Anne-Wafula Strike's Blog

Happy Birthday Tim!

2012-02-09T02:56:00.000-08:00

Today is my sons birthday and I remember the day he came into this world pulled from my stomach. I looked at him and wondered where he could have fitted in my small stomach. Delivered prematurely yet he still weighed seven pounds, healthy and extremely beautiful. I remember looking at him when the midwife placed him in my arms, tears of joy streaming down my cheeks. I felt so complete as a woman. He was very white and had beautiful blue eyes, now he is transformed into a caramel coloured, brown eyed handsome boy, the joy of my life. I shall have to be careful later today when we cut his birthday cake and make sure I only take a small slice. I shall also remember that it was Tim's birth that set me on the path I follow today as an athlete.

The weather has definitely not been conducive to training outdoors so I've been training indoors on rollers and doing my strength and conditioning work. I miss being outside in the fresh air on the road. Let's hope the weather gets better soon so I can get out. To be honest, all my minor complaints are trivial compared to the suffering currently taking place in Syria. My heart goes out to all the men, women and children suffering so brutally at the hands of their own government and I cannot understand how the world can just sit back and watch it all unfold on their plasma tv screens! God show mercy!

Titanic Revisited?

2012-01-15T07:53:00.000-08:00

Hello again everyone. Life has been so hectic since the holiday I feel I've barely had time to breathe let alone find time to maintain a blog. However, I know people like to keep up with what I'm doing so I've made the time today for a catch up.

Training has been going very well, and with the strong winds we've been having lately I am so glad I have rollers so I can put in the work indoors. However, I do love being outside on the track and doing my long pushes on the road so I will be really glad when the warmer weather finally arrives. Whatever the weather though I am determined to work really hard this year because it's such an important year for athletes.

Last week I had a few meetings in London to attend, one of which was an invitation to visit with Your World Recruitment Agency. It was very interesting to meet all the staff and be shown around their offices. It is always good to see how other people work hard in their own environments. Hopefully they will come to see me in my 'office' soon, though they'll have to leave their smart clothes in the dressing room and be prepared to sweat!

I have been following the tragic events that have struck the 'Costa Concordia' cruise ship. It is so sad that people who set off for a holiday of a lifetime have lost their lives and others have been totally traumatised by their experience. I can't help but think how I would cope in my wheelchair if anything like that happened to me, a whole cruise ship tipping onto its side and lying half submerged under the water. It reminds me of the film,'Titanic'! I hope to God there are no more deaths and the missing can be successfully rescued. Condolences to all those families who have lost loved ones.

Happy New Year 2012.

2011-12-31T07:30:00.000-08:00

Well, here we are again at the end of yet another year but tomorrow is the start of a fresh year so it's a time to be positive.

Wouldn't it be great if we didn't let anything, or anyone, put us down in 2012 - if we know that the world loves us, we are valued and that's why we are here? So we should love life, be grateful, love ourselves, and let all that is full of love and compassion be ours! Have you ever received so much love that it changed your perception of the entire human race? Let us seek it.

I'm lucky to be here everyday to celebrate life and love deeply, so on this final day of the year I want to follow tradition and make a few resolutions;

I won't make promises that I won't keep.

I want to pay more attention to the small intuition that I have ignored in the past.

I want to continue to learn forgiveness more and more, for when we forgive we earn the key to rewriting our stories of success. Did you know that bearing a grudge wears us down so much?

I want to take more care with what I say to people for the tongue can hurt and the tongue can scar.

I want to love like I've never been hurt before.

I want to train even harder and enjoy my sport.

Life can be difficult and the trials of this life can test my obedience (to the resolutions and other things!) Oh please God, help me!

A Happy New Year 2012! May all your dreams come true.

Christmas Special!!!

2011-12-24T12:07:00.000-08:00

It's finally here and you can feel children's excitement in the air..... I really hope we all remember the true meaning of Christmas before it became commercialised. A friend complained that Santa only works one day a year - I wish his job contract included Africa. When I was growing up we were lucky if we got some new clothes on Christmas morning to wear to church. However, I do enjoy seeing people go the extra mile to make the ones they love feel special. I am really looking forward to spending Christmas with my son - it's always magical when he wakes up on Christmas morning and races to the front room. His eyes go straight to the presents wrapped under the tree - I am a blessed and happy mum when I see that smile on his face, and I share in his joy as he rips the paper off his presents.

The tradition here in England is that you have turkey for lunch but this year we have pardoned the turkey and I shall be cooking duck instead. My son, Tim, really wanted goose but we couldn't find one anywhere, not even in Marks and Spencer, so he asked for duck! I really hope it will be fine but whatever happens nothing can spoil the joy of seeing his face in the morning. Roll on Christmas!!!

Santa Is Dead!!!

2011-12-12T10:38:00.000-08:00

Is now the winter of my discontent? Being of African origin I absolutely loathe the British winter! In Kenya the worst we get is the rainy seasons but here you get hurricane force winds, lashing freezing rain, hailstones and snow, and bitterly cold temperatures. As a wheelchair user its the hands that suffer most, and no matter how nicely dressed you are your hands get filthy and make you feel unclean. I leave a double trail wherever I go shopping. I could never get away with committing crimes because the police would easily follow my tracks.

Training is going well (despite the weather), and last weeks sessions were great. I rarely get a pat on the back from my coach, Ken, but last week he was pleased with me. Most people see this time of year as a time for relaxing but as for me I feel driven to improve so I will continue to work hard and maybe have Christmas Day off!

The Christmas tree is up and I realise how quickly my son,Tim, is growing up. Just last year he believed in Santa but yesterday he wrote his list and started it, 'Dear Santa (mum and dad)'. It was sweet when he believed in Santa but at least I don't have to go to the trouble of putting talc on the floor and 'Santa's footprints', or leave a drink and biscuits then eat them so he thought Santa had actually been. This time last year we were at my dads home and then on the beach on Christmas Day itself. It is sad that people seem to have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas and seem more interested in material things.

Too Many Disabled Children in Developing Countries Are Being Denied Their Rights

2011-12-02T17:12:00.001-08:00

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/anne-wafula-strike/un-international-day-for-persons-with-disabilities_b_1125417.html

Anne Wafula Strike
British Paralympian, author, and inspirational speaker born in Kenya, where she worked as a teacher before coming to the UK

Too Many Disabled Children in Developing Countries Are Being Denied Their Rights

On this UN International Day for Persons with Disabilities, I want to talk about education, how it helped me, and why it is integral to achieving equality for disabled people.

I know the quality of education I received has had a huge impact on my life. I was born in Mihu, Kenya, in 1969. I was a fit and healthy child before polio struck when I was two.

Superstitious villagers believed my family was cursed and were very cruel towards me following my partial recovery and restricted use of my legs, so we had to relocate to my father's military barracks in Nairobi. Unfortunately, this attitude towards disability is common in much of Africa.

When I was five years old, I was sent off to attend Joyland School for the Physically Handicapped, a Salvation Army institute. I loved being there, because it was a community of disabled children, but it was only when I went to secondary school that I was introduced to the 'real world.'

I attended a secondary school for able-bodied children, and as the school was not accessible, I had problems getting to class or even going to the toilet. I wanted to quit many times but my father would not let me, insisting that education was the magical key that would set me up for life. He was right, and this is the kind of encouragement that other children with disabilities need, if they are to stay in education.

