We’ve been back in Canberra for 10 days after a brief break to catch up with family and friends, but most importantly seeing the nearest and dearest WAGs (I’ll be in the doghouse if I don’t say that).
The instructions from Richo (coach) and Ricey (conditioner) was to relax and re-charge the batteries (or solar panel otherwise known as a receding hairline in my case), but I kept pretty busy in Sydney catching up with people, from grandparents to employers to medics.
One thing I have learnt from my time training full-time at the AIS since 2006 is that when I do get the opportunity to head back home, I feel much more refreshed after spending time with family and mates than knocking out hours in front of the TV or sleeping.
There was no shortage of interrogations and long lines of questioning about our World Cup performance in Luzern when we finished a disappointing fourth. In the end, I reckon I had the answer well rehearsed.
The constant probing really forces you to intensely analyse your performance. It rams home the importance of being transparent and genuine with yourself and your crewmates. Anyone can see straight through smoke and mirrors.
Anyway, I’ve certainly arrived back in Canberra totally ready for the last 6 weeks of our campaign before the Beijing Olympics kick off.
We’ve more or less got back into the old routine, with all the medics and physios that have been managing us all season beating us back into shape after the heavy training cycle we had in Europe amongst the two World Cup events.
One change over the past week has been Richo’s call to split the eight up into two fours. At the moment, the middle four of the eight is in one of the fours and the stern and bow end of the eight in another four.
It gives us a break from rowing the big boat, and mixes up our schedule in case we were getting a little too comfortable and into too much of a routine rowing the eight.
The fours are more sensitive to row so you become more aware of all the small movements that may affect the boat. It’s great, direct feedback on your technique when the boat tips and drops.
It also gives our coxswain, Marty, a break. Not that he wants one; he gets withdrawal symptoms when we don’t row the eight.
What none of us will miss are the mid-winter temperatures of Canberra.
Sports bottles full of hot water and AIS ID cards have been necessary to scrape the ice off windscreens before driving down to the boat sheds in the mornings.
Bizarrely, one of the iciest parts of Canberra is indoors – the recovery pool in the state-of-the-art recovery centre.
The pool is usually set at 11-14 degrees and we alternate between the hot water spa and the cold water plunge pool to aid our recovery.
The regime is meant to be at least equal time in both, such as 2 minutes in the hot water, then 2 minutes in the cold water over four cycles to make a total of 8 minutes in each.
Doctor Shona Halson, the Senior Recovery Physiologist (or Recovery Centre Madam) instructs us on differing protocols, depending on what training we’ve had that day, as well as the training we’ve got scheduled the following day.
The icy cold water is meant to reduce inflammation and soreness, much like icing an injury, and the contrasting heat generates blood flow to the muscles, flushing out lactic acid riddled blood.
This also has the affect of firing the central nervous system. My body language and expression in the photo shows how impressed I am with all this science behind dunking my body into an icy plunge pool, but if it’s going to help me recover from the day’s training so I can train harder tomorrow, then it’s all worth the goose bumps and hard nipples.
This week we’re heading north to warmer climes – Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. We’ll be using the next three weeks up there to help our acclimatisation to the heat and humidity expected in Beijing.
Apparently the physiologists have been developing some strategies to aid this process. They haven’t detailed them to us yet, which probably means bad news such as training in long sleeve thermals.
Even worse will be if the Maroons knock over the Blues in the Origin III decider. ‘Carn the BLUES!
James Chapman
Guest
Hugh, The Europeans may be in hotter, more humid training centres at the moment, but they have to deal with changing their body clocks when they fly to China, which we don't have to being only 2 hours ahead of Beijing here on the east coast. The Europeans aren't really used to that since the World Champs are mostly in Europe. We're much more adaptable from that perspective. Scientifically, the body has to adapt when there is a drastic change in climate. I don't know if it will make a difference, but we're preparing for it in case it does. I'd rather prepare for the worst case scenario and be able to deal with it, rather than hoping that the weather isn't that extreme. We Australians are also pretty well trained at preparing and racing in pretty harsh conditions, such as Penrith and Canberra. I think we'll cope, especially since we're preparing for it.
James Chapman
Guest
MC!!! Thanks for the note mate. Hope you and the family are all well. Stay in touch! We'll keep giving it all for our country. You know how long I've been working for this chance.
