tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30008756337931184062024-03-13T13:54:24.430-07:00ANNE DICKINS MBE- PARACANOEIST2016 PARALYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST Anne Dickinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03193609413870451417noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000875633793118406.post-48222217740914841822017-09-14T06:33:00.000-07:002017-09-14T06:33:06.509-07:00Rio a year on..<div class="yiv3810756753MsoNormal">
<span class="yiv3810756753" style="color: #353535; font-family: Arial;">It's exactly a year since that incredible day when I won the 100th gold medal of the Rio Paralympics and the 600th medal since funding began.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lagoa Lake 15th September 2016</td></tr>
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<span class="yiv3810756753" style="color: #353535; font-family: Arial;">Anniversaries are often a time for reflection, and as the 15th of September approaches I find myself thinking about the Rio Paralympics and the promised impact of wining gold medals. </span></div>
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<span class="yiv3810756753" style="color: #353535; font-family: Arial;">The term “Olympic and Paralympic legacy” gets banded around a lot and people seem to be focused on working out tangible benefits of funding elite sport- more specifically winning gold medals. As useful and important as this might be, I'm not sure if it’s possible to quantify all of the wider positive impacts. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t34bXs0dqeU/Wbp9nRFVkQI/AAAAAAAABWU/lRu-euOrzh49n4pa45KQgDfkzjrBk_4GQCLcBGAs/s1600/rio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="839" height="244" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t34bXs0dqeU/Wbp9nRFVkQI/AAAAAAAABWU/lRu-euOrzh49n4pa45KQgDfkzjrBk_4GQCLcBGAs/s320/rio.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">winning the 100th gold medal</td></tr>
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<span class="yiv3810756753" style="color: #353535; font-family: Arial;">Mine was such a close race. I have never focused so hard or hurt so much as in those final meters paddling towards the finish. I crossed the line a mere 300ths of a second in front. But a win is a win and standing on the podium having won gold for your country is an incredible experience. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d0CxDMDMY60/Wbp-WZ4KvlI/AAAAAAAABWg/Y0StDFBgOpksReq0dExh2b8kGXlQTRnxACLcBGAs/s1600/thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="936" height="179" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d0CxDMDMY60/Wbp-WZ4KvlI/AAAAAAAABWg/Y0StDFBgOpksReq0dExh2b8kGXlQTRnxACLcBGAs/s320/thumbnail.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giving everything to my race</td></tr>
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<span class="yiv3810756753" style="color: #353535; font-family: Arial;">It still gives me goose bumps whenever I think about it. My memory of that day on Lagoa lake is still vivid. I can feel ribbon pressing on to my neck from the weight of the medal, I can hear the National anthem playing and I can see my family standing there behind the barrier just in front of me. The Union flag reaches the top of the mast and Christ-the-Redeemer on the mountain behind forms a perfect backdrop. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Podium!</td></tr>
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</span><span class="yiv3810756753" style="color: #353535; font-family: Arial;">The happiness I felt at that moment was in part pride, knowing that I had worked incredibly hard for this, but that feeling was easily eclipsed by seeing the infectious happiness of my family in front of me. My typically monosyllabic (ie grunty) teenage son Will was showing uncharacteristic excitement and emotion by punching the air while cheering loudly. My normally chatty, smiley 20-year-old daughter Jess was speechless for the first time ever. She had tears rolling down her face making red, white and blue streaks out of her patriotic face paints.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-szWFkOZ7muM/Wbp-fldXOWI/AAAAAAAABWk/mDPcrahYRc8L2wHFcRJSZD-Gg--cf55RgCLcBGAs/s1600/rio%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-szWFkOZ7muM/Wbp-fldXOWI/AAAAAAAABWk/mDPcrahYRc8L2wHFcRJSZD-Gg--cf55RgCLcBGAs/s320/rio%2B6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Will and Simon watching my medal ceremony</td></tr>
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<span class="yiv3810756753" style="color: #353535; font-family: Arial;"></span> <span class="yiv3810756753" style="color: #353535; font-family: Arial;">My amazing mum who hadn't been able to travel for 20 years due to poor health had trained hard as well to get strong enough to be able to make it to Rio. I watched as she hoisted herself out of her wheel chair, flanked by my amazing nieces who had come out to look after her, and she clung onto the barrier to steady her self while enthusiastically waving a small Union flag.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lb_HQ5fIwIM/Wbp-m8RTToI/AAAAAAAABWo/-wLs8_AGeMUwtNGU2JoSnA2xjmh9pcyJwCLcBGAs/s1600/rio5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lb_HQ5fIwIM/Wbp-m8RTToI/AAAAAAAABWo/-wLs8_AGeMUwtNGU2JoSnA2xjmh9pcyJwCLcBGAs/s320/rio5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Mum having the time of her life xx</td></tr>
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<span class="yiv3810756753" style="color: #353535; font-family: Arial;"></span> <span class="yiv3810756753" style="color: #353535; font-family: Arial;">I locked eyes with my husband Simon and the world seemed to pause for a second. We smiled at each other. I could feel how proud of me he was and also massively relieved that my journey had ended this way. It could so easily have been silver, or nothing at all (as we feared after I contracted a virus just months earlier)…</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yg6ugOLFyos/Wbp-tIDOWHI/AAAAAAAABWs/ZoqQjzBV4wohWzziRAlSb6ze4ZE9oMCzwCLcBGAs/s1600/rio8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yg6ugOLFyos/Wbp-tIDOWHI/AAAAAAAABWs/ZoqQjzBV4wohWzziRAlSb6ze4ZE9oMCzwCLcBGAs/s320/rio8.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happiness is...</td></tr>
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<span class="yiv3810756753" style="color: #353535; font-family: Arial;">But the initial impact of me winning that medal wasn't just confined to those at the lake in Rio. Channel 4 had managed to pull together last-minute coverage of the kayak finals and it was amazing to hear later about how people went to extraordinary efforts to watch my race. My sister whose wifi went down just before the race ran into the department store next to her office. She managed to persuade the shop assistants to turn on the entire departments demo TVs to enable her and the whole top floor of John Lewis to watch and cheer together. One friend insisted that the professional photo shoot for the spring catalogue of a well-known retailer should pause so that she and the models and photographers could be part of my support.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ufnqIavCdKk/Wbp-15Q4XqI/AAAAAAAABWw/x9TMOhbDiwUqJJSGPk90qrBKz6MH21auQCLcBGAs/s1600/rio7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="361" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ufnqIavCdKk/Wbp-15Q4XqI/AAAAAAAABWw/x9TMOhbDiwUqJJSGPk90qrBKz6MH21auQCLcBGAs/s320/rio7.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Supporters back home</td></tr>
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<span class="yiv3810756753" style="color: #353535; font-family: Arial;">Another friend who runs a hair salon dressed up in patriotic colours and served Prosecco to the slightly bemused clients, who thought they had just come in for a normal trim. Many of my friends and family said that following my journey for four years and watching that race had inspired them to believe they could also achieve their own goals, or it simply made them feel happy. And this is just the people I know, and just from my one medal. </span></div>
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<span class="yiv3810756753" style="color: #353535; font-family: Arial;">Happiness is known to activate more happiness. I sometimes wonder how far this un-recordable ripple of happiness generated by all the medal success at the Rio Paralympics travelled? </span></div>
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<span class="yiv3810756753" style="color: #353535; font-family: Arial;">The year since Rio has flown by and while I follow the progress of my ex-paracanoe team carrying on training for Tokyo, I have moved on and with the spare time created from not training I have said yes to all sorts of requests for inspire appearances and professional speaking opportunities. I’m not convinced that gold medals on their own “inspire” people but a gold medal does open many doors. An athlete with a medal and a compelling back story seems to be a powerful combination and makes people want to listen. </span><span class="yiv3810756753" style="color: #353535; font-family: Arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ljq2ZX0q5EI/Wbp_Dt7TeTI/AAAAAAAABW4/--89FcrFbnELUc2PgYv1StqPuS4IMJKXwCLcBGAs/s1600/rio4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ljq2ZX0q5EI/Wbp_Dt7TeTI/AAAAAAAABW4/--89FcrFbnELUc2PgYv1StqPuS4IMJKXwCLcBGAs/s320/rio4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the AMAZING gold medal winners at Rio paralympics</td></tr>
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<span class="yiv3810756753" style="color: #353535; font-family: Arial;">Since that day on Lagoa lake I have genuinely lost count of the number of people who I have done a talk to and who asked afterwards "could I hold your medal". I don’t believe I will ever tire of watching peoples’ faces as I hand it to them. Their eyes light up as I pass it across and again as they feel it's weight in their hands and hear the rattle of the para-specific medal audible beads. The gold appears to reflect up onto their faces causing a warm glow and everyone no matter how cynical or even socially awkward looks up and smiles ...</span><span class="yiv3810756753" style="color: #353535; font-family: Arial;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_c19D8KyRD0/Wbp-9vH5PLI/AAAAAAAABW0/hM1JL4T2lF8CTZ1A3NoVBAYxAWnbLEB_wCLcBGAs/s1600/rio3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_c19D8KyRD0/Wbp-9vH5PLI/AAAAAAAABW0/hM1JL4T2lF8CTZ1A3NoVBAYxAWnbLEB_wCLcBGAs/s320/rio3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The magic of holding a gold medal</td></tr>
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<span class="yiv3810756753" style="color: #353535; font-family: Arial;">I have now had quite a few people approach me long after to tell how they have changed their lives since my talk, and this gives me a massive buzz – probably more so than winning a race ever did. </span></div>
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<span class="yiv3810756753" style="color: #353535; font-family: Arial;">So although I doubt we will ever be able to measure the true “impact” of that investment in gold medals, at least I know in my own little world mine is spreading a little happiness.</span></div>
Anne Dickinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03193609413870451417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000875633793118406.post-80573358760676656722017-04-25T06:03:00.000-07:002017-04-25T06:03:20.440-07:00Retirement<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="yiv3104610128s1" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493118514192_1881" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">Top speed in my race boat was about 17 km /hour but today I'm aiming to go much, much faster ... Sprint kayaking wasn't scary or dangerous but my heart would beat really fast on the start line anyway.<span class="yiv3104610128Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span>Bizarrely this thought crosses my mind as I sit precariously on the top of a cinder cone volcano in Nicaragua, astride a wooden plank, staring down the 40 degree slope to the tiny backpacker bus far, far below...</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ldU9rsxAw4k/WP9I7IhaEuI/AAAAAAAABV4/CGxAMKZdrdcQTIhTdv9oqCPXcGPqFa_ZACEw/s1600/FullSizeRender-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ldU9rsxAw4k/WP9I7IhaEuI/AAAAAAAABV4/CGxAMKZdrdcQTIhTdv9oqCPXcGPqFa_ZACEw/s320/FullSizeRender-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cerro Negro Nicaragua</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="yiv3104610128s1" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493118514192_2546" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">Two weeks ago <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/39551963"><span style="color: red;">I announced my retirement</span></a> from the GB Paracanoe team and immediately accepted an invitation from Simon, my husband, to join him on a work trip to Nicaragua. Simon travels a lot and for the last four years I have been so focused on that one single goal - getting to Rio - that spontaneous trips like this were unthinkable. </span><span class="yiv3104610128s1" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493118514192_2549" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">So here I am, "boarding" on a live volcano?! Am I nuts?!<span class="yiv3104610128Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_mkVyKoqAVE/WP86D_-tg5I/AAAAAAAABTM/koZzGQbsY-EychfArQGmNI8CIgCX21SqQCK4B/s1600/IMG_7228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_mkVyKoqAVE/WP86D_-tg5I/AAAAAAAABTM/koZzGQbsY-EychfArQGmNI8CIgCX21SqQCK4B/s320/IMG_7228.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Staring down the 40 degree slope</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="yiv3104610128s1" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493118514192_2552" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">My heart is beating just as fast as at the start of a race, but this time it's with pure fear as I prepare for my turn. Our safety briefing was minimal, "Is anyone allergic to bees? No? Good (!?) Speeds can reach over 90km/hour so you need to keep the board balanced otherwise you will topple over and it will hurt.... Don't EVER put your hands down and if you fall off, just roll...." The only items to protect me from the sharp volcano gravel and rock are a pair of poorly fitting safety goggles, a thin orange boiler suit, and a bandana over my mouth.<span class="yiv3104610128Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Protective clothing!!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="yiv3104610128s1" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">As I sit on my board waiting for my turn, I think back to the team up in Nottingham starting the Tokyo cycle. I know what they're going through and the sacrifices they have chosen to make in order to 'go' for another four years. Having reached as far as I could by winning gold in Rio, I have chosen to step away from elite sport and find new adventures. Knowing what it takes, I have absolute respect and admiration for those who have decided to carry on with an elite program.<span class="yiv3104610128Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hEKD4W6l_30/WP88ffQYRhI/AAAAAAAABUU/xGUSdtYK_DMikZBx9_CIF7-IjLtZEQfVgCK4B/s1600/FullSizeRender-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hEKD4W6l_30/WP88ffQYRhI/AAAAAAAABUU/xGUSdtYK_DMikZBx9_CIF7-IjLtZEQfVgCK4B/s320/FullSizeRender-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Incredible GB Paracanoe Team In Brazil</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="yiv3104610128s1" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span class="yiv3104610128Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><br /></span></span><span class="yiv3104610128s1" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493118514192_2558" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">Everything, and I mean everything I did in the last 4 years was a conscious decision based on a single quest, "Will this make my boat go faster". If it didn't fit this criteria then I simply didn't do it.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="yiv3104610128s1" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="yiv3104610128s1" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493118514192_2561" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">While I'm waiting, I start to think about the elite athlete 'rules' I'm 'breaking' by being here. Pretty much all of them! Holidays were called regeneration periods and had to be booked in the off-season. Regeneration preferably needed places which had a gym, proper nutrition, no diseases, no unsafe activities, no alcohol, etc. I start to chuckle as I make a mental list of all my transgressions. I'm sitting on top of a live volcano (I bounced here on the back of a dodgy open top truck) in the second poorest country in Central America. I had only a Coca Cola for 'breakfast' and I'm dehydrating rapidly in the heat. The<span class="yiv3104610128Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span>volcano boarding trip has a shot challenge prize and a beer and mojito reward (lunch?!?) on completion...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="yiv3104610128s1" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><br /></span><span class="yiv3104610128s1" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493118514192_2564" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">But it's not just holidays which were limited and I begin to wonder if people realise the huge amount of personal sacrifices elite athletes make every day in order to reach the top of their game. Once at the top it's even more ruthless as the expectation piles on more pressure and you know that the journey can end at any time, through being beaten or through injury. The risk is so high that you daren't do anything which might jeopardise achieving that one goal. I was fortunate to have had amazing support around me to get me to the top, and such luck that things fell into place at the right time .... the choices I felt I had to make to give me the best chance to succeed were really tough but these choices (along with my training) clearly worked! Although for me, the training was actually easier to deal with than the sacrifices I had to make!<span class="yiv3104610128Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cLTyCERMd_g/WP88SVy2MRI/AAAAAAAABUM/4ccxwY4KDw4bYyZes4-vdIHLlKWBLmGlwCK4B/s1600/IMG_0715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cLTyCERMd_g/WP88SVy2MRI/AAAAAAAABUM/4ccxwY4KDw4bYyZes4-vdIHLlKWBLmGlwCK4B/s320/IMG_0715.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Family.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="yiv3104610128s1" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><span class="yiv3104610128Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><br /></span></span><span class="yiv3104610128s1" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493118514192_3617" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">I missed family holidays as regeneration periods don't usually coincide with school holidays. At home I would think about where I went or how I travelled to avoid people who might be infectious. I wouldn't go near anyone who sniffed or sneezed. This included distancing myself from my family if they turned up with a cold. I would often go to bed before my children in order to get enough sleep, I said no to my friend's invitations to parties and evening social events in order to optimise my recovery. I changed my diet and didn't eat or drink anything which didn't promote recovery or wasn't good for me. My take was that empty calories would only make me heavier not faster. I had to be wary about everything I put in or on my body, meticulously checking labels to make sure it wasn't contaminated with a banned substance.<span class="yiv3104610128Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span>And that's not to mention the loss of privacy, with every detail about me being recorded by the program on a daily basis, so the team around me could learn and adapt.<span class="yiv3104610128Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span>Nothing was spared and the team knew everything about me from the colour of my urine to the percentage of my fat.<span class="yiv3104610128Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span>Clearly it worked out for me - but looking back, it was incredibly tough.<span class="yiv3104610128Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W774AUHCGhc/WP88uhSX2LI/AAAAAAAABUk/8foVojFTLtw1ht_3GoDiCJbA0boaUczPwCK4B/s1600/IMG_3689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W774AUHCGhc/WP88uhSX2LI/AAAAAAAABUk/8foVojFTLtw1ht_3GoDiCJbA0boaUczPwCK4B/s320/IMG_3689.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gold</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="yiv3104610128s1" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493118514192_3614" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">"Are you ready??" Oh no, It's my turn ... Help! I start off trying to go slowly but I rapidly gain speed and I soon realise I'm out of control. Keeping the board balanced when you have a wonky leg and asymmetrical butt cheeks is near enough impossible!!! Then, in a cloud of dust and debris, I start to slide sideways down the slope. Unable to stay straight, I fall and roll my way down the last section of the volcano. </span></span><br />
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<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SprHwGflU2c/WP865cq0yzI/AAAAAAAABTw/TxX24r2dSXsnDnDuj6jRZfQOItPm7KVTgCK4B/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SprHwGflU2c/WP865cq0yzI/AAAAAAAABTw/TxX24r2dSXsnDnDuj6jRZfQOItPm7KVTgCK4B/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just before I fell off......</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="yiv3104610128s1" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="yiv3104610128s1" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">Ouch!! this is going to hurt a lot tomorrow ... but I don't really mind - this is being alive!!! <span class="yiv3104610128Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="yiv3104610128s1" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493118514192_3612" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">As much as I loved being an elite athlete, I love being free even more. Free to do what ever I want, when I want, without worrying that I'm doing the wrong thing, letting someone down, wasting the Programme's efforts, or the public and sponsors' money.<span class="yiv3104610128Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ghAbR-9LoBQ/WP8_7E52cdI/AAAAAAAABUw/XAveAoNjdOM6iXBIdrxneFc7cEjSPMYnACK4B/s1600/IMG_7207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ghAbR-9LoBQ/WP8_7E52cdI/AAAAAAAABUw/XAveAoNjdOM6iXBIdrxneFc7cEjSPMYnACK4B/s320/IMG_7207.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 'After " shot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="yiv3104610128s1" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493118514192_3608" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="yiv3104610128s1" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">Having said all that, I am in total awe of all of our elite athletes, who sacrifice so much and live each day by strict rules so that they can train properly to be the very best that they can be. The reality is that being an elite athlete is incredibly hard and only the most dedicated and mentally strong, with the best support, make it to the top.<span class="yiv3104610128Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wXbO06V35Zw/WP86tcWtWJI/AAAAAAAABTk/8MT_h3CY0sA241Rv0d_t4DssfpsWK56kACK4B/s1600/FullSizeRender-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wXbO06V35Zw/WP86tcWtWJI/AAAAAAAABTk/8MT_h3CY0sA241Rv0d_t4DssfpsWK56kACK4B/s320/FullSizeRender-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Talent Pride and Determination.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="yiv3104610128s1" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493118514192_3605" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">So having reached the bottom of the volcano (ignoring my bumps and bruises), picking grit out of my ears and hair whilst drinking a cool beer and accepting a strange looking cookie without asking what's in it, I feel happy that I can now live 'normally' again and have new adventures.</span><span class="yiv3104610128s1" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1493118514192_2572" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">I want to wish all our athletes aiming for Tokyo the very best luck for your futures. You and your support teams are all - each and every one of you - AMAZING.</span></span><br />
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Anne Dickinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03193609413870451417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000875633793118406.post-9458296702860210362016-09-01T01:10:00.000-07:002016-09-01T01:17:35.051-07:00SUPERCHARGE!!!!<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">I don't know about you but I
absolutely loved watching the Rio Olympics. The Olympics just exploded 'feel
good factor' everywhere! I found myself watching sports that wouldn't normally catch my eye and inexplicably shouting excited
encouragement at the telly. Without thinking I used 1st names as if I
really knew the athletes (and as if they could really hear). I'm sure I
wasn't the only one doing this and it must have made a difference right because
we just kept on winning medals! Bravo team GB <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iaDrAOQnduU/V8fRKgU_hhI/AAAAAAAABR8/QGk0IX33vFQiEpl_absZNy2nRkDkNbNhQCPcB/s1600/IMG_0704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iaDrAOQnduU/V8fRKgU_hhI/AAAAAAAABR8/QGk0IX33vFQiEpl_absZNy2nRkDkNbNhQCPcB/s320/IMG_0704.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GB Paracanoe Team</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Now it's our turn - Yay!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">I'm beyond excited that the Paralympics
will begin on the 7th of September when more sports and more
incredible athletes will showcase their talent! For me this is the dream that
started four years ago at London 2012 - when I was inspired to try out for
para sport and had that mad dream that I could compete in Rio.<span style="color: #353535;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nqBiijscadY/V8fS2f9B4aI/AAAAAAAABSQ/Pl4ka2NL8aA9vEXByRaTtaJCAYp3lz3ugCPcB/s1600/Dickens-008.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nqBiijscadY/V8fS2f9B4aI/AAAAAAAABSQ/Pl4ka2NL8aA9vEXByRaTtaJCAYp3lz3ugCPcB/s320/Dickens-008.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Supporters - credit Moya Slade Photography</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">I'm ridiculously excited
that I'm taking part in this inspirational and perception shifting games. my next dream is to share and give back. If just one person watching us is inspired to "yes I can" my job will be done. But I'm just as excited to
think that the Great British public has another opportunity to get behind the
nation's athletes and support team Paralympics GB as they did four years
ago in London.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4kLafIR-RtY/V8fRKq10wJI/AAAAAAAABR8/pFmYN6sZSv8qSlYhpeffQWewZneKuUJYACPcB/s1600/IMG_1704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4kLafIR-RtY/V8fRKq10wJI/AAAAAAAABR8/pFmYN6sZSv8qSlYhpeffQWewZneKuUJYACPcB/s320/IMG_1704.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheer at the Telly</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">You can definitely support
us by cheering at the telly because that is just great and I for one will love
feeling that we have an army of supporters back home. If you get a chance you
could also support us and the next set of athletes through campaigns like
"supercharge your shop". I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the
funding we get from our sponsors and the campaigns they run for us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f-zW-Xqrseg/V8fRKTNxZsI/AAAAAAAABR8/xCUnCfrEXuY8E0xW7oCk8vnUJFtt5kJgwCPcB/s1600/FullSizeRender-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f-zW-Xqrseg/V8fRKTNxZsI/AAAAAAAABR8/xCUnCfrEXuY8E0xW7oCk8vnUJFtt5kJgwCPcB/s320/FullSizeRender-9.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Supercharge!!</td></tr>
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</o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">I was lucky enough to be
asked to help with the supercharge your shop campaign and it was so much fun.
