Adapting...new city, new (temporary) home, new boat

It’s been one week so far here in London, and things are going pretty darn well…it helps to have a Bulk Barn, Winners, GNC, nutrition house, Sobey’s, McDonald’s and Subway near by…dangerous too:S

Of course I am missing my husband, family and friends, but I am fortunate in that I get to see them on week-ends and skype on weekdays.  Also, being away gives me a reason to push even harder in training because I need to make it worth “being away”…make every stroke on the water or rep in the weights room count!!  I’m not here to play.  I am here to get faster with teammates I hope to race with in AugustJ.

Speaking of which, I have been pleasantly surprised by the environment here at the training center.  No doubt there is constant pressure on each of us to perform, but that pressure is elevated when I realize that I am here on my own free will because I want this, I want to get faster, and I want to be a part of something that could be really great!   Also, it really isn’t hard to be motivated when you are surrounded by such strong and committed women who are working hard each day to be their best.

Between training sessions, I find myself working, cooking, reading, and walking my new best friend here in London…she’s a bit hairy, not so smelly, and clingy…but she is adorable:

 Madison and me

Now one of the biggest things I am learning right now is to “adapt”.  I'm sure at one point or another you've had to adapt to something...it could be as simple as going to a party where you know nobody (and no, you aren’t crashing the party,ha!) and you have to get a feel for the environment before you let your true self come out.  The biggest adaptation I feel that I am making right now is rowing in a quad (a boat with 4 people).  I am no longer in my single and now I have to adapt my stroke to others.  It is really humbling and I have to stay open minded and alert when being directed to change certain parts of my stroke.  At the end of the day, the goal is to move a quad (four people) as though only one person were rowing it.  I need to perfectly mimic what the person in front of me is doing…so hopefully my many years of dance experience will come in handy.

Above are some speedy girls I raced with last summer.  We only had the warm up on the race course to "adapt", and it got us a Gold medal at provincials, so I know it can be done:).

The challenge I give you (if you want), is to stay open minded and see where you can better adapt in your life.

Happy "adapting" (haha)