anyway, as we don’t get the chance much these days. I was meant to see the new Harry Potter film with Emma, but she cancelled on me and haven’t heard from her since!
I was pretty exhausted by the evening; you wouldn’t believe I’m only 21! I had another birthday cake, which was the head of a monkey, but couldn’t eat it, as it smelt of awful chemicals! Never mind.
The following day I got the train up to Sheffield and met up with Katie, Beth, Rachel and later in the day Michael. Us girlys went to Frankie and Benny’s for lunch where the service was appalling, but at least I got the birthday song played to me and the musical candle Beth bought for my cake failed to sing. I had another star cake since I enjoyed it so much. Beth and Katie spoilt me with gifts from a Paul Frank t-shirt and pillow, to a Lush gift set, Ferrari key ring, a little blue monkey and cup cakes.
I’ll add in here that Jack forgot my card at home, didn’t buy me a present, but my fave white and red roses arrived on the Monday from Inter Flora so can’t complain too much! He did later post my card with a balloon that after my mum and I got pumped up flew out of the car window and resulted in my mum running through a car park to catch it!
All in all a great birthday. I was in Miami for my 16th and Venice for my 18th, but although I didn’t have the sun this time I was happy to have my friends.
I know I’ve been harping on for a while now, but need to quickly tell you about my competition at Crystal Palace on Sunday. It was the biggest comp and most important of the year. The morning featured up and coming athletes like myself and the afternoon was an international Paralympic comp.
Peter Eriksson the Head Coach said hi to me along with Keith Antoine a Paralympic coach, Marie Yates from UK Athletics and Paula Dunn the Performance Manager. Most of the parents of the athletes know me now too and all stopped to wish me luck and have a chat. It was all really friendly.
Paul Dickinson from the BBC commentary team was doing all the intros in the stadium and when I was standing on the 100m-start line I was thinking wow Usane Bolt was exactly here yesterday! I got a great start, but when I came out of my drive phase I didn’t fly. I blame my guide runner Sophie as she didn’t pull me along in a sense and I felt my arms weren’t going all the way back and forward, which shortened my stride length. She’s stronger than me and so I couldn’t alter the way my arms were going. I came 3rd behind the 2 T13s bearing in mind I’m a T11 so they’re partially sighted. They both ran 15.2 and I ran 15.8. I really should have been up with them on top form. There was some wind which prevented fast times.
I was determined to do well in the 200m and advised Sophie to stay within 2 seconds of Natasha who is a T13 and I know can run 30secs. Bearing in mind my PB was 34.1secs. I ran a really good race, but typically the electronic timing system broke didn’t it! My coach clocked it as 32.8, but the time I was given was 33.66. A PB but disappointed with the time. Apparently, the other T13 only just beat me by less than half a second. I’m at such a disadvantage by not being able to see because if I had known I was that close I’m sure I could have found an extra gear to over take her.
To finish off I failed to secure any funding as apparently I need to get more muscle on me. So winter training will be delightful pumping those weights! My next comp is August 5th, the Charnwood Open.
The day before my birthday Jack came over and my family, Jack and me went to Spice 45 for a late buffet lunch. It was pleasant enough. The morning of my birthday I was woken up early as Jack was leaving for work and needed to be back in London for 10am. I was hyper for about 5mins and then got tired again! I was shouted to come downstairs, but refused, as I was too tired! What I didn’t know was that my mum had already got a birthday cake out!
Anyway, Jack left without cake since I was being lazy and I tried to sleep until about 8am when the phone rang and I had my uncle and aunt singing Happy Birthday full blast. Argh, I just wanted to sleep!
At 9am I was dragged out of bed kicking and screaming! My mum insisted we had to cut the cake before my brother went to the Day Centre. The cake was circular and had pretty colourful stars on it; I had candles that spelt out 21. The cake was lush, but not exactly what I’d normally eat for breakie!
Let’s get down to the presents. You already know about my diamond ring and white gold charm bracelet. I also got a variety of clothes, a monkey holding a banana saying I love you this much, monkey key cover things, hot pink computer chair, flowers, 10 thousand bottles of Lucozade don’t ask and for the life of me I can’t remember what else! Oh yeah I got a key, bit upset I only got one key, as I remember seeing my mum’s about 10years ago and harped on how beautiful they were and how I couldn’t wait until I was 21 to get my own keys! After moaning my mum did offer to give me hers!
I went for lunch and bowling with Amy and Cara from 11am. Afterwards we got a hot choc from Starbucks and browsed the shops not that I found anything I liked. It was nice spending time with them anyway, as we don’t get the chance much these days. I was meant to see the new Harry Potter film with Emma, but she cancelled on me and haven’t heard from her since!
I was pretty exhausted by the evening; you wouldn’t believe I’m only 21! I had another birthday cake, which was the head of a monkey, but couldn’t eat it, as it smelt of awful chemicals! Never mind.
The following day I got the train up to Sheffield and met up with Katie, Beth, Rachel and later in the day Michael. Us girlys went to Frankie and Benny’s for lunch where the service was appalling, but at least I got the birthday song played to me and the musical candle Beth bought for my cake failed to sing. I had another star cake since I enjoyed it so much. Beth and Katie spoilt me with gifts from a Paul Frank t-shirt and pillow, to a Lush gift set, Ferrari key ring, a little blue monkey and cup cakes.
I’ll add in here that Jack forgot my card at home, didn’t buy me a present, but my fave white and red roses arrived on the Monday from Inter Flora so can’t complain too much! He did later post my card with a balloon that after my mum and I got pumped up flew out of the car window and resulted in my mum running through a car park to catch it!
All in all a great birthday. I was in Miami for my 16th and Venice for my 18th, but although I didn’t have the sun this time I was happy to have my friends.
I know I’ve been harping on for a while now, but need to quickly tell you about my competition at Crystal Palace on Sunday. It was the biggest comp and most important of the year. The morning featured up and coming athletes like myself and the afternoon was an international Paralympic comp.
Peter Eriksson the Head Coach said hi to me along with Keith Antoine a Paralympic coach, Marie Yates from UK Athletics and Paula Dunn the Performance Manager. Most of the parents of the athletes know me now too and all stopped to wish me luck and have a chat. It was all really friendly.
Paul Dickinson from the BBC commentary team was doing all the intros in the stadium and when I was standing on the 100m-start line I was thinking wow Usane Bolt was exactly here yesterday! I got a great start, but when I came out of my drive phase I didn’t fly. I blame my guide runner Sophie as she didn’t pull me along in a sense and I felt my arms weren’t going all the way back and forward, which shortened my stride length. She’s stronger than me and so I couldn’t alter the way my arms were going. I came 3rd behind the 2 T13s bearing in mind I’m a T11 so they’re partially sighted. They both ran 15.2 and I ran 15.8. I really should have been up with them on top form. There was some wind which prevented fast times.
I was determined to do well in the 200m and advised Sophie to stay within 2 seconds of Natasha who is a T13 and I know can run 30secs. Bearing in mind my PB was 34.1secs. I ran a really good race, but typically the electronic timing system broke didn’t it! My coach clocked it as 32.8, but the time I was given was 33.66. A PB but disappointed with the time. Apparently, the other T13 only just beat me by less than half a second. I’m at such a disadvantage by not being able to see because if I had known I was that close I’m sure I could have found an extra gear to over take her.
To finish off I failed to secure any funding as apparently I need to get more muscle on me. So winter training will be delightful pumping those weights! My next comp is August 5th, the Charnwood Open.
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