Just practicing in the gym before today's training

Anti-doping (and still in Italy)

A couple of photo's of Tom and I in the pair.

 

Last night our team doctor (Lady Ann) gave the annual anti-doping lecture.  Each year we are told what changes have been made to the World Anti-Doping Code, the procedures relating to dope testing and any other related matter.  Rowing is generally a clean sport, several of the Russian team was caught cheating in about 2006 (I think), since then I havn't heard of any other major offences.  The penalty for doping is very high in British Olympic sports.  For any offence, whether you "meant it" or if it was an accident means a life-time ban from competing at the Olympics. 

Not all Olympic associations have such a strict rule, it would be harsh for an individual if their drink was spiked or supplements contaminated but is without doubt the stance that should be taken against active cheats.  I don't know why Dwain Chambers still has sponsors, why he is invited to wider sporting events (such as Sport's Personality Awards) or is even tolerated by those in athletics.  I would personally hound him out of the sport, there is no place for people like him - he is no role model.  He wasn't even good at cheating, but that was more to do with his attitude, I remember him pulling up in some high level 100m final for "cramp".  If he had cramp then fair enough, but the replays showed everyone was going through him and he could do nothing about it; he glances either side of himself, realises he is beaten (he was one of the favourites) and then pulls up.  At the time I thought it looked like he had bottled it, it may be unfair to infer that from that incident - only he and possibly those immediately round him know the truth.

Anyway, doping is something all serious athletes need to pay attention to and GB rowing ensures we are upto date and in the know.  There is a strict personal liability, it's your business.

Weather is still hot here, my birthday tomorrow so hopefully it will cool abit so it feels abit more like home!

Varese Camp - half day

It's sizzling hot out here - mid to low 30's - giving me a good vitamin B boost and a chance to top up my farmers tan.  The weather has also helped me kick cold/throaty sort of stuff that has been bugging me for the past month or so.  It's not all positives though, the heat drains you pretty easily and I need to be well on top of my hydration - both during the day and at night.

I'm currently training in a pair with Tom Ransley.  We will be racing at the GB Final Trials on the weekend of the 16th/17th April.  Training has been going reasonably well, we seem to go alot better when the chains are off and we just get racing.  Technically I have been working on a couple of things; the general length of my stroke coupled with a strong dynamic second half to my drive phase.

The wind in Varese can kick up pretty large rolling waves - big enough to give a couple of our single scullers an early bath!  Due to the weather, the session we did this morning had to be delayed, but we were able to crack on with it after waiting it out 60 mins.

My back has needed a little attention from the physios, as has been feeling aggravated and slightly vunerable.  Thankfully that seems to have significantly settled and is starting to feel stronger.

It was the Grand National yesterday and I was part of two sweepstakes; one at home and one here with the guys on the team.  I didn't do well in either - my horse in the squad sweepstake actually broke it's neck at the 4th hurdle (Ornais) - hopefully this isn't an omen.

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Eight's Head

Yesterday was the Eight's Head, held on the River Thames from Mortlake to Putney (the boat race course in reverse), it's the second biggest sporting event held in London (for participation numbers - London Marathon being the first).

I was rowing in the UL first eight, my brother Ben was in the UL lightweight eight.  I'm sat at "7" - second rower from the left.  My crew finished 17th overall.  The race itself went ok, some scrappy patches that will have cost us a little bit of time.  The final position is alright, top 15 was really the aim.

This lunchtime I'm heading off to Varese, Italy for our final training camp before the GB Final Trials (16th/17th April).  I will be in the pair with T-dogg again (Tom Ransley to his mum).  It will be a chance to practice our skills, develop our speed and finalise our race plan for the trials ahead.