Monday 15 May 2017

Peer pressure and screaming legs

For the last few days I have had my best girlfriends with me at my mums villa in the Algarve.
There were 6 of us and words don't describe how much fun it was and how lucky I am to have such an amazing group of friends.

But this blog is mostly about sport and team work. Four of these girls I spent a summer with in 2005 training for racing in a lightweight coxless four rowing boat. Without realising, that summer we cemented a life long friendship and formed the most solid bond you could between friends; trust, honesty, competitiveness and loyalty. And I didn't really know them before we started training together that Spring. It took just five months in a boat.


Through our mutual desire to succeed and win, we went through calorie-deprived arguments (discussions), relationship and work stresses, self doubt, and negative energies from other coaches & crews. Together we helped each other get through all of this and we did win. We won Henley and the National Championships. Together. As a team. We learnt a lot about each other, and its left us with a very honest and healthily competitive relationship.

The reason I'm writing about this is because of how they still have a positive effect on my training. We now don't row together. One of us is an amazing marathon runner, the other does little sport but has an active outdoor life in Devon, and the other has a mental strength that pushes her through anything she puts her mind to. But this week we cycled together on holiday.

Because we have been through so much together and have so much trust in each others ability, we are a great team. We know how to work on each others strengths and weaknesses, supporting and pushing each other to the end.

Our last ride together this week was a toughie - steep hills; over six of them in a 30k ride. At a max HR of 170bpm on a couple of occasions I know I wouldn't have pushed myself so hard in any other training - they brought out the best in me, because competition between us is healthy and FUN.

In the last hill I had stupidly considered taking it easy, until one of the girls cruised past me saying 'I thought this was supposed to be a hill session miss smith'.......well that was red rag to a bull! Three of us then raced up the last hill, legs screaming, lungs bursting, until we got to the top, and could then cruise down to coffee and cake.

I also learnt something that at a ripe old age of 48 I should know by now...that you can do anything you want to. You have to put your mind to it and you have to face the fear and just do it. Practice will make perfect.

Thanks for an awesome weekend girls, you're amazing and I love you lots. You've inadvertently helped me in my triathlon training as I'm sure my bike legs are stronger than they were, thanks to your persistent cajoling.