I don’t know about you but I find it pretty hard to sit still. It’s April 17th and you’re perhaps a little bit tired from your respective athletics after-party ventures but your itching to do some sort of activity. You can’t run so what will it be…
The Coach, Bruce, has suggested that if I’m going totally insane perhaps some cross training. Yuck! We all know what that usually means, ellipticals, bikes, gyms and pool belts. Not the sort of ‘fulfillment’ I’m looking for. So, this year I decided to re-visit a different activity for entertainment during my ‘rest-week’. I took up a pair of boxing gloves and entered into the ring with Amanda Paulin. Well not exactly. But for two grueling 90min sessions in a ‘run-down’ gym in Richmond we were amongst around 50 other fitness fanatics participating in intense boxing/circuit workouts. If you attended Jamo’s female distance camp a few years back you’d know the sort of ‘activity’ I’m referring too. Dungbells, burpee’s, push-ups, uppercuts, lower cuts, push-ups, left hooks, right hooks and more push-ups. Wow, it took us the good part of a week to be able to move normally again. Just in time to get back into the usual routine…
Since then I’ve had some great news. My selection to represent Australian University Sport in the 1500m at World Uni games has been confirmed. It seams incredibly surreal, I will be heading to Russia in less then two months! Sadly this means I will not be able to participate in too many cross-country races this season… Pity. I just love racing 4km+ in unnaturally cold temperatures.
These coming few months however I do not only have World Uni Games on my mind. I cannot completely rule out the prospect of running the ‘B’ qualifier at World Uni games. Therefore to have any chance of a ‘discretionary selection’ to compete at World Champs I have until July 29 to run 4:09. So how do I find roughly 3 seconds over 3 and ¾ laps? Please, let me know, I’m open to any suggestions…
Fortunately for me the many of the members of my training group have been willing to alter there ‘cross country preparations’ and even cut their ‘rest period’ short to assist me. However they are not the only ones who have been incredibly supportive of my efforts… I’m very fortunate to have a great team at Recover Sports Medicine in Richmond who are helping me to stay injury free whilst also assisting me to develop a more efficient style (reducing over stride and keeping my hips in line). To do this I’ve been told I need to invest in some glutes. Therefore the first place that I have been searching for 3 seconds is in the gym. Secondly, I have begun clinical Pilates with Georgia at Recover Sports to further develop a more stable running position. On top of this Joel Hocking from the Carlton Football Club has also been taking me for specific speed/power sessions to increase my running efficiency. As I said I’m searching far and wide for 3 seconds. How have you made your most rapid improvements? I would love to hear about it!
Anyway I hope that everyone has recovered from the post-aths season antics relatively unscathed and for those heading overseas, good luck!
And if I’m lucky enough, I might see you over there somewhere…
