So it is our last morning in Canberra, we are shortly to board the coach and head to Penrith where the racing starts. Whilst in Canberra we have been staying at the Australian National University and using their training facilities which has been great. Delicious food, friendly people, lots of space and amazing weather has made for an unforgettable stay. Lake Burley Griffin has treated us well for the most part and we happily coincided our visit with Canberra's 100 year celebrations so we have seen lots of fireworks!
As a spare I have been in and out of the women's eight which has been great fun for me and I've been learning lots from them. Unfortunately we had one sickness which has meant an athlete being pulled from racing, but a positive for other spare Zoe Lee as she will now be racing. I'm looking forward to seeing a World Cup first hand an getting a real feel for the event, but I know already that it will be hard to be on the sidelines and not in the thick of it.
I believe that the BBC is showing the World Cup on Sunday after the Formula One. I'm looking forward to watching this new and exciting young GB Rowing Team compete against the rest of the world this weekend. Keep updated with the GB Rowing website, I think my Internet access will be limited in Penrith.
G'Day!
Tuesday, 19 March 2013
Wednesday, 6 March 2013
G'day from Down Under!!
Through bleary, half open, jet lagged eyes I am greeting you from sunny Sydney! I am here with the GB Rowing Team for the first World Cup in Sydney 22-24th March. I was given a late opportunity and selected as one of the spares (one of two female spares) so am not sure whether we will get to race the at World Cup yet, either as a spares boat or in the seat of an ill or injured athlete. Land training and acclimatisation in Sydney is followed by training camp in Canberra, and finally racing is in Penrith for the World Cup.
Today, hot off a very long couple of flights with only a short stop off in Singapore, we headed downtown to stretch our legs and take in some of the sights. I would put some photos up but having to do this on my phone whilst I'm out here, I've not figured out how to do that yet. Take a look at my twitter for more updates and photos! Twitter.com/ericabodman
Today, hot off a very long couple of flights with only a short stop off in Singapore, we headed downtown to stretch our legs and take in some of the sights. I would put some photos up but having to do this on my phone whilst I'm out here, I've not figured out how to do that yet. Take a look at my twitter for more updates and photos! Twitter.com/ericabodman
Thursday, 14 February 2013
Camp, Birthday, Goldfish and Feb Trials
A lot has happened since my last blog post! I had an awesome water camp with Leander in Banyoles. Great water, great training, great company.
We had a lovely afternoon off which a few of us spent in nearby Girona...
The gym in Banyoles is basic and generally has everything you need but the leg press machine was broken on this occasion, so we had to improvise. And with competitive athletes it always leads to something more. Cue the boys creating all sorts of body weight group contortions and exercises!
Later on in the camp it was my birthday, I was thoroughly spoiled with presents, cake, a gorgeous day and a dip in the lake. The junior boys really treated me too, I got lots of funny presents from them, including two goldfish! So, we are in Spain, three days to go until we leave and I have a plastic bag with two live goldfish inside. Hmm.
The options were:
1. return them to the petshop (not really feeling that. Ungrateful!)
2. Row out into the middle of the lake and set them free. However, they would undoutably either get eaten or die from temperature shock within the first five minutes of freedom.
3. Seal them into an old empty cinnamon sticks jar, wrap them in a towel and hide them in the back of the trailer underneath riggers, blades and trestles. Cross your fingers for the 1000mile journey home through freezing conditions.
In the end, after much debate, I went with option three. I was completely expecting to find two floating goldfish when I unwrapped the jar after the trailer had arrived home but unbelievably
THEY SURVIVED! Incredible, but they must be hardy souls. They did hide at the bottom of their new tank for 10 days after arriving back so there was a severe element of shock there I think, and I would not recommend buying your fish in a different country but by jove they are alive!
When I got home we had a birthday tea party with lots of friends and my wonderful boyfriend Graham made me the most incredible cake. It had a test run and everything. It puts me to shame!
A few days later I was moving house, so life has been stressful. Having a million things on your mind 24/7 and being on the go all day every day for a couple weeks is not good for an athlete. Despite having a great training camp in Spain, I was very disappointed with my performance at the recent February trials. I can only put my underperformance down to the stress of moving. I rarely underperform, and never by so much, so it was very disappointing but the encouraging part is that even with a poor performance I was the next athlete after the GB squad girls. Rumour has it that teh top 14 finishers from Feb trials are going to Sydney for the first World Cup. I came 15th. Such is life, but I can now get a really solid couple of months training done in my single and look forward to Final Trials in April.
