Training this Week

This week is one that I would describe as a not so fantastic week. It started out good, running Tuesday, a good ride Wednesday morning and then an awesome 8x 400m running session Thursday. Unfortunately Thursday's set was run on the tartan track and this meant that I was running on my toes and in my minimal support spikes. I pulled up with calf soreness and did not stretch and ice my muscles that night. The biggest mistake I made was turning up to Athletics Friday night and running an 800m on the track again. This led to my calves feeling like they were on fire and my Saturday morning run set being shortened and I was unable to finish. After a good week of training I ruined it by one silly run at athletics. There was a big lesson that I learn't in this week and that is to listen to my body and stop if there is pain.

Leading the pack in our 4x 1km on Tuesday

Getting Back into It- State Cross Country

I haven't been posting lately and I thought that it was time I started again.

I have been racing an awful lot over the past half a year and well it's safe to say that I haven't had too many disappointing results. Races such as State Cross-Country, Coral Coast Triathlon and now into the Track season.

I'll start off by saying that my Cross-Country season was amazing, well that was up until my race in Bundaburg. I trained hard all the way and did just about everything my coach asked of me. I felt good in myself and I thought the track would be good because there was only one hill. The start of the race went well, I was running in the top 15 which was where I need to be. From there it just went down hill I could not feel anything and I was slowing down. I was my coach on the side of the track and the one thing I remember from that race was saying to her, "I can't do this."She told me to keep fighting but I couldn't it was too difficult this time. I crossed the finish line and remember collapsing and being carried away to a medical room. The medic said if i wasn't hydrated like I was I would have been in the back of an ambulance on my way to hospital. I finished 31st.

Despite having what I call a Disaster of a Race my athletics season has started off really well.

I will post my results up soon from my athletics season soon.

At the end of my State Cross-Country Race 2013

A message from Jill

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Jill Boltz (in photo with Cahn below), Cahn’s running coach a few times and I’ve enjoyed watching her work with Cahn. Jill is more than qualified to train Cahn having ran the 3,000m and 10,000m for Great Britain at the 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games and was a silver medallist at the 1990 Commonwealth Games. More importantly though is Jill’s enthusiasm for running and energy she brings to training is incredible. Her training sessions with Cahn and his friends are no doubt hard work physically but they are also fun. It’s amazing to see Cahn enjoying his sport and the training sessions he does.

I love Jill’s updates on Facebook about the kids she trains and then photo she posts of them at events. She is such a supportive coach and she really understands how Cahn operates as an athlete. I recently asked Jill to send me a few comments about Cahn for to include in his blog and she wrote:

“there are so many great things about Cahn especially how motivated he is and humble he is. Despite his recent great results he has stayed grounded and focussed knowing there is a lot of hard work ahead in order to get to the next level. He has the potential to get to the National level and I am hoping he is beginning to believe this”

 

 

My brother

It’s been some months since Cahn has written on his blog and I thought I would kick start the blog again with a piece about Cahn from my perspective. There is 15 years age difference between Cahn and I and I feel this has given me a real appreciation of his achievements.

I clearly remember Cahn as a toddler....and if I had to describe him at that age, a few words I would use would be challenging, headstrong, determined, impatient and stubborn. While people would often see this side of Cahn at the shops for example, I think they would have felt sorry for my mum! She had her hands full that’s for sure! It’s funny though because on reflection these are some of the characteristics that I think make Cahn successful at whatever he puts his mind to.

From the moment he could walk, he was able to kick a soccer ball with both feet, had great coordination and was energetic but those physical attributes can only take you so far. It’s Cahn’s mental strength and focus that make him really excel. There aren’t many teenagers that get themselves out of bed at ridiculous hours of the morning day after day to train then go to school. Not to mention the days he trains after school and the events on the weekends. It’s constant and if he didn’t want to do that he wouldn’t. You can’t make a teenager spend their spare time climbing mountains or running kilometre after kilometre.

Cahn is his own worst critic and it takes a lot to impress himself. He is lucky though to have a strong network to support him during his training and races. This includes our mum, coach Jill, teachers, his training mates and his friends. I’ve found that letting Cahn know you are there is enough, especially in the lead up to events. He needs his space and its impressive to see him transform from his usual jovial teenage self to a focussed young man on a mission.

 

 

I believe in Cahn, as his sister I may be biased but I am very proud of him. He is a good person, kind, thoughtful and funny. Over time his goals will change, they may move from sporting goals or they may not. Whatever happens, Cahn has the mental strength to be successful at whatever he aims for.

Hopefully he writes again soon,

Gretl

Adelaide Tour Down Under

This week has certainly been a big one. Im down in Adelaide South Australia training and also experiencing for the third time the Santos Tour Down Under. We follow the race everyday and we (Dad, his girlfriend and myself) usually end up riding through the hills.

Yesterday was very unfortunate for myself as I was descending down a very long hill return to Adelaide from the end of the stage. It was very unfortunate that someone had crashed after a team car was handing out drink bottles at about 50km/h. One lady was taken out by a young rider and I went over the top of her and ended up on the road.

Despite that, I was able to get back on the bike today after only receiving minor cuts and grazes. This experience will only make me stronger and more aware.