Who wouldn't want to do a photo shoot in Sainsburys at 7.30 on a Sunday
morning? Especially when we were instructed to do all the things I've always
wanted to do in a supermarket but never been allowed. Trolley races, sitting on
the conveyor belt, pretend fighting a visually impaired judo player with my
paddle... Well the last one wasn't on my wish list but it was fun for all none
the less. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pjiUrNneApw/V8fRt55_R0I/AAAAAAAABSQ/uCfya0tbJsAkcOd81s2wzhSIfU2-jZ5IwCPcB/s1600/IMG_1222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pjiUrNneApw/V8fRt55_R0I/AAAAAAAABSQ/uCfya0tbJsAkcOd81s2wzhSIfU2-jZ5IwCPcB/s320/IMG_1222.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">please don't try this at home....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uOkiI8Q06Vc/V8fRtvb8IiI/AAAAAAAABSQ/QUz4-AWFLsIjaSAr4pudGR4g8YMichRdQCPcB/s1600/IMG_1224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uOkiI8Q06Vc/V8fRtvb8IiI/AAAAAAAABSQ/QUz4-AWFLsIjaSAr4pudGR4g8YMichRdQCPcB/s320/IMG_1224.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trolley racing down the veg Isle</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">So look out for me in the
press over the next few days but more importantly go shopping and then get
cheering knowing that you really have made a supercharge
difference. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;">As I board my flight to
Brazil my dream is complete - I made it to Rio. Whatever the result, I did what
I set out to do. Thank you all for supporting me to get here.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anne Dickinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03193609413870451417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000875633793118406.post-52904756604058387962016-06-13T23:58:00.000-07:002016-06-17T05:56:26.512-07:00I'm going to Rio!!!!!<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">It's official - Ive been selected and I'm going to Rio!</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">I recently received an email asking what
being selected for Rio means to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">I sat there numbly staring at that email
as the words slowly began to sink in - "selected for Rio"...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">It's the first time I've stopped and
realised what a massive deal this actually is. It sounds odd but I've been so
focused on taking each step at a time, on learning how to paddle while trying to compensate for my
limitations. I've been so busy learning to be the best paddler that I can possibly be, that I haven't
really had the chance to think what going to Rio would actually mean to me. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;"></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I-nKnYsju4U/V18XFaJ53OI/AAAAAAAABNg/LP6yKMCzhAMGawAbexTSBfL8sxtQjX5TwCLcB/s1600/3CD3F2D2-8E6C-40A8-9B42-3050C9E732C9.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Being the best that I can be - world champion!</span></td></tr>
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<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I-nKnYsju4U/V18XFaJ53OI/AAAAAAAABNg/LP6yKMCzhAMGawAbexTSBfL8sxtQjX5TwCLcB/s1600/3CD3F2D2-8E6C-40A8-9B42-3050C9E732C9.PNG" imageanchor="1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">In practical terms it means that I’m the
fastest KL3 200m paracanoeist in Great Britain, and that come September I'm going to
be representing my Country at the Rio Paralympics. This makes me incredibly
proud and also hugely nervous –Yikes! I’m going to be performing on a global stage!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.0pt;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">But reflecting further I realised that
"being selected for Rio" means much, much more to me than that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">Four years ago I was prompted to aim for
a bold, impossible, crazy and, let’s be realistic, unlikely dream. But knowing all that didn't put me off wanting to go for it. I had been in a
bad place after my injury and wanted to pull myself out of that. Volunteering at London
2012 had been a step in the right direction, but in going for that new dream of aiming for Rio I
was looking to prove to myself that optimism wins; that a door forced closed
didn't mean that all my doors were closed.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">I chose to walk through a different door and aim for something completely new. Working at London 2012 and seeing incredible examples of human resilience had inspired me. So I decided, following a suggestion from a fellow Gamesmaker that I was going to learn how to paddle a boat and aim for Rio.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9M3vpY-_T8/V18Tb3sQBCI/AAAAAAAABNE/CPtGVJgwj-I95u6tEg5py7JERTG_9xnpACKgB/s1600/IMG_2006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9M3vpY-_T8/V18Tb3sQBCI/AAAAAAAABNE/CPtGVJgwj-I95u6tEg5py7JERTG_9xnpACKgB/s320/IMG_2006.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Working at london 2012 </span></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">I have gained so much more than Rio selection from this
journey, (one that could have ended at any time because that is the fickle nature of elite sport), that even not making it or not being selected
would have definitely made it worth going for. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;"> What being selected means is that
even the most unlikely dreams can happen if you can find and open the right door and have
the right team around you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">Being selected for Rio motivates me to
work even harder. Come September I want to know that I've done everything
possible to put me on the start line saying, "Yay, I'm here. I’ve
done the work. Bring it on, I'm ready to race!!!" </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">And whatever the outcome
I hope that my selection – a 49 year-old working Mum competing on the
biggest stage in the world – confirms to others watching that optimism and bold
dreams will always power through the barriers we put up ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K-oQTIpr7mg/V18ltUOCU7I/AAAAAAAABNw/D6p8l0p8bz48AjGNw_wAh2vRYVCTrxOxwCLcB/s1600/6CE7C1EA-C0FD-4D8A-8445-9D929FAA30EC.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K-oQTIpr7mg/V18ltUOCU7I/AAAAAAAABNw/D6p8l0p8bz48AjGNw_wAh2vRYVCTrxOxwCLcB/s400/6CE7C1EA-C0FD-4D8A-8445-9D929FAA30EC.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Race lake in Rio</span></td></tr>
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Anne Dickinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03193609413870451417noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000875633793118406.post-9271231228458283682016-05-04T09:57:00.001-07:002016-05-04T09:57:21.028-07:00I can now pronounce Quinoa!!!!<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">People might think that training within the GB paracanoe team produces nothing but the obvious performance gains… getting faster in a boat. And yes, I guess this is the main focus of all our training, but there have been other surprising but none the less 'important' added benefits to my life since I starting kayaking .... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here’s my top 10: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="yiv6210043254" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1462174583699_3867" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1) My arms are now so strong that in the through the night battle of “who gets more duvet” I now always win. Not going to lie - I’m slightly smug about this.</span><span class="yiv6210043254" style="line-height: 16pt;"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">That smug feeling after 'owning' the duvet all night!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2) My core is now so strong that I can control a full shopping trolley around the tight turning circle at the end of each supermarket isle at full speed. This cuts down my shopping time and with-out any wayward trolley rage- bargain!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">core testing the conventional way</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3) I can now identify various exotic superfoods that I hadn't even heard of before such as quinoa, gogi berries and chia seeds. Not only can I pick them out in a line up, I can also pronounce them correctly - "keenwah" for quinoa -who knew!?!? OK - I'm not sure I'm any good at cooking with them yet, but I shall remain optimistic. #prayforSimon</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">K-E-E-N-W-A-H</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4) On the subject of food, I have also learnt to be quite proud rather than embarrassed about producing disgusting looking smoothies. Some say that my smoothies look more like the contents of the Hoover bag mixed in with water than a tasty, ultra healthy mix of greens and berries. Who says food needs to look good to be good?! (I know this is not a completely new skill, but at least I have an excuse for it now…) <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">contents of the hoover bag anyone?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5) I can now iron striped shirts. My undiagnosed vestibular disorder not only made me really seasick, it also made it impossible for me to look at striped clothing without feeling nauseous. Feeling nauseous is possibly the best excuse ever to get out of shirt ironing, and I may or may not have owned up to the fact that since I've had vestibular treatment I can now do it….</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Nailed it!! so proud! (shhhh!!)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6) I can now watch a movie in 3D, again thanks to the vestibular treatment. I used to have to wear home made glasses created by my Son which converted 3D to back to boring 2D to avoid feeling ill when we went as a family to watch 3D films- Its truly mind blowing - I may be about 10 years late to this party but I now get why people duck during 3D films!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7) I have learnt to navigate … Well, maybe not completely, but driving 100 miles a day round the M25 for training means I have developed a near black cabbie knowledge of all the side routes off the m25/m4 and m3 enabling me to avoid rush hour traffic jams. During these explorations I’ve found myself in some prettying unusual places and found some great local stores. A warning though to never trust the sat nav - if it looks like a bridle path leading nowhere apart from a barn full of cows, it probably is... </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">M25 traffic- groan</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Navigating in a boat - hmmm</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8) I can now drive a powerboat. As part of my ongoing education in all things watery I am now the holder of a powerboat driving license. You never know when driving a rib at top speed or doing a 3 point turn in a marina stocked full of expensive boats without scratching any of them will come in useful. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">vrooooom!!!!!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9) I can sit on a foam roller length ways and balance a glass of water on my head. Having spent a lot of time learning how to balance better in my boat, my patience and persistence has paid off! While auditions for Cirque du Soleille or Britain’s Got Talent are still a long way off I'm proud of my new skill. Oh, and just to be clear, absolutely no carpets were soaked during practicing for this.... Honest! </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Now I'm Balancing!!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eGx51OTwVcY/VyolLliq_1I/AAAAAAAABKU/bLqH_bf_nGYeya7dQ9CMT3zrzf4nYe-PwCLcB/s1600/IMG_0297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eGx51OTwVcY/VyolLliq_1I/AAAAAAAABKU/bLqH_bf_nGYeya7dQ9CMT3zrzf4nYe-PwCLcB/s320/IMG_0297.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Now Im not....</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10) I have become amazing at doing absolutely nothing. This might seem a strange thing to have learnt from becoming an elite athlete, but doing nothing has been one of the hardest yet most beneficial things I have learnt. It's not the training that makes you faster and stronger, but how well you recover between each training session. As a busy working mum sitting doing nothing is not something I ever do and this has seriously pulled on many guilt strings. However learning how to slow down a bit and enjoy the stillness of doing nothing is a skill I am thrilled to have learnt, and watching 5 seasons of Game of Thrones is something I could never have aspired without the help and support of GB training! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you!!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Just chilling......:-)</span></td></tr>
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Anne Dickinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03193609413870451417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000875633793118406.post-76388290053065935512016-04-22T08:11:00.001-07:002016-04-22T08:16:17.567-07:00Curve balls and Tandems <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">3 - 2 - 1 GO!!.... No this
wasn't the start of a race. It was Simon - the pilot - tying to coordinate with
me - the stoker - as we pedalled off on our debut ride on a tandem
bicycle. This may seem like an odd thing to do in the middle of a
training block in the run up to Rio, but I'll get onto that
later... The bottom line was that I was in a forced break from training,
and I had also been missing riding my bike -a lot.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A forced break from training-My coach and an empty boat...</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #353535; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">We had headed up north to
the Yorkshire Dales for a mini break, to visit a tandem shop that had been
recommended to us. In my mind we were just going to look, and
maybe take a spin around the block, but before I knew what was happening a
trial off-road tandem had been picked out for us and we found ourselves
in the car park, wearing bike helmets, and
receiving instructions on how change gear, how to dismount without
Simon tipping me onto the floor, and (most importantly) how
to get to a good café a couple of valleys over. I was really
curious to see how the two of us would get on. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">learning how to brake safely </td></tr>
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<span style="color: #353535; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">It's worth
mentioning here that both of us have the ability to be quite
headstrong and we have very, very different approaches
to bike riding. Simon likes taking short cuts at speed,
seemingly without caution (in a "who cares about broken ribs and
a punctured lung" kind of way- </span><a href="http://mongolia blog annd dickins" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">see my Mongolia post</a><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">. I on the
other hand am much more deliberate and I like to be in control, so this
experiment where I couldn't even see where I was going was going to be
'interesting'. Potential arguments and accidents aside, I
was really excited to think that we were going to be out cycling
together on a crisp, sunny, spring morning through amazing
scenery in the Yorkshire Dales, to a café for tea and cake!! It had
been soooo long...</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p><br /></span>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IcQRvqchgXM/Vxo2nwzUctI/AAAAAAAABIQ/oaRZyM3TTTMg74LjOBeDGBhB0aS-R5gPACKgB/s1600/IMG_3949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IcQRvqchgXM/Vxo2nwzUctI/AAAAAAAABIQ/oaRZyM3TTTMg74LjOBeDGBhB0aS-R5gPACKgB/s320/IMG_3949.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">cycling and cake...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #353535; font-size: 13pt;">I won't say we were
slick through all the gear changes, and some of the dismounts were simply
hilarious, but amazingly we had no arguments and had an absolute blast.
Admittedly there were some moments when I wished I had control of either the
brakes or the steering, but these were fairly minor negatives
compared to the absolute exhilaration I felt in being able to ride a bike at
speed again without the worry of my weak leg letting me down. The very
best bit was that anytime I needed a rest I just stopped putting in any
effort and Simon (who is much stronger than me) just put down a bit more
grunt. The added bonus for him was that he had a great workout
without having to wait for me to catch up. (couples who ride bikes will
understand this). There were many other added bonuses besides, including the
benefit for me of being able to take in all the views rather than just focusing
on the trail and for him being 'entertained' by my constant chatter. Most
importantly we made it to the cafe without getting lost because (according to
Simon) I wasn't in charge of steering or navigation.</span><span style="color: #353535; font-size: 13pt;"> So all in all a huge success and we can't wait to order our
first tandem.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rl-VoZ21BKI/Vxoe2UJQrTI/AAAAAAAABHU/CutcmneoXVwKOIIP-_9d1fQKkN8cgNT_QCKgB/s1600/IMG_2775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rl-VoZ21BKI/Vxoe2UJQrTI/AAAAAAAABHU/CutcmneoXVwKOIIP-_9d1fQKkN8cgNT_QCKgB/s320/IMG_2775.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We made it to the cafe!!</span></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">But back to paddling and
the road to Rio... As I mentioned earlier, this may seem a slightly odd thing
to be doing in the final season before the Rio Paralympics, but things don't
always go to plan. One of the lessons I have learnt in
life is that it's the curve balls which, although really tough to
deal with at the time, can often give unexpectedly positive twists and
turns to your journey. I'm not sure I ever feel as if I have genuinely achieved
something or had that massive adventure if everything has always
followed the plan!!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">I had picked up a virus,
which hadn't seemed so bad, but it left me completely exhausted. Having
seemingly shifted the virus the exhaustion remained and I wondered if I
had turned into a hibernating bear. I found myself falling asleep in the
gaps between daytime training sessions, and yet I still needed 12 hours
sleep every night. I slept so much that I thought the pillow creases in my
face were going to become permanent! Initially I thought the exhaustion
was a normal part of training so hard, and even getting in from
training and not making it past the first step in the hall didn't seem
that odd to me. I would just sit down and fall asleep -right there - until
my son would come home from school waking me up with the offer of a cup of tea. </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k1TQkW9pWLU/Vxoy7uqE4CI/AAAAAAAABHw/Bkl4aIVNkjkGK5-wyk2UAtfeUKpeRNAzwCLcB/s1600/IMG_3051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k1TQkW9pWLU/Vxoy7uqE4CI/AAAAAAAABHw/Bkl4aIVNkjkGK5-wyk2UAtfeUKpeRNAzwCLcB/s320/IMG_3051.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bullishly carrying on...</span></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">My coaching team was
getting worried. My heart rate wasn't slowing down properly and
my resting heart rate was up- a sign that my body wasn't recovering properly.