It's been great training at Leander this month because we've had a new champion in our midst. Friend and Olympic Gold Medallist in the women's 1x this summer in London, Mirka Knapkova has come to Leander to train with us for three weeks. She has done the same thing for the past couple years now so it has been lovely to watch her progress and see how she does things!
We had a lovely afternoon off which a few of us spent in nearby Girona...
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| Katherine enjoying the hot chocolate :) |
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| View from the top of the old part of Girona |
The gym in Banyoles is basic and generally has everything you need but the leg press machine was broken on this occasion, so we had to improvise. And with competitive athletes it always leads to something more. Cue the boys creating all sorts of body weight group contortions and exercises!
 |
| The super leg press. Three girls, one moustache. |
 |
| The combined press up |
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| Ultra heavy press up |
Later on in the camp it was my birthday, I was thoroughly spoiled with presents, cake, a gorgeous day and a dip in the lake. The junior boys really treated me too, I got lots of funny presents from them, including two goldfish! So, we are in Spain, three days to go until we leave and I have a plastic bag with two live goldfish inside. Hmm.
The options were:
1. return them to the petshop (not really feeling that. Ungrateful!)
2. Row out into the middle of the lake and set them free. However, they would undoutably either get eaten or die from temperature shock within the first five minutes of freedom.
3. Seal them into an old empty cinnamon sticks jar, wrap them in a towel and hide them in the back of the trailer underneath riggers, blades and trestles. Cross your fingers for the 1000mile journey home through freezing conditions.
In the end, after much debate, I went with option three. I was completely expecting to find two floating goldfish when I unwrapped the jar after the trailer had arrived home but unbelievably
THEY SURVIVED! Incredible, but they must be hardy souls. They did hide at the bottom of their new tank for 10 days after arriving back so there was a severe element of shock there I think, and I would not recommend buying your fish in a different country but by jove they are alive!
 |
| Happier days |
A few days later I was moving house, so life has been stressful. Having a million things on your mind 24/7 and being on the go all day every day for a couple weeks is not good for an athlete. Despite having a great training camp in Spain, I was very disappointed with my performance at the recent February trials. I can only put my underperformance down to the stress of moving. I rarely underperform, and never by so much, so it was very disappointing but the encouraging part is that even with a poor performance I was the next athlete after the GB squad girls. Rumour has it that teh top 14 finishers from Feb trials are going to Sydney for the first World Cup. I came 15th. Such is life, but I can now get a really solid couple of months training done in my single and look forward to Final Trials in April.
It's been great training at Leander this month because we've had a new champion in our midst. Friend and Olympic Gold Medallist in the women's 1x this summer in London, Mirka Knapkova has come to Leander to train with us for three weeks. She has done the same thing for the past couple years now so it has been lovely to watch her progress and see how she does things!
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| such an inspiration! |
Tuesday, 8 January 2013
2013
Happy New Year all!!
A while since my last post and in that time the river has receded, been filled back up with the constant rain and continued to impede our water training time. We have been land training for the past month, lots of time on the ergo, bike and weights. It is welcome when we have very cold periods, like that cold snap we had for a week in December, but when it is as warm as it is right now I just want to be on the water!
Happily, now that the GB squads are away on training camps we have got a few days on the lake at Caversham. Yesterday saw my first session in a boat in a month. Soft soft hands! My hands never get ripped raw like some people's do, but they are feeling very tender after only two sessions on the water. However, with a 12 day water camp coming up in Spain next week our hands need to toughen up fast! I'm looking forward to a good training camp to get some mileage on the water and prep for GB's (5k time trial singles) February Trials in Boston, Lincs.
I had a good 4 days at home in Guernsey over the Christmas period, far too short but great to spend some time with friends and family. I gratefully borrowed an ergo from Colin Fallaize at the Fitness Factory and was able to spend a little time at the weight lifting training facilities at Footes Lane. Training at home is made a lot easier when you've got access to all the right equipment!
For now, it is head down for the next month. Trials on 9th Feb.
A while since my last post and in that time the river has receded, been filled back up with the constant rain and continued to impede our water training time. We have been land training for the past month, lots of time on the ergo, bike and weights. It is welcome when we have very cold periods, like that cold snap we had for a week in December, but when it is as warm as it is right now I just want to be on the water!
