Well prepared?!

Since deciding to take on this rowing challenge I have followed Ali's advice. Ali is from Seal Personal Training http://www.sealpersonaltraining.com/ and puts me through my paces every week. Sometimes I end up terribly sore other times only a little but I always have fun training with him and feel that I am making good progress with my fitness in general and my rowing in particular. His predictions on what I can achieve have so far been pretty accurate and therefore I trust his guidance and even though I sometimes feel the need to challenge him I basically do as I am told. I'm happy with the results; I feel fitter and healthier. But am I ready for the British Indoor Rowing Championships in 9 days time?

Aside from enjoying the training and its results I am motivated by my desire to raise as much money as I can for Jan. If you would like to donate please follow the link   https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=TTSDYLAW264E2


But another key driver that spurns me on (I'm just a little embarrassed to admit but we are among friends here aren't we?) is being terrified of coming last. The vision of long rows of concept 2 rowing machines all having fallen silent whilst I have still not made it to the finish line is currently my worst nightmare. So I tasked Ali to do whatever it takes to help me avoid coming last.


Yesterday was my last big training effort before the race. The task was to compete in a mini team race rowing 9k in 30 intervals of 300m together with a partner. My target was to row all of my 15 intervals below 2 minutes/500m. Your perhaps guess it already, I did not make it. In fact, I missed the target by a long way, a very long way. And yes, you guess that right also, I did come last. And yes, it did feel exactly how I thought it would only that it only lasted for about 15 seconds.

And guess what? I survived. In fact, my legs were and are so sore that I do not care about anything other than finding a comfortable seating position. So perhaps I am not well prepared to avoid coming last but with a few days rest my legs will have hopefully forgiven me for last night's maltreatment and I will be the best I can be for next Sunday. 


Now that I have proven that coming last is perfectly survivable, I am ready for anything.

Jan's update 6 March 2012

Direct cranial electrical stimulation

Oh dear, I am entering panic mode - I haven't been near a rowing machine in 3 weeks and there are only 3 weeks to go to the competition. Week 1 my physiotherapist was ill so my hospital session was cancelled. During the last 2 weeks, I have been a gunea pig for a research study conducted by Oxford University at the John Radcliffe Hospital which left me too exhausted and worn out to do anything else!
The good news is that my left arm can move a whole 1" more than it could at the start of the study.
My next rowing hospital physio session is scheduled for next Monday...
I am still waiting for my community gym referral to be approved as then I will be able to go to my local community gym 3-4 times a week to train as they have limited supervision.
Trying to keep up with some fitness I use a pedalsizer at home for my arms  and had intended to use my treadmill. My hoispital physios came for a home visit on 14 February and approved me to use the treadmill so long as I had someone (my daughter) hovering over the stop button. In hospital I had been acheiving 10 minutes on the treadmill (on the slowest speed setting) and had been looking forward to using the treadmill at home on a daily basis.
On my first attempt my brain forgot to tell my left leg to move and my ankle went over...as did I, smashing my head on the handles on the way down. My headache lasted all day.
My next attempt was better - I stayed upright - but could only manage 3 minutes at a very slow setting. Left a little demoralised, I decided to do 3 minutes each day and build up my time, but my brain doesnt seem to want to cooperate as since then I have only been able to take 2-3 steps before my left leg stiffens up - almost as if it has stage fright!. The stop button use is in overdrive. :(
I keep persevering as I am determined to be able to do 10 minutes daily before too long.

Jan

Michaela's update 6 March 2012

Looks are deceiving....or 'we don't see things as they are, we see them as we are' Anais Nin

I have finally left the long 10km plus rows behind me and have entered a new phase of training for speed. Short bursts of 500 or 300 meters at sub race pace interrupted by short breaks. This does not sound too bad, I thought, and the pace Ali, my trusted rowing coach from Seal Personal Training http://www.sealpersonaltraining.com, suggested seemed achievable. That the idea is to do 10 of these so called intervals my conscious mind had conveniently glossed over and by the time I realised the extend of the task I was already committed. 

The first 2 sprints were fine but then the clock during the break seemed to run faster and faster and I did not get enough rest to even catch my breath. By Interval 4 I had convinced myself that it was impossible to keep rowing at this speed and promptly missed the target by a smidgen. For interval 5 I had gathered myself again and steamed along annoyed at missing the target and furious at Ali for setting such an 'unrealistic' goal and in doing so rowed too fast leaving me even more exhausted. Interval 6 and 7 were a constant stream of negotiations with myself interspersed with Ali's alternating tone of encouragement and military commands. Interval 8 and 9 are just a distant memory of intense pain, internal arguments, bullying, urging, persuading, intense anger and self pity. How I got through the last one I cannot remember however Ali filmed my rowing effort so I could have a look and find out.