I couldn't even go through a gentle warm up without my heart rate
shooting through the roof. Any normal person might have had a week in bed,
but I didn't want that. Training makes you faster, right? So I bullishly
carried on, pretending to everyone that I was OK, and deluding myself
that everything was going to get better. The team doctor didn't share any
of my optimism, and in a very blunt conversation said that if I carried on like
this I wouldn't be able to train... at all... ever. She banned me from all
training and sent me home with instructions to rest and keep my heart rate
below 120 at all times until my resting heart rate returned to normal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XFVJ2lLk49k/Vxozuh5xS3I/AAAAAAAABH8/51iZJ2LnHxg3TemxyV0S6EDPPiKO9i3jACLcB/s1600/FullSizeRender-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #353535; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I hit a bit of a low, but
if there's something I've learnt along the way is that if you can't do one
thing, don't be miserable, just do something else! So when Simon phoned me up
on my second morning of 'house arrest' saying "You know we have been
talking about getting a tandem after Rio well how about we go and look for
one??..." Well my bag was already half packed! </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZH1du5WvcJo/Vxo4R3nqSII/AAAAAAAABI0/vCzd1COh11wZu5VI7NSOe5QKcgcxncgaQCKgB/s1600/IMG_3938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZH1du5WvcJo/Vxo4R3nqSII/AAAAAAAABI0/vCzd1COh11wZu5VI7NSOe5QKcgcxncgaQCKgB/s320/IMG_3938.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Waking up in the dales...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">And this kind of
explains how we found ourselves on a tandem in Yorkshire. It was an
opportunity to get away from the stresses of being at home but not
being able to train. I could get some gentle cross training exercise
in whilst keeping my heart rate well below the designated 120 (so me not
peddling hard was actually Dr's orders, not just me being lazy). But
most importantly it gave me the opportunity to change my focus and to
see opportunities beyond Rio - an exciting opportunity to get back
into riding bikes together, which is something we haven't even been
able to imagine since my injury. Having proved tandem riding was possible
and fun, I allowed myself to dream about all the incredible adventures we could
have and the places I could see from the back of a tandem. This
change of focus made being forced not to train much less stressful and almost
certainly lifted my mood which then no doubt helped me to recover quicker.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VDK68QQcCVc/VxozntajwvI/AAAAAAAABIA/P3KFFd-eyAg67iJ9EVngwGnki86EfALcgCKgB/s1600/IMG_2779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VDK68QQcCVc/VxozntajwvI/AAAAAAAABIA/P3KFFd-eyAg67iJ9EVngwGnki86EfALcgCKgB/s320/IMG_2779.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some cross training.</td></tr>
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<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">Returning back to the
"now" I am happy to report that I am back in training, which feels amazing. OK my lungs are now hanging inside
out, my muscles feel about 2" short for my body and I still have a way to
go to get back up to full strength. But the good news is that my heart rate is
back to normal and I can easily stay awake until a grown-up's bed time! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0DNV1k3dVCo/VxoxUwGvptI/AAAAAAAABHo/tgltyAO7k00xjLCKMjJ-fC0Hh8hiJ44EQCKgB/s1600/IMG_0160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0DNV1k3dVCo/VxoxUwGvptI/AAAAAAAABHo/tgltyAO7k00xjLCKMjJ-fC0Hh8hiJ44EQCKgB/s320/IMG_0160.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back to Training!! whoop!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">It scares me quite a lot
that that I'm going to the World Championships in 4 weeks, when I'm
not convinced I will be anything close to race ready. But race
ready or not, it will give me a great opportunity to practise all my
racing processes, otherwise GB Rio selection (two weeks later) would be my
first race of the season, which would be less than ideal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">This last three and a half
years have not been easy, with some really big curve balls, but I'm
definitely having an adventure, and definitely getting the opportunity
to practise my resilience skills at the same time, which is never
a bad thing!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yoUxpiPDOhw/Vxo4RF5r4KI/AAAAAAAABIo/YP27RbTbI4UEkD3_IiwnQdGHq5SuWL7DgCKgB/s320/IMG_3593.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Beautiful Dorney lake on a winters morning</span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yoUxpiPDOhw/Vxo4RF5r4KI/AAAAAAAABIo/YP27RbTbI4UEkD3_IiwnQdGHq5SuWL7DgCKgB/s1600/IMG_3593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">So my favourite coaching
quotes, which have helped keep me motivated despite knowing I
was falling behind, have been:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"><i><b><span style="color: blue;">"If you cant
paddle fast you may as well paddle perfectly slow"</span></b></i><span style="color: #353535;">... Hours and hours
of slow paddling could have been frustrating, but we have used the time
as an opportunity to work on some technical areas I have been struggling
with. I'll say it again, kayaking is the most technically difficult sport
I've ever been involved with.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #353535;">"</span><i><b><span style="color: blue;">Don't look at how
far you have to go, just see how far you have come</span></b></i><span style="color: #353535;">"... Each
session we would look for improvements from the week before, not just
stress about where I might have been if I had not been ill so
keeping my perspective positive.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">I also feel very lucky
because I've been given something to get excited about beyond Rio. I
have found that there is a way for me to safely ride a bike at speed without
fear of damaging myself despite my wobbly leg. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VE7KTtt6LLk/VxofIbbfCMI/AAAAAAAABHc/vE_ricWJfrI1nP0ewe1rVvxt-Z076pakwCKgB/s320/F06616E8-821A-40C3-A07B-272390294ECB.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happiness is....</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VE7KTtt6LLk/VxofIbbfCMI/AAAAAAAABHc/vE_ricWJfrI1nP0ewe1rVvxt-Z076pakwCKgB/s1600/F06616E8-821A-40C3-A07B-272390294ECB.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #353535; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;"> I know the World
Championships are fast approaching, and Rio is just around the corner, but
the question that I find myself thinking about in idle moments is not,
"I wonder how I will get on", but, "Which tandem do we want and
where shall we go first?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anne Dickinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03193609413870451417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000875633793118406.post-55150170347845361422016-01-03T04:41:00.000-08:002016-01-03T04:44:50.497-08:00Adventure Awaits...<div class="yiv9940418858MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1451813040989_2037" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
There's nothing like a New Year to focus the mind. It's a time for reflection and goal setting. So what happened in 2015 and what’s my goal for 2016? …. Is anything important happening this year ;-) ?</div>
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So it’s New Year's Eve and Simon has surprised me yet again with a random final memory for 2015 – Viva Blackpool (How did I find a man as random as I am?)! And randomly, who would have thought that the printed pillow in our B&B room would predict my 2016 goals so accurately?</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VIrJtbEwrKU/VojxDqPUaoI/AAAAAAAABFA/wHnrlYjryiM/s1600/IMG_2603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VIrJtbEwrKU/VojxDqPUaoI/AAAAAAAABFA/wHnrlYjryiM/s320/IMG_2603.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">profound and random pillow</td></tr>
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Looking back, 2015 will be immortalised for me for two reasons - the year I qualified a place for my country at the 2016 Rio Paralympics and the year Simon and I got engaged. Hooray and Whoop! Planning a wedding alongside training for Rio has proven to be my worst nightmare, so no wedding plans as yet, but it does give me something exciting to plan post Rio - watch this space!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting engaged on the beach in South Africa.</td></tr>
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In fact qualifying a place at Rio was my only written goal at the beginning of 2015. On the face of it this sounded like a reasonably modest goal. Modest because I was the current World Champion and world record holder, and all I needed was a top 6 placing at the world championships 2015 in order to qualify that boat for team GB. But there is never any room for complacency, and this 'simple' goal very nearly didn’t happen. I end the year as world silver medallist, and reflecting back I see this as a positive because I have learnt far more this year from my obstacles, challenges and failures than I did the previous year when I won gold.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0Z6FO3HIssQ/Voj2MvgetsI/AAAAAAAABFw/rEyuzyAHA3M/s1600/IMG_0514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0Z6FO3HIssQ/Voj2MvgetsI/AAAAAAAABFw/rEyuzyAHA3M/s320/IMG_0514.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silver at the worlds and a whole lot of learning!</td></tr>
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The first obstacle was the changes to the paracanoe classification system. I have already written about this, <a href="http://annedickins24.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/classification-changes-in-paracanoe.html"><span style="color: red;">(link)</span></a> but it was easily possible that due to these changes I would no longer have classified as a para athlete. As it turned out I still do, but I had faced the real threat that my journey to Rio would come to an abrupt end. What I learned from this was how much I wanted to carry on. The commitment required to this journey is considerable and puts a real strain on me and my family, but I really love training and finding out what my body can do and what extraordinary levels I can achieve. I realised that I love this adventure and it ending through being declassified, rather than because I had reached my potential or through injury, wasn’t the ending I wanted. Sadly my squad lost 40% of its paddlers through the changes, which was truly horrible, and I feel for each and every one of them. The only positive I take from this time is that it taught me to appreciate and make the most of every single day of my journey. It's very easy to see the negatives or to moan about life but I now choose to look for, see and savour all the fun things about my training, because who knows when it will end? I want my memory of this journey, and of this adventure, to be full of the happy memories, rather than anything negative.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the reasons I love paddling<br />
Friendships, catching the sunrise and giving back.</td></tr>
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2015 was also the year that my motion sickness got the better of me. I had tried to ignore it and paddle through it, because I and everybody else was convinced it was just mind over matter. However it became obvious through the year that I couldn't override the symptoms and it was affecting my performance. It came to a head at the World Championships in Milan with its strange bumpy water where I almost couldn't paddle. Luckily I still managed to qualify a place for Rio and because I always try to see the positives I appreciated the experience of loosing this race. Admittedly my ego took a bit of a bashing but It made me realise that I had to do something about my motion sickness prior to Rio, which being on a lagoon next to the sea is renowned for its wavy water.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The water isn't always flat in kayaking</td></tr>
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For those who have never had serious motion sickness, it's horrendous. Imagine trying to stay upright in a wobbly boat whilst feeling like you have the worst hang over ever. All your body wants to do is to keep absolutely still and sleep it off quietly, preferably with your face on a cold hard floor. Apparently this isn’t the way to win races, so “operation sort motion sickness” became a priority.</div>
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There are two obvious treatments for motion sickness: Avoid being on the water or take medication. As neither of these are acceptable in my elite sport I ended up seeking out a variety of specialists, undergo all sorts of testing, and pulling together a treatment program that is actually re-programming my brain. </div>
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It turns out I have a vestibular disorder (and I thought it was normal to see the world how I see it but apparently not!) This isn’t common at elite level (nobody else with it would be silly enough to take up a water based sport let alone continue with it!?!) So I have had a steep learning curve in pulling together advice from the experts in order lead my own treatment.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting my vestibular system tested</td></tr>
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Part of this treatment program is a type of acclimatisation therapy, which has been both amazing in its results and horrific to undertake. The progressive exercises I have been prescribed have kept me in varying degrees of nausea since about October, but the progress I have made in coping with motion sickness has been remarkable. Not only has my motion sickness in my boat eased considerably, but yet again my journey has given me wider benefits. For the first time in my life I can now look at stripy shirts, go down escalators, go to loud concerts, watch 3D movies and be a passenger in a car without feeling ill. Apparently my driving has also improved, but we won’t go into that. ;-)</div>
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So back to Blackpool and New Year’s Eve. I sit here looking at the printed pillow in our B&B feeling a sense of excitement for 2016. The pillow says, “Adventure Awaits”, and this is coincidently exactly my goal for 2016 - <b><i>to continue to see and appreciate the adventure in everything I do</i></b> - <b><i>to turn the lessons from the challenges of 2015 into real positives.</i></b></div>
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2016 is going to be an incredible adventure for me. Wish me luck, but better still, reflect on your 2015, take your positives and plan your own epic adventure!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seize the day and Enjoy your adventure!</td></tr>
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Anne Dickinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03193609413870451417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000875633793118406.post-41960729441304716752015-10-19T02:37:00.001-07:002015-10-19T02:37:28.923-07:00That crazy treadmill of achievement...<div class="yiv5773314939MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445242452378_2042" style="padding: 0px;">
<span class="yiv5773314939" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445242452378_2041" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today I 'rode' my mountain bike for the first time in about three years. At the start of the final training season, when I try to qualify for Rio, this might seem odd. But I just needed to …</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me on my favourite bike</td></tr>
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<span class="yiv5773314939" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445242452378_2012" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Three years ago my main reason for taking up kayaking was to make me smile again; to fill a void left by not being able to race my bike anymore. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Me learning to paddle - 2012 Photo by Phil Gunney </td></tr>
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<span class="yiv5773314939" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> At the beginning my goal was simply not to fall in, then it became to make the GB squad, and now without realising it's happened my horizon is vastly different. Somewhere along this path it’s become all about achievement. I've ended up wanting to paddle as fast as possible, to win international medals, and to be selected to paddle at Rio. My whole life is about kayaking. It governs every day, where I am, what I eat, how I sleep, even what I can and can’t do in my spare time. Most of the time I’m perfectly happy with this – I like the focus of achieving goals – but a few things happened this last week that questioned if this performance driven focus is completely healthy. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me qualifying a boat for Rio 2015<br />photo from bbc sport</td></tr>
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<span class="yiv5773314939" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445242452378_2048" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About a week ago I had my 2015 season review with the GB coaches and performance directors. All of my data was reviewed, and each and every “check and challenge” question was focused on performance gains. No detail was too small, no area left out, and I left the meeting feeling </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">completely exhausted but </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">positive and focused about 2016.</span></div>
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<span class="yiv5773314939" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445242452378_2050" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then a couple of days later I had an unofficial 'performance meeting' (aka a catch up over coffee) with good friends from my kayak club. They are the volunteer coaches who had taken me under their wing and got me into the GB squad in the first place and who have stuck by me since. This 'meeting' could not have been more different. No data, no lists of questions, just a sofa and a cup of coffee (oh, and their adorable 4 week old baby cuddled up on my chest). We went through my goals and my take on the last season and they got me to realise that at the end of this next season I want to be able to look back on four years of my life and genuinely smile - that I need to remember who I am, and to keep everything in perspective. Will this final year be filled with good memories, happy and full, or will the whole four years be solely remembered on my performance at one final event? </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2015 -Loosing my world title Gold medal by 200ths of a second :-(</td></tr>
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<span class="yiv5773314939" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445242452378_2052" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That got me thinking and we decided I would reflect at the end of every week on what had made me smile. If I hadn't smiled and enjoyed myself, I would change things for the better next week. This would ensure that, come the end of 2016, whatever the outcome there could be no regrets. I would stick to the training plan, but I would also try to see life beyond this. I like to think this is how I normally try to live my life; creating amazing, positive, happy memories, but maybe last year, caught up in in the tunnel vision of performance, I was either too tired or too distracted to have this perspective.</span></span></div>
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<span class="yiv5773314939" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445242452378_2054" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then yesterday I was reminded how important perspective is…</span></span></div>
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<span class="yiv5773314939" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445242452378_2056" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday Jenn Hill died aged only 38 <a href="http://singletrackworld.com/2015/10/jenn-hill/"><span style="color: red;">(link)</span></a> Jenn Hill was an incredible woman who influenced and inspired many, many people in the mountain biking world. I don't think I ever saw her without that trademark smile on her face. In fact I’m fairly sure I wouldn’t have considered 24 hour racing if I hadn't seen her nailing it while smiling for the entire duration of a 24 hour race, (with only 1 gear on her bike!) making me think it could be fun (and not too painful?!?). So it was Jenn and her smile that started this whole crazy adventure for me… </span></span></div>
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<span class="yiv5773314939" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Her husband put this message on twitter yesterday and it struck me how great memories can be made up from the simple things, and that my adventure is not just about Rio or medals.</span></span></div>
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<span class="yiv5773314939" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445242452378_2058" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"Thank you for the kind messages and love for Jenn. Now go ride bikes, hug loved ones, bake, enjoy life xxx"</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="yiv5773314939" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445242452378_2060" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So today I did what Tom suggested. I dusted off my bike in memory of Jenn. It wasn't a long ride and I was really wobbly and spectacularly poor on the technical sections, but I smiled the entire time. I also realised that it didn't bother me that I can’t and won’t be able to ride like I used to, but that doesn’t stop me enjoying being on a bike. </span></span></div>
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<span class="yiv5773314939" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445242452378_2062" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This simple Twitter message reminded me that life isn't all about the crazy treadmill of achievement we can so easily find ourselves on, its about doing the things that make us smile; like riding bikes with your loved ones in the Autumn sunshine followed by tea and cake ... just because you like doing it. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span class="yiv5773314939" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445242452378_2068" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you to Tom and to Jenn for inspiring me and for reminding me what’s really important. </span></span></div>
<br />Anne Dickinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03193609413870451417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000875633793118406.post-32658047951461899652015-07-07T11:05:00.000-07:002015-07-07T11:05:30.075-07:00National Championships 2015<div class="yiv8391417200MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1436288737756_5977" style="padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This weekend I had one job to do. I needed to qualify for the World Championships (which are the first qualifiers for the Rio Paralympics) at the UK National Championships in Nottingham.</span></div>
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<span class="yiv8391417200" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">I have never liked racing at Nottingham. I'm just not keen on the venue. It’s always very windy, making the water wavy, and its usually full of weed, algae, or lots of mess from the ducks and geese. Added to that, the need to race my own teammates for that single selection slot has never sat well with me. As a result I rarely paddle that well - I usually scrape a good enough race to get through, but I never come away really happy with my performance.</span></span></div>
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<span class="yiv8391417200" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1436288737756_5884" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> This weekend I didn't have the same stress factor. This time GB paracanoeing was going to take two athletes per category through to the Worlds, so realistically the pressure of my race was off. I decided to use this as a test, and see if a change of pre race routine would help with my preparation and general feelings about at Nottingham leading to a better performance. </span></span></div>
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<span class="yiv8391417200" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So when the offer to go to Henley Regatta came along the week prior to Nottingham I accepted and spent a wonderful day chatting with some amazing people while watching the rowing at this most English of events. They explained the nuances of racing at Henley, including that it's bad manners to win by too much!! (That would never catch on in kayaking!) I was gutted to pass on the free flowing champagne and Pimms, but kicking back needed to have some limits… <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HSnK4_DXwtA/VZwQQnP7z4I/AAAAAAAABB4/Cb1pfnuwR-c/s1600/IMG_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HSnK4_DXwtA/VZwQQnP7z4I/AAAAAAAABB4/Cb1pfnuwR-c/s320/IMG_0001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henley Royal Regatta- with knees covered;-)</td></tr>
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<span class="yiv8391417200" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1436288737756_5987" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also accepted an invitation to have dinner with my lovely girlfriends, who I don't see nearly enough of due to my training commitments and perpetual tiredness. An evening of laughter and excellent company (but still managing an early night) was a perfect distraction from thinking about kayaking, race plans and selection.</span></span></div>
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<span class="yiv8391417200" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1436288737756_5882" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The final thing I decided to do was to spend the day with my son at a university open day which was on the way to Nottingham the day before the race. For anyone wanting a great day out I can thoroughly recommend borrowing a 'university aged person' and going to a university open day. Your potential student gets you full access to usually private areas of these iconic institutions including colleges, accommodation and lecture theatres. Sitting in a lecture theatre in the department of engineering was a definite highlight, although not being an engineer I was much more fascinated by the lecturers large. black. independently sprung eyebrows than the subject matter...</span></span></div>
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<span class="yiv8391417200" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1436288737756_5880" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I ended up having a great week and arrived at Nottingham thoroughly distracted and far less "pumped up" than normal.</span></span></div>
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<span class="yiv8391417200" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1436288737756_5879" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> So race day arrived and I started my normal routine. Something felt a bit strange. I had calmed myself down so successfully that I found myself on the start line feeling ridiculously chilled and not at all concerned about the goings on around me. Was this a good thing? Nottingham could have been just as bad as normal but nothing about my environment registered. The only thing I was particularly aware of was the strong headwind. Even the starter seemed to say "go" in slow motion, causing me to respond badly to the bucket start followed by what felt like a gentle amble down the course. I got to the finish line and was stunned to realise I was barely out of breath. Yes, I won that race; not by that much, but strangely it didn't seem to matter? At Henley winning by too much was seen as bad sportsmanship -was I just being a good sportsman? No I wasn't!! I had done such a good job of calming myself down that I just wasn't in the correct frame of mind for racing. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tLse3jgpRXU/VZwQNEWPIeI/AAAAAAAABBg/83iyM-RLdO4/s1600/AEphotos_AE_04Jul15_D4_2749-%2528ZF-9932-29013-1-002%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tLse3jgpRXU/VZwQNEWPIeI/AAAAAAAABBg/83iyM-RLdO4/s320/AEphotos_AE_04Jul15_D4_2749-%2528ZF-9932-29013-1-002%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steady racing</td></tr>
