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Get Christie To Bulgaria! Woo!

  • Week 8,9,10,11,12 (aaah)

      20 June 2015
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    Hey team, I have let things slip away from me! Goodness!

    Over the last 5 weeks I have been in and out of essentially all the U23 Womens boats! I have been in the quad a lot, been in the four on both bow and stroke sides, been in singles with Claudia and in the Elite womens eight. I'm really embracing this challenge as it is making me a more versatile athlete (I hope).

    It's been very interesting being in the various crews not only from a rowing perspective but also from a social aspect. The two girls boats (4- and 4x) have different coaches and very different approaches to training. Neither is superior to the other but swapping between the two puts me in a very unique position in regards to learning and taking the strengths of each crew to apply to my own mind set.

    Mind-set is becoming an increasingly important part of my rowing. Mentally, it is so important to have a strong mind. You have to train this as much as you have to train your body. You can be as fit and strong as you want but if you aren't on your game mentally it's all pointless. This is shown time and time again in training and the days where I go out and fight for it have proven to be the days where I perform.

    With all this in mind, I have had some struggles in my single. I have spent limited time in it over the last 6 weeks and it's been hard to make progress. Don't get me wrong - my job is to fill in and I'm loving the opportunity to be in different crews - it's just frustrating to be getting slower. Not only that but I'm currently deciding whether to race the U23 single or the reserve single. Much as I would love to race the proper single I'm a bit concerned I'm not properly at a level where I should be. Hmmm... With one more winter series left we'll decide after that I think...

    To change subject completely - the Computer Science Society at the University Of Waikato threw me a fundraiser Quiz night on Friday and it was amazing. Not only did a huge number of people turn up (some I didn't even know!) but everyone was exceptionally generous! For this I am so eternally greatful and would like to thank the cool kids behind CS3 and the staff at FCMS for their generosity.

    Two weeks to go - bring on Bulgaria!

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  • Week 7

      17 May 2015
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    This week has been fast. Two of the girls in the quad have been suffering back injuries so I have been in the quad a number of times this week. It has been an interesting learning experience.

    Jumping into the quad after being in the single meant I had to seriously adjust some of my technique in order to keep up with the other girls and the faster boat. It took me a wee while to get the change but by the end of the week I think it was going well. It was a nice change of focus and nice to spend some time getting to know the girls in the quad.

    Rowed out to Epworth in my single mid-week and had a surprise cake picnic for Holly Fletchers 21st. Was super cute.

    Moving into a hard week of training this week. I'm looking forward to really getting back into my single and pick up some more speed. Through halfway of our time in New Zealand. I can feel the excitement building already. I can't wait to head overseas and race!

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  • Week 6

      10 May 2015

    This week was hard. Going straight into a hard week training off racing is always a wee challenge. My coach was also away for the beginning of the week on a course so it was self-directed training a lot.

    On Tuesday morning I had the blessing and curse to be able to train alongside the new Zealand university team. Me and adelle are quite similarly paced so it was a very competitive session. Some high rate pyramids absolutely killed my legs but it was such am amazing feeling to be back training hard with someone!

    Wednesday morning we had a squad session -  5k time trial at 30 rate - it was a mission! My legs were knackered and I didn't perform nearly as well as I would have liked. Moving forward, I'm going to ensure I properly recover from training sessions because it's definitely something that I get slack at.

    Thursday I went for a big long row to the first island - I set up a nice rhythm early on and had a very nice row up and back. My splits were good, my boat was balanced and the water was beautiful.

    I was really getting back into the hang of the single after being out for injury when disaster struck! Jackie had a sore back so I was put into the four! My time to shine! Had a couple rows in the four, sitting up in stroke seat, it was very exciting! Went so much faster than my single and it was good to be sweeping for a change. The girls were very nice and I really enjoyed the rows.

    This weekend I also had prize-giving for North Shore. It was super cute and me, ash and the Boss Roster Crew were presented with our red coats. It was a very special evening and I felt honoured to be in company of so many incredibly inspirational people. We heard some amazing stories and I'm feeling ready to go train right now!

    Bring on next week! Throw me some more challenges!

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  • Week 5

      7 May 2015

    Another interesting week for me! The week begun in a dull fashion. Still nursing my ankle, I spent time on the bike. It was a frustrating time because, while I wasn't able to row, I also wasn't able to cycle extensively. I spent a lot of time wanting to more than what I was told to do. But in situations like this it has been important to trust in the expertise and experience of the team around me. Gary and the two physios, Melissa and Craig, are all very knowledgeable and I had to make sure I trusted and stuck to their recommendations. Luckily they are incredible at their jobs and I gingerly managed a short row on Thursday morning. It was accompanied by a whole lot of clicking in my ankle but not too much pain. The decision was made for me to take some concrete pills and harden up. I was back rowing.

    And such perfect timing too. Friday morning was the first day of 'winter series' - a three day regatta for rowingnz crews.