After completing A-levels, I studied Education at Moi University in Kenya, graduating with first class honours. At the Moi University graduation ceremony, it is customary to climb the stairs to the stage to receive your award from the President, and with my disability, this was not possible. So, he had to come down the stairs specially, just to present my award to me - it was a moment that gave me great confidence.

After graduation I taught at Machakos Technical College in Eastern Kenya. When I was there, I did not want my students to see me as a person with disabilities, and I know that I achieved this. My previous education gave me the confidence to command attention and authority as a teacher.

I recently spoke about my life and education at an event in the House of Commons called 'An equal start for all: disability and education in low-income countries.' The event highlighted the difficulties that disabled children have growing up in developing countries, especially with regards to accessing education.

At the event, parliamentarians had the chance to hear from people like me who have had to fight prejudice and disadvantage due to our disabilities, about how a quality education can bring immeasurable benefits to our lives. It was also a chance for charities that campaign for disabled people to put pressure on the UK government to act, and put more effort into supporting education for disabled people in developing countries.

I believe that an education is the greatest thing that you can give to someone with a disability. I remember how I battled discrimination, and I am now a mother, teacher, author, and paralympic athlete. I had the opportunity to achieve all of these things because I was fortunate enough to receive a good education and was encouraged by my father to do the best that I could.

When I was growing up and even still today, I did not want sympathy, I wanted opportunity. I wanted to be given the opportunity to prove what I can do for the community, and I know this is what many other disabled people want as well.

But far too many disabled children are denied their rights - around 90% of disabled children in Africa do not go to school, and even UK government international development funds often ignore this terrible situation.

When given access to their fundamental rights, disabled people can achieve the equality that enables them to make vital contributions to society, improving their lives and the lives of others. Please join me in calling for more attention to the plight of disabled children who are excluded from school.

Follow Anne Wafula Strike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Anne_W_Strike

Too Many Disabled Children in Developing Countries Are Being Denied Their Rights

2011-12-02T17:12:00.000-08:00

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/anne-wafula-strike/un-international-day-for-persons-with-disabilities_b_1125417.html

Harlow Athletics Club.

2011-11-27T04:34:00.000-08:00

I had a good push yesterday and did a solid 10k. Part of my training was being filmed as part of a project which I'll write about at a later date. The hill sprints were tough but I was pleased with the way I did them.

It's interesting because I seem to be in demand these days, especially socially, but I'm having to turn invitations down because of commitments elsewhere. For example, last night I had to let down two friends because I had to go and present awards at Harlow Athletics Club.

The club has been going for many years and has produced both Olympians and Paralympians. This was their annual awards ceremony where trophies and certificates were awarded to the athletes. I was immensely impressed by one of the coaches called Ted Cole who has been keeping the club records for more than 35 years! That's what I call dedication! The night went very well and the winners were beaming at receiving their awards. I don't know how many hands I shook. The youngsters who won awards can hopefully look back on the evening as the start of hopefully long and successful careers, and the coaches who are supporting them can also feel proud that they had a positive influence.I'll never forget Terry Martin and Alan Stevens, two men who really pushed me to success. Anyway, it was a great evening and I was very proud to be there.

Right to Play.

2011-11-24T03:02:00.000-08:00

Last week ended with a filming session for 'Right to Play'. This is a charity I represent as an Athlete Ambassador. I support them because they use sport and play for development to improve the lives of children in the most disadvantaged areas of the world. You can learn more about this great charity by visiting their website; www.righttoplay.org.uk

Apart from doing the filming I had a meeting in London with Everetta Days. She is a former model from the USA and is writing a global modelling book she hopes will change how people perceive beauty. We had a giggle together. She has a lovely bubbly personality and it was a pleasure to spend time with her. I look forward to reading her book when it's published, and I'm also looking forward to meeting her again in America.

Training has been going really well, despite the poor weather we have been having. If it gets too bad I train indoors, otherwise it's out on the road and track. Yesterday I returned from London and was feeling good so I went on the track and met my coach. We knew what we were going to do but for some reason things didn't go to plan and just fell apart. My gloves didn't feel right, my push rims were slipping and even my warm up didn't feel right. It all made me feel a bit low and as I drove home I tried to analyse what had gone wrong. However, I couldn't find an answer and just put it down as one of those things that happens to every athlete now and again. Today is another day and we'll see what happens.

AbleChild Africa

2011-11-17T07:35:00.000-08:00

Training has been going well in spite of me having a cold. I have always been told it's good to sweat a cold out and I felt much better after pushing a very gentle 5k. From the middle of this year I have learnt how to spend my own life in my own way. Sometimes it feels like going back to Nursery school but it's getting better all the time. Remembering what we love is the beginning of a positive change in our lives so I'm prepared to learn anew and hopefully become a better person.

on Tuesday 8th November I was invited to speak at a fundraising dinner in the Inner Temple in London. The banqueting hall was magnificent and full of history. I felt very honoured to be there. The dinner was to raise much needed funds for AbleChild Africa, a charity that is very close to my heart because of the wonderful work they do in Africa. It's hard to believe but ;

1 in 10 children in Africa are living with a disability; this equals a staggering 52 million children!

A staggering 98% of disabled children in Africa do not attend school!

More than 80% of disabled people are living below the poverty line!

I would easily have been amongst those educational statistics if it weren't for the support of my parents, and the Salvation Army who ran the primary school I went to, Joyland. I shall never forget the encouragement and support I got from Major Chamberlain and Major Cotten. The evening was a great success.

Educating Essex 2

2011-11-09T04:15:00.000-08:00

On Monday morning I was invited to speak to a group of media students at Harlow College. I was the first guest speaker to use the new lecture theatre and I was a bit nervous. I had prepared a powerpoint presentation and used a piece of music by Des'ree, 'You Gotta Be', as an introduction. There were about eighty students present as well as a couple of lecturers. I spoke about my life but more importantly about the way education can empower people. I had a good response and the students asked a lot of interesting questions. I spoke to quite a few students afterwards and they seemed to think it had been a positive experience so it was well worth taking the time to do.

Next it was off to Harlow Leisurezone for a photocall arranged by Harlow Council. It was to accompany the news that Harlow has been chosen for the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay Route. This is great news for everyone in the town and will give people the opportunity to feel closer to the Games and be a part of history. I'll be there on July 7th to see the torch passing through. I'm really looking forward to it!

In the evening it was back to the track in the cold drizzly weather but as usual Ken soon had me sweating, sniffling, and working hard. By the end of an hour and forty five minutes I felt so proud because the session had been completed. Then it was home to cook dinner.

Educating Essex.

2011-11-06T04:12:00.000-08:00

Training has been going on well, despite the cold and gloomy weather. I'm really grateful to my coach, Ken Day, for turning out to help me 6 days a week. He is so dedicated and I appreciate him. In these increasingly cold evenings I have been finding that my toes and fingertips have been freezing during training. However, I have discovered some excellent inner gloves made by Karrimor so I have solved the fingertip problem. Working on the toe problem.

Yesterday I went to Harlow Leisurezone to do my strength and conditioning work and it was great to work with John Campbell again. John is one of those instructors who pushes you to your limits, which is exactly what I need. Put it this way, after a session with John you know you have worked!

