Archive for October, 2007
Oct
28
Posted under
Races and Results The timetable is out. Round 1 of the women’s steeplechase event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics will be held in the evening of Friday, August 15. That is the first day of the athletics program. The final of the steeplechase will be held two days later, in the evening of Sunday 17th August. (The entire athletics schedule will be held from August 15-24). There are no athletics events scheduled in the mornings in Beijing, with the exception of the walks and the marathons. So far there are 49 ‘A’ qualifiers in the women’s steeplechase, of which I am the 9th. No doubt this number will swell significantly before the Games…I just hope that we will not be required to compete in a second round of competition to advance to the final. While I have run under the qualifying time needed, I still need to win the Australian Championships in late February to be automatically selected to the team. If I finish second or third I could still be named on the team, but the decision is then in the hands of the Australian selectors. The Australian Championships, which double as the Olympic selection trials, will be held in the last weekend in February in Brisbane.
Donna
Oct
28
Posted under
Races and Results Training is going really well! I’m building up my aerobic base and my strength at the moment to prepare for next year’s track season. It took me a few weeks to get used to running the extra kilometres but I’ve coped well and I feel fit (also pretty tired and grumpy too at times!) I haven’t put on a pair of running spikes since my last race in Stuttgart but I’m in no hurry. The best part about my current training routine is that I can explore new places to run, but on the downside, I’m usually running alone with just my ABC radio for company (I admit I actually do like listening to the ABC but my ipod has recently broken). I’m starting week five of training now and my main aim is to stay healthy and injury free for as long as I can.
Donna
Oct
01
Posted under
Races and Results In the past five months, I’ve travelled to the Middle East, Europe (twice) and Japan (twice) for track races. Everything was going to plan until the accident at the World Championships. I did my best to keep training hard on the bike and in the pool while I waited for my foot to heal, but it wasn’t enough to be at my best in Stuttgart for the World Athletics Final. I’m glad I was able to be there after everything that happened, but it was disappointing that I couldn’t perform as well as I am capable of. Apart from the athletics, I had a great time in Germany…highlights were seeing a live music comedy performance, shopping and going to the movies. My greatest achievements were working out the trams, booking a massage out of the phone book and getting around with the tourist map! I’ll have a short break from hard training now – I need to work out my schedule for next year…40 something weeks until Beijing!
Donna