After I enjoyed a long stretch, a hot shower and a cup of tea I felt ready to watch the video of my row. I still find it hard to believe what I saw. 

There I was gliding along in rythmic strokes the sound of which makes me want to go to sleep as I watch. There is a face showing intense concentration, the occasional flicker in the eyes or the slight raising of an eyebrow indicating some happenings which are otherwise invisible. I think I can make out a little moan which is drowned out by the background music in the gym. I can see the shoulders tensing and then relaxing again in response to Ali's reminders. The sun is shining through the large windows, the sky is bright blue and the birds are enjoying themselves on the lake in the park outside. How could I have missed all this whilst I was rowing? The scene that unfolds on the screen is that of serene harmony and is in stark contrast to what I remember.

How can this be? None of the turmoil, the excruciating pain, the debating is visible. My internal experience does not seem to be reflected in what can be observed. So which picture is true?

You choose! You can see me struggle to earn your donation or you can sponsor me in admiration for making it look so easy. Either way, please support my effort to raise funds for Jan.

Thank you.

Jan and Michaela

Jan

Michaela

Michaela and Jan met a few years ago when they both worked as consultants for PwC.
Jan had a brain haemorrhage on 13 September 2010 which caused a severe stroke that has left her paralysed on her left side. Michaela followed Jan's facebook postings made when she was in hospital and has followed and supported Jan's continuing journey of recovery since. Encouraged by Ali of  Seal Personal Training, Michaela and Jan have entered the British Indoor Rowing Championships due on 25 March 2012, in Nottingham tohelp raise funds to buy equipment, not funded by NHS, to further aid Jan's ongoing recovery with surplus monies shared between the Charity "Different Strokes"   and to purchase physiotherapy equipment for the Royal Leamington Spa Rehabilitation Hospital where Jan spent 3 months as an in-patient. Rob Smith of Active Hands has kindly donated a velcro glove that helps Jan's left hand to grip the rower.
17 months post-stroke,  Jan can walk, with difficulty and needs a footsplint and walking stick, but she also continues to need care and support (provided through adult social services)  to enable her to live at home with her 13 yr old daughter. Jan is working hard on her recovery so she can once again live independently and return to work. Your support and donations will enable Jan to buy the eqipment and associated training not funded by NHS that she needs to recover movement and hopefully some function in her arm as well as contributing to the on-going work of the RLS Rehabilitation Hospital and Different Strokes. I the past month alone  we have raised just over £1000.00, which is a fantastic start towards our target of £3,500.
 Please support us and help us to reach our goal by donating via  paypal.

Michaela in training

Jan in training

Our thanks and appreciation

Michaela and Jan

Donald's blog

If you are interested in learning more about my journey, do read Donald Clark's blog:

http://donaldclarkplanb.blogspot.com/2011/10/facebook-saved-my-sanity-remarkable.html

My book will be published later this year

Jan

Our targets

Our target is to raise £3500.00 which will  enable me to buy suitable devices and associated training to help me regain movement and function in my left hand.

All surplus monies will be donated between the Royal Leamington Spa Rehabilitation Hospital Physiotherapy department  to buy equipment that will benefit other patients


and the Charity Different Strokes which is aimed at younger and working age people who have had a stroke.


Michaela has entered : Women 40-44 Hwt Entrants and is aiming to complete the 2000 metres in 8 minutes, 20 seconds. The record was set in 2005 at 6 minutes 58.2 seconds.

19 women in total  have entered this category so Michaela has a tough challenge to undertake.


http://concept2.co.uk/birc

I have entered the  LTA open category: The 1000 metre LTA class is for indoor rowers with disability but who have the use of their legs, trunk and arms and who can utilise the sliding seat.
The record for this category was set in 2009  at a time of 7minutes and 23.4 seconds. I am aiming to complete the 1K distance in 10 minutes without my hand falling off! So far I am the only entrant in my category and the closing deadline for new entrants is just 3 days away on Wednesday 29th February. so no pressure on me either!!!!

Please support us with your donations which you can send via paypal

or contact Michaela or I directly.

THANK YOU

Our thanks

Michaela and I first announced our challenge on Sunday 29 January and in just 4 weeks we have raised over £1000.00 which is nearly a third of our target amount
We both thank Ali Seal of Seal personal training for his support and encouragement;

to Jon Graham of physiofunction , who will supply an fit appropriate devices, suitable for my specific needs;


to Rob Smith of active hands who kindly donated a velcro glove that enables me to keep my left hand on the rowing machine