I have been watching 'Educating Essex' on Channel 4 with great interest because Passmores School is literally just around the corner from my house. A few years ago I was invited to the school to present awards to the children and I found everyone involved really friendly. There was a real family atmosphere to the school that I liked and the Head, Mr Goddard, went out of his way to support me. As a trained teacher myself, albeit one who has only ever taught in Kenya, I found the behaviour of the staff and students very interesting to observe. In Kenya there was nothing like detentions and counselling when a student makes a mistake, it was just a matter of how many strokes of the cane were dished out! In Kenya everyone believes in; 'Spare the rod, spoil the child'. If you were thrashed at school you would be thrashed again at home by your parents for disrespecting the teacher. How different things are here. I really admired the way Mr Drew dealt with the students. To me he is an excellent teacher who really cares about the students he teaches and there didn't seem to be any problem he couldn't deal with. He was just so calm and never seemed to lose his temper even when provoked. Mr Goddard, the Head, was equally impressive in the way he went about his work and who could imagine seeing such a powerful man crying on national television. I really admired that because he showed a very positive side of his character in that incident and he should be seen as a role model by other professional people. The students who featured in the series, in spite of all their problems, will look back at themselves and it will make them better people.

The House of Commons.

2011-10-30T04:34:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday I visited Parliament with Results UK, the CEO of ADD International, and Matarr, a disability activist from the Gambia. We were there to lobby MP's on the vital issue of access to education for children with disabilities in developing countries, or, as the new terminology calls them, 'low income countries'. If children with disabilities in these countries can have access to education then poverty can be reduced, and we can ensure that talent is not lost and the human rights of individuals are protected. We spoke to 5 MP's, including the Minister for Disabled Persons, and urged them to attend 'An Equal Start for All:Disability and Education in Low Income Countries' to be held in Portcullis House on November 29th. Hopefully there will be a good turnout and we can really make a difference.

Teach Your Children Well.

2011-10-22T03:49:00.000-07:00

The temperature seems to be dropping everyday, the leaves are falling from the trees, and we will soon be back to dark mornings and afternoons. This is the time of year when training is most difficult, and a soft African like myself feels the cold more than most. The other evening on the track it felt like the tips of my fingers were about to drop off! However, as an athlete if you put in the hard work and hours in the winter, you will be flying in the summer.
I've noticed that most of my blogs are about myself but just for once I want to say something about my son. I am so proud to be a mother. I remember growing up in Kenya as a disabled female and being told by doctors that I would never be able to have children. Now I look at my son and he gives me the most joy and I feel so fulfilled. He is intelligent, kind, caring but is the most untidy boy in the world! I suppose that's true of most boys of his age. I was so proud when he recorded the fastest speed in kicking a football in the whole of his school in the Speedmark Challenge competition, 52mph! Excellent for his age. Amazingly, on the same day he took part in a Tag Rugby Tournament with other local schools and scored six tries and got numerous tags. However, my proudest moment came when he asked to be substituted so his friend could take part in the game. That is what I call real team spirit.
Finally, I would like to congratulate all those athletes who were successful in winning Team Essex Ambassador Awards for 2012. It's a great scheme and will hopefully be rewarded with good performances in London2012.

Power to the People.

2011-10-05T01:58:00.000-07:00

I have been watching the party conferences of Labour and the ConDems, whose marriage seems in dire need of counselling before it ends up in the divorce courts! Daddy Cameron says one thing whilst Mammy Clegg says another, and the children are all arguing amongst themselves and asking who is going to pay the university fees, and how will they be able to buy their own homes when they graduate up to their eyes in debt. Before they got married mammy was so caring and promised the children they could have free education and daddy had promised a fairer society where all the children were equal. As Oliver Hardy would say; 'That's another fine mess you've gotten us into'. As for Uncle Ed? In Kenya, where I grew up, when mammy and daddy were contradicting each other the uncle would come in to sort it out. However, growing up in Africa, I would never have had the freedom to say such things unless I had a strong desire to disappear! Thank God for Democracy.
I was very saddened last week to hear of the untimely death of the great Professor Wangari Mathai, one of the greatest African women of all time. Some called her the 'Tree Woman' because she fought to preserve the environment against an oppressive regime that used all its power to supress her but she came out on top and went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize! What a fantastic role model and I personally drew a lot of inspiration from her resillience, her motivation, her strong will, and above all her humility.Rest in Peace and may her legacy live on.
Training has been going really well and I've had a good transition into winter training, and as my coach, Mr Day, puts it,'Every little drop fills the tank'. Every training session is vital and 2012 is literally just around the corner. I am determined to build on what I have achieved this year.

Eastlea 'People's Millions' Trike Trail.

2011-09-17T10:20:00.000-07:00

I woke up early this morning feeling a bit low in spirit because I hadn't slept well at all...too much on my mind. But whoever said that life was easy? My son came in and gave me a big hug and this brightened me up. I felt even better after some breakfast and a hot bath and I began to focus on my appearance at Eastlea Community School in Newham.

My transport arrived on time and as we drove along the M11 heading towards London I marvelled at the sight of the distant tower blocks of the city glimmering in the morning sunshine. It was nice to leave the dark clouds hovering above Harlow and into the sun.

We arrived at Eastlea and I was amazed to see the transformation that had happened since my last visit four years ago. The school reception area was stunning, with beautiful artwork above the entrance, and a bright, spacious interior, and best of all, totally accessible to people of all abilities. This just made my face light up, and I was humbled by the wonderful welcome I received from the Principal and the staff of the school. They took us through into the school and I when I saw the brand new amphitheatre and heard the excellent steel band playing I felt like dancing, this time not in my dreams!

It was lovely to see young people with disabilities whizzing around the play area on brand new trikes and handbikes having a great time, then my eyes caught sight of a swing especially adapted to take a wheelchair. I just had to have a go, big kid that I am, and I loved it, swinging back and forth for the first time in my life. The press and public were watching me but for a few minutes I was a little girl again lost in my own enjoyment. However, the fun ended too soon and I had to become the honoured guest again to officially open the area.

I noticed a young girl in a wheelchair, Rebecca, and I envied her because this great facility would allow her to play with her friends and enjoy the fresh air. Thankfully she will not be the little girl in the corner who was not allowed to join in like I was. I think that is why I decided to ask Rebecca to join me in unveiling the plaque because to me she is the future. Every morning when I wake up I always look for circumstances that I want, and sometimes when I can't find them I try to make them, and today as I gave my speech and looked at the faces of the young people with disabilities and their parents and teachers I wanted this so much for them. I desperately wanted them to understand that circumstances don't make us, they only reveal who we are and that's why disability should never mean inability.

The event finished with some wonderful food in the students canteen that was made by the students. It was delicious. I had to drag myself away to my transport and back to the dark clouds still hovering above Harlow.

London 2012 Paralympics.

2011-09-09T03:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a great day for all disabled athletes and Trafalgar Square in London was the place to be. Different sports were being showcased and it was a great spectacle to watch, especially Boris Johnson trying to play tennis! As I watched I thought to myself how some of this could help to change people's attitudes towards disability. To me, the whole event was designed to educate the general public. A survey taken by ComRes for Scope has shown that 47% of disabled people feel attitudes towards them are getting worse so an event like yesterday's is important. I was also pleased to read in the Guardian that the culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt, talking about his £20m School Games plan said;"We will confine to the history books the terrible image of a disabled child sitting in the corner on sports day and being unable to take part". I was that child back in my schooldays in Kenya and I want to see such things ended everywhere in the world, not just here in the UK. Tickets are now on sale and it promises to be the greatest Paralympics ever so I really hope its a sell out. It's magical and will give thousands of athletes the chance to perform on a world stage. I am now even more determined than ever to work hard to earn my place on that stage. I can't wait.
I have been unable to train for a week as I nursed a really bad cold but thankfully it is fading fast and I am feeling alive again, and ready to resume my training. One good thing about being housebound is that I have had a lot of time to analyse myself and determine my strengths and weaknesses as I sipped my lemon tea.