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<span class="yiv8391417200" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> This made me cross but how was I going to get motivated? I had still won, even if I hadn’t raced well…</span></span></div>
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<span class="yiv8391417200" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1436288737756_5872" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "You need a different frame", Simon said, repeating the mantra one of the coaching staff had told me several times before when things get to me. "It's not just you that you are letting down its everybody - now snap out of it and put some effort in". I did. I scrapped the chilled approach, fired myself up for my second race and took three seconds off my time. Oh, and I was out of breath but also enjoyed the race. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VWVe4I64bnk/VZwQPyzXMdI/AAAAAAAABB0/6CsW9RT72tg/s1600/AEphotos_AE_04Jul15_D4_2768-%2528ZF-9932-29013-1-001%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VWVe4I64bnk/VZwQPyzXMdI/AAAAAAAABB0/6CsW9RT72tg/s320/AEphotos_AE_04Jul15_D4_2768-%2528ZF-9932-29013-1-001%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Off to the worlds.....</td></tr>
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<span class="yiv8391417200" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1436288737756_5989" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My next race will be the World Championships in August – another step on this oh so steep learning curve.</span></span></div>
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<span class="yiv8391417200" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Lesson to self - Too chilled doesn't work any better than too nervous and put some effort in ;-)</span></span></div>
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Anne Dickinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03193609413870451417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000875633793118406.post-9581627074023190412015-06-29T05:06:00.000-07:002015-06-29T11:44:34.561-07:00Giving back and being James Bond<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-US">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Do I look like James Bond?</span><span lang="EN-US">” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">I came here to give something back, but once again I was
getting more than I was giving, and having</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> loads of</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">
fun at the same time</span><span lang="EN-US">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">As a UK Sport and National Lottery funded Athlete I am </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">required</span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> to do a several </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica;"><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/top-athletes-give-back-over-4000-days-to-community-sport"><span style="color: red;">'inspire' voluntary appearances</span></a>.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> each year. One of these was
a talk I had been asked to do at Whitehall, which sort of explains why I was on
their roof</span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> pretending to be 007</span><span lang="EN-US">… </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">but
I'll get back to that later.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lwW68gm2qHw/VZEReShSerI/AAAAAAAABAk/fMcIL0yA4is/s1600/02B7AFD9-8C61-4D17-B251-E1DE5AB9429E.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lwW68gm2qHw/VZEReShSerI/AAAAAAAABAk/fMcIL0yA4is/s320/02B7AFD9-8C61-4D17-B251-E1DE5AB9429E.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the roof at whitehall</td></tr>
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<span lang="DE" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Being an </span><span lang="EN-US">“</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">elite</span><span lang="EN-US">” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">athlete can be selfish, introspective and very "me me
me" "take take take", so I really look forward to
volunteering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me it</span><span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">s a chance to redress the
balance in my life, not only</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> by</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">
giving back but also </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">by </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">widening
my experiences and meeting inspiring people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I've had the opportunity to do some really great things, some truly
bonkers things, and some incredibly humbling things, and without a doubt they
have all</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">, without exception</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> made me
smile a lot. Here</span><span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">s
just a few</span><span lang="EN-US">…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">My latest was just last weekend where I was a VIP guest at the <a href="http://www.activesurrey.com/SYG"><span style="color: red;">Proctor and Gamble Surrey Youth Games</span></a>. Surrey County Council runs this event to help get kids into</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> sport.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> It is aimed at all those
children who are not County level but who want to take part in a competitive
and yet fun arena. Apparently over 50,000 children have taken part over the
years since the event was started, and it was absolutely fantastic to see
children</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> running about and</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> having </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">fun enjoying competitive</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> sport.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BSrUtozyXXA/VZEQmUx7z1I/AAAAAAAABAU/KcsJSo8s4MI/s1600/IMG_0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BSrUtozyXXA/VZEQmUx7z1I/AAAAAAAABAU/KcsJSo8s4MI/s320/IMG_0015.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proctor and Gamble Surrey youth Games</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> I met some amazingly inspiring people and sponsors who make this happen, not only believing
in the benefits of an active community, these people are actually doing
something about it. </span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><o:p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HOJdoRkna0o/VZEQpM5tmQI/AAAAAAAABAc/vjlWTuhrWuI/s1600/IMG_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HOJdoRkna0o/VZEQpM5tmQI/AAAAAAAABAc/vjlWTuhrWuI/s320/IMG_0012.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having fun at the games with the inspiring sponsors and organisers. </td></tr>
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</o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Another recent appearance was at a request from my local
council gym, </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">who</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> asked
if I could be there for the official opening of the</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> </span><span lang="EN-US">“</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">refurbished </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">changing village and bubble
pool</span><span lang="EN-US">”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was even asked if I would get in the pool with the leisure centre
management for press photos, which I politely declined, instead taking the time
to meet as many people as I could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
really enjoyed meeting all the kids on a busy Saturday afternoon and they all
wanted to chat and hold my world championship gold medal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I forget sometimes that, despite still being </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">'</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">just me</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">'</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">,
wearing a GB tracksuit and hanging a gold medal around my neck I become someone
who can influence, motivate and maybe have a little impact. It took a little
while to clean off the tomato sauce and </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">sticky </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">finger
marks from my medals after a 'meet and greet' in the </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">centre </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">caf</span><span lang="EN-US">é</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">,
but I was given a large helium balloon to take home (yay!) and there had been
lots of smiling kids keen to tell me about how</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">
much</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> they loved their swimming, so it was worth it.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8912XptpHBE/VZEQhQa45oI/AAAAAAAABAE/hTdBJmQi1Dw/s1600/IMG_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8912XptpHBE/VZEQhQa45oI/AAAAAAAABAE/hTdBJmQi1Dw/s320/IMG_0006.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">everyone like wearing a gold medal!!</td></tr>
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</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Possibly the most deferential was a <a href="http://www.regattaforthedisabled.org/"><span style="color: red;">Regatta for the Disabled</span></a>
where an incredible group of people organise bell-boat racing for children</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> of all ages</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> with </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">varying abilities/disabilities.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">
It was awe inspiring seeing kids struggle with independent mobility on dry land
but then transform into confident paddlers work</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">ing</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">
as a team to propel the boats down the course. It was simply magnificent to
watch and I felt honoured to actually be asked to paddle in the boats with some
of the children. We had so much fun together and, if I'm truthful, the medal I
received for taking part at this regatta gave me as much</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">,</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> if not more pleasure than my world
Championship gold medal. They now hang side by side in pride of place at home.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><o:p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9V4D7MiS2pk/VZEQjzL6F_I/AAAAAAAABAM/r1978aj86Sk/s1600/IMG_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9V4D7MiS2pk/VZEQjzL6F_I/AAAAAAAABAM/r1978aj86Sk/s320/IMG_0008.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me padding a bell boat and handing out prizes</td></tr>
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</o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">So on to Whitehall</span><span lang="EN-US">… </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">I
was asked to talk at a small conference on personal resilience. I was unsure
what I could add of value, but the organiser had heard me speak at another
function, and wanted me to talk about how I managed to overcome some pretty big
hurdles and achieve what many people might have considered impossible. I hoped
that my personal story of <span style="color: red;"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/disability-sport/28246893"><span style="color: red;">failures followed by success</span></a>,</span> and some lessons I had
learnt along the way, might help this office audience see that their own
'something' is also possible if </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">they can see
how to</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> put their minds to it. The talk was to be at the
Department of Energy and Climate Change and in my ignorance I thought Whitehall
was a building, not a road, so felt a bit of an idiot asking a policeman how to
find it when I was actually walking along it!!</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">After my talk, which thankfully was enthusiastically
received with lots of excellent questions, I was given the tour of the
department</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> and up onto the private roof where a scene from
Skyfall had been filmed.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">T</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">hey</span><span lang="EN-US">…</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">(I</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">) </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">wanted to get </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">to</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> stand in the same place and </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">at</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> the same angle that Daniel Craig</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> had</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> posed</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> in</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">,
looking over the London skyline. Clearly the only difference between us was
that he was dressed as 007 and I was in my red GB canoeing jacket</span><span lang="EN-US">… </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">;-) </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">This was
definitely a money-can't-buy moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
wasn't given a helium balloon this time but I floated home nonetheless. </span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i-ss40XZ3PI/VZEQR0rJKbI/AAAAAAAAA_k/4fEl5V6sFWU/s1600/4F8D1118-3878-4326-A300-AB04C81249A8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i-ss40XZ3PI/VZEQR0rJKbI/AAAAAAAAA_k/4fEl5V6sFWU/s320/4F8D1118-3878-4326-A300-AB04C81249A8.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Daniel Craig both trying to be 007</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">So what</span><span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">s
next? I am about a month away from this year</span><span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">s Worlds, and if all goes to plan, a
little over a year to Rio (gulp). My training is hard, with constant pressure
on me to perform to the highest level possible. But what I really enjoy is </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">the</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> part of my role as an elite athlete</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> which allows me to give back</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">. I look
forward to these events and only wish I had time to do more</span><span lang="EN-US">…</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-US">“</span><span lang="EN-US">As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same</span>. <span lang="EN-US">As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.</span><span lang="EN-US">”</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US">.~Marianne Williamson</span> (teacher and author)</b></i></span></div>
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Anne Dickinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03193609413870451417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000875633793118406.post-71678731621637712322015-05-31T10:50:00.000-07:002015-06-01T01:58:54.137-07:00Smile Laugh Sparkle :-)<div class="yiv2029333760s2" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
<span class="yiv2029333760s4">As I walked around Prague the day after I had finished racing at the Europeans, attempting to be a tourist, I felt in a bit of a daze. Normally I'm buzzing with excitement after a race, but today I was full of a strange mix of emotions which I couldn't make sense of. </span></div>
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<span class="yiv2029333760s4">On the face of it I should have been elated. I had been classified into the new system as a </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">“</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">KL3</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">”</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">. I </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">had gone on to win the gold medal in the first ever KL3 race. So all was good, and yet I couldn't help but feel empty.</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4"></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gold!</span></td></tr>
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<span class="yiv2029333760s4">Going through the classification process had made me really sad, and also annoyed. Sad that I had been forced to look back and think about my injury, re-opening the mental scars which I've worked so hard to heal. Sad also, bizarrely, that despite training so hard and getting much stronger I still have a significantly weaker leg, which classifies me. (Why does this make me </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">sad ?</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">!?!?) And annoyed that Para Sport at the top end isn't inclusive at all. It upset me so much seeing disabled athletes being scrutinized and challenged for simply falling outside of a classification boundary. I was also struggling with the concept that Para Sport is contradictory. It's confusing that you have to be bad and good at the same time. You have to have something wrong with you - and not just any </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">“</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">something</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">”</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">, you have to have the correct type of 'something wrong' to make it into a "level playing field". Having ticked those boxes you then try to be as good as you can be by minimizing the impact of your disability, with clever, personalized training and specific boat adaptations.</span></div>
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<span class="yiv2029333760s4">GB </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">para</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">-canoeing</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4"> is fortunate enough through National Lottery funding to be able support and invest in us, but what about all those paddlers who don't have funded programs? How is this now a level playing field..?</span></div>
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<span class="yiv2029333760s4">The thoughts in my head just kept on coming... Was all this heartache really worth it? Half of me wanted to just stop and go back to a normal life. To have normal holidays and spend more time with my family and friends....</span></div>
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<span class="yiv2029333760s4">I had shared some of this angst with our team </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">phsych</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4"> earlier that week and he had talked me through how you can choose to frame things. "Things happen to u</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">s which are out of our control,</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4"> but it's our choice as to how we feel about them. If we don't like how something looks or feels we have the ability to choose different ways to frame </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">them</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">". </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">Great in theory, but I was still struggling.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S8P6vhg9Yyc/VWtESEcTrcI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/llc1d5nveb8/s1600/IMG_1313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S8P6vhg9Yyc/VWtESEcTrcI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/llc1d5nveb8/s320/IMG_1313.JPG" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">focusing during my race</span></td></tr>
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<span class="yiv2029333760s4">As I wandered the streets missing half of the tourist attractions, I tried to make sense of these random and contradictory thoughts. I was thinking so hard that I barely noticed that it had started to rain</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4"> </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">–</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4"> and in fact rain quite hard</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">.</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4"></span></div>
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<span class="yiv2029333760s4">Just in front of me a little girl aged about 4 squealed in </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">delight</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4"> as the rain drops started to fall. She pulled a small plastic umbrella out of her </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">d</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">ad</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">’</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">s bag and put it up. She then skipped</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4"> and</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4"> splash</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">ed </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">in the newly formed puddles as she laughed her way down the road. Her umbrella was very pink and glittery</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">,</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4"> and on it were the words "smile, laugh, sparkle". Looking around I observed that she was definitely the only person following this advice</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">. </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4"></span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">T</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">here was </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">definitely</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4"> a lack of tourists skipping through the puddles! </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4"></span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">Most of them, like me, were sheltering in doorways trying to keep dry.</span></div>
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<span class="yiv2029333760s4">I then smiled. </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">It occurred to me that this umbrella was surprisingly profound. </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">S</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">mile</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4"> </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">–</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4"> </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">laugh</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4"> </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">–</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4"></span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">sparkle</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4"> was a new frame</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">. The rain wa</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">s the same for everyone and </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">everyone except this little girl was getting annoyed by it</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">. How could I frame the last couple of days differently? Could I put up my own metaphorical umbrella?? </span></div>
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<span class="yiv2029333760s4">So instead of sadness I decided I would see things more positively. </span></div>
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<span class="yiv2029333760s4">I worked out that I was actually relieved that I still have a weak leg and that I'm still able to classify and be part of the GB squad. I </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">am loving</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4"> </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">this journey and the adventure it brings,</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4"> and I am not having to face up to an abrupt end to th</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">at</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4"> journey through not classifying. I am perfectly aware that I might still not make Rio, but that will be decided by </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">training and by </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">racing</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">, not by a rule change</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">GB paracanoe Race HQ</span></td></tr>
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<span class="yiv2029333760s4">I </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">c</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">ould replace annoyance with pride. I am immensely proud to be par</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">t</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4"> of the GB </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">squad</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4"> </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">which</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4"> has </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">worked tirelessly to support </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">us</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4"> so well</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">.</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4"> </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">A</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">ctually pride that despite all these distractions and emotions I had pulled myself back into race mode</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">,</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4"> followed my race plan</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4"> and this process had won Gold for GB</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">. </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1433086619895_1988"><span class="yiv2029333760s4" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1433086619895_1994">I </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">should</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4"> stop being critical about </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">para</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">-</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">sport at the elite level being exclusive and contra</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">dictory. It showcases the elite</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4"> and that's how it can inspire. </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">In fact t</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1433086619895_1987">his is what provides me with focus and what drives me to train every day: The hope that performing on a world stage will inspire others, (abled </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">or disabled) to believe they can do something despite all logic saying it's impossible.</span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1433086619895_1984"><span class="yiv2029333760s4">Because this is at the core of what </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">para</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">-</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">sport is all about. People p</span><span class="yiv2029333760s4" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1433086619895_1983">ushing the limits of possibility, moving on from whatever tragic event changed their lives forever and having a go at something new. Being innovative in finding solutions that play to personal strengths despite a risk that it might fail. Eternal optimism that </span><span class="yiv2029333760s4">repeated failure won't stop them in their quest to be the very best that they can be. </span></span></div>
