News from Debbie Flood - From training camp to trials.
Posted by Chris Rowe on Mar 04, 2010
Below is an update from two time Olympic Silver Medal Rower Debbie Flood who is attempting to break back into Team GB for London 2012. She has been training on the Wattbike to test the premise that cycling helps rowers.
From training camp to trials.
Camp (in survival mode) was my first marker. It was not an easy time, but I never thought that it would be. Olympians achieve their success through hard work and training and I have a bit to catch up on. Racing closely followed the camp and I approached the unknown with an open and positive mind set. Racing, much to my surprise, turned out better than I expected coming 6th at trials (with 2 out injured) and gave me a good starting point - the good news is that from the video footage and current fitness level, i have lots to improve on!
For the last few weeks after a combination of individual and crew boat trials, the Wattbike has become my 'friend and recoverer' rather than my tester. After racing in the boat I find it hard to stay in the same position and prefer to warm down on the bike. With a short time between races, clearing the lactate and restoring pH in the muscle is key in being able to repeat subsequent races and active recovery has been found to be the best way to do this however much I may want to just lie on the floor and not move for an hour! My recovery strategy worked well and I was able to hold my form (as it is) between races. This has given me confidence going forward knowing that I can still perform to a certain standard even though I have much to improve on.
Having woken up my competative senses again with some racing, I now look forward once again to training and making those technical and fitness improvements to take into the next trials - watch this space.