Bolt Back to his Best.

2011-09-03T09:06:00.000-07:00

I have really been enjoying the World Championships on Channel 4 and I think their coverage has been fantastic. I especially like the commentary of Dean Macey and it is so refreshing to hear a new voice speaking with such passion and knowledge. He has a commentating voice that can make anything interesting to watch.I look forward to hearing more from him in the future.
The highlight of today was seeing Usain Bolt cruise to victory in the men's 200m final. It was lovely to see him doing so well after his heartbreak of last week and I really laughed after the race when he had the mass of photographers moving left then right then left, really funny. He has totally transformed athletics, not only with his incredible running but also with his showmanship and sense of humour. He is also humble when he needs to be. I and I love him!
I also enjoyed seeing Christine Ohuruogu running well in the women's 400m relay after her disappointing false start last week. I hope she can continue to make progress and win a medal next year in London.
It was wonderful to see Shelley Woods win a bronze in the women's wheelchair 800m. She is going really well just now and is also looking good for London 2012. Mickey Bushell also did well in the men's 400m, especially as it's not really his event. I personally would love to see more disabled athletes getting television coverage at major events because the general public really need to see that we are just as talented and competitive as our able bodied athletes, and we work just as hard in training to achieve our successes.
Which brings me on to the shabby way I feel Oscar Pistorius was treated when being dropped from the South African relay team. Why was he dropped?I think it's very disappointing, especially after the way he ran so well to help his team reach the final.
Finally, my country of birth, Kenya, has done incredibly well to be third in the medal table, with 6 Gold, 5 Silver, and 3 Bronze. Well done to everyone concerned. Kenya is a relatively small country but Kenyans have big hearts, big lungs, and big talent.

A Year To Go.......

2011-08-31T03:32:00.000-07:00

Well,it's now just under a year before the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games and I'm very excited about it. It is such a joyous thing to see disabled athletes from all over the globe coming together to compete in sport, showing the world the positive face of disability and providing inspiration to millions of others. Each individual athlete will have travelled their own individual road to London 2012, some will have had great backing and financial support, others will have battled through on their own with little or no support, but they will all share the same experience at the end of that road, with the lucky few winning medals. Like I say, I am REALLY looking forward to it.
I've been watching the debate around Oscar Pistorius with great interest because it throws up many questions. For example, now he has competed with the so called 'able bodied' athletes should he be banned from competing in disabled sport? If he is allowed to compete in both areas should the able bodied also be allowed to compete in disabled sport? What do people reading this post think? It would be good to get some feedback.
The World Championships in Daegu have been really exciting to watch and I feel very proud that the country of my birth, Kenya, is currently second to the USA in the medals table! I think that's a fantastic achievement. Mind you, I am also enjoying watching the British athletes competing and enjoyed watching Jessica Ennis win her Silver. I hate the way the media say she 'lost' the gold. She did not, she WON the Silver. I was also impressed with Louise Hazel's performance and look forward to following her next year. Good luck to all the athletes as the Championships wind down to the final few days. Each and every one of them has WORKED and SWEATED to be where they are, and they should be applauded for that, not belittled like the media loves to do to certain individuals.

Relight My Fire!

2011-08-28T07:51:00.000-07:00

I am just back from a short time off from training to recharge my batteries after a tough season. It was great having some free time to relax with my son, Tim, and watch movies and go places without having to worry about the hustle and bustle of my training regime. It also gave me the opportunity to reflect on what has been a very good season, and I now have a clear vision about what I need to do to achieve my ambitions next year. London 2012 is just over the horizon and I really want to be part of it. It's all down to me and I intend grasping my opportunities with both hands. So, yesterday I was back in the gym training on rollers and sweating buckets. 'No pain no gain' as the saying goes, and the pain I'm in today should mean I'll gain a lot! I love it though, and wouldn't want it to be any different.
As an athlete myself I am avidly following the World Championships in Daegu and my heart really goes out to Christine Ohuruogu, Dwayne Chambers, and Usain Bolt, all disqualified from racing for false starts. All the hard work and effort they've put in to be selected all gone in a micro second. I feel it is too harsh and would like to see a return to the old rule where everyone gets a second chance. Can you imagine the furore if it happens next year at London 2012? Let's hope those that make the decisions rethink this one.
On an even more serious note, the horrific events unfolding in the Horn of Africa really upset me, all those people dying of starvation and lack of water, things we in the so called Developed world take for granted. Here in Harlow we even have special bins we put wasted food into to be recycled! So what kind of world are we living in where people are dying for a lack of food? Here in the UK they talk about the 'crisis with obesity' whilst in Africa people die as thin as stick insects! Surely there is more than enough food in the world to feed everyone? I know that the problem of drought is more difficult to solve but surely we can invest in the science needed to make things better. People in Africa don't want handouts, they want to be self sufficient and stand on their own two feet. I hope and pray a solution can be found soon to end the suffering of the starving masses.

Over The Moon!

2011-08-16T03:10:00.000-07:00

Just got back from Switzerland and the season is winding down towards winter training. It was good to meet friends from the wheelie world once more. The more I go to Switzerland the more I fall in love with it, one of these days when those 6 numbers come up!.......
Nottwil is the place to be as a racer. It has perfect cycle tracks with no broken glass and its great scenery as we push around the lake. Great accomodation. I remember it was 5 years ago that I met the Brazilian soccer team here and I recall the crowd was going wild and screaming. I was chatting to one of the players and the crowd was really cheering. Later I asked why were the crowd making so much fuss. I was surprised when I was told I was chatting to the most famous player in the world, Ronaldhino. To be honest I didn't have a clue who he was because I never used to follow football though I do now.
It was a one day international competition on a brand new track and it was good to be there to test it. After all the sweat and hard work I've put in the reward of a Personal Best in the 200m was a sign that there is more in the tank to come. I also did a very good time in the 100m but I know I have to put in some really hard work this coming winter on improving in all areas but especially my 400m and 800m, the two events I still need to master.
I am a very emotional person but when I do well I sometimes don't have the right way of expressing it and I quickly move on to the next chapter.
My passion, my love, runs slow but deep like a dark, dark river!

Swiss Roll.

2011-08-11T10:37:00.000-07:00

Phew!! A hectic few weeks now culminates in my final competition of the season here in Switzerland. I was at Crystal Palace last weekend but wasn't that pleased with my performance on a slow track. However, as always it was good to meet up with other racers.
I've been training hard and had some very good track sessions and some tiring workouts on the road. I'm feeling really positive about myself and feel in good shape to do well this weekend.
The journey here was very tiring, especially having to get up at 5am to get to Heathrow, but I'm now comfortable in my hotel room after having a nice dinner. I love coming to Switzerland because they really take their wheelchair racing seriously here, and they can't do enough to help the athletes who travel here. They really make us feel welcome.
Whilst I was at Heathrow a lady came up to me and told me I was her hero. She has had breast cancer and she said she'd seen the programme I did for BBC, 'My Story', and said how much it had inspired her. Imagine! I told her she was the real hero, my hero, for battling a dreadful disease and beating it. She really inspired me!
So, I'm going to train hard tomorrow and then go out on Saturday and really do my best to get some good times. Then it's back to dear old England to spend the winter training hard to prepare myself fully to try and earn a place at London 2012.

