Olivia reaches dizzy heights
Happy New Year! 2012 has finally arrived and the Olympics are only months away.
Following the Christmas period where I trained independently and took time to visit family and friends, I am now currently on a GB training camp up a mountain in Sierra Nevada, Spain. At 3,478m there is little oxygen and limited places to go other than from our rooms, to breakfast, to the ergo room, to second breakfast, to the weights room, to lunch, to the ergo room, to weights…. I think you probably get the picture. The view however is amazing.
We arrived on 4th January and are here for 10 days of training on the rowing machine and lifting weights mixed with a few football and swimming sessions. The aim is to adapt to the altitude and use the training benefits of the altitude for when we go back down to sea level. We have a physiologist here who takes a blood sample from our ear at the end of each ergo, which is put into a machine that tells you the amount of lactic acid your body has produced. The coaches can then make sure we are training at the correct intensity. We also have a physiotherapist who ensures we are all ok to complete the sessions. We can book in appointments to see her about any injuries or worries that may be affecting the training.
The camp is for the under 23 heavyweight boys and lightweight boys and this year they invited 4 girls. As a small group we have really pushed on up here. Each of us has adapted in our own way but we have all moved on since the beginning and completed each session which can’t be said for the boys! To start with I was very achy and tired but now I’m in the swing of it, it seems to be going a lot quicker. Only 3 days left now and then back home to Oxford.
Next stops: Wimbelball, Devon; Oxford Brookes Training Camp.
Next trial: 5km rowing machine test to be submitted by beginning of Feb.
- Olivia