Well the dust has finally settled since my aborted attempt at competing again and to be honest it has been tough. Not so much mentally, but physically. My body hasn’t unwound like it has done in the past and even with treatment I seem to be quite literally falling apart. All my work has been in the weights room as I continue the strength training I picked up in the summer. I have enjoyed the structure and the progress, but my back continues to misbehave along with some other associated problems, namely my hip flexor.
The specialists I have seen have commented that I have so much neuromuscular problems in my neck and further up that it is having a catastrophic effect further down the chain meaning muscles simply won’t fire as the receptors are blocked elsewhere. Because of this I have now had to drop the deadlift from my routine. On top of this, sitting at my desk and driving are pretty miserable and I am beginning to wonder if there will ever be normality or close to normality again. I continue to work and search for a solution.
In more positive news, my coaching career has gotten underway and is picking up steam as the season progresses. I have now been appointed the Royal Navy Indoor Rowing Performance Coach and I have worked hard on creating the RN IRT Performance Programme. Running alongside this I have created the Development Programme for those still unsure on their commitment to the programme and wishing to have a taster before fully indulging.
Within the team we are working as hard as we can to perform to current ability this season; then with a training camp being planned in the close of the season, I will look to develop each athlete with a more hands on approach. With many of the athletes being new to the sport there is much work ahead in terms of technique, strength, conditioning, mobility and of course aerobic capacity.
Currently within the Performance Programme we have taken 4 Pb’s (2k) most recently at the British Championships in London. Prior to that we saw 3 strong and gutsy performances at the Welsh Championships where Craig Guest picked up the teams first silverware by winning the Men’s Heavyweight 30’s. Craig is the longest serving on the programme (at just 5 months), but is reaping the rewards moving from 6.28 to 6.21 in his 2k. Evidence that consistent, hard work and commitment will give you results, and this is just short term results for him.
Most the athletes on the programme are much newer to the training, some of who will be competing in Boston at the 2016 World Championships and all are committed to a full training season with Boston 2017 in mind having spent 12 months + with me.
Finally, it is an absolute pleasure and privilege to not only be given this role, but be given the responsibility of getting a number of athletes to the start line in the best possible condition under various circumstances. Holding the duty of making day to day decisions for people that will ultimately effect how an individual performs is no mean feat, but I intend to put as much, if not more effort into it from when I was competing.
As Team Manager Paul Winton mentioned in a previous post, for me it’s unfinished business and I welcome the challenge.
It is great news to see you can continue in the sport helping others achieve.
Would be great to see snippets of the training programs and how athletes progress from a coaches point of view rather than an athletes like most of the rowing blogs. Not sure this is possible without very understanding athletes but would be a good read I think.
Hi Richard thanks for the comment. I was absolutely delighted to be appointed coach and it certainly gives me great pleasure attempting to help other succeed where I couldn’t. I won’t blog as regular as with my work, but with the athletes consent I certainly hope to show you what they are up too. Cheers.