James Chapman
Guest
Ben, I don't know what the other guys in the crew were saying. I wasn't there with them when they discussed their perspective with their family and friends. Mine was well rehearsed because I told my story many times and I think I it became more streamlined the more times I told it. I just became more efficient at giving my take on things. The race in Munich was a great race for the crew. I was in the boat 24hours before the race in Munich and was hit quickly with a bad virus, so I know how well the boat was moving in the lead up to that race. I was also straight back in the boat at our first session in Varese after the Munich racing. I don't think the crew change was a disruption at all. We still raced well in the heats in Luzern, beating Great Britain. We discussed all the racing, Munich and Luzern, we're a really close, tight group and are open about our feedback and thoughts on all the racing. I get a good feel for how the race went in Munich with all our analysis, coaching, video and my experience racing. Our crew know when the boats going well and that's becoming more identifiable the more high quality training sessions we're doing up here in Qld. Our goals for the Olympics are to have the best performance we can possibly have as a crew at the time we're required to peak. The uniform is an exciting part of the Olympic experience, apparently. I probably won't be wearing the tracksuit much given the expected climate in China.
James Chapman
Guest
JA, My take on the Luzern race was in one of my previous articles. You may, or may not be aware, that I wasn't in the boat at Munich. Rowing, and sport, continually throw up challenging races and new results. We cannot control the performance of the British and Chinese crews, but the crew didn't race anywhere near as well in Luzern as it did in Munich. I think we have addressed the issues and are learning from them.
James Chapman
Guest
Sweet wife...you are so sweet! More sliced oranges at half time please...or at least some cheerleading outfits for your husband's fris team.
James Chapman
Guest
Volks, Great to hear from you again. As you may have read in the next entry, we've started our efforts to adapt our body to more hot and humid conditions, cause it isn't hot enough in the Sunshine State, but we're doing all that we can. But the jump from Qld weather to Beijing weather isn't as great as the jump from sqwalling, nine degrees temps in Canberra. We believe we can improve too. We wouldn't be lining up to represent our country if we didn't. The boys in the four were mostly relieved I think. I reckon I would have been the same. They'll be training really hard in their camp at Penrith and I'm looking forward to catching up with them next week when we leave Qld and join the rest of the team in Penrith. The three fours didn't get a chacne to train with each other at this point. We were on different programs because of their racing in Poland. Looking forward to catching up with Scotty in Penrith too...I've gotta return his book to him...always the provider of a good read the Great Scott!
James Chapman
Guest
Lats, Thanks for the notes. Now I know. Now I understand, if only a little bit, how much it sucks being a lightweight. Maximum Respect! Stay in touch!
hugh
Guest
hey chappo, two things... hows queensland? and do you think european countries will have the advantage of acclimitisation because of their ease of transition from a warm place to a warm place... sounds confusing but simply, queensland isnt as warm as europe... i think... do you have any opinion on whether it will make a difference
MC Hammer
Guest
Chappo, Congratulations on making the team!!! You sense of humour has not changed. Train hard (how unusual) and you, along with the others on the eight, will go well. We will all be watching closely to see how it goes. MC
Martin
Guest
Great to see you in Sydney mate. Excellent articles, and good for those of us that aren't as good at picking up the phone. you're doing us all proud. Keep up the superb work and focus. BB
Ben
Guest
Chapo, You mentioned that you had the answer well rehearsed about the way the crew rowed in Lucerne. What were the other guys in the crew saying? I am sure it must be hard for you when you didn't row in Munich and then did row in Lucerne to know the difference between each race. Do you think that the crew change between regattas was a disruption? What are your goals for the olympics? You must be pretty excited about getting that tracksuit.
JA
Guest
Hey Chappo Thanks for the updates. You write "The constant probing really forces you to intensely analyse your performance" what do you think went so wrong at Lucerne? The eight won at Munich, convincingly beating the UK and China, these crews then beat you more convincingly in Lucerne. What was so different at Munich?
sweet wife
Guest
Go team WAGS!
Volks
Guest
Chappo, Great stuff with the updates. I've been to Beijing in September and it's still stinking hot then. How will you guys acclimatise? Even Maroochydore at this time of year is pretty mild compared to what you will get. The best thing about coming 4th is you can still improve. The guys in the four must be stoked about their performance in Poland. Do the three fours train with each other? At least you aren't down here in mid-winter Tassie with the scullers, Scotty Brennan must enjoy seeing his mainland counterparts suffer. Looking forward to seeing some great racing in August - pain is temporary, gold is forever!
sheek
Guest
Chappo, Greatly admire what you're doing. Just happy for the team to do its best. Had me all the way until you said, "Carn the Blues".....no way!
Lats
Guest
Chappo, Am loving reading the updates! Enjoy the sunshine after the cold Canberra weather and when your acclimatising, think of all those lightweights you laughed at when they've been heading out for a sweat row! Train well over the coming weeks and enjoy the lead up. Lats