Blood, Sweat, and Tears.

2011-07-31T09:21:00.000-07:00

The past week has been very long as I put in all the final touches to my training programme before my races this weekend. It has also been the same week which marked one year to the London 2012 Olympics, and this is the time when all athletes who want to earn a place in the team start getting butterflies and know they have to work extra hard to earn the privilege of representing Team GB.
On Friday I couldn't sleep properly because of all the nerves that come with racing the following day. I wished a friend would call or text me and tell me to relax, and that it would all be OK. They didn't but I eventually drifted into sleep only to be harshly awoken by the strident noise of my alarm clock at 6am, an unearthly hour for me! I did my usual panic of trying to remember everything I would need, and just had time to gulp down half a bowl of porridge before my transport arrived and off we set for the journey to Stoke Mandeville. Eddie has been my regular taxi driver for long journeys for years and we joked that he would soon be made 'redundant' because I'll be driving myself as soon as my new car is ready.
Stoke Mandeville has always been special to me because it's really the place where the Paralympics was born. We have a lot to thank Dr Ludwig Guttmann for because it was his brainchild.
As I was warming up for my first race, the 100m, I looked around and breathed in fresh air by lungfulls to calm my nerves. I didn't even notice the beautiful weather we were having as I sat in my chair on the start line, hands shaking, waiting for the gun, but deep within myself I felt strong and ready for a good race. I was pleased to come second and with a good time, a season's best!
All in all it was a successful weekend, I was pleased with my performances in the 100m,400m, 200m, and 800m. It's been a great weekend but I'm glad to be back home and see my son,Tim, and I always miss my own bed when I go away.

London 2012 Storyteller

2011-07-17T09:39:00.000-07:00

NEWS! NEWS! NEWS!
I am very pleased to have been chosen to be a BT Storyteller. With the games coming to London it's an exciting opportunity and I'm really looking forward to the challenges it will present. Please click on the link for further information and please join me on my journey as the story unfolds and for regular update.

http://www.btlondon2012.co.uk/storytellers/MeetStorytellers-Pages/STbio_120.html

Driving to Success.

2011-07-17T08:34:00.000-07:00

It's been an eventful week for me. Training has continued to go well, despite the bad weather, and I feel happy with my progress. I feel I'm in the process of rediscovering myself in many ways and learning who Anne really is once again. In the past few weeks I've been wondering, should I let go of who I am now so I can become who I am meant to be with full potential? Time will tell.

Well, I passed my driving test and I can now cross off another of the things I want to accomplish in life. It means I can now have a lot more independance with my new found mobility and I no longer have to rely on other people. I've already been out car shopping with a good friend of mine, and I'm so glad he was there because I know next to nothing about cars, and it was good to have another pair of eyes with me.

OK,weekend, Bedford, England Athletics. Fantastic track, fantastic company but truly awful weather for athletics. I managed some wins, no good times but a win is a win. I also had a go at an 800m, not my distance really, but I have to say I enjoyed it and managed a Silver. I think its encouraged me to perhaps try the distance again at a future event.

So, there you go, it's been a fairly hectic time but I'm loving it but I know I'll be needing some time off just to relax and "let my body grow".

Strange Encounter.

2011-06-24T04:40:00.000-07:00

It seems a lot has been happening of late and because as human beings we are surrounded by both positive and negative energies, it is for us to find the power within us just to attract the positives.
I woke up feeling really energetic today, and very positive then I went out for a 10k push. It felt easier than it has been in the past and halfway through I started to ask myself why I was feeling the way I was. Then I just realised that it was partly coming from within me, from the moment I woke up and got out of my bed my words of affirmation were positive. I was embracing the beauty around me, and being outside in the fresh air, pushing, huffing and puffing, just gave me a profound sense of gratitude for everything I have, my achievements and successes, and even for the things I've failed in that have made me stronger.
As I was nearing the end of my 10k push an elderly lady rushed to stop me, shouting; 'Stop, please stop!' I finally managed to stop and this lady walked up to me and said;'Excuse me, do you enjoy your life?' I looked up at her and smiled and told her I did in so many ways but in my head I was thinking to myself,'oh no here is another one feeling sorry for me because I'm in a wheelchair'. As she moved closer towards me I thought she was going to pat me on the back, or patronise me in some other way. I was very wrong! She surprised me by saying that the reason she had asked me whether I enjoyed my life was because she didn't enjoy hers. She explained that after 43 years of marriage her husband and true friend had passed on seven months previously and she feels lost and incredibly sad. She said that all the money and property her husband had bequeathed to her meant absolutely nothing and she wished she was me so she could just enjoy life as I was! As she said this she broke down and began to cry. I pulled her down towards me and gave her a big hug, with a bit of difficulty because I'm low in my chair and she was elderly. All I could do was to wipe her tears with the sleeve of my sweaty top and then she asked me;'How can I be happy again?' I didn't really have the answer but what I did say to her was that I was sure her husband would not want her to be unhappy, and that she should treasure her memories of her 43 years with him. As we parted she said,'Thank you for that beautiful smile. It will keep me going for some time'. As I pushed off I was thinking to myself,'what a strange encounter'.
The most wasted of all days is one without sharing a smile.

Flat as a Pancake.

2011-06-21T02:08:00.000-07:00

Training has been going well and I've been working really hard. I've started pushing the three miles to the Mark Hall track as a warm up before I do my speed work on the track itself. I then push the three miles home, which is normally no problem but a mile into my journey home last night I got a puncture and had to do the last two miles with a flat tyre. Not good. I'm now just about to replace the tyre because you can't repair the puncture. Wheelchair racing is an expensive sport! Oh well, 'no pain no gain' as the saying goes.

Have Wheels Will Travel.

2011-06-05T09:08:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy time since my last entry and I seem to have done an awful lot of travelling, not to mention a lot of time apart from my family.
First of all I went up to Liverpool by train to take part in the Knowsley Disabled Grand Prix event. It was great to be back in the wheelchair racing fraternity and having the opportunity to blow off the winters cobwebs with some good competition. My only complaint is that it was too windy to get any seriously good times.
I barely had time to see much of my son Tim before I was packing again and on my way to Heathrow to fly to Zurich. I love going to Switzerland because it gives me the opportunity to pit myself against the best racers in the world, and it is such a beautiful country. It was great to meet again with one of the women who inspired me to start racing, Louise Sauvage from Australia, and also to do some serious talking with a Canadian racer called Michelle Stilwell. Mind you, the schedules were pretty gruelling, getting up VERY early to travel to the meetings, and getting back just in time to sleep. Anyway, it was well worth going because I managed to get A and B Standard qualifying times. I now need to repeat, and better my times during the rest of the season.
It's good to be back home. I've had a lot of time on my own to think and I feel I am in a much more powerful position thanks to positive affirmation, self belief, and personal motivation.

Stoke Mandeville.

2011-05-10T07:52:00.000-07:00

I went to the meeting at Stoke Mandeville a week or so ago and was disappointed to find the wind was against us so the times I did were not up to my usual standard. However, it was my first competitive track meeting of the season and it was good to get back on the track and racing. Hopefully my times will improve with hard training. I've continued to work really hard and did a really good session down in Kingston with Jenny Archer on Saturday. I'm hoping to get down there again later this week.
On Sunday it was my birthday and I was absolutely delighted to get a phonecall from my dad in Kenya telling me that three men from a polio organisation here in the UK had turned up at his homestead that morning. They wanted my dad to show them the places they had read about in my autobiography, 'In My Dreams I Dance', and also to fill them in on the things they had read about in more detail. They told my dad he was an excellent role model for the parents of disabled children and that made him feel justly proud. I was so happy that my dad was getting some recognition for the wonderful parenting he had shown me growing up. It made my day! A birthday to remember.
So, I'm off to Mark Hall for some more training and I'm really looking forward to returning to Switzerland later this month for some top class competition.