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<span class="yiv2029333760s4" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1433086619895_1981">So on that rainy afternoon in Prague I built a new frame. I decided to remind myself to smile, laugh and sparkle at every opportunity and to metaphorically skip through the puddles rather than grumble at the rain. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gx7hJ7nnlXA/VWtFRpgtZKI/AAAAAAAAA-o/V-zfS0b2_Ws/s1600/photo-119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gx7hJ7nnlXA/VWtFRpgtZKI/AAAAAAAAA-o/V-zfS0b2_Ws/s320/photo-119.JPG" width="316" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My awesome coach Griff and his athletes.</td></tr>
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<br />Anne Dickinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03193609413870451417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000875633793118406.post-64114542739542589432015-04-06T13:38:00.000-07:002015-04-21T13:55:39.979-07:00Classification changes in Paracanoe<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1428341073776_1958"><span class="yiv7809701595" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1428341073776_1957">This is not a happy or even a particularly positive blog. The world of para canoe is going through change less than 18 months from Rio. Because of these changes a lot of people's hopes and dreams are being shattered. I understand the logic behind the changes, and in the long run it is in the best interests of the sport, but to choose to do it all now is awful. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="yiv7809701595"><br /></span><span id="yiv7809701595yui_3_16_0_1_1428315942505_3408"><span class="yiv7809701595" id="yiv7809701595yui_3_16_0_1_1428315942505_3006">Sometimes when you are caught up in the middle of a change which you are physically and emotionally invested in it is very difficult to see the bigger picture. </span></span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1428341073776_1962">It is easy for your focus to spiral inwards, taking all rational and logical thought processes with it. </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1428341073776_1963">This is how I have been feeling about the changes to paracanoe as announced recently by our governing bodies. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">paddling at the worlds 2014</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1428341073776_1964">The changes are drastic. Half way through an olympic cycle the original classification adapted from para rowing has been abandoned and reinvented. </span><span id="yiv7809701595yui_3_16_0_1_1428315942505_3375">This means that all the para canoe athletes who were classified at the beginning of this cycle, who were confirmed internationally, who have trained daily for more than two years, and raced believing they are an A, TA or LTA have had their classification removed. We are all having to be reclassified under a new system before we can race internationally again. Worse than that, many athletes who were classified before are no longer even eligible to attend classification. Paracanoe no longer accepts athlete with any arm or hand impairments, nor any athlete with a neurological condition such as cerebral palsy. </span></span><br />
<span id="yiv7809701595yui_3_16_0_1_1428315942505_3374" style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first paralympic qualification race for Rio is less than 4 months away and at this moment in time there are no classified athletes and no one knows for certain what their new (if at all) classification will be. We are to be reclassified under the new system, which for me will hopefully be at the Europeans in the Czech Republic in May, by the newly trained classifiers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="yiv7809701595yui_3_16_0_1_1428315942505_3373">This decision was made in an office somewhere by people thinking long term, but has affected real people on the ground now. It's not just the athletes who have been affected - our coaches and staff in support programs are all feeling it too. Real people have given up jobs, moved house, neglected personal relationships and invested their own money and time in a system they thought would be in place through to Rio. Yes I understand that elite sport is unpredictable and unforgiving, but most of the time if you don't succeed you can say, "I trained hard and I did my best - I just wasn't fast enough", or "I was injured". But to be thrown out of the running half way through a cycle because your disability doesn't fit the new classification system is terrible. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br class="yiv7809701595" /><span id="yiv7809701595yui_3_16_0_1_1428315942505_3372">When I put my logical head on I truly get why this had to happen for the long term good of the sport. The new classification is evidence based and has been created through good science. An extensive research project analysed all the different paddling styles of kayakers and paracanoeists with motion sensor technology and EMG back up. The data put paddlers into clusters which became the new classifications. KL1, KL2 and KL3. The system is is now unique to paracanoe, rather than adapted from para rowing, and it focuses much more on what athletes can do functionally in a boat, not by a relatively simplistic assessment of disability diagnosis, so I can see how it will be much fairer moving forward. But although the old system wasn't perfect it was the system in place for this paralympic cycle and changing it mid cycle is going to hurt lots of people.</span><br class="yiv7809701595" /><span id="yiv7809701595yui_3_16_0_1_1428315942505_3406">On a personal front, it looks like I am ok, but like the rest of the world I find out for sure in May. I then have to have another classification in August to confirm it. But some of my team mates already know they don't fit the new classification system, and I know that people I have raced against and deeply respect will also be having their hopes and dreams shattered.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I crave the feeling of gliding through the water in beautiful places.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1428341073776_1980">I am coping because for me it was never just about Rio. I paddle because I love to paddle, not just to win medals. I love training and despite it being hard and at times painful I never take for granted that it gives me freedom to forget about my wonky leg. The governing bodies giving my disability a new name can't take that away. I crave the feeling of gliding through the water in my boat in beautiful places and I love learning how to paddle at my best. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The name of my classification might change, but it will never stop my enjoyment of my sport. It would be a shame if for some reason out of my control I could't stay with the program, but the journey to Rio is an adventure, but it doesn't define me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br class="yiv7809701595" /><span id="yiv7809701595yui_3_16_0_1_1428315942505_3370">Paracanoe will definitely be stronger for the changes we are going through. But for now, in April 2015, the year before the Rio paralympics, everyone involved is hurting. My heart goes out to all athletes and support staff involved, because these changes right now simply suck.</span></span><br />
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Anne Dickinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03193609413870451417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000875633793118406.post-59117724256316173832014-11-18T11:52:00.000-08:002014-11-18T11:52:43.921-08:00Bushcraft in November…. are we mad?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="yiv1839944588" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1416247834622_14976" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">A weekend of wild camping and bushcraft with my mates in November seemed like a fabulous idea…... in sunny July.</span><span class="yiv1839944588" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bushcraft</td></tr>
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</span><span class="yiv1839944588" id="yiv1839944588yui_3_16_0_1_1416221662761_15431" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">I don't get a lot of spare time, but when I do I like to fill it with different things, adding sparkles of excitement and adventure to break up routine. This summer I coerced 4 of my most 'up for it' friends to join me for an adventure, and a weekend of bushcraft was booked for our inaugural foray into the art of surviving in the woods... Between us, we had ladies who had never slept in a sleeping bag or a tent, used a lighter, chopped wood, or even owned waterproof trousers.... What could possibly go wrong?!? </span><br /><span class="yiv1839944588" id="yiv1839944588yui_3_16_0_1_1416221662761_15431" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"></span><span class="yiv1839944588" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"> </span><br />
<span class="yiv1839944588" id="yiv1839944588yui_3_16_0_1_1416221662761_15427" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">With much trepidation we arrived in total darkness on the Friday night in the middle of nowhere to meet Gary, the owner of <a href="http://www.jackravenbushcraft.co.uk/"><span style="color: red;">Jack Raven Bushcraft</span></a>, and our fellow bushcrafters. Every pastime or sport has it's uniform and it turns out that bush-crafters are no exception. We stood staring at each other - them in earth colours with well worn, checked woollen shirts, carrying just a small rucksack - us ladies standing there in our brightly coloured coats, pink hats, cashmere scarves and carrying very large bags… it was clear to all that we hadn't done this before.</span><span class="yiv1839944588" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"><br /></span><span class="yiv1839944588" id="yiv1839944588yui_3_16_0_1_1416221662761_15462" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">We set out to find our camp. "Bushcraft is about living like our ancestors in the forest, Gary explained as we walked up the hill through a muddy field and into the woods. I was tempted to comment that my ‘ancestors’ had actually originated from West Ham, but chose not to, given that they were clearly worried enough about us anyway.</span><span class="yiv1839944588" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"> </span><br />
<span class="yiv1839944588" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"><br /></span><span class="yiv1839944588" id="yiv1839944588yui_3_16_0_1_1416221662761_15464" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">I'm not sure what we were expecting that warm July when we agreed that sleeping in hammocks in the woods was a good idea. Much hilarity followed as we were given a quick lesson in ‘mounting and dismounting’ a hammock. In true cartoon style we swung uncontrollably in the dark and performed numerous accidental dismounts in various orientations and with different degrees of elegance. I apologise to my friends for not helping much at this point, I was on the floor laughing.</span><span class="yiv1839944588" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curled up asleep in the hammock</td></tr>
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</span><span class="yiv1839944588" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1416247834622_15087" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">The loo was described in the brochure as a self composting toilet. It was "hidden" in large camouflage shed at the edge of the camp and consisted of a raised wooden box inlaid with a toilet seat. Next to it was a metal bowl for lighting waste paper and some sawdust for 'flushing the loo'. Posters around the wall supplied ample entertainment and to my surprise I found myself staying in there longer than necessary in order learn about animal tracks and droppings.</span><span class="yiv1839944588" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"> </span><br />
<span class="yiv1839944588" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"><br /></span><span class="yiv1839944588" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1416247834622_15089" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">The next morning we awoke at dawn and pottered bleary eyed over to the main teepee, where we filled our mugs with hot tea from the massive iron kettle hanging over the fire. Bleariness quickly vanished as we set about out first task- using sharp knives and saws to make a honey spreader out of a log. If I was stuck in the woods I'm not sure how essential this item would be, but I really enjoyed the carving process none the less. The final object looked more like a cross between a wonky ruler and a helicopter propeller, but despite being terrible I was still very proud of it!</span><span class="yiv1839944588" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">chopping logs</td></tr>
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</span><span class="yiv1839944588" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1416247834622_15092" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">The next task was making a flame and, being a non smoker, I soon realised that I had never grasped the art of striking matches outside in the wind. Thankfully matches wasn't the only option and we had a fantastic afternoon 'playing' with fire. There must be something deep in our code which aligns us with fire as I felt compelled to try every firefighting option from wire wool to vaseline to bark shavings, with flints and fire starters, gaining immense satisfaction when the combinations worked.</span><span class="yiv1839944588" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">making fire!</td></tr>
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</span><span class="yiv1839944588" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">Next came shelters and we followed Garry into the woods to learn how to keep safe, warm and dry using the forest around us. He assured us that the debris shelter resurrected from damp leaves would be toasty warm even in rainy November. We decided that it felt more like a coffin and not half as fun or exciting as the swinging hammocks which the girls were excited to return to.</span><br />
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<span class="yiv1839944588" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">Having been up at dawn, I returned to my tent exhausted for an early night - Confession time, being in the middle of a big training block I had chosen a tent over the hammock (coaches orders). I snuggled down into my sleeping bag, belly full of delicious chilli with earplugs stuffed in my ears to block out the noise of the rain and fell instantly asleep.</span><span class="yiv1839944588" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"> </span><span class="yiv1839944588" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1416247834622_15103" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">Apparently it rained a lot in the night and everyone was a bit damp come morning. But no one seemed to mind- it all added to the adventure and hilarity of the weekend. Luckily the fire was roaring and the heat from the fire cooked comforting bacon butties and also dried us out and warmed us up.</span><span class="yiv1839944588" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"> </span><span class="yiv1839944588" id="yiv1839944588yui_3_16_0_1_1416221662761_15395" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">Foraging and tree identification had us traipsing after Gary, hanging onto his every word. There is something deeply satisfying about having to search for and spot a half hidden edible leaf or fungus (Shopping in Waitrose will never be the same again as all their food is just so obvious!). </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">My anti doping catalogue doesn't have a section for "brown mushrooms that look like rubbery ears" or "leaves with stimulant effects", so I stuck to bananas foraged from the fruit bowl, just to be safe.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"> </span><span class="yiv1839944588" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7ryz3XnCR6U/VGuYFAYiKXI/AAAAAAAAA5w/J2fLHkudKx0/s1600/ears.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7ryz3XnCR6U/VGuYFAYiKXI/AAAAAAAAA5w/J2fLHkudKx0/s1600/ears.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mushrooms that look like ears</td></tr>
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</span><span class="yiv1839944588" id="yiv1839944588yui_3_16_0_1_1416221662761_15400" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">The last challenge was to make a fire from nothing except the rather damp contents of the Forrest around us. It felt a bit like a reality TV show as we all dashed off into the woods to find suitable tinder and logs as Gary had shown us. Much to my amazement I actually managed to construct a fire which worked - as did all the girls. </span><span class="yiv1839944588" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"> </span><span class="yiv1839944588" id="yiv1839944588yui_3_16_0_1_1416221662761_15402" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">I glanced around at my friends who somehow had lost the bright colours and cashmere. Somewhere over that short weekend we had turned into a group of earthy bush-crafters with knives hanging from our belts, looking slightly disheveled and tending our fires, happy and at home in the woods. </span><span class="yiv1839944588" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Girls make fire!</td></tr>
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</span><span class="yiv1839944588" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"></span><span class="yiv1839944588" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1416247834622_15101" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">We all agreed that, despite the weekend being off the end of our comfort zones, we had all had a brilliant time. Yes it would have been nice to do in the summer, but that would have been way too easy;-)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UPssKYSF5Nw/VGuYqRLx3TI/AAAAAAAAA6A/R6-8hLSWlGE/s1600/IMG_0720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UPssKYSF5Nw/VGuYqRLx3TI/AAAAAAAAA6A/R6-8hLSWlGE/s1600/IMG_0720.JPG" height="158" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Team</td></tr>
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Anne Dickinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03193609413870451417noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000875633793118406.post-50615247862401563412014-10-29T13:36:00.000-07:002014-10-29T13:51:27.489-07:00kayaking, capsizing and zumba<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica;">It's October half term and now that the race
season is over I've taken a cheeky week in the sun in order to play in the sea
off the coast of Turkey.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wKin2G6AMoU/VFFNYzYuRSI/AAAAAAAAA5A/LwiqKwhD4pI/s1600/photo%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wKin2G6AMoU/VFFNYzYuRSI/AAAAAAAAA5A/LwiqKwhD4pI/s1600/photo%2B1.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perfect place for an October paddle</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica;">My son thinks I chose the Neilson resort
because of its good track record of providing a fun group of like-minded teens
for him to hang out with. The real reason is that I could continue my training
and, as a bonus, earn my 2 Star paddle sport award. (a minimum requirement if I
ever think of getting into coaching at any time…)</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica;">The Kayak guide, a cheerful Scott called Ewan,
was eager to be as accommodating to the group as possible. In a weak moment I
suggested, "I would really like to practice paddling in rough sea".
We both looked out onto the flat warm turquoise Mediterranean and I knew this
was unlikely, but he promised that if the sea got rough he would take me out on
my own to practice.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7aw4NBaeWuA/VFFNAsb3lPI/AAAAAAAAA4U/pR-5VxCuLsc/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7aw4NBaeWuA/VFFNAsb3lPI/AAAAAAAAA4U/pR-5VxCuLsc/s1600/photo.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perfect weather, perfect conditions</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica;">I was given my time table of sessions for the
week which covered steering skills (always a challenge for me;-) rescue
techniques (always useful and after my embarrassing inability to know what to
do in Russia when I capsized in the middle of the lake I was keen to do this )
and lastly learning to paddle in different boats. They had Canadian canoes,
closed cockpit white water kayaks and sit upons and not a sprint kayak in sight
!</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica;">The week of formal sessions was built into
making the most of warm waters whilst exploring the stunning local coast. One session
was on practicing 'getting back in the boat at sea skills', which was built
into a 3 hour paddle to a barely submerged shipwreck which we could snorkel
around.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Zb_WD1Pk74/VFFNHmmtmpI/AAAAAAAAA4g/mhSFX0fHGKA/s1600/photo%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Zb_WD1Pk74/VFFNHmmtmpI/AAAAAAAAA4g/mhSFX0fHGKA/s1600/photo%2B2.JPG" height="320" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nailing not capsizing!!</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica;">The Thursday session was billed as a capsize
clinic and given my experience at the World championships, I quickly signed
up - warm sea in the baking sunshine was a perfect opportunity! By
Thursday the weather had changed dramatically. Unseasonal torrential rain
with strong winds changed the sea to dark grey and made the prospect of
capsizing on purpose particularly uninviting.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica;">When no one looked keen to actually go in the
sea we switched much of the capsize clinic to dry land, creatively running
through boat emptying and theory while sitting in boats on the beach staying
dry (ish) under the palm trees.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica;">No one else was out on the water sailing or
waterskiing due to the challenging conditions and I had decided an afternoon
with my book was a good plan. Suddenly Ewan remembered my request and,
realizing the resort safety boats were now free, bounced over and excitedly
asked if I wanted to use this opportunity to practice on some properly rough
sea. I looked at the rough sea within the shelter of the bay and didn't even
want to think what lay beyond it… Before I could think of a good excuse not to
- like how I get terribly sea sick (true) or the fact that a thunder storm was
forecast (true) I found myself paddling with all my strength into a head wind
that made the Nottingham regatta lake wind seem like a soft breeze.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2zdbzW3lYI/VFFNM7HOUxI/AAAAAAAAA4w/25aU4VzO7Ak/s1600/photo%2B5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2zdbzW3lYI/VFFNM7HOUxI/AAAAAAAAA4w/25aU4VzO7Ak/s1600/photo%2B5.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">calm before the storm</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Ewan in the power boat was calling out
instructions to me and Gill (a fellow kayaker who Ewan's enthusiasm had drawn
into this adventure.) "The boat is stable - it's you who makes it
unstable" <i>had he been talking to my coach back home I wondered?</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Suddenly we lost shelter from the bay and I was
blasted by a massive gust of wind and huge waves, which tossed me about like a
bucking bronco. Yikes!!! Why do I do these things to myself?? Ewan
encouraged us to try and "let go" and then paddle in lots of
different directions trying to keep to a straight line. It was incredibly hard
not to tighten up with fear - this had been billed as a capsize clinic but I
was really keen to stay upright so I forced myself to relax my back while still
paddling. I won't say I managed to keep a straight line but eventually I
successfully managed relax and to my surprise started to really enjoy playing
in the waves. Whooop!</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Out of nowhere a clap of thunder seemed to mute
the crashing of the waves and howling wind. A fast return to the beach was
instructed by the lifeguards via the radio that Ewan had in his top pocket.
Ewan zoomed closer to try and get both us and our kayaks into his boat and
safely back to shore before the lightening started.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Suddenly the stern voice barking instructions
from the radio changed and Ewan paused in the middle of trying to haul an
exhausted Gill up into his boat. "Is that?.. It can't be… is that a
baby?", he shouted over the wind. A small child’s voice singing <i>baa
baa black sheep</i> had started coming out of Ewan's top pocket. We
all just burst out laughing and Gill slid headfirst, like a seal, into the
bottom power boat, laughing so much she was unable to move. Another sudden gust
of wind caught her kayak and whisked it out to sea. It was most surreal having
to chase frantically after it to the sound of a toddler singing nursery rhymes
at full volume through the emergency radio.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica;">So what's the perfect recovery after a session
on rough sea when you are nauseous, cold, soaking wet, and the ground
continues to sway under your feet? Well apparently it's a Zumba class…</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uXBb4QKKUto/VFFNKvoF-bI/AAAAAAAAA4o/DFN3ylMtACU/s1600/photo%2B4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uXBb4QKKUto/VFFNKvoF-bI/AAAAAAAAA4o/DFN3ylMtACU/s1600/photo%2B4.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">swimming goggles would have been a good idea....</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Heading for a hot chocolate, still in our boat
shoes and wet clothes, we arrived at the bar at the same time as ladies in
their gym kit were banging imaginary bongo drums at the start of their Zumba
class. Somehow we became part of the class and after half an hour of trying
unsuccessfully to follow what was going on (my weak leg was a definite hinderance
to both me and the lady next to me) we were toasty warm, nausea gone, and the
ground bizarrely seemed more stable!!</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Hopefully I wont have to contend with
conditions like this at regattas, but if I do I shall be better prepared! As a
bonus I now have my Level 2 Paddle Sport qualification, adding to the successes
of my 2014 season.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fb1uRdlKFu0/VFFNW3xNgVI/AAAAAAAAA44/T4IWZHPLZcE/s1600/photo%2B3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fb1uRdlKFu0/VFFNW3xNgVI/AAAAAAAAA44/T4IWZHPLZcE/s1600/photo%2B3.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adakoy - Neilson.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<!--EndFragment-->Anne Dickinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03193609413870451417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000875633793118406.post-75756934510361486072014-10-18T05:08:00.000-07:002014-10-18T05:08:17.677-07:00Mongolia to London the long way... My off season adventure<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-40k3uL7fBr8/VD7UYLzge2I/AAAAAAAAAzg/cpC7H0Q3z7U/s1600/photo%2B3%2Bcopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-40k3uL7fBr8/VD7UYLzge2I/AAAAAAAAAzg/cpC7H0Q3z7U/s1600/photo%2B3%2Bcopy.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All aboard The trans Siberian train!!</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Travelling overland through 7 time zones
by train has never been on my holiday wish list. But after an 'incident' for
Simon in Mongolia involving a bike race, an unplanned dismount at speed, fractured
ribs, a collapsed lung, and a doctor's note saying no flying, an overland trip
home became the 'obvious' answer ... Yes, it is possible to get all the way
home from Ulaanbaatar (Ulan Bator) to our very own doorstep using only 6
