Training weekend Landgraaf

Last weekend I went to Snowworld Landgraaf with 2 ski friends, Stephanie and Ingrid, for a training weekend and the champs of our ski club Snowsports Academy Racing (SAR). Packing the car took some serious ‘Tetris’ skills but in the end we got everything in.

We arrived at Landgraaf after a little over 2 hours at 8.10 am. I had training with the talent group from 9-11 and my friends were allowed to train with us. I had a few good runs and a few not so good runs but all in all I’m clearly on my way back from injury and improving each week.

After training we had some time to chill, which was necessary since we got up at 5 am.

Next training was that night from 7-9 pm with the ski club, well that training I mostly had not so good runs, I was pretty tired and my leg was hurting so I took it easy. After training we prepped our ski’s, taking the SAR champs very seriously ;)

Everybody was  arriving for the race the next day and we had a few drinks before we went off to bed, 4 girls in one room made it crowded but gave a lot of fun as well.

Next day was the race day, this race is mostly about the fun and yeah we had a lot of fun! All though Stephanie took it very seriously making her ski’s extra fast for the start ;-)

Our group cinsisted of 7 girls and I got a 5^th place, being the only adapted ski racer in the group made this a good result for me.

Thanks girls it was a great weekend and I enjoyed myself.

Back at home it was back to business I have been pretty busy lately, I even have to schedule sleeping in my agenda. But it all worked out and I hope the next couple of weeks will be a little calmer.

I also had some medical appointments lately.

I went to the surgeon that fixed up my ankle for my six month check up, timing wise it was a 8 month check up. Well he was glad with the end result, the ankle is doing good, but the joint is still a bit stiff I can’t move forward further then 90 degrees in the ankle. So I will get a special heel in my ski boot to compensate the ankle a bit. And I still need another surgery to remove the metal screws and plate because it’s all a bit irritated, luckily I can do it after next ski season. Just have to tough it out the next 10 months, I’m pretty good with that. 

I have had Asthma since I was a little girl, not a big deal, I always just took the meds and the extra meds if necessary, my last real lung check up was still at the pediatrician….. So yeah that’s a while ago…. It was time to get it checked out again also because my meds are on the doping list. Last Thursday I had an appointment for a lung check up.  

I had to take a bronchial challenge test and I surely can say that test is very challenging.

You first have to get off your meds for 2 days, which is a challenge alone. During the test you have to inhale increasing doses of an irritating substance, you take a lung function test between each dose. The test is positive if the lung function decreases 20% at 13 mg of the substance. Well saying mine was positive is probably an understatement.

My lung function had decreased over 40% at 4,9 mg of the substance and probably even more since it took several minutes before I was even able to do the lung function test.

To reverse the effect I had to take twice as many meds as regular for this test and still my lung function was just 87%. Not a surprise the doc told me I was severely under treated, now I have to take 4 times as many Asthma meds. I get another check up in 2 weeks. My lungs are still a bit bothered by the bronchial challenge test, I’m coughing a lot (more than normal) and I’m still a little short of breath. I even get out of breath when I’m talking a lot, although some people might think that’s a relieve ;-)

My bike is back from the shop and the new adjustment works great. I went for a short ride this morning since I’m not actually fit. Funny to see everybody twist their neck when they realize that I’m cycling with just one leg.

Last Wednesday I had a power test but because I was off my meds I probably could have done better. I will get another one in a while.

Winter sports FUNday, May 15

I fell a little bit behind on the blogging.

This post is about the winter sports FUNday I got the pictures yesterday.

May 15 was the second winter sports FUNday for kids and adults with a disability.

Everybody who was looking for a fun day of skiing and/or snowboarding was welcome. There were clinics for beginners and for more experienced adapted skiers and snowboarders. The more experienced skiers and snowboarders had a chance to get invited for a training with the talent group. The first winter sports FUNday produced some young talents. This day was again a success, 60 people participated and they all looked like they enjoyed it a lot. Which was great because this day is all about the FUN for winter sports. It was great to be there and actually be able to ski with the participants because last time (in September) I had a broken ankle, it was the day before my surgery.