The Long and Winding Road.

2011-04-04T03:27:00.000-07:00

The long and winding road was the St. Clare 10k I did yesterday. I had everything planned the night before the race, went to bed early and in my head I went through my race plan and how I was going to execute it. When I woke up on Sunday morning I had my usual nerves but managed to get a few spoonfuls of porridge down. Mothers Day again and I'm in my racing chair again. One day I'll manage to have a lie in on Mothering Sunday and get breakfast in bed!

I got to the venue in good time but as I was pumping up my tyres I realised that the left one was leaking. PANIC!! I had to fit a brand new tyre in less than 15 minutes and there was no one around to help me. I managed to pull a man from the crowd who helped me stretch the tyre to fit. In the process of pumping it up the loudspeaker was announcing for the runners to make their way to the start line. Wheelchair racers normally start a few minutes beforehand so I knew I would have no time to warm up.

On the start line the whistle blew and off we went! What was going through my head was that I would have to be careful because I hadn't warmed up, and the last thing I needed was to go really hard and get an injury. At this point my race plan flew out of the window and I'm already thinking what I could do to complete the race safely and also get a good position. My first 5K I felt good though I was taking it carefully because there were a few twists and turns in the course, and more than a few potholes! This reminded me of Australia in 2007 and the terrible crash I had just 200m from the finish line of the 10K and how that injury cost me Beijing.

The second half of the race was a killer and this is where mental toughness overcomes physical toughness. As I came closer to the finish line my hands felt like jelly but the crowd really helped to carry me across the finish line with their loud applause and cheers. I was the first wheelchair home. Great achievement is usually born out of great sacrifice.

I was racing in a t shirt that was provided by the RESULTS charity, an organisation that is trying to end poverty but as I looked around the grounds of the St Clare Hospice and saw people, some very young, whose lives were almost over, it really touched my heart, and the 10K was nothing in comparison to that.

No Pain No Gain

2011-04-01T09:28:00.000-07:00

Training has been really hard for the past week or so and I've put in an awful lot of work. I've been to the Mark Hall track for speedwork and gym work, and in between its been out on the cycle paths of Harlow doing endurance work. It's more enjoyable to train on the road than on the track but its really the work on the track that counts because I'm a sprinter. Lately, just like a lot of other people, I've been feeling low about certain things in my life but I don't have time to dwell on them because I don't want to lose focus. I've found a different way of addressing the issues. It's true, I just can't afford the luxury of feeling sorry for myself because there are millions of people out there who are a lot worse off than I am, in Libya to give just one example. At least I haven't been caught up in Tsunami's or earthquakes or nuclear disasters like those poor people in Japan. Still, there's light at the end of the tunnel for me. This Sunday I will be doing a 10k to raise funds for St.Clare Hospice and that puts everything into perspective really.

500 Days!

2011-03-20T06:05:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday I attended an event in Harlow to mark 500 days to the 2012 Olympic/Paralympic Games. I gave a short speech about my own hopes of making the team and also how the Games can inspire and motivate young people to actively participate in sport. I can't quite believe how quickly the time is going, and went out on Wednesday morning and did 10 miles training on the road to continue working towards my dream. I worked really hard last week and I am happy with the way my training is progressing. No pain no gain as they say.

Yesterday I spent a few hours in Harlow's Harvey Centre promoting ActiveHarlow, a great club that positively promotes sport of all kinds to the young people of the town.

This morning I had the privilege once again to start the Chelmsford Comic Relief Mile in the town park. It was great to see hundreds of people all dressed up to raise money for Comic Relief. Normally I would be in church but always feel this is an event that deserves my support. I was very impressed by an 11 year old boy, Liam, who did 6 miles, and also Olivia, 12, who did 3 miles. Well done to everyone who took part.

Staff Benda Bilili

2011-03-12T05:37:00.000-08:00

Last night I had the great privilege to meet Staff Benda Bilili, a Congolese band from Kinshasa, who were performing at the Union Chapel in London. I met the band backstage and it was great to meet disabled musicians who have overcome polio and homelessness to be on a world stage. I share so much with them, not only being disabled by polio and the effect it has on families but also the realisation of being given the opportunity to achieve your dreams.

Before the gig we saw the film,'Benda Bilili' which charts their rise from the streets of Kinshasa to stardom in Europe. It is a beautiful film full of humour, sadness, inspiration but above all, wonderful music. The packed house gave the film a justly deserved standing ovation. I loved it and would highly recommend it to anyone who is reading this.

I felt very honoured to be asked to say a few words before the band came onstage and despite my nerves I managed to get through my few words before the band arrived to perform.

Watching them on stage was a joyous experience. They performed as a team full of brilliant individuals and the music had everyone present on their feet dancing. I actually did my dancing in my wheelchair, just like them, and had a really great time. I have never seen a vocalist on crutches put so much energy into their singing and dancing, and the effect was electrifying! Watch out for Staff Benda Bilili on their upcoming tour of Europe and be prepared to have a seriously good time. You will also be inspired, amazed and your views about life and disability will be challenged. "STAFF BENDA BILILI!!!!"

Busy Busy Busy

2011-03-09T04:42:00.000-08:00

I'm back! Phew! My life has been very busy since my last entry. Life can be very difficult. The trials of this life will test our obedience to the truth which has become cheap in todays society.

I spent Christmas in Kenya and it was fantastic to be with my family and friends once again.

In January I had a book launch at the Kenyan High Commission in London which was a great success and I got lots of positive feedback about my book, 'In My Dreams I Dance'.

Also in January I spent a morning in the Gibberd Gallery in Harlow working with pupils from Harlowfields Special School. I really enjoyed interacting with the young people and they produced some wonderful work.

My training in January was tough but as usual it was very rewarding and I really worked hard to get ready for the coming season.

In February I travelled down to Canvey Island to help judge a fantastic event,'Singing Olympiad' - 'Sing Up Canvey Island'. The event had 9 schools competing in a singing competition and some of them had used me as inspiration, something I felt really humbled by but also very pleased. The performances were wonderful and in the end all of the competing schools won gold because they were all equally brilliant. I really enjoyed this event so thanks to the organisers for inviting me, and to the children for entertaining me and the other judges.

I trained really hard throughout February and my coach, Ken Day, really had me sweating as he made me push my limits hard. He's a great coach and I really enjoy working with him.

On Sunday I did my first race of the season, the Silverstone Half Marathon, and I was quite pleased to finish in one hour twenty minutes but I know I can do better. At least it was better than last year, and I was raising funds for disabled women in Burkina Faso so it was a very worthwhile exercise. I'm struggling with my chair and need a new one.

Yesterday was International Womens Day and I was very pleased to have an article I wrote published on the Guardian website. http://gu.com/2nt2p

Tis The Season To Be Busy.

2010-11-21T10:45:00.000-08:00

I have been training really hard since my last entry but as usual the weather has been against me and a lot of my work has been done on rollers in the Mark Hall Sports Centre. Buckets of sweat and aching muscles but worth it because of the great feeling of self satisfaction when its over and done with. I am determined to have a great season in 2011 and I certainly feel a lot fitter than I usually do at this time of year. I have a bad cold at the moment but I am fighting it so that I can continue training..

