Winter in NZ and sharing my journey at Northcote College

After deciding to spend my first winter at home in 7 years it's a luxury to have time to get some valuable ground work done that we simply haven't had enough time to get through. I was somewhat limited through being in-season, some niggles and simply time to be able to do this work in transitioning through to high jump. So it's fantastic to be hurting in training and knowing how beneficial the work we are doing now is.

Winter in Auckland, New Zealand is by no means snow and too many single digit days...fingers crossed! However, after our glorious kiwi summer there has been a considerable change in temperature. In preparation for this the chimney has been swept and in the weekend a good load of firewood was stacked. Watching videos of Allan Wells preparing for the 1980 Moscow Olympics in horrible conditions in Scotland confirmed to us that the Scottish summer next year may not be too sunny! So it's good for the soul to prepare in all conditions and to make sure we get out in the elements to cover all bases.

I always enjoy speaking with school groups and last week I went to Northcote College to talk with the Sports Elite Class. It was great to meet you guys and hear about all the different sports you are excelling at. There was such a range of sportsmen and women from synchronised swimmers, go kraters to water polo players I enjoyed hearing about your talents. All the best for your sporting endeavours!

Northcote College Sports Elite Class - all the best guys!

Tongariro National Park training camp....NZ best country in the world!!!

I have just returned from a training camp in the Tongariro National Park with my training group which was awesome. As this was our first week into a long stretch of training it was the perfect place to kick it all off. There is something about being outside amongst such a beautiful part of New Zealand that is very good for the mind, body and soul!

National Park Training Camp, 2013 = happy days:)

We had a great few days with the boys staying at the highest hotel (Skotel) in New Zealand at the base of Mt Ruapehu. I love being outdoors and training (most days!) so it was pretty much Christmas for me. We had good luck with the weather and it was pretty cool to be amongst the clouds running along the well kept trails. Maintaining the trails and the whole area is a massive undertaking so big high five to the DOC workers who do so. In between training there were some fierce table tennis battles amongst our squad. Playing 'social games' is not really an option in such a competitive group of people!

Good crew for the week...resting ahead of next shuttle rep

Training group hitting some shuttle runs below Mt Ruapehu...in the mist!

It was weird to think we were at a higher altitude in National Park than last year staying in Macolin, Switzerland. The rugged landscape surrounded by beautiful mountains was a great beginning to my campaign. Our group all enjoyed it so much we have all requested to go back sooner rather than later:)

Post high jump season break

I’ve always looked at an end of season break as a great opportunity to do things I normally can’t do when I’m in full training mode. In combination with catching up with family and friends it’s a chance to refresh yourself before the next training assault!

I have just had two weeks off training following the end of the New Zealand season, which has been great. I had time in my hometown of Rotorua, which I always love. Being in Rotorua was an ideal opportunity to utilise the thermal environment to help my body heal following the season. I was extremely fortunate to be able to be looked after the great team at QE SPA. The unique thermal properties of Rotorua mud and thermal waters have served not only the people of Rotorua but many New Zealanders who suffer from inflammatory conditions for many years. I remember quite clearly my late grandmother coming to stay with my family for a month to have daily treatment at  QE Health as she suffered from Rheumatoid arthritis.

Thanks QE SPA ROTORUA for the kind care whilst I was in Rotorua:)

My coach Elena wanted me to have mud treatments on my achy body parts after the season and it was perfect that I could do this in Rotorua. Thanks so much to QE SPA for having me for the week and for being generous in my requests!

Pretty amazing scenery on the Tongariro Crossing...utilising my break from training!

Being on a break from training is an opportunity to for athletes to do physical exercise that they normally wouldn’t do. As much as I try to rest in my breaks I start to get a little itchy so doing some form of exercise, which isn’t going to be too intense, is something that I really enjoy!  I will start my winter training with a training camp in National Park  with the rest of my training group this week so I have come down a few days earlier to enjoy this beautiful part of New Zealand. A great opportunity to get some mountain biking in and smash out the Tongariro Crossing before the real hard work begins!!! So lucky to live in this amazing countryJ

Spectacular views around the Central Plateau, NZ:)

Great to be outdoors and walking along the top of a crater of Mt Tongariro

Higher jumping in Sydney, Australian Track and Field Champs:)

It was great to close out my New Zealand season over the weekend with a season best jump of 1.85m to finish third in the Australian Track and Field Championships. It's been a short, sweet and challenging transitional season but I was really happy with the way I executed in the competition on Sunday. In my last couple of competitions in particular at NZ Nationals I was disappointed with the way I jumped....so to feel like I'm actually high jumping on a hot Sunday afternoon was such a good feeling:) It's great to finish the domestic season satisfied with what we have achieved in a short amount of time but completely aware of where we want to get to!

