First, I want to start off by saying that it is always sad when a great athlete retires. A couple of week ago a really big role model of mine retired, Tracy Cameron (Lightweight Rower, 2008 Olympic Bronze). I won’t get into the “why”, but I will say that I am really thankful and privileged for having met her and raced against her. She is up there with athletes like Chrissie Wellington (Ironman). So thank you Tracy for everything you have done for our sport in Canada and around the World!
Now, onto my life here in London. Busy times to say the least! I have been juggling work with training, and I must say that I fully understand why full time athletes don’t work 9-5pm jobs. First off, the hours don’t allow for it. We row either twice a day and do weights as a third workout, or row twice and then cross train as our third workout. It’s getting a bit harder now that the weather is getting hotter too! Recovery is most important, and so making sure fuel and fluids are taken in a timely manner is crucial. So, on most days I find myself at my computer/blackberry in between workouts and in the evenings to keep up and get ahead of the upcoming day(s) – no more late night showsL….but I may make an exception for The Bachelorette tonightJ, don’t hate.
The “Under 23” category crews have been selected. They had a defining race this past Friday in the form of a time trial that finalized who would be in what boats, and I must say that I am super impressed with these women – they are strong, fast and determined! I’m really motivated and fortunate to train with them each day. Although not officially part of my selection, I also raced this past Friday in the time trial. I say “not officially”, but really, we are in selection EVERY DAY! A couple of us Senior athletes competed as well to see how fast we could go against the clock, each of us in our single sculls (that a boat, not a typo - skull).
These are my rowing blades on the dock at the London Training Centre at 5am.
I weighed in at my target weight and then went off to fuel before the race, set to start at 7am. It was 5am and so I thought I had more than enough time to eat and drink as I usually do before practice. But unfortunately I didn’t follow the “usual”.
My “excitedness” (yes that’s a word!) got the best of me and I double dosed on some of my pre-race drinks/meals in hopes that it would make me go faster…not so much Laura, not so much. This double dosing is what I feel led to a VERY uncomfortable post-race experience, ha! I couldn’t properly warm down after the 2km time trial because, well, my stomach didn’t like me all that much. As I struggled to carry my boat back up to the boathouse after the time trial, I started to gag every other step…gag….step…gag…and so on. Honestly I was scared that I might drop my boat! At the same time some athletes from the local rowing club were taking their boats up, and so I would lie if I didn’t say I was trying to hold it in. But on I went with my loud gagging noise. I think I looked behind me at one point to pretend it was coming from somewhere else…”who did that?”J.
After I got my boat up I took some time to try and recollect myself so that I could get back to normal, but sooner than later my stomach won the fight and it was racing hard to get all my fluids out the door!
What had I done?! I guess between nerves and double dosing, my body didn’t absorb the contents and instead they just sat in my stomach from 5am until after my race. It could be that the force and pressure from racing acted as the final motivation for the contents to sit still no longer.
So, the lesson to be learned – do NOT try anything new on race day! Practice new foods or drinks during training sessions so that you could see how your body responds first.
Sometimes we know these things, but practicing them is another story. I will continue to make a conscious effort to always learn and apply what I have learned in the opportunities ahead.
Now I’m off to apply what I have learned about relaxing…it is done best when watching “The Bachelorette”, ha!
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