trains, 2 weeks holiday, and as it turned out, 2 litres of the finest Mongolian vodka...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1KGIgr0sySA/VD7UU9fSVaI/AAAAAAAAAy8/26BDayjjY6E/s1600/photo%2B1%2Bcopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1KGIgr0sySA/VD7UU9fSVaI/AAAAAAAAAy8/26BDayjjY6E/s1600/photo%2B1%2Bcopy.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simon guarding his ribs in Ulan Bator</td></tr>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Trans Siberian Railway</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">2 weeks after the accident, 1 week after
Simon had a chest drain removed, 24 hours after I landed from London via
Beijing, and 2 hours after we picked up Simon's visa from the Russian embassy
in UB, we found ourselves in a train compartment no bigger than a small double
bed, which was going to be our home for the next four days. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">As I unpacked (ie squeezed our bags
under the 2 bench seats) Simon dashed to the local food kiosk to buy essential
supplies. He came back proudly holding 2 litres of vodka, 9 bottles of beer, 2
bottles of champagne, 3 tins of nuts and a bottle of coke. "Perfect"
I said with only the merest hint of sarcasm...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P2-MSeqdt8k/VEAsGBuHEhI/AAAAAAAAA1c/SdpHwJ1qVXw/s1600/photo-97.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P2-MSeqdt8k/VEAsGBuHEhI/AAAAAAAAA1c/SdpHwJ1qVXw/s1600/photo-97.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our secret stash...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">As the train began to chug its way
through the incredible Mongolian countryside we were soon overtaken by a car,
then a lorry, and then a horse! A Mongolian passenger in the next
compartment suddenly burst into song, then a German man well into his 60s
passed our door without his top on (it turns out this is how he would travel
the whole way to Moscow). We took all this in... This might be a long few
days... Only 1 thing to do... Embrace the experience and crack open the
vodka!!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Travelling across a continent or two by
train and watching the world go by was an incredible adventure. The train
windows made it a bit like being in a huge cinema with 2, no 4 screens in the
same room. One either side of the train, then looking both forwards or
backwards - each screen showing amazing but different views. The guide book had
said bring lots of reading material and be prepared not to finish it. How true!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-htWb-1L0AuQ/VEArdf41CnI/AAAAAAAAA1U/Gz33lmH3taI/s1600/Snapseed-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-htWb-1L0AuQ/VEArdf41CnI/AAAAAAAAA1U/Gz33lmH3taI/s1600/Snapseed-2.jpg" height="215" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">never bored of looking out of the window...</td></tr>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">About midnight we
crossed the Russian boarder</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">There is something very Agatha Christie
about standing in a dimly lit train carriage, wearing nothing but your pyjamas,
with 2 Russian border guards flashing a torch into your face as they check your
papers. Next came the security guard who was wearing a military cap, a tight
grey boiler suit and knee high laced up black boots, who proceeded to search
everywhere - even under the floor, and above the ceiling (I have no idea what
she was searching for, the German's shirt perhaps?) Then the customs men came
around in equally stern uniforms and searched our carriage again. They tut
tutted loudly at all our alcohol (Not sure if they thought it was too much or
too little...) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">The scenery in Mongolia had been
beautiful, but open and quite sparse, with the occasional, isolated Ger (Yurt)
or small settlement. We woke at sunrise to find ourselves winding through
beautiful forests in the eastern part of Siberia. Being Autumn, the yellows,
reds and golds of the birch trees, with the soft sunlight light peeking
through, was spectacular.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B63BYF5cwQ0/VD7SO1EMUVI/AAAAAAAAAyk/0hCV75oY8ws/s1600/DSC_0547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B63BYF5cwQ0/VD7SO1EMUVI/AAAAAAAAAyk/0hCV75oY8ws/s1600/DSC_0547.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Siberian forrests</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Our first breakfast in bed consisted of
coffee, Jaffa cakes and salami and tasted amazing! In my defence I was still on
UK time, so this was more like a midnight snack... This may have been lovely
but the novelty would soon wear off. A restaurant car had joined us at the
Russian boarder and the food turned out to be ok, but not really special. We
chose to see this as a challenge, and with station stops about every five
hours, we used these to forage for supplies. Each stop turned into a race
against the clock - anything from 13 to 27 minutes to head out, find a shop or
a kiosk and guess what the Cyrillic meant. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wk5L5ZtHf1o/VD7UZkxaikI/AAAAAAAAAzs/AcoT6JivmdA/s1600/photo%2B4%2Bcopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wk5L5ZtHf1o/VD7UZkxaikI/AAAAAAAAAzs/AcoT6JivmdA/s1600/photo%2B4%2Bcopy.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">results of our foraging in various Russian stations</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">As it turned out we mostly chose well
and smugly feasted like kings on various pasties, pickled fish, meat, cheeses,
bread, fruit and ice-cream washed down with fresh coffee, vodka, beer or
champagne. Most passengers tucked into noodles (there were hot water boilers in
each carriage) and I also tried out some great instant food samples I had
brought with me from Sports Kitchen. These water boilers also meant we
had plenty of hot water to wash with, but with only a small sink in a tiny
toilet, washing was 'basic'.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mu2Jfn5cF3M/VD7SIITZIeI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/XR4bEFPggIk/s1600/DSC_0316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mu2Jfn5cF3M/VD7SIITZIeI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/XR4bEFPggIk/s1600/DSC_0316.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still not bored of the scenery...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">For the next three days the soft low
autumn sun flickering through slender birch and conifer trees, across
meandering rivers, lakes and fairy-tail like wooden huts. Brilliantly shiny
onion-shaped golden church turrets caught the sun beautifully and we felt like
voyeurs spying on various aspects of back door Russian life visible from the
train window. Watching the world pass by, playing games and reading meant that
neither boredom or stress existed for us on the trans-siberian railway. Time
became an abstract phenomenon - it existed somewhere else, but it didn't really
matter to us (except the small exact chunks of time where we stopped at
stations for our foraging expeditions). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZncBWcYAtM/VD7SF0yloJI/AAAAAAAAAyI/-JwMJ83TUeE/s1600/DSC_0278%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZncBWcYAtM/VD7SF0yloJI/AAAAAAAAAyI/-JwMJ83TUeE/s1600/DSC_0278%2B2.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Russia whizzing past..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Moscow</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">98 hours after leaving Ulaanbaatar we
arrived in Moscow, chilled but a bit bedraggled. (The naked German guy was the
only passenger to look clean and fresh, newly reunited with his shirt - he
might be onto something here! ) We had travelled first class on the train (you
don't want to know what 3rd class was) and the theme was to continue. We turned
up at the Moscow Savoy looking like a couple of scruffy vagrants. To give them
credit the staff were very polite and not overtly put off by our dusty, tatty
non-designer luggage (Smon with his race kit bag) and bodily grubbiness. To my
absolute delight, not only did we have running water, but a non jiggly toilet
that you could sit on without the need to hold on and that didn't blast you
with cold Siberian air on flushing! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AAPifKOExaw/VD7ey95D0aI/AAAAAAAAA0o/6B2hZTw9QWc/s1600/blogger-image--718864362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AAPifKOExaw/VD7ey95D0aI/AAAAAAAAA0o/6B2hZTw9QWc/s1600/blogger-image--718864362.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Square</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">The only downside was the monotonous
view. So showered and slightly more presentable, we headed out to conquer the
sights of Moscow in 2 days. A Russian kayaker follower on Twitter, hearing of
my return to Moscow a month after the Worlds, had offered her expertise as a
virtual tour guide, which we gratefully accepted. We dashed around Moscow
following her fabulous recommendations and became pretty adept at negotiating
the Metro in Cyrillic, crossing the road (obediently) according to the flashing
green man, and ordering coffee and cake in a variety of establishments. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o_slKcim2Wc/VD7UVi5XZtI/AAAAAAAAAzI/wHJ-wfKKKro/s1600/photo%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o_slKcim2Wc/VD7UVi5XZtI/AAAAAAAAAzI/wHJ-wfKKKro/s1600/photo%2B1.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Compulsory 'oooo' selfie</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">We saw
fabulous buildings, learnt some Russian history, (The Kremlin's Armoury museum
was breathtaking, and a Vodka Museum gave great insights into centuries of
state control) walked in wonderful parks, and ate in interesting restaurants. Our
trip happened to coincide with three notable events: The Moscow marathon; A
protest in Red Square against the government's stance in the Ukraine; and the
whole of the Bolshoi ballet taking part in the ice bucket challenge....says it
all really! <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MvIglAEJakI/VD7e6F40hfI/AAAAAAAAA1A/gIjzCuC6xTg/s1600/blogger-image-497002241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MvIglAEJakI/VD7e6F40hfI/AAAAAAAAA1A/gIjzCuC6xTg/s1600/blogger-image-497002241.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bolshoi Theatre</td></tr>
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<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Warsaw</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Two more time zones crossed as we headed
into Poland. Simon had chosen the Rialto Hotel, a wonderful arc deco
establishment preserved in it's pre war era quirky elegance. It even had an Art
Deco lift and air conditioning controls in the room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YvawlgJZgd4/VD7UaRjR21I/AAAAAAAAAz4/LeNM7QxX-Z4/s1600/photo%2B4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YvawlgJZgd4/VD7UaRjR21I/AAAAAAAAAz4/LeNM7QxX-Z4/s1600/photo%2B4.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art deco air conditioning controls</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Warsaw has a 'refurbished' old town (85%
of the city was destroyed in the war) where tourists were expected to go, but
Simon experienced an instant allergic reaction to being told by Tourist
Information what we should do, so we headed to the other side of the river to
Praga, a bohemian and slightly run down suburb. It was full of interesting
buildings, shops, cafés and bars - we felt very conspicuous in our red jackets
in this earthy area where the brightest colour apart from us was brown. In
contrast to Moscow, Warsaw was excellent value and we found ourselves in a
local cafes where the dishes were £2! Granted, there were few TripAdvisor
stickers or tourists, and one establishment had no menu and a plastic manikin
in the corner with a lop sided wig, dressed as a dinner lady/ drag queen - but
the plum juice, local dumplings and cabbage were excellent! Yes truly!
Close to our hotel we also found a really top end restaurant with an
amazing taster menu at ridiculously cheep prices. I would definitely go
back (to both establishments).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B60UIYUCHcQ/VEA284BEHpI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/9mblu1WVaEY/s1600/photo-104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B60UIYUCHcQ/VEA284BEHpI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/9mblu1WVaEY/s1600/photo-104.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plum Juice (with plumbs)- surprisingly ok!</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Warsaw was a completely fascinating
city. We spent our second day with an "alternative Warsaw" guide who
said that falling in love with Warsaw was like a good marriage - you don't fall
in love on your first 'visit' but as you get to know it more, the love
grows.... but I loved it right from the start. I loved how the pre war,
communist era and modern architecture clashed but also managed to sit happily
side by side, giving clues to its past, and I found the people forthright, but
with a sparkle that gave a glimpse of their survival spirit.</span><br />
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oRoW_ydf43w/VEA4g7WwlSI/AAAAAAAAA2w/BElnEsmM3QQ/s1600/photo-105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oRoW_ydf43w/VEA4g7WwlSI/AAAAAAAAA2w/BElnEsmM3QQ/s1600/photo-105.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Communist architecture sits next to pre war architecture.</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> An
alternative city tour in a communist era militia van with Raphael from Warsaw
Adventures was a fantastic way to learn about the city, communism and the
Ghetto - however I think the Polish Militia must have either been very short or
not bothered about looking at the view, as both our eyes fell level with the
fluffy maroon interior trim well above the windows. Simon's height meant that
he was safely wedged between seat and ceiling, removing the need for a seatbelt
or airbag, which was very handy as they were absent anyhow...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YarQYcvnams/VD7e1tWqF5I/AAAAAAAAA0w/m7Tnpr4IAB0/s1600/blogger-image--1528801477.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YarQYcvnams/VD7e1tWqF5I/AAAAAAAAA0w/m7Tnpr4IAB0/s1600/blogger-image--1528801477.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Polish Militia van</td></tr>
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<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">I had always wanted to go to the
ballet but never been. What better way to round off this memorable first visit
to Warsaw than with a performance of Romeo and Julia, a modern take on the
classic tale, by the Polish National Ballet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Berlin</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">A short 5 hour train hop later (with the
most amazing rail car food!) and we arrived in Berlin in time for "street
food Thursday", with our friends Martin and Carole. A fabulous night food
market with delicious home cooked dishes from around the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_hg105_a3D8/VEA25ZRzMdI/AAAAAAAAA10/NNY_zYU-TYg/s1600/photo-101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_hg105_a3D8/VEA25ZRzMdI/AAAAAAAAA10/NNY_zYU-TYg/s1600/photo-101.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Berlin Wall</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">We hadn't intended this trip to be
educational, but staying right next to Checkpoint Charlie, in the heart of
Berlin's "war tourism district", we found ourselves completing a
really interesting history tour. Travelling from Moscow to Warsaw to Berlin,
with tours and exhibitions in each city, bullet holes in buildings, and stories
of courage and unfathomable human suffering, brought military and social
struggles to life from three different regimes and cultures perspectives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MXDgCjpzOPc/VEJXEizdcbI/AAAAAAAAA34/TdR9PIvyqJg/s1600/DSC_0878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MXDgCjpzOPc/VEJXEizdcbI/AAAAAAAAA34/TdR9PIvyqJg/s1600/DSC_0878.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Museum Island</td></tr>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Berlin to Paris should
have been the next short hop. </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">To our immense shock the first German
train was delayed - is this even possible!!? - meaning that our connection from
Mannheim to Paris wasn't going to happen. The guard on board managed to find an
alternative route via Strasbourg. The only problem with this was that we had
chosen this leg (where the scenery was less interesting) to play more Quirkle
(our favourite game, despite the current tally - Simon 21 Anne 1) and to get back
to the Mongolian vodka. This resulted in a very rushed and stumbled train
transfer for us and our 40 kg of luggage in Frankfurt, where we managed to mix
up Stuttgart for Strasbourg. This resulted in us not arriving in Paris until I
had lost a few more games of Quirkle, the vodka bottle had been emptied, and
the sun had set. On the plus side, a taxi ride through night-time Paris to our
friends apartment enabled us to see all the floodlit tourist hotspots, meaning
we were free to go off the tourist route for the next day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V6A7QbGDu0s/VEJTSX4BOHI/AAAAAAAAA3M/smqR9OHtDqg/s1600/photo-107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V6A7QbGDu0s/VEJTSX4BOHI/AAAAAAAAA3M/smqR9OHtDqg/s1600/photo-107.JPG" height="320" width="260" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anne the packhorse (hurrah for GB canoeing making me strong)</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">I don't suppose many people go to Paris
end up in the Compe du Trios Generals - a rather eclectic bar full of African
artefacts, political commentary on France's influence in West Africa, and
shabby green velour sofas (complete with tassels). This was our Parisienne
friends' recommendation for quirky Paris (are you starting to get the picture
that "off the beaten track" is our preferred adventure...?) and after
a hibiscus cocktail Paris took on a slightly hazy quality, despite the
brilliant sunshine and clear autumn air. Using a map sponsored by Eurostar
meant that this 'off the beaten track' corner of Paris was obliterated by a
large picture of the Eurostar train which made map reading a bit difficult. We
eventually found a fantastic corner cafe and lost a few hours of Sunday
afternoon watching the world go by, accompanied by confit duck an carafe of
house wine. The purpose of ending up his far out was a walk in this outlying
park with a view. The wine must have been stronger than we thought because
unbelievably in the Park we stumbled upon a French steel band playing reggae in
the glorious afternoon sunshine and a large group of women spinning wool
and knitting it into jumpers! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">This park, apart from/ because of its
interesting inhabitants, was an absolute gem. We sat happily at the top of a
grassy hill listening to the live music from a steel band and watching the group
of ladies spin and knit with with Monmartre and the Paris city
skyline as the perfect backdrop. And, of course, we ended our stay with a night
time trip u the Eiffel Tower - it would have been rude not to, given our
friends lived just round the corner...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9waGe9E9xU/VEJXWTrgckI/AAAAAAAAA4A/wFbIjDlrZQI/s1600/DSC_0990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9waGe9E9xU/VEJXWTrgckI/AAAAAAAAA4A/wFbIjDlrZQI/s1600/DSC_0990.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">compulsory Eiffel Tower picture</td></tr>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">And home...</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">The last big train leg was from Paris to
London and Simon had yet again pushed the boat out (if you can do that on a
train?). First class on Eurostar with a 3 course lunch was a new experience for
me. Us - with our slightly scruffy, well traveled clothes and day sacks -
also seemed a new experience for the rather posh couple who had to share our table
(they did ask if they could move). I often think that other people in
restaurants have amazing conversations which are really worth listening to, but
the best this couple could manage was a very intent conversation about how
vital it was for him to have his teeth polished that afternoon when they got
back to London. The last two weeks had been an amazing adventure and Simon and
I started reminiscing about our trip across seven time zones from Mongolia.
I noted how our companions stopped talking and started listening to our
tale of highlights and crazy moments which definitely, without doubt, was the
best adventure I have ever had. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sh3tXXnVj2Q/VEJQRpydPdI/AAAAAAAAA3A/9yvhZ_RG7fw/s1600/10682333_10152847299327573_240842010602106056_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sh3tXXnVj2Q/VEJQRpydPdI/AAAAAAAAA3A/9yvhZ_RG7fw/s1600/10682333_10152847299327573_240842010602106056_o.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">whiling away the time on the trans siberian express..</td></tr>
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<!--EndFragment-->Anne Dickinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03193609413870451417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000875633793118406.post-29934981180714790772014-08-28T04:32:00.003-07:002014-12-04T10:48:23.454-08:00Learning to dream...<br />
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1409221485598_1925" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JEK7R6Jhc14/U_8QFU9fIcI/AAAAAAAAAwc/9EUuVCUIeig/s1600/Dickens1-65.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JEK7R6Jhc14/U_8QFU9fIcI/AAAAAAAAAwc/9EUuVCUIeig/s1600/Dickens1-65.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dream.....</span></td></tr>
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<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1409221485598_1921" style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last weekend was the anniversary of my back injury and the emergency surgery which left me with a weak leg. </span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1409221485598_1920" style="background-color: white;">
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<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1409221485598_1919" style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I look back over the 3 years - the initial hope I would recover fully, the dark place as I realised what I had lost, and the journey to finding a new me - and it seems incomprehensible that I could have gone from that to this. If anyone had told me, when I couldn't even lift an empty dinner plate, that one day I could become a world champion in an upper body power sport I would not have believed them. It took the best part of a year to learn to Dream...</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1409221485598_1908" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TwuPmd-zElo/Uhc1oTYCP1I/AAAAAAAAAd0/sAFnrYyjT6Y/s1600/securedownload-67.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TwuPmd-zElo/Uhc1oTYCP1I/AAAAAAAAAd0/sAFnrYyjT6Y/s1600/securedownload-67.jpeg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Endurance mountain biker to sprint kayaker in 3 years</span></td></tr>
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<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1409221485598_1927" style="background-color: white;">
<b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1409221485598_1926"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My situation was far from unique</span></b></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1409221485598_1928" style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In my job as a physio I see people every day whose lives have changed in that they are no longer able to participate in activities they did before. Some have had dramatic accidents, but many have simple incidents, like me, that change their lives. It doesn't matter how dramatic or how severe, the fact that you can't do something you used to take for granted starts to define your existence. That's the trap... And you are the only one who can get yourself out of it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br clear="none" /></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1409221485598_1930" style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently I was asked to give a "motivational speech" at a conference. It made me think through what it was that got me out of the negative spiral and onto a positive one. I am writing this down in case you know someone who is struggling as I did...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having a life changing injury is just that - your life stops going in the direction you thought it would go - no one plans for not being able to walk or make coffee - it is a massive shock and your life can come tumbling around about you as the reality sets in that its never going to be the same again. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Me prior to my injury- free to explore </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So how did I change from a broken endurance mountain biker in to a world champion para canoeist?? </span></div>
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<b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1409221485598_1938"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The acronym I like to use is to DREAM </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You have to have to be able to Dream to get yourself out of the dark place that you have found yourself in. You have to be able to dream because the reality is sometimes too hard. Things happen twice in the world, once in your head then again in real life so once you have dreamt about something you are half way there already! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But how do you change a dream into reality? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>D - stands for Decision.</b> It's so easy to focus on how much you think has been taken away that you forget about everything you still have. It wasn't until I Decided that even though my legs didn't work the same as they used to I still had my arms (and a whole lot more besides !) and in focusing on the positives there was no reason to stop my enjoyment of life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is always a choice on how you define yourself and the Decision about how you see your injury is ultimately yours. You can Decide to be a victim or you can decide you still have lots...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>R - stands for Route</b>. once you have decided that you have 'lots' instead of 'nothing' the next step is to find your new Route. If you keep on trying to navigate the path of your old life you will always be reminded of your injury and remain frustrated. I looked for opportunities to change things and embraced new challenges which played to my strengths, rather than those restricted by my weaknesses. The fact that I found my route whilst volunteering makes me smile, but that's another blog... When I was asked if I wanted to try out for para canoe the obvious answer was no! After all I was 45, I wasn't fit anymore, I hate water, and I had never been in a canoe before. But it wasn't mountain biking, so it was a possible new Route and I said yes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>E - stands for Enthusiasm.</b> Once you have decided that you want a new route, add a dollop of enthusiasm. You can't expect to get good at something new without putting time into it and enthusiasm is infectious... After all, the more you put into something the more you get out and the more others will want to share the journey. When I started canoeing I read bout it, watched u tube videos and talked to knowledgeable people about it. My enthusiasm turned trepidation into genuine excitement as I learnt more, became more capable and began to realise this was the route I had been looking for (it's actually a great social sport as well as the competitive side!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>A - stands for Action.</b> It's all very well reading, watching and talking about something, the next step is to put some real action behind it. You became proficient at your old activity through hours (probably years) of practise and proficiency in your new activity isn't going to happen overnight. I joined my local kayak club and spent hours and hours learning how to paddle. I realised that I needed to get stronger in a different way than I was before and so started going to the gym - again something I had never done on a regular basis. It was exciting seeing how my paddling body, with the correct input, started to change despite my age. My weedy cyclists arms soon bulked up and the empty dinner plate challenge soon became a thing of the past. I am now lifting my body weight with ease. Yes it took perseverance, and also patience, but gradually Action turned into results.!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>M - stands for Mentor</b>. I cant stress enough how important this is. Navigating this journey is hard to get right on your own, so try to find someone you can trust to guide and motivate you through the process. This is where Enthusiasm and Action are also key. Your new Mentor(s) are likely to be people who didn't know you before and nobody will want to put time into you if you aren't putting effort in. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been so lucky to find mentors for every aspect of my new sport, but it is two people that stepped in right from the beginning that have been key to my journey. Phil and Claire Gunney are both accomplished ex National paddlers and volunteer coaches at Wey Kayak Club. They took up the challenge of teaching me to paddle and since then they have assisted with every aspect of my training as well as becoming close friends. Their experience and knowledge of the world of kayaking has been invaluable. They have been there 100%of the way and have been there to cheer loudly when I get things right and to hold me up during moments of trauma and doubt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am not saying that anyone out there who has an injury should try to become world champion at a different sport, but I hope that you can see that it is possible to be defined by what you can do rather than what you can't - <b>you just have to be able to dream......</b></span></div>