Hot day at the track and getting ready to jump at the Australian National Championships - Sydney 2013

I was much closer to the positions we want and and the angles I need my body to be at to hit to jump up which makes me smile:) It was a great competition in itself with a Japanese competitor and mother Miyuki Fukumoto equalling her personal best at 36 years of age of 1.92m to secure a IAAF B qualifier for World Champs. It was awesome to jump in a competitive field and speak with Miyuki afterwards. One of the young Aussie girls also jumped 1.85 but I ended up 3rd on count back. I had some very close and strong attempts at 1.88m and it was great to jump at those heights again:) All in all perfect conditions for high jumping over the weekend.

On the podium and awarded a silver medal but final result was third. The podium was pretty full with two internationals sharing the podium:)

The kiwis did really well over the weekend which was awesome to see. My training partner Scotty won the decathlon to go with his NZ title and leaves next week to prepare for the mighty Gotzis. Another one of my training partners Phillip Wyatt aka ML jumped a huge personal best (15.42m) to finish third in the triple jump which is an impressive performance considering he is 19 and has been training with our group for 1 year! It was fantastic to see so many NZ athletes on the podium but more significantly setting personal bests. Great stuff guys!!!

With two of my training partners - Phillip (ML) and Matt (Lactic) Wyatt:) 

Happy Easter and healthy high jump eating:)

I hope everyone had a fantastic Easter and everyone got stuck into some hot cross buns (yum!) and plenty of chocolate. Not so many Easter treats from me to report but nothing that I'm not used to:) I've always been pretty strict on what I fuel myself with. It's just another variable you can control and when it's normal for you to eat healthy it's no biggie. In saying that, I have my food favourites which I enjoy in times when I can have a rest (in the rare times) from being ultra focused on my body composition. I thought I'd share with you guys some of my faves of late...enjoy!

I LOVE salmon!!!! Great omegas for my body and combined with veggies makes me rather happy:)

I have got into quinoa in a big way this kiwi summer. This is a watermelon, tomato and a few other goodies salad which I found and is delish...great nutritious salad with lots of raw goodness

Gotta get a weekly sushi date after a morning session:) Japanese is def my 'go to' eating out choice...favourite sushi near the track is Sushi Club

Not a bad place to spend Easter:) Blissful to have a few days in the Marlborough Sounds looking out over the
Cook Strait...so lucky to live in New Zealand!!!

Bit of fishing over Easter and nothing quite living off the land and can't beat straight from the ocean!
As you can see I'm pretty stoked with my catch:)

NZ Track & Field Champs High Jump

Some days no matter how hard you try, how much you want to perform and the shape you are in, there is an unfortunate force, which I would like to refer to a ‘bad day at the office’. That was I this Nationals in the high jump. I finished with a height I would normally fly over and it was just one of ‘those days’. That said this is sport and when you put your heart and soul into your performance when it doesn’t go to plan it’s not ideal.

Photo credit- Marten Bearda

What is ideal though is a chance for reflection and self-evaluation that comes as result! Changing to a single event focus has been a massive shift in focus, in the type of training and it is a different ball game when it comes to competing. I am loving this challenge and want to jump much better in terms of the technical elements of a great jump at my final competition of the domestic season. I will compete at the Australian Track and Field Championships in Sydney in a couple of weeks.

So such 'high' jumping but another high jump competition under my belt and lots of good learnings:)
Photo credit - Marten Bearda

I love NZ Nationals and the chance to watch our best athletes compete. In between cheering my training partners and friends on over the weekend I did a bit of in-field commentary with my friend Becky Wardell. A few whoopsie moments but lots of fun to be able to give the crowd more knowledge of what was happening in the field!

Congrats to two of my training partners over the weekend who won their first national title - very cool guys!
Matt Wyatt- NZ Long Jump Champion (Lactic), Elena (our coach) and
Phillip Wyatt - NZ Tripple Jump Champion (ML)...clearly bit of hops in the family and great to see hard work rewarded
Photo credit-Matt Wyatt

High jumping business time:)

It's Nationals week and you can always feel it around the track every year! I will be competing this Friday at Mt Smart, Auckland 3pm and I'm really looking forward to being out on the track. A National title does mean a lot to all athletes. For me being able to compete at home in front of my family and friends gives me a real boost. They get to see what I love doing (flying!) and I get to express my craft. It will be a big weekend for Athletics in NZ and there are some great battles on the cards for the weekend. All the best to everyone competing - lets hope for some more beautiful weather and some excellent performances over the weekend! Remember National Champs is FREE for spectators so get down to Mt Smart and see the action!!!!

Preparing my springs for flying over the weekend:)

@HPSNZ gym getting my assisted jumping on

The latest SPASIFIK magazine is now out and features an article on four NZ discus rising stars TeRina, Tina, Leesa and Mere!!! Great opportunity to tell the girls Frenemy story in the lead up to Nationals this weekend:)