Happily, now that the GB squads are away on training camps we have got a few days on the lake at Caversham. Yesterday saw my first session in a boat in a month. Soft soft hands! My hands never get ripped raw like some people's do, but they are feeling very tender after only two sessions on the water. However, with a 12 day water camp coming up in Spain next week our hands need to toughen up fast! I'm looking forward to a good training camp to get some mileage on the water and prep for GB's (5k time trial singles) February Trials in Boston, Lincs.
I had a good 4 days at home in Guernsey over the Christmas period, far too short but great to spend some time with friends and family. I gratefully borrowed an ergo from Colin Fallaize at the Fitness Factory and was able to spend a little time at the weight lifting training facilities at Footes Lane. Training at home is made a lot easier when you've got access to all the right equipment!
For now, it is head down for the next month. Trials on 9th Feb.
Tuesday, 27 November 2012
November GB Trials
Well I think you're familiar with the weather we have been having recently? Very wet and windy! Henley should be renamed 'Henley in Thames'
Due to the adverse weather conditions the water aspect of GB's November trials was cancelled, but the ergo still went ahead. Details here
However, we still had to make the 7hr round trip from Henley to Boston, Lincs, to do the ergo as per normal. I will try not to complain BUT...this is ridiculous! Sometimes we have 'assessed ergos' where the athletes/coaches have to submit the scores so it was not inconceivable for GB Rowing to suggest athletes do the ergo at their home clubs. A long drive is never good preparation for an ergo test but when we have to go up to Boston to do a water trial, it makes sense that we do them together. However, with no water trial and many perfectly good ergos at home, I rather resent the hour I spent in the car for each minute that I raced on the ergo! On top of that, the cost of driving, the hotel the night before, dinner out in Boston and the £10 trials fee...costs that many struggling athletes could do without.
Despite the rant, once you have been given some information like this there is nothing left but to get on with it. I won't change the minds of the decision makers so there was nothing to do but try and relax, and enjoy as much of the experience as possible! I carpooled with friends so the journey was as good as can be, and we had dinner at a lovely Italian restaurant. I had felt more prepared for the water trial than the ergo, but once I heard the news I had to switch into full ergo mode. I wasn't feeling very confident after our ergo prep, but I put myself on the line and suprised myself, and my coaches I think(!) by just sneaking under the 7min mark.
I was really pleased with my result, and though I was 4 seconds away from my personal best, that is pretty normal for this time in the season. I also beat a few of the GB squad girls, so it's a step in the right direction. Now, back to some solid land training whilst we wait for the water to recede!
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| A house near the river in Henley has gained a lake |
Due to the adverse weather conditions the water aspect of GB's November trials was cancelled, but the ergo still went ahead. Details here
However, we still had to make the 7hr round trip from Henley to Boston, Lincs, to do the ergo as per normal. I will try not to complain BUT...this is ridiculous! Sometimes we have 'assessed ergos' where the athletes/coaches have to submit the scores so it was not inconceivable for GB Rowing to suggest athletes do the ergo at their home clubs. A long drive is never good preparation for an ergo test but when we have to go up to Boston to do a water trial, it makes sense that we do them together. However, with no water trial and many perfectly good ergos at home, I rather resent the hour I spent in the car for each minute that I raced on the ergo! On top of that, the cost of driving, the hotel the night before, dinner out in Boston and the £10 trials fee...costs that many struggling athletes could do without.
Despite the rant, once you have been given some information like this there is nothing left but to get on with it. I won't change the minds of the decision makers so there was nothing to do but try and relax, and enjoy as much of the experience as possible! I carpooled with friends so the journey was as good as can be, and we had dinner at a lovely Italian restaurant. I had felt more prepared for the water trial than the ergo, but once I heard the news I had to switch into full ergo mode. I wasn't feeling very confident after our ergo prep, but I put myself on the line and suprised myself, and my coaches I think(!) by just sneaking under the 7min mark.
I was really pleased with my result, and though I was 4 seconds away from my personal best, that is pretty normal for this time in the season. I also beat a few of the GB squad girls, so it's a step in the right direction. Now, back to some solid land training whilst we wait for the water to recede!
ALSO VOTE
KATHERINE GRAINGER FOR SPOTY
on Dec 16th we vote by phone
Ana Watkins has been heading up the #katherineforspoty campaign on twitter and some of her tweets have made me get emotional already...