On Wednesday gone I was very privileged to attend the 'Journey to the Podium' exhibition which has opened in my hometown of Harlow, at the wonderful Gibberd Gallery in the Civic Centre. I am very proud to be a Team Essex Ambassador, and even more proud to have been featured through the lovely art work of Elaine Tribley. It was also lovely to see the other work produced by artists working with other sports people. Essex County Council is to be congratulated for running such an innovative scheme that pairs artists with athletes.

Out in Harlow yesterday I was surprised to see the Xmas lights and the town full of shoppers. I started to panic because I haven't even had time to think of Christmas. I must say I hate the dark nights and the cold and long for Spring.

Training Buy The Book.

2010-10-09T10:23:00.000-07:00

Training has continued to go really well and I'm very positive about next season.I've been following the Commonwealth Games keenly and was delighted to see James Huckle, my Harlow pal, win his medals.There's been a lot of adverse publicity about the facilities in Delhi but I think it's been fantastic to see athletes competing with each other in a spirit of sportsmanship and overcoming all the obstacles put in their way. Great stuff.

My life has, as usual, been hectic outside my sporting activities. I attended a dinner in the House of Lords in my role as Goodwill Ambassador for ADD(Action on Disability and Development) and it was nice to get 'glammed' up for a change. I was also delighted to win an award myself at the UK-Kenyan Achievers Awards in London. I was very proud to accept the Sports Personality of the Year award and got a lovely trophy and certificate. Finally, I had a table in the Harlow branch of WH Smiths where I signed copies of my autobiography,'In My Dreams I Dance'. I felt very honoured when our local MP, Robert Halfon came to show his support. The signing was a big success and I thank all those people who came along, and the manager of WH Smiths who arranged it all.

BBC My Story - In My Dreams I Dance

2010-09-16T04:55:00.000-07:00

In My Dreams I Dance

2010-09-16T04:41:00.000-07:00

After the holiday it's back to the daily grind of training but I must admit I love the feeling of satisfaction after a hard training session. I've learnt a lot about myself over the past season and have decided that to improve I need Consistency, Intensity, Commitment and Positive Thinking. Just you watch me go!
On Tuesday night at 10.36pm I featured in a programme called 'My Story' on BBC1, hosted by Ronan Keating. It was the culmination of a competition run by the BBC to find people they consider to have extraordinary life stories. I was absolutely shocked to have won but the prize was to have my autobiography published, and it has been, by Harper Collins.

Crystal Palace to Ibiza.

2010-08-25T05:17:00.000-07:00

Well, that's another track season over with after my last competitive track event at Crystal Palace on Sunday August 15th in the UKA London Disability Athletics Challenge. I competed in the T54 100m and 200m and won a silver in both,quite a satisfying result after my cold of the previous week which hampered my training schedule. My coach, Ken Day has really helped me to improve my performance. He is excellent at motivating his athletes and brings out the best in them. I feel really confident that with a good winter season of hard training I can get even better next year as 2012 gets ever closer. Its been a good steady season and I've won two gold,two silver, and three bronze medals against the best racers in the world. A new racing chair is what I'd like for Christmas, then watch me go!

I rewarded myself with a weeks holiday in Ibiza with my son Timmy, and husband Norman. It was great to be able to relax in the hot sunshine and I was delighted to discover that the beaches had wooden walkways that led straight to the sea, allowing me to get out of my chair and straight into the beautifully warm,clear sea. It was lovely just wallowing there with not a care in the world(apart from Tim's water gun!) It was also really nice to not have to cook and eat a diet that I wouldn't normally eat, and in bigger portions! Don't worry, Ken will soon have any excess weight burnt right off! John Campbell will also make sure I sweat in the gym. I love it really, it's part of the buzz of being an elite athlete. However, it was nice to just spend a lazy week with my family in a beautiful location.

I really would love to do the Great North Run this year because my husband is from South Shields where the run ends and he always encourages me to enter. It just seems that ilness always seems to happen at the wrong time. If I can steer clear this year I'll try to do a late entry. We'll see. Watch this space.

Shelley woods and Anne Wafula Strike battle it out for the 100m victory

2010-08-08T09:48:00.000-07:00

Mahlathini Mahotella Queens - Kazet

2010-08-08T09:47:00.000-07:00

SX Urban Games.

2010-07-26T02:20:00.000-07:00

I did well on my recent visit to Gateshead and won a gold and a bronze in my two races. The times weren't all that but it's a slow track for wheelchairs so I wasn't too concerned. I only have a competition at Crystal Palace on the 15th left this season though I may enter some 10k/half marathons to keep me going a bit longer.

Yesterday I attended the 'SX Urban Games' in Central Park, Chelmsford in my capacity as Team Essex Ambassador and I found the whole event really exciting and very interesting. They had some very talented skateboarders, BMX riders, street gymnasts, 3 on 3 basketball, freestyle footballers, and a brilliant young man called Bass6 who is a human beatbox. I couldn't believe the sounds he was creating just with his voice!

I really enjoyed the day and it was really nice to present the prizes to the winners of the various competitions. It's nice to see that there are so many talented youngsters around, and it was also nice to see different sports from the more traditional variety.

Switzerland and After.

2010-07-07T10:13:00.000-07:00

I had a fairly successful trip to Switzerland and took part in two meetings from our base in Zurich. I was quite pleased with my performances, especially in the 200m where I just missed out on a Personal Best time by less than a second. I desperately need a new racing chair and that will be my priority in the coming months. Unfortunately, wheelchair racing is a sport where the quality of your chair really does make a difference. I'm happy with my fitness and training and looking forward to another competition in Gateshead this coming Sunday.

Today I was very honoured to be invited to speak at the 'Habits of Highly Successful Women Conference 2010' in London to 300 girls of all ethnic backgrounds. I was in exalted company as the other speakers were; Kamel Hothi, Baroness Susan Greenfield, Schona Jolly, Lorraine Pascal, Vicky Jewson, and Alix Pryde, all highly successful women. I think it is fantastic that the young women of today have so many inspirational female role models to look up to. I wish they'd been there in Kenya when I was growing up.

Catch Up.

2010-06-22T10:22:00.000-07:00

Well, I have been so busy over the past month or so since my last entry that I haven't had the time to get near a computer so here is a brief account of what I've been up to.

First and foremost has been training training training with both my wheelchair coach, Ken Day, and in the gym with John Campbell. I don't know what I would do without these two great men but I owe them both a lot for their help and support. They have made me sweat and groan with pain but I wouldn't have it any other way.

I competed in Knowsley last month but the weather was not good and I wasn't totally happy with my performances but at least it was good to be back in proper competition after a long winter lay off. However, I did enjoy visiting Liverpool, a beautiful city, especially the Roman Catholic Cathedral, which is spectacular and very serene. It was also great to spend time with Pete Wyman and his family who kept me well fed and entertained. Thank you.

Off the track I have done a couple of days work on the 'Eastenders' set as an extra and am beginning to feel a real part of the family there. It's good fun even if we do only appear on screen for half a second! I even did a scene outside the 'Queen Vic' with a glass of orange! I've also visited a few schools to promote sport and healthy living and really enjoyed interacting with the youngsters I met. Finally I was honoured to be asked to open a charity shop for the St Elizabeth charity in Harlow. These events really make me feel humble but also very proud to be asked.