One week of training remains before state triathlon in February. Im very excited to continue my hard work and determination leading into the race and following the Santos Tour Down Under


A look into the height of the hills that we are climbing here in Adelaide

Some grazes that I got after yesterday's crash down a very nasty descent  

Feeling The Pain

Yesterday proved to me that I am getting stronger in my running but I am also feeling the pain. My goal was to run 7km in 35 minutes, which is not overly fast, I ran out for 15:20 which gave me roughly 3.45km. It was not the 3.5km that I intended to run but I was starting to fatigue and I knew that I still had to make it home. Once I has turned around my next goal was to negative split the return journey. I kept pushing the whole way home trying to keep under 4:30 per kilometre which to me is not very fast. I managed to complete my goals for that run, to go hard, and to negative split the return leg.

Although in any sport there some negative consequences. Last night and this morning have had a really stiff pain in muy right calf muscle. Today is a day of recovery although I have training scheduled. Ice and rest are the key components to a quick recovery. Hopefully I will soon be recovered from this and I will be back to full standards soon.

Christmas Update

The past few weeks have been very quiet with Christmas and New Year happening all very fast. Despite the lack of training I am very keen to pick it all back up and begin a big block of training and preparation for State Titles which are to be held in Febuary down in Brisbane. Over the new year there has been no races up in the north but I believe 2013 will bring great success.

I will keep you updated on all my training in the lead up to State Triathlon

First Road Race

Last weekend was my first ever road cycling race. I was pretty nervous about going into the race as there would be no teenagers racing and me being 15 years of age, I would be the youngest competitor. I went into the race with an open mind just trying to do my best. The race went straight up a hill and there were no flat sections on the course. As im a very good hill climber I knew just do my best and I thought I would have a good result. About 5km or 6km into the race I made a move off the front of the pack and never looked back. I extended my lead over the course of the race to finish with an astonishing result of 1st place. I was stoked with this result as it was my first road race and because I was the youngest competitor in it.



This is my race. I am on the right hand side with the white shirt on.

Update

Over the past few months I have been unable to write about my recent sporting achievements. Two main events have happened since my last post and weeks or hard training has also been accomplished.

Firstly an update on Regional Triathlon race results. This year was the year the everything finally went to plan, there was no sickness or injury. I took each leg of the triathlon (swim, bike and run) one step at a time. For me I just had to get through the swim and take it from there which was exactly what I did. I closed a very large gap on the bike down to about 10 seconds. This race all came down to the run. In the last kilometre I vomited but still manage to hold myself together. In the last 750m I broke away and was able to claim victory for the first time in three years. That race together was a great achievement in itself.



This was me on the bike leg during Regional Triathlon 2012

Regional Triathlon

On Sunday I have my regional Triathlon trials. I feel that I have done everything right this year and touch wood I will not be sick. I feel a lot more confident this year than last year and I feel that I will be able to take out the victory. It is a challenging course but I truly believe that this will suit my style.



This is me in last years Regional Triathlon

I will keep everyone updated on my preparation and my results for the weekend.

Some Things You Just Don't Want To Do

There are some things in life that you just do not want to do. This morning was a perfect example of that. At 4:40am the alarm goes off and all I wanted to do was keep on sleeping as I had not slept that well during the night and I felt that it was a little bit cold. But anyway I had decided to keep the promise that I made to myself and drag myself out of bed and get ready for swim training.

Thankfully my coach had decided that today was the day that we were going to have an easy session in the water. Nothing was hard at all, my coach said not to go hard it is all easy and I will praise him forever if that's what he want because today, my coach Bill Evens made my day.

Back Into Training

It has been a while since I have last up dated. No races have take place since the Townsville Triathlon festival so I have been on a short break. I am now happy to say that I am back into full training, preparing myself for the upcoming Regional Triathlon. This will be held in about three weeks up in Tinaroo, I think that I will make the team although the course will be tough. The bike ride has a number of hills to conquer and same with the run. But if I am mentally as well as physically prepared, I believe that I will be able to make it onto the regional team comfortably.

Townsville Triathlon Festival Results

Yesterday I competed in the Townsville Triathlon Festival, I raced the sprint distance and I had two goals which I hoped to complete. These goals were to improve on my placing from last year (which was 5th) and too hopefully improve my personal best time. I knew that I had improved a lot since last year and I thought that these goals were realistic.

I sent into the swim feeling confident and quickly found the toes of a local triathlete and decided to stick with him. I came out of the water in a good position and knew that I was now able to get comfortable and push the bike and the run. I pushed the bike to my max and got into a small group where we road hard right to transition. I hit the run feeling really good, I took off fast and going onto the second lap my legs started to feel like jelly, but I kept pushing on and I kept the same fast pace for the rest of the run.

Thankfully my results have proven to be worth the effort, coming away with a 3rd in under 19's I was absolutely stoked and picked up $100 prize money. I am hoping to go back next year and improve even more.

The weekend turned out great, along with a great result, the whole race was run really well and I am really happy with how everything turned out.

Tomorrow Morning's Race

Tomorrow morning I am racing in the Townsville Triathlon Festival competing in the sprint distance. I am in a tough age group racing under 20's again except this time I have all the Junior ITU kids to race against. Last year I finished 5th in my age group and I am hoping that I am able to better that this year. I feel I am strong enough to accomplish this goal as I am so much stronger in the swim leg and I have improved in both my ride and run.

I will update again tomorrow night to explain in detail how I think I went.

My Bike set up for tomorrow's race in Townsville.