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Anne Dickinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03193609413870451417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000875633793118406.post-42421086075489361462014-08-15T01:23:00.000-07:002014-08-15T01:28:38.167-07:00GOLD!!<br />
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408052770081_2244" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sorry this is a bit of a long one, grab yourself a cup of tea while I tell you about the Gold that very nearly </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">wasn't!</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moscow regatta lake. (credit to JJ for photo)</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love an adventure, and heading to Moscow for the first time, to compete on the Olympic regatta course, turned out to be exactly that. It was an impressive and interesting venue to hold the 2014 World Sprint Canoe Championships. The regatta lake itself has a city skyline, iconic Olympic structures and, given the current political tensions, armed security guards everywhere. I have to admit to arriving for my first practice paddle with a mixture of awe, apprehension and excitement.</span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408052770081_2248" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most of you will hopefully already know I came away with my first World Gold (having taken Silver in my first attempt the year before), but getting that win was some “adventure”.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">YAAAAY! Gold!!</td></tr>
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<b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408052770081_2259"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408052770081_2258" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Warm up day – time to become a drama queen</span></span></b></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408052770081_2257" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first 'challenge' was during my practice paddle. The start mechanism malfunctioned, thrusting my boat out of the water as I paddled over it. Going for an unplanned swim the day before my heat wasn't good mental preparation. On the plus side I learnt (the hard way) how to get back in a boat in the middle of a lake (massive thanks to the GB K2 pair Johnny Boynton and Ed Rutherford for rescuing me), and it also proved the theory my coach had been telling me that on capsizing I really could float free from the bindings in my boat!</span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408052770081_2264" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the downside, it freaked me out a bit and the hull and the rudder were damaged so had to go to be fixed before my heat the next day. This prevented me from further practice before the most important race of my season.</span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heats day – back to school…</span></span></b></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408052770081_2268" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next day arrived and Harry (my boat) was back from the menders - polished and fixed, with a new rudder. As I paddled away from the jetty for my heat something was very wrong. The boat wouldn't go in a straight line and pulled heavily to the right. Initially I thought it was just me being unsettled after my “drama queen” capsize episode the day before. It wasn't, and there was absolutely no way I could paddle in my race without being disqualified for going into someone else’s lane. I didn’t ask for this kind of adventure!</span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408052770081_2271" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Because of my wonky leg and foot I paddle with the tiller bar offset. The boat menders had thought the offset was caused by the crash and had mistakenly corrected it. They had been absolutely amazing getting it fixed for me, and it was my schoolgirl error in that I hadn't checked my boat properly that morning. I hadn’t been sleeping well and chose a later start rather than getting to the lake early.)</span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408052770081_2274" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Refusing to panic, I waited for my coach to find me on the lakeside and we spent a frantic (me – he is always calm!) 15 minutes trying to alter the rudder. It wasn’t perfect but it would have to do and, with a few minutes to spare, I paddled to the start of the heat with no warm up. With more brute force than skill I thankfully managed to keep to my lane and even won my heat, putting me straight through to the final the following day.</span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finals day – Take 1 – thunder and lightning</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408052770081_2278" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">The following day my boat was running straight. I had also managed more than 4 hours sleep, so all was looking up </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;">J</span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408052770081_2280" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"> That is until I had completed my land warm up, and was just about to get on the water. Black clouds had been gathering, the wind picked up and suddenly a bolt of lighting shot out of the sky. The lake was evacuated, leaving me standing there ready to race with no race ...</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The storm arrived.. and the boats left</td></tr>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408052770081_2282" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the storm a new race time was announced. I decided to eat early and then start the warm up process again. Just after I finished eating a message came through saying that my race had been bought forward. I looked down at my empty plate and full belly and instantly regretted eating!</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My warm up began again, with more black clouds gathering. I carried on my warm up, ignoring the howling wind, the marquee falling down around me, and the distant rumble of thunder. Just as I was about to get on the water there was another bolt of lightening and the announcement came that all racing was cancelled for that day.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes it was windy</td></tr>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finals day - Take 2 – GOLD (but only just)</span></span></b></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408052770081_2254" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We didn’t get confirmation of the revised times until the next morning. As I warmed up for the 4th time for my race (I had made the effort to get to the lake early this time for a pre warm up paddle;-)) I was glad of my 24 hour mountain bike race experience, which teaches you to concentrate on just the present. In fact my coach was concerned that I was too laid back, “You have a race today you know?"</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think I was half expecting it not to happen again, so when I finally got onto the lake I was a bit taken aback - its actually going to happen!! I was also suddenly aware of seeing armed guards every 20m or so round the lake - another interesting development. We didnt find out until later about the bomb scares!</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The wind kept changing direction, but as I lined up for the start, finally something went my way - it became a “tail cross from the right” which, with my weak right leg, is my preferred direction.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Racing my Final</td></tr>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408052770081_2303" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">GO! Argh - what was happening??!! For some reason my right (weaker) leg wasn’t working in its usual way and my timing was completely out. This caused me to do a couple of massive wobbles, letting everyone pull ahead. I had to draw strength and determination out from every part of my body. I was so angry and a red mist came down as I kept focusing and refocusing on my leg to bring it back. After what seemed like an eternity this worked and I could feel my rhythm returning. The boat leveled out and I knew I was gaining on the boats in front, but I didn't have that far left to bring the race back. I dug deeper and mentally pushed the finish line further away to force me to aim for something in the distance, rather than a few feet away. I didn't hear the beeps as we crossed the line and really didn't have a clue who had won. To be honest I no longer minded. My Russian adventure was over. It had been an exciting race and I had put absolutely everything in to fight right to the finish. I had nothing more I could have given.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pulling ahead just before the finish</td></tr>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408052770081_2301" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After what seemed like hours the results flashed up on the big screen and I had won by a mere tenth of a second!!!! In fact I had posted a PB (49.7 seconds), become the first woman para-canoeist to break the 50 second barrier in competition, and I had broken the world record that I had set in the Euros a few weeks earlier!!</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">win, world record, and 1st para woman under 50 seconds!!</td></tr>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408052770081_2299" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Apparently I had also caused a little anxiety in the team GB camp – the coaches were very happy, but in a stressed 'that was mighty close' kind of way! "Great race Anne, but please don’t leave it so long next time, my heart can't take it!!"</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">National anthem and podium</td></tr>
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<b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408052770081_2297"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408052770081_2296" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what next? - Lots to work on</span></span></b></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408052770081_2294" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At this stage last year I was competing with an injury and I was determined to get to this point with no 'excuses'. Clearly I am happy with the result, but Im probably happier that my years training went well. I missed only 1 training session due to 'illness or injury', and I have come on massively in all my targeted areas. A measure of this is that I dropped 5 seconds from last year’s world championships to this and I feel very fortunate to be surrounded by super skilled coaches and a great support team.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Coach Griff</td></tr>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1408052770081_2291" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am really excited about next year. I have watched the video over and over and know I have lots of room to improve. But first I’m going on holiday, for a proper old-fashioned cultural adventure, with not a kayak or gym or armed security guard in sight!</span></span></div>
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Anne Dickinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03193609413870451417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000875633793118406.post-77141416367527038202014-07-20T23:53:00.001-07:002014-07-20T23:53:50.622-07:005 Minutes of Fame
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If I ever needed a reminder that fame and
personal glory were short lived, this was exactly the put down I needed…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just over a week ago some of you may have logged
into your BBC Sport page to find an article on me on their front page right
next to the latest headlines for the World Cup. That was the day before I
was due to race 200m in a straight(ish) line to retain my European gold. Apparently
I even made the evening news and as a result was inundated with tweets and
emails from people who had personal experiences similar to mine and
felt moved enough to “find me”, wish me luck, share their personal pain
and thank me for inspiring them. The night before a major race this
was not the preparation I was supposed to be doing. But those who
know me will understand that hearing that I had helped others cope with
their personal trauma was perfect for me to go into race day feeling on
top of the world.</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-717eaW8uF_c/U8yxM1Q6R7I/AAAAAAAAArA/xh5LF4eJDoc/s1600/securedownload-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-717eaW8uF_c/U8yxM1Q6R7I/AAAAAAAAArA/xh5LF4eJDoc/s1600/securedownload-2.jpeg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">being filmed doing chin ups</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The BBC interview and filming itself had taken
place a few weeks prior. It had been an utterly bonkers day – a
camera pointed at your grimacing face while you struggle to do chin ups;
and a launch boat plus 'film crew' following you for an entire session on
the water, forcing you to struggle to keep “looking focused” for the whole
time!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j-Jvll1GU1U/U8yxU5O-U4I/AAAAAAAAAsA/56b2JAtieSw/s1600/securedownload.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j-Jvll1GU1U/U8yxU5O-U4I/AAAAAAAAAsA/56b2JAtieSw/s1600/securedownload.jpeg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">some of the tweets..</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was mildly curious about how the article would
turn out, especially when Jenna, the journalist, admitted that the people
at BBC liked me because they thought I was inspiring but also a bit bonkers! For those of you
who haven’t read it the link is <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/disability-sport/28246893"><span style="color: blue;">here…</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The race lake itself was about as bad as it could
have been. It was rough and windy – in fact if I could have
specified a set of weather conditions that I really don’t like, one that
plays against my physical weakness and lack of stability, then this was
exactly it. I didn’t care. Knowing that so many people were
behind me was such a fantastic feeling and I just couldn't stop
smiling. One of my competitors tried to put me off (I do find people
playing psych games funny) but what she didn’t know was that my ‘race’ was
already won. I did also happen to win the timed event, and was absolutely
thrilled to regain my European title in a world record time (woo hoo!!).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QBi7Idm74NU/U8yxPtpjv6I/AAAAAAAAArU/3tj75vmsQAg/s1600/securedownload-6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QBi7Idm74NU/U8yxPtpjv6I/AAAAAAAAArU/3tj75vmsQAg/s1600/securedownload-6.jpeg" height="197" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">result!</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MkOmKgzXavU/U8yxSk8-lhI/AAAAAAAAArw/g5jZ8uLxUpU/s1600/securedownload-4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MkOmKgzXavU/U8yxSk8-lhI/AAAAAAAAArw/g5jZ8uLxUpU/s1600/securedownload-4.jpeg" height="124" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">at the finish line</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Again my social media erupted and I wondered how
celebrities cope with all of this ... I kept getting stopped by people
asking me to sign their shirts or take a selfie with them. I was quite
thankful when I was taken into the closed off area to wait for my medal
ceremony. The weather was so severe that the ceremony dragged on with
regular delays. I was starving and also noticed how pale one of my
team mates looked… “I'm just so hungry”, he said. Looking over at my
parents in the stand I suddenly realised I might be able to help.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Mum do you have any of your home made
biscuits?" I knew Mum never travels without her homemade ginger and
marmalade shortbreads and, true to form, she handed me a massive tub, full
to the brim.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6jyuWjc57Vo/U8yxVsHyc8I/AAAAAAAAAsI/cmeos5xj7nA/s1600/securedownload-9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6jyuWjc57Vo/U8yxVsHyc8I/AAAAAAAAAsI/cmeos5xj7nA/s1600/securedownload-9.jpeg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mums famous biscuits</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back at the medal ceremony I handed out Mums
biscuits to all sheltering from the rain. German Officials in their
finery initially refused but little by little more and more people succumbed,
"mmmmm wow! These are incredible!!!” The Mayor of Brandenburg, big
wigs from the international Paralympic committee and international
canoe federation all tucking enthusiastically into Mums biscuits!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YxlfnWeqjl0/U8yxSjUrOdI/AAAAAAAAAr0/4Gg88O6qfrE/s1600/securedownload-5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YxlfnWeqjl0/U8yxSjUrOdI/AAAAAAAAAr0/4Gg88O6qfrE/s1600/securedownload-5.jpeg" height="138" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">podium</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next day, back at the race arena, I was
stopped by two men. So what was it to be, I thought, autograph or
selfie? In stilted English one asked, "I have heard about your Mothers
biscuits ... is she still here so I could taste zem please?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I burst out laughing. Front page of BBC
Sports, European Gold and world record and to these German men I was just the
daughter of the woman who makes amazing biscuits, which is precisely how
it should be!</span><span style="font-family: Courier; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">European gold!</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #878787; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Show message history</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Courier; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Courier;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anne Dickinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03193609413870451417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000875633793118406.post-87177939876704207812014-06-12T10:05:00.000-07:002014-06-12T10:05:19.843-07:00New Shoes and Boats<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;">Today I tried
to buy some new shoes. Yes, I'm a girl and I like shoes, so what's new?! Much to my dismay I have spent the last 3 years living in boots and trainers and I would love something more 'girly' to wear... So off to the shops it was. Pair after pair I
try on, I stand up, try to walk, shake my head and sit down. The shop assistant
looks up at me while surrounded by open shoe boxes and tissue paper - she is
trying to smile but I can tell she is crying inside. My criteria, I thought,
was fairly simple. All I want is a pair of shoes that don't "wobble when I
walk". Oh, and they have to look fabulous! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5FNc8qqXGDU/U5naB8neBPI/AAAAAAAAAps/OEiqbgmhAck/s1600/securedownload-28.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5FNc8qqXGDU/U5naB8neBPI/AAAAAAAAAps/OEiqbgmhAck/s1600/securedownload-28.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is as exciting as my shoes get!</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;">Sounds easy eh?
But ever since my back injury and resulting leg weakness I've been unable to
wear even the smallest heel without falling over - much to the amusement of my
kids...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I've had much the same problem with boats - not standing up and falling
over (well, not too often;-)), but you know what I mean. One of my main training
goals this season has been to improve my stability in the boat - to minimise
the wobbling as I paddle and to allow me to paddle in skinnier (ie faster) boats. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">This has
involved input from the whole team of experts in the GB Paracanoe Program. I've
been corrected by technical coaches and treated by physios with the help of strength and conditioning gurus, not to
mention clever boat adaptations to compensate for the lack of feeling and control in my
right leg - making me more 'at one' with the boat. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coaching</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;">So with no luck
on the "new shoe" front it was with huge excitement that I was
finally able to paddle the mark3 Plastex para canoe - (the faster but more unpredictable version
of my much loved Pippa.) <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">without falling in- </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">yippee!!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;">Opening the bag
of the new boat made me smile from ear to ear. It wasnt a shoe box containing jimmy choos and I may not be able to wear those beautiful, sleek shoes
with a skinny heal anyway, but I can absolutely paddle a beautiful, sleek, skinny kayak.
What's really exciting is that ahead of my final selection regatta for the world and European champs </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">I have
just posted a PB in my new kayak.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MaarFNdTVQM/U5naCACCqRI/AAAAAAAAAqE/hrUkvoAj-gs/s1600/securedownload-29.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MaarFNdTVQM/U5naCACCqRI/AAAAAAAAAqE/hrUkvoAj-gs/s1600/securedownload-29.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My new boat!!</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;">Thank you to all involved who have worked so hard in helping me wobble less in my boat and also a really big thank you to
Plastex for your commitment to making boats for para athletes and for generously sponsoring me with a perfect boat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;">Now, if only I
could find a high performance team to help me walk without a wobble and perhaps a glamorous shoe
sponsor? ...;-)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anne Dickinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03193609413870451417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000875633793118406.post-73015743301366196002014-04-26T11:17:00.000-07:002014-04-26T12:41:06.483-07:00Chin ups and Eggs<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm really happy that despite getting to an age that some folk have
inadvertently fallen into a rut of familiarity, I'm still leaning skills,
having adventures and experiencing new things. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the things I'm most excited about on my journey of being a team
GB para canoeist is the fact that I can now ........ do chin ups. Note
the deliberate plural here :-)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This may not be a skill high up on many of your wish lists, but I've been trying unsuccessfully to do one for years. In fact I can remember being turned away from the local gym club aged 10, despite being able to do passable headstand, because I failed the strength (ie chin up) test . <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xlwy6VI_vTw/U1vMgL5YSdI/AAAAAAAAAoc/TVZ5mHnl46A/s1600/securedownload-20.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xlwy6VI_vTw/U1vMgL5YSdI/AAAAAAAAAoc/TVZ5mHnl46A/s1600/securedownload-20.jpeg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me doing chin ups (ie more than 1!)</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a cyclist, chin ups were about as likely to happen - and as relevant - as me jumping over the moon, but when I started kayaking everyone said I had
to be able to do chin ups - It's a kinda right of passage - s</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">omething to do with getting strong arms, backs and shoulders I suppose.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In fact chin ups are
so much of a way of life for kayakers that most of them can jump onto a bar and
pop out hundreds while still chatting about their weekend. Many tie massive
weights around their waists- (big enough to make my knees buckle) and
then they still manage several?!? Kayakers have even been known to do chin-ups for fun at parties...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TtURhHWwXFI/U1vwkVkDd5I/AAAAAAAAApI/1FG9AX2epiQ/s1600/securedownload-24.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TtURhHWwXFI/U1vwkVkDd5I/AAAAAAAAApI/1FG9AX2epiQ/s1600/securedownload-24.jpeg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adding weights, like its not difficult enough!</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another new experience for me is eating eggs. Now bear with me, egg eating may seem random and unrelated to my chin up success, but I wonder ?..... When I started on
the journey changing from an endurance to a sprint athlete I had to get bigger and stronger. In order to achieve this my diet had to incorporate more protein - "Eat eggs" everyone said. This was going to be a massive challenge to manage because eggs
make me feel sick- I've never been able to eat eggs, think about eggs or even
sit next to someone eating eggs without feeling really nauseous. </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-04iWjGt4Oss/U1vMg-zCkzI/AAAAAAAAAos/3SrCquFa3pg/s1600/securedownload-23.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-04iWjGt4Oss/U1vMg-zCkzI/AAAAAAAAAos/3SrCquFa3pg/s1600/securedownload-23.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes! I can now eat eggs :-)</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, continuing
the theme of 'embracing new experiences' I figured if I could become European
champion in less than a year of kayaking then I could also conquer egg eating. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's taken me 18 months of trying and I'm not sure which was harder, chin ups or egg eating but I'm happy to report that I can now do
both. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hasten to add that I can't do many of either (and never at the same
time;-) ) nor do I particularly enjoy doing them and I definitely,
categorically won't be doing either at parties !!</span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<!--EndFragment-->Anne Dickinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03193609413870451417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000875633793118406.post-20567197204640388262014-04-17T12:46:00.000-07:002014-04-19T04:49:25.210-07:00Looking forward to Easter!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"> Is it sad that coming up to Easter the
thing I'm looking forward to most of all, even more than my Easter egg, is the
arrival of my new mattress?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yaKxaISgwjQ/U1Al-ik3TUI/AAAAAAAAAng/_quHPYksERA/s1600/securedownload-15.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yaKxaISgwjQ/U1Al-ik3TUI/AAAAAAAAAng/_quHPYksERA/s1600/securedownload-15.jpeg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The healthiest Easter Egg I could find:-)</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"> It's funny to reflect, but one of the hardest
things to get to grips with on the GB program is just how much sleep I am
supposed to have. Not just time in bed, but 8 hours of quality sleep...