Anna Watkins@watkinsteamgb
KG facts: The nicest thing she's ever done for me is promise she would wait for me to recover when I hurt my back #katherineforspoty
and in awe...
Anna Watkins@watkinsteamgb
KG has won a world championship medal in EVERY OLYMPIC BOAT CLASS that's 5 different events, scull and sweep #katherineforspoty
Tuesday, 13 November 2012
Fours Head winners 2012!
Well, Leander had a cracking weekend at the Fullers Head of the River Fours race.
Out of near 500 boats racing, Leander had four boats in the top five and five boats in the top ten overall. We had ten boats racing, with sometimes two or three Leander boats in the same category and so out of a possible six category wins, Leander won five! I think chief coach Mark Banks was pretty happy with that.
Our quad raced in the Elite women's category and we had a solid race. We were started behind the men's elite coxed fours, so we gave them as big a gap as we could. It was a good job we did because you don't want to have to start steering around crews straight off the start and we caught up with the crew ahead of us relatively quickly. In fact, our finish time was over a minute quicker than the men's coxed four who started directly ahead of us, and in the end we overtook three men's coxed fours during the race which was a great mid race morale boost! We were the fastest women's boat on the river, winners of Elite W4x pennant and placed 60th overall.
We were pleased to put a good distance between us and the next female crew down the river, who were 27 seconds slower, the winners of the IM1 pennant, Molesey Boat Club. Incidentally they had a brilliant race I think, beating the second place Elite women's 4x, Imperial Boat Club.
I personally had a great time training and racing with this crew. Such a wealth of experience in the boat, they are great girls to learn from.
Now the mild panic sets in as it is less than two weeks till GB Trials in Boston where we do a 2k ergo test on the Saturday (24th) and 5k water time trial on the Sunday (25th). I don't feel ready yet!
Out of near 500 boats racing, Leander had four boats in the top five and five boats in the top ten overall. We had ten boats racing, with sometimes two or three Leander boats in the same category and so out of a possible six category wins, Leander won five! I think chief coach Mark Banks was pretty happy with that.
Our quad raced in the Elite women's category and we had a solid race. We were started behind the men's elite coxed fours, so we gave them as big a gap as we could. It was a good job we did because you don't want to have to start steering around crews straight off the start and we caught up with the crew ahead of us relatively quickly. In fact, our finish time was over a minute quicker than the men's coxed four who started directly ahead of us, and in the end we overtook three men's coxed fours during the race which was a great mid race morale boost! We were the fastest women's boat on the river, winners of Elite W4x pennant and placed 60th overall.
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| Elite W4x mid race, courtesy of Leander's press officer Robert Treharne Jones From stroke to bow (left to right) Victoria Thornley, Katie Greves, Erica Bodman, Ro Bradbury |
I personally had a great time training and racing with this crew. Such a wealth of experience in the boat, they are great girls to learn from.
Now the mild panic sets in as it is less than two weeks till GB Trials in Boston where we do a 2k ergo test on the Saturday (24th) and 5k water time trial on the Sunday (25th). I don't feel ready yet!
Thursday, 8 November 2012
Fullers Head of the River Fours
So, it is that time of year again for Fours Head, a brilliant head race in London. Race day is Sat 10th November, start time of the event: 12.15pm.
The race starts at Chiswick and finish at Putney (reverse Boat Race course). All boats have four rowers in, so we have quadruple sculls, coxless fours and coxed fours. There are 480 boats due to race so the river will be very busy! Best viewing spots are on Hammersmith Bridge and Putney embankment. My boat is going off number 43.
I am racing women's elite quads for Leander with (from stroke to bow) Victoria Thornley, Katie Greves, myself and Ro Bradbury. All these girls have experience racing the quad for Great Britain, at senior World Cup or World Championship level, so I am in the best possible company and looking forward to a great race on Saturday!
The race starts at Chiswick and finish at Putney (reverse Boat Race course). All boats have four rowers in, so we have quadruple sculls, coxless fours and coxed fours. There are 480 boats due to race so the river will be very busy! Best viewing spots are on Hammersmith Bridge and Putney embankment. My boat is going off number 43.
I am racing women's elite quads for Leander with (from stroke to bow) Victoria Thornley, Katie Greves, myself and Ro Bradbury. All these girls have experience racing the quad for Great Britain, at senior World Cup or World Championship level, so I am in the best possible company and looking forward to a great race on Saturday!
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| Crews rowing up to marshall at a past Fours Head |
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