Listening to a presentation from one of the talents

Cool freeskiing pictures

skiing lessons

Last weekend I had a training weekend and the club champs of my ski club Snowsports Academy Racing in snowworld Landgraaf. It was a great weekend with a lot of skiing, fun, lots of pictures and movies. More on that in my next update.

Teddy Bear Hospital and Ringvaart Regatta

Today I was a surgeon at the Teddy Bear Hospital. This is a project for young children to help them get used to doctors (and for young doctors to get used to children). So the children won’t be that afraid if they get sick. The children bring their favorite stuffed animal which is ‘sick’ and we treat it together with the child.

They go to a radiologist for x-rays, to a surgeon, they can get a cast and go to a pharmacist it’s all very real. Today I was a surgeon so I got to wear scrubs, the best outfit of all the bear doctors. When a child came to me I first gave it a hat, a mask and gloves. After that we put the patient under anesthesia and usually just wrap dressing on it and give a shot (the children loved that part), if a stuffed animal actually had a hole I put stitches in it.

This was a great afternoon so fun to work with the children, they were so sweet!

Ringvaart Regatta, 100km rowing

I think rowing 100 km is insane… Although I have to admit that if my leg hadn’t happen I would have thought about trying. Not that I think I can’t do it now, it’s just not as simple (practically speaking don't think it's simple at all) anymore I would need adjustments and that’s not something you do for one ‘race’. I think it’s like running a marathon, I never was a good runner so I never would have tried, but I always thought how cool would it be to finish a marathon?! That’s what this race is about for most competitors, just finish, 100 km is a big victory, there are always some teams aiming for the record as well.

My sister and 3 other girls from her house (+1 one girl navigating the boat) went for it this year. Two girls including my sister trained there buts off, the other two had some aches, pains and injuries. This morning there were some problems at the start which led for them to have to start 40 minutes late in a field of boats with 8 people instead of boats with 4 people.

Right from the start they didn’t had any company rowing at the same pace, eights are much faster.

To stay in the race you have to reach a couple of points in time and after 75 km they got disqualified on just a couple of minutes (since they already lost 40 at the start this wasn’t fair).

My sister as determined as she is didn’t want to give up, so there was some discussion and they where commanded to stop by a motor boat.

My mom and I raced to the place where they got off the water to find my sister in tears.

Poor thing (I think) I know how she felt, she kept saying I failed (I thought I had failed when I crashed in the GS in March) , it was a good lesson for me to be on the outside. Because of course she didn’t fail, she didn’t quit she did all she could and she tried. I think my sister is amazing for trying as hard as she did, for training so determined to reach this goal, but isn’t it all about the journey? What you learn about yourself on the way?

Dear Barbara, I love you and admire you for what you did today (and the last 4 months in training)! No you didn’t finish but you gave a fight!

I have some sweet pictures of today not sure what to do with them because one picture is missing, my sisters boat.

Me and my mom 

(don't mind my hair it was totally messed up by the wind and wearing a hat all afternoon)

The guys from Delft know how to make a driving party

Just rent a pickup put a couch and speakers in the back and lots of beer

.... 

Vacation

My vacation is over, it was good to have some time off. We had amazing weather with high temperatures. I finally did some serious spring cleaning and my house is organized and neat again. My bike is still at the shop, hope to get it back soon.

In my new training program I do some exercises with my skiing-orthosis, like 2 legged squats.

It feels pretty good to be able to do that again and more natural than just the one legged squats, which I still do as well.  

When I was driving home from physio last week I got a flat tire, about 500 meter from home.

I was stranded at the university library, which made me think is this a hint? LOL.

On Friday I had a barbeque with my friends, always a good time.

Saturday I went to Landgraaf for ski training, it was really hot that day, so the long drive without air conditioning wasn’t pleasant. But skiing made up for it. I’m getting the power in my leg back and can make those short fast turns again. The trainer thought I had improved a lot in 2 weeks, which is always good to hear.