    Racing on Friday morning was a huge kickstart to the system. After two weeks off it was a challenge but I enjoyed it. I had the opportunity to race Zoe McBride, Jackie Kiddle, Liv Loe and Fiona Bourke. It was tough competition and I got absolutely smashed but I was happy with my efforts.

    Saturday mornings racing was not so good. Injury took Fi out of the racing and the lightweight girls raced the double. This left just me and Liv. Richard, the male u23 reserve, was moved into our race. This smaller field proved to be distracting to my racing and unfortunately my speed was disappointingly slow. I felt the effects of two weeks off and really felt like I let myself down.

    Determined to finish on a high, I really took the day on Saturday to refocus and rethink my goals in the single and for racing. I talked with Gary and we talked about inspiration. What would I like to see in myself racing that would inspire others? This question really affected me and I thought a lot about my answer.

    Sunday came and I was racing the Liv, Richard, Tufi, Mens pair and Mens Double. I really focused on keeping my focus on me and staying in my race. I had a good race and was really happy with it. I got my best result of the regatta and felt as though I could come away from the regatta happy with my efforts. Plenty to work on for winter series 2 aswell.

    Looking forward to some big ks this coming week!

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  • Week 4

      25 April 2015
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    An interesting week to say the least.

    I went tramping up Mt Pirongia last weekend in the rain and dark with my friends Richard, Adelle and Peter. It was quite the expedition and we had a lot of fun. We stayed overnight in a wee hut atop the mountain and came down on Sunday. We were very careful the whole way - very aware of the consequences of injury. We made it down the mountain, a good 4 hour hike, and were wandering the gravel road on the last 30mins of the walk when I really just was exceptionally clumsy and fell over. I rolled my ankle and had quite the drama queen moment on the road. Begrudgingly I hobbled back to the car - my darling friends carried my pack. By the time I got there my ankle was The size of a Mango. Huge. And so sore. I elevated it and iced it and went to a Pathway to Podium workshop where I learnt some interesting things about athlete life management, nutrition and sport psychology.

    Monday morning training came and I went to go for a row but wasn't able to move without pain. I saw one of our incredible RowingNZ physios and I was diagnosed with a level 2 sprain. Which is fun. I had a couple days doing nothing (except uni assignments, tests and work) and then have spent the remainder of the week on a bike. Feeling like the worst reserve ever being injured but I'm doing everything possible to be able again. Ice, compression and rehab exercises. To make it a wee bit more fun my whole leg/foot has been turning all sorts of colours due the tearing and bleeding under the skin. Currently, my calf is a nice brown, black toes, purple heel - I'm a walking rainbow.

    But this week hasn't been entirely cycling and injury - Richard and I had the oppertunity to teach some sales reps from Tegal Chicken how to row! We took them out in eights (biggest boats in a long time!) and chaos ensued. It was great fun and I think they all thouroughly enjoyed themselves. There were a number who wanted to take it up as a sport so I told them to go to North Shore because it's the best club in New Zealand!

    I also had the privilege of attending the Waikato Rowing Club prize-giving on Wednesday night. I went in my capacity as President of the Waikato University Rowing Club and was proud to see a number of our members receiving awards. It was a great evening with some very inspirational people in attendance.

    I think that's it for this update. Sorry, I do go on!

    Til next week.

    Christie

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  • Week 1, 2 + 3

      20 April 2015
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    Three weeks have gone by and I haven't had a chance to make an update at all. So now I thought I'd catch up instead of finishing off my assignment...

    Week 1 was a huge week. It began with a blood test which, for those of you who know me, was a major drama! I trained both with Waikato University Rowing Club and the U23 team. The mix of the two meant I had some time in the single but also a lot of time in crew boats which was fun (and the last time for a wee while). The week ended in a trip with the University to Wanganui for Uni Games. As the president of the Club and one of the main organisers, it was a semi-stressful occasion but went very well. Our boys won the famous Hebberley shield and we came second as a team in points. Personally, Georgia, Luka, Jaimie and I won the champ four and quad and Georgia and I came second in the double and pair. I also came fifth in my single which I wasn't too happy with but gives heaps of room for improvement I guess.

    Week 2 was my first proper week training with the NZ U23 squad and Gary. At the start of the week I was a bit lost for motivation and reason but a meeting with Gary to discuss my goals and training plan for the future got me back on track. I had a good week from there getting into the single and getting back into the swing of things. Week concluded with 4 4k time trials which were hard but a good workout.

    Week 3 has been my favourite week yet. Finally got into the swing of things, my single is feeling good. Rowing with the WRPC 3 mornings a week keeps me on my game racing the other singles up and back. Also had some beautiful flat water which made for some exceptional rows alone out on the lake during the day. Really enjoying myself. Saturday racing was tough - have some work to do at race pace but happy with my efforts.

    I went tramping this weekend up Mt Pirongia which was an expedition and a half but so much fun! A good change from rowing. Unfortunately, however, in the last half an hour, as we were wandering along the grass I rolled my ankle :( So week 4 isn't to a great start.... But I should be back rowing in a couple days...

    Updates will be more frequent from now I swear!

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