Sleep is where your body repairs and recovers. Good sleep means you can train
hard day after day. After years of choosing my own bedtime it's like being a
child again - being sent to bed earlier than I want ... and I havn't even been naughty!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"> As an adult choosing my own bedtime has been
one of life's simple pleasures and with my busy schedule, sleeping less than 5
hours a night has been commonplace. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">Even when I was training for 24 hour
mountain bike racing I would frequently only go to sleep when I was so tired
that I couldn't think straight, I would then choose to leap out of bed early
the next morning. My coach even put in 3am training sessions to help me
get used to functioning when every cell in my body wanted to sleep. She
also used to tell me I needed recovery time, but I'm not convinced I ever
really got it..... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-snjXxwmJw38/U1AkG8j93QI/AAAAAAAAAnA/ahIN3g3FhvI/s1600/securedownload-12.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-snjXxwmJw38/U1AkG8j93QI/AAAAAAAAAnA/ahIN3g3FhvI/s1600/securedownload-12.jpeg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ragged at the end of a training session :-(</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"> All that has changed. Just as a child and a
teenager need sleep to grow I am building up so much new power that I need more
and more sleep to help my muscles recover and get stronger. As much as I hate
to admit it, the <a href="http://www.newsnet5.com/news/medical-sleep-improves-athletes-performance"><span style="color: blue;">research</span></a> supporting the theory that quality sleep is a crucial
for fast recovery is right. If I want to get stronger and faster I simply
have to get more sleep. One of my strangest training goals for this
season has been the search for a new mattress to replace the old one which is uncomfortable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"> Mattress buying is the strangest thing. Lying
down with your partner on a bed in the middle of a busy shop feels a bit
naughty - or am I the only one who thinks this? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">And there are so many mattresses out
there that are all so different... As a physio, and someone with a history of 2
serious back injuries I am incredibly particular about what I sleep on and I
felt much like goldilocks finding something wrong with every mattress I found.
In true female shopping style I dragged Simon to loads of shops without giving
in to his exasperated pleas "this is just like the last one" doh! no
it's not!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">Finally, after much research as well as
the field testing of lying down, turning over and head shaking (me) eye rolling
(Simon) we (I) now know we have found the perfect mattress :-) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"><a href="http://www.mammothmattress.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Mammoth</span></a> claim to make mattresses that
are loved by athletes and "Olympians".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-twkeIlDIIuQ/U1AoKYZAxVI/AAAAAAAAAns/nyhqC6FCr_o/s1600/light-logo-480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-twkeIlDIIuQ/U1AoKYZAxVI/AAAAAAAAAns/nyhqC6FCr_o/s1600/light-logo-480.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"> They came up in my research
and I don't usually do hype, so they were just one of many I tried out. I
have to say that as soon as I lay on one I smiled - "Just right",
said Goldilocks". Simon was away at the time, but as soon as he got
back I found an excuse to drag him into a shop. Within moments of lying
down he was gently snoring (he says it was jet lag having just flown in from
Thailand, but I recon it was the <span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: blue;">uber comfy mattress) </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"> I
will be open with you - I am immensely grateful to the fantastic folk at
Mammoth who have been incredibly supportive and I can't thank them
enough! This mattress will definitely help with my training!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"> So it's Easter coming up. I will have an
Easter egg, (and won't tell my coaches just how big it is), but they will be
pleased to hear my new mattress is coming - because sleeping properly for 8
hours is going to be the easiest gain ever in my training.</span><br />
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<!--EndFragment-->Anne Dickinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03193609413870451417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000875633793118406.post-36479058201902527232014-03-23T12:09:00.001-07:002014-03-23T12:09:10.892-07:00You know its too windy to paddle when...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">The 2014 season has arrived! This weekend was GB Paracanoe assessment and I am </span><span style="font-size: 17px;">relieved</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> to have secured my place on the squad.</span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This first event succeeded in blowing away the cobwebs - both literally and </span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px;">figuratively with the customary Nottingham uber head wind.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WSk_uIjywXM/Uy8udGexdrI/AAAAAAAAAmM/oVNbwmtqyZA/s1600/securedownload-10.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WSk_uIjywXM/Uy8udGexdrI/AAAAAAAAAmM/oVNbwmtqyZA/s1600/securedownload-10.jpeg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">who sunk the jetty?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px;">Fortunately challenging weather was nothing new because the entire winter training weather has been testing... Too much water made finding training venues challenging (who would have thought you couldn't train in a boat because of too much water). The winter has also been consistently windy, causing a few 'hilarious' training sessions. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px;">My coach Griff is known for his wise words, and at the last session he commented that "if it's too windy to carry the boat from the car to the lake then it's probably too windy to paddle". </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">In spirit with this helpful observation here is my own "its too windy to paddle when" list - please feel free to add your own;-)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You know it's too windy to paddle when...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">- The birds have given up flying and are walking south instead</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Waves on a usually flat lake are braking over
the jetty. Oh, in fact, where is the jetty? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- You Paddle full pelt into the headwind and just stay still<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Dog owners appear to be flying 4 legged kites as
owners struggle to keep them on the ground<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Your hair, despite being firmly tied back, escapes
and blows sideways/forwards making it look like you have a 'comb over'<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- You can hear voices carried on the wind across the lake but the people are too far away to actually see<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">- You struggle to get out of your car because you </span><span style="font-size: 17px;">can't</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> open your car door<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- You find a sphincter you never realise you had whilst clenching really hard to try and keep yourself upright in the boat<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Your "sprint kayak" has the sudden desire to be a
Malibu surf board and takes off down the lake on the crest of a wave with you
hanging on in surprise<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- The wind sock is gradually being reduced to shreds of cloth as the training session goes on</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- You begin to wonder if there is a water
equivalent of the yellow brick road and if in fact you might not be in Kansas
anymore...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">comb over</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px;">So that summarises the winter training season and did we stay in the cafe drinking hot chocolate? oh no!! But at least we were prepared for the Nottingham assessment day. Bring on the 2014 season!</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xz2WdLXpLzA/Uy8viXv2-zI/AAAAAAAAAmo/7KqJD9dJUHo/s1600/securedownload-11.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xz2WdLXpLzA/Uy8viXv2-zI/AAAAAAAAAmo/7KqJD9dJUHo/s1600/securedownload-11.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Dorney Kitchen- ace for post training refuelling</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<br />
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<!--EndFragment-->Anne Dickinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03193609413870451417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000875633793118406.post-17035738912058874812014-02-24T13:44:00.002-08:002014-02-24T13:47:00.363-08:00Anyone missing the sunshine ?<br />
<div class="thread-body" id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1393276108035_5195" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 27px; width: auto; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Sivota Greece</b></u></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b><br /></b></u></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b><br /></b></u></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b1h6CM-OThk/Uwu4An3bRBI/AAAAAAAAAlc/4m8cbKh6BFA/s1600/securedownload-6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b1h6CM-OThk/Uwu4An3bRBI/AAAAAAAAAlc/4m8cbKh6BFA/s1600/securedownload-6.jpeg" height="180" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea kayaking in the Ionian sea</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the greatest challenges last season was
getting the “being a <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">mum” balance right. I was determined that
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">including going on holiday, but with my main
event being at the end of <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Summer meant I missed out on any family holiday
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then, with the Worlds over and October half term
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">started and I didn’t want to slope off. I
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">researching options for places I could train that
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the kids would enjoy. With a teenage
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">life and a teenage son who wanted sport, I was
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">struggling. Looking back on it I don’t know
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">find the solution. We had been on Neilson
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">then when I was a normal person (well, ish), I
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">really didn’t like the sea that much.
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For those of you who haven’t done Neilson, the
combination of a beach <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">resort specializing in sports, with kids clubs
for different age <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">groups, has become a family favorite.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A bit of late summer sunshine, the promise of
flat, warm sea,</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">kayaks, a gym for my training, teenage activity
clubs and an all <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">inclusive buffet to allow for my serious protein
habit - all bases <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">were covered.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_DA_4E8YzFk/Uwu4XYd9jUI/AAAAAAAAAlw/6QNPpkkzfBk/s1600/securedownload-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_DA_4E8YzFk/Uwu4XYd9jUI/AAAAAAAAAlw/6QNPpkkzfBk/s1600/securedownload-2.jpeg" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">fun boat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m used to travelling with my bike, but I felt a
prize idiot trying <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to convince the airport vigilantes that my
paddles were perfectly safe <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to take as hand luggage. That feeling continued
as I turned up at the <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">hotel. The other ladies arrived clutching a
handbag and a large floppy <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">hat - not a seven-foot carbon Kevlar pole.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was really excited to get to the beach to check
out the kayaks. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hmmm... lots of plastic fun boats, sea kayaks and
stumpy boats for <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">white water... not a sprint kayak in sight. I
couldn't wait to branch <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">out!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k0QJ8DFq2gk/Uwu37MICFcI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/VHcnAzjdMG0/s1600/securedownload-4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k0QJ8DFq2gk/Uwu37MICFcI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/VHcnAzjdMG0/s1600/securedownload-4.jpeg" height="320" width="248" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cave exploration</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the previous 12 months I had been focusing on
going as fast as <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">possible in a straight line. Here in Sivota I had
signed up for my 1 <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">star paddle sport award. Having jumped in at the
deep end of elite <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">kayaking I had missed all the basic stuff, and here
I actually got to <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">learn basic boat skills including safe capsizing
and deep water <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">rescue. Now capsizing was something I had done
before, but never on <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">purpose. To do it deliberately was daunting.
Falling in at home <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">usually involved the 'swim of shame' in freezing
water to the bank, or <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">getting a wedgie while being pulled into the
rescue boat. Falling into <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the warm Ionian Sea in contrast was actually
quite pleasurable :-)</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2KHJs8SAjPw/Uwu4aHRiJHI/AAAAAAAAAl4/jn-_T9HiomU/s1600/securedownload-5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2KHJs8SAjPw/Uwu4aHRiJHI/AAAAAAAAAl4/jn-_T9HiomU/s1600/securedownload-5.jpeg" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">capsize</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In fact the entire “holiday” was immensely
pleasurable. I had thought <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">that continuing my training would be difficult
but I didn’t have any <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">trouble at all. The gym had an epic view over the
bay and mountains, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and I was able to spend hours on and in the sea
practicing my boat <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">skills. Going in a straight line in a boat
designed to be <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">maneuverable actually helped me work through my
technique. Recovery <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">was also sorted as I could pile my plate
ridiculously high at the <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">buffet (to the incredulity of the ladies with
designer bags and floppy <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">hats) with freshly grilled fish, meat and veg.
Mmmm.</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UCtECYefHCI/Uwu4bJNqZWI/AAAAAAAAAmA/7wKeF4DGQh8/s1600/securedownload-8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UCtECYefHCI/Uwu4bJNqZWI/AAAAAAAAAmA/7wKeF4DGQh8/s1600/securedownload-8.jpeg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">not a shabby place to paddle;-)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It wasn't all about training though. Without the
need to travel for </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">training there was plenty of time to relax with
the kids, on the beach <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">or by the pool. </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QeHu62VxrPY/Uwu39zw0rYI/AAAAAAAAAlY/u26Q_lawmiM/s1600/securedownload-3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QeHu62VxrPY/Uwu39zw0rYI/AAAAAAAAAlY/u26Q_lawmiM/s1600/securedownload-3.jpeg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">relaxing on the beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hLzz2OYQKtY/Uwu4E2R269I/AAAAAAAAAlo/bg_pBuSyLEk/s1600/securedownload-7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hLzz2OYQKtY/Uwu4E2R269I/AAAAAAAAAlo/bg_pBuSyLEk/s1600/securedownload-7.jpeg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">chilling with my daughter</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The kids got really into the
water sports and my <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">daughter took full advantage of the powerful
engine (me) as we <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">explored the local islands and caves in the
double kayaks.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where else could you get thumbs up from a GB
para-canoeist in </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">training, a teenage daughter who doesn't like
exercise but wants a <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">full social scene, and a teenage son who wants to
have a go at <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">windsurfing, Stand up paddle-boarding,
waterskiing, mountain biking, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tennis, volleyball…?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Anne Dickinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03193609413870451417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000875633793118406.post-27316565900363826932013-09-09T01:40:00.000-07:002014-02-23T10:26:13.016-08:00My first season done!<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My first season as a GB paracanoeist comes to an end. Its been a manic year full of amazing adventures, new friends and incredible challenges. Here are a few stats to summarise my year. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;">Weight lifted in the gym - probably a small heard of elephants - not bad for someone who hated gyms</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;">Meat eaten - probably a small heard of elephants - not bad for an ex </span><span style="color: #454545;">vegetarian. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;">Blisters - yes, all the time. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;">Capsizes - 8 (all during the winter!) and yes I got back in and continued the training sessions in wet kit with chattering t</span><span style="color: #454545;">ee</span><span style="color: #454545;">th.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #454545;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;">Weight lost - 3kg</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;">Inches lost on lower body - 5</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;">Inches gained on upper body - 6 </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;">Miles driven to and from training - over 30,000 On the plus side I now know all the sneaky routs around the M25 to avoid traffic jams! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;">Times we have paddled </span><span style="color: #454545;">past a coffee shop or a pub during training - 312</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #454545;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #454545;">Times we have stopped for a coffee or a pint - 0! So different from cycling!!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;">Nights I've dreamt of paddling - 364</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;">Times I've accidentally hit Simon in the face while dreaming of paddling - 2</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;">Times I've been so sore after training I can't even lift the kettle - lost count.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;">Training sessions missed - 6 (snow, injury and 1 overslept -sorry coach!)</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alcohol consumed -1 cocktail at a party last November (see above, sorry coach!)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;">Training </span></span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">sessions done in a blizzard, howling gale or minus temperatures - Ive blanked that bit out!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #454545;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hours spent training - more than 3,285</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545;">Minutes spent racing - less than 9</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #454545;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #454545;">Races lost -1</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #454545;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #454545;">Medals won 2 - Gold at the Europeans and Silver at the Worlds.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #454545;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #454545;">All in all a pretty cool year and I cant wait to get back into training for next season - Better never stops!</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oIrZBSCbwnQ/Ui2Ix_VFPwI/AAAAAAAAAhI/bbKSxSNpjQ8/s1600/securedownload-82.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oIrZBSCbwnQ/Ui2Ix_VFPwI/AAAAAAAAAhI/bbKSxSNpjQ8/s1600/securedownload-82.jpeg" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anne Dickinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03193609413870451417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3000875633793118406.post-22627909882449521012013-09-05T06:36:00.004-07:002013-09-05T06:36:56.540-07:00Silver at The world Championships!<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Did you have a nice, relaxing summer holiday?</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="yiv9950272935MsoNormal" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1378379743340_2379" style="background-color: white; color: #454545; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1378379743340_2378" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like most people I took a couple of weeks off work this summer. Many of my patients will have assumed was lying on a beach somewhere sipping cocktails.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Err not quite.....!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1378379743340_2394" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To spend your annual holiday competing at the World Canoe Sprint Championships is nothing short of amazing, but it’s hardly relaxing…!</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flags of all the Nations competing</td></tr>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1378379743340_2397" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In fact nothing about the last few weeks has been relaxing at all! After winning at the Europeans it was all systems go for the Worlds. A new technique to dial in, increased training sessions, increased weights, all aimed at getting me as fast as possible for August….</span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1378379743340_2400" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately my body said no. After an incredibly tough year of learning a new sport, the additional strain proved too much and I developed a rib injury just 7 weeks out from the World Championships. I was absolutely gutted.</span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1378379743340_2403" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am a physio and I have competed as an athlete. In my opinion training is 'relatively easy' – you just follow the plan and sweat a lot. Managing an injury so close to your main race of the season on the other hand is incredibly stressful. Everything I did for that seven weeks was a gamble; continuously having to think about consequences, change training plans on a daily basis and being extra smart about how/if I could train.</span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1378379743340_2455" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was definitely on an emotional roller coaster, and for most of that seven weeks I was genuinely wondering whether I was going to be fit enough to compete. It was awful feeling my hard earned fitness seeping away, seeing my team mates training hard and posting PBs while I couldn’t even sleep properly without pain. </span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1378379743340_2458" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With some incredible support from hugely experienced and talented English Institute of Sport physios, and from my coach who skilfully managed to push me enough, but not too much, I arrived at the World Championships knowing at least that I would be able to paddle. It wouldn’t be my finest performance, but I was there!!</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">screen shot of me racing</td></tr>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1378379743340_2461" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the day of my heats all the calm I had at the Europeans wasn’t there. I hadn’t practiced a 200m since the Europeans and I was feeling sick with nerves. I didn't know if my body would stay together. With my rib injury, the starts were the highest risk for further injury. In my heat I had an awful start, and it went downhill from there as I didn't want to put any real power through the stroke in case my ribs went ping. Unable to be powerful I completely lost technique and I spun my arms around manically. In the frenzy of the race there was nothing I could do to bring it back. Thankfully I just squeaked into the final by coming 3<sup>rd </sup>(4th overall). This was just the heats, but it was the first race ever that I had lost and it was a horrid feeling.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I slinked off the water with my tail between my legs, not wanting to meet the eyes of my coach or fellow team mates. I knew I had deviated from my race plan and I had some serious 'brain work' to do to get it back for the final.</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1378379743340_2467" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My final was to be the next day and I spent the time visualising my race plan, knowing that I just had to disregard my rib pain and what I couldn’t do, and instead focus on what I could do. The last time I disregarded an injury I ended up having to undergo emergency surgery on my back then wondering if I would be able to walk again, so this was going to be a <i>massive</i> deal for me. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">paddling in the final</td></tr>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1378379743340_2470" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That night I had a long chat with my coach and also with Simon, which helped enormously. The GB team had taken me through my race data – in fact I had posted a PB, but I knew what was wrong. So when it came time for the final, though still not feeling my finest, I was a good deal better than the day before. I got on the water for my warm up and could see the Union Flags waving from across the lake – knowing that Simon, Will, my parents, Ant, Rach and all the amazing group of GB supporters was over there was a real comfort. </span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1378379743340_2473" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Go! The noise was incredible! Hooters, cheering, clanging, shouting! Never say that the British are reserved!!</span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1378379743340_2476" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In lane 2, I wasn't really aware of the race going on around me, which was perfect. The plan agreed with my coach was to ignore the competition and focus on my race plan. The pain in my ribs forced me to put myself into another place completely. I just went blank and paddled, paddled, paddled, focusing on technique and forcing myself to push on towards the finish. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Podium!</td></tr>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1378379743340_2479" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What an incredible race! As we reached the finish line no one knew the placing because the race was so close. Then the big screen flashed up in front of us showing that I had come second, with the top 3 positions within about half a second of each other. </span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1378379743340_2482" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the last year I had dreamed of being here. For the last seven weeks I had doubted I would even be able to take part. I was thrilled to have simply competed in the World finals, and then to get silver was simply fantastic! Coming second to the 4x world champion and world record holder was an honour and I felt very proud to stand on the podium next to her. </span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1378379743340_2485" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The enormity of what I have achieved this last year as a para-canoeist is almost too much for me to comprehend. I’m sitting here now looking at my silver medal wondering if it was really me who won it. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Silver Medal:-)</td></tr>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1378379743340_2488" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And of course in reality I am just the tip of an iceberg, the bit of that medal winning performance that people can see. I may be the one who paddles but underneath me is a huge base of support holding me up and helping me achieve, and I really wouldn’t be here today if it wasn't for those amazing people who believe and invest in me. </span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1378379743340_2491" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So a massive thank you UK sport for funding me, to <u id="yui_3_7_2_1_1378379743340_2503">all</u> at GB paracanoe – the staff and my team mates, and particularly Colin who believed in me a year ago; to all those at my local club- Wey Kayak who have put in time, effort and encouragement – particularly my coach Claire Gunney who understands the way I tic; and to my amazing family – who have had to put up with a lot. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GB Paracanoe - Athletes, medals and Coaches.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Im really looking forward to all the challenges of next year, but it doesn't get any easier! Jess and Will have their A level and GCSE exams and I have a gold medal to win;-)</span><br />
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Anne Dickinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03193609413870451417noreply@blogger.com0