A bit about me

1
A bit about me

• Age 19
• 2nd year student at University of Birmingham
  studying psychology
• Oxted school student 1999-2006
• Member of Crawley Athletics Club
• Member of On Camp With Kelly

2
Achievements

• 1st English Schools 800m 2005
• 3rd English Schools 1500m 2006
• 2nd AAA National Champs 800m 2007
• 1st in 800m Heat at European Junior Champs 2007
• 8th in 800m final at European Junior Champs

3
International Competition

• Euro Juniors Hengelo 2007
• Excited
• but scared!
• Overtraining
• Mental state
• Before race
• During race

4
On Camp With Kelly

• A scheme set up by Kelly Holmes in 2004 to help
  mentor potential female Olympic Athletes
• Educational Camps
• Get-together Weekends
• Races
• Contact and advice

5
Downfalls

• European Junior Championships final
• Missing out on World Junior Champs
• English Schools in year 10
• Right now!

6
Injury

• Personal injury problems
• What can you do?
• Physio follow their instructions
• RICE
• Alternative exercise aquajogging,
  crosstraining, circuit training etc.
• STAY MOTIVATED
• Keep in a routine
• Keep your aims and goals in mind
• Stay focussed

7
Injury prevention

• Massage
• Stretching
• Warm-up and cool down
• Core stability
• Any niggles, watch them!
• A few days off will not make you unfit!

8
Mental state

• The zone
• Not too uptight
• Not too relaxed
• Being focussed
• In training and in racing

9
Lifestyle
Running
Sleep
Schoolwork
BALANCE
Hydration
Social life
Diet
10
How can you find the balance?

• Compromise
• Planning e.g. diary
• Dont put too much pressure on yourself
• Time management
• Use your time productively
• Dont forget to relax!

11
When you find the balance

• IMPROVEMENT will come when you successfully look
  after all of the lifestyle factors, which can be
  quite difficult
• You cant train hard, work hard and party hard
  24/7, but you can do all three within reason!
• Just be sensible and be mature in the decisions
  you make if you are aiming to get to the top
• My aim to be a GB senior athlete

12
To sum up

• There will be good times in your career
• There will be hard times in your career
• If you dont succeed, try and try again!
• Injury
• Pressure from peers, coach, teachers, yourself
• Lack of motivation due to many many reasons!

13
BUT.

• YOU CAN DO IT!Stay determinedStay focussedStay
  motivatedBelieve in yourselfBe aware that
  getting to the top takes TIME there is NO quick
  fix in athletics!