This last weekend I was at Stoke Mandeville for the BWAA International event and was much happier with my performances, especially getting a gold in the 400m, and doing 31.68 in the 200m, just outside my personal best. I just hope I can improve again in Switzerland this week, which will form the basis of my next blog. watch this space.

Great Manchester Bronze.

2010-05-16T10:30:00.000-07:00

The hard work and training I've put in over the past few months paid off this morning when I did my second race of the season in Manchester. I couldn't be more pleased because road racing over distance is not my forte, I'm a sprinter, in it for the thrill of speed like a Formula One driver. It was my second time to compete in the Great Manchester Run. I was fortunate enough to win it on my debut. In fact Manchester has been quite a lucky place for me because I also won a bronze medal at the Paralympic World Cup a few years ago, and I got another this morning for finishing third in 34.49. I am delighted with myself but only for today because it's back to serious training tomorrow in preparation for the first track meet of my season in Knowsley next weekend.

I've had to leave my husband, Norman, to look after our son Tim so I can concentrate on preparing for the meeting and I'm staying in a hostel for the week. My husband showed me an old film called;'The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner' and now I can sympathise with him. I hate being away from my family but i'm very grateful for the support that allows me to compete in a sport I really love. In my next entry I'll let you know how I got on. Fingers crossed.

Election Race

2010-04-18T07:48:00.000-07:00

The whole country is talking about the election race, but my kind of race is to get fit for the new season which means training and more training.To the politicians this is their Olympics/paralympics and they will be vying to get Gold.2012 is only 2 years away and this is the time for me to get myself in shape to be on the start line when the gun goes!

It has been a hectic time since my last entry and apart from being an extra on EastEnders again, I've visited several schools around Essex in my role as Essex Ambassodor and I've been trying to motivate young people to participate in sport and eat a healthy diet,I have also had to contend with a throat infection and the 'joys' of antibiotics.'I get knocked down but I get up again' It is good not to let things or other people get you down.

Training is going on well and the weather has been brilliant,I am enjoying my long pushes on the road now and just getting into more drills on the track.I need to work on several things now as the track competitions are approaching fast.Being an athlete I am worried abot the effects of the current volcanic dust,especially being a polio survivor,my lungs don't have 100% function. Lets hope the situation improves

Silverstone Half Marathon.

2010-03-17T10:16:00.000-07:00

I spent my Mothers Day getting up at seven to prepare myself for the trip to Silverstone for my first competitive race of 2010. At least my husband made me breakfast before I set off, and I got two lovely cards from my son, Tim, one of which was homemade.

I usually travel on my own to competitions so it was a refreshing change to travel with the other members of Harlow Running Club in a coach and it was nice to chat to people I usually don't have the chance to talk to when I'm training. There were two of us wheelchair racers, Dean Harvey being the other one, and we were glad when we arrived and we could sort out our chairs.

I was glad when the race finally began, though I wasn't treating it as a race because I didn't feel fit enough, and I'm a sprinter. The main reason I was there was to try and raise some money for a very worthwhile cause, AbleCild Africa, a charity which supports disabled children in Africa. It's a cause very close to my heart, and as I pushed I kept thinking that no matter what I was suffering, it was nothing in comparison to the struggle those children have. I had to stop once or twice to sort out cramps in my legs but still managed to complete the race in one hour twenty five minutes, a respectable time but also one I know I can improve upon once I get back into full time training. Dean did a great time of one hour,thirty nine minutes, and he was very encouraged by the result.

So,its back to training and on monday I did a good workout on the track. Yesterday I did 10 miles on the road, and today I'm in the gym. I look forward to my first sprint races in May.

'Playground To Podium'.

2010-03-09T08:11:00.000-08:00

Today I attended an event in Chelmsford as part of the Essex Team Ambassadors Scheme. The event was held at Chelmsford Sport and Athletic Park and was attended by around 70 children who attend mainstream school but have a disability. It was a taster day and children were given the opportunity to try different sports. It was a fantastic event and it was lovely to see the children enjoying themselves. I also enjoyed speaking to them about my own sport and achievements, and showing them some of the medals I have won during my career.

Training is going on well and I've finally managed to get out on the road with no problems. It was good to push on my normal 10 mile route and it felt great to be out and about again. I've changed my push rims to half an inch bigger in an attempt to improve my pushing technique. I'll let you know how it goes once I've given it a fair trial.

This evening its back on the track for some speed endurance work with my trainer, Ken Day. He's a perfectionist and he really makes me sweat, but I value the time he spends yelling at me and encouraging me to work to my limits! Talk about hard taskmaster!

Frustration!!

2010-03-05T08:46:00.000-08:00

The past week or so has been extremely frustrating! First of all the weather has been terrible, forcing me to be confined to the gym and the dreaded rollers. OK, so the rollers are good for improving my stamina and general fitness levels but to be honest, nothing can compare to being out on the road and putting in the miles. So, finally, yesterday, the weather was lovely so I get into my racing chair and set off to do my 10 mile push. I'm just getting into my rhythm when BANG! My back tire gets a puncture so I'm forced to get home on a flat. Then,today, a change of wheels to my old ones with the spokes and what happens? The push rim starts to come off, along with a couple of spokes! Session ended before its really begun. I could have cried but what's the point? You just put on a brave smile and get on with life.

My new tires have just arrived in the post so I'll change the punctured one and give it another go tomorrow. I have to because I'm doing a half marathon a week tomorrow at Silverstone to try and raise some much needed funds for AbleChild Africa, a charity that is very close to my heart because it helps disabled kids in Africa to reach their own personal goals in life. I WILL do it, though its a very tough course so I'm not aiming to break any records. Just finishing will be an achievement.

That apart I was very privileged on Wednesday to attend the launch of a scheme run by 'Journey to the Podium' and sponsored by Essex County Council where a group of artists were commissioned to produce works of art inspired by selected athletes. The launch was held at Colchester United's stadium and I was genuinely honoured to see the work about me from Elaine Tribley and Dr Mark Curtis of Essex County Council's Heritage and Archive teams. It was really weird to see artwork about yourself but also very nice. Elaine also produced a book called 'Olympia' about her work and about me and I was thrilled to get two copies, one of which I'm going to send to my dad in Kenya. He will be so proud! Working with Elaine has really inspired me and made me understand art a lot better.Thanks Elaine! Dr Mark also produced a lifesize picture of me and when you press a button my voice can be heard talking about myself and my sport. Amazing.Thank you Dr Mark. What made the evening more special was having my husband, Norman, and my son,Tim with me. Tim was a bit puzzled by all the attention I was getting but he loved the artwork. A really memorable evening.

Disability Empowerment Association Launched.

2010-02-21T10:33:00.000-08:00

It's been months in the planning but yesterday we finally launched our new charity, Disabled Empowerment Association, at Passmores School in Harlow. In attendance were; Mrs Kezia Obama(stepmum to USA President Obama), Harlow MP Bill Rammell, the Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Lord Petre, Edna Stevens,chair of Harlow Council, Robert Halfon, Conservative candidate, and local Councillor, Tony Hall. There were about two hundred people present who thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment provided by; Footwork Dance School(Indian dance),Efua Academy(African dance and drums), Makin' Steps Performing Arts(Hip hop dance), and Dance 21, for me the stars of the evening. They were fantastic, especially when they danced to songs from 'Grease'. Music was provided by Adam Amor, superb saxophonist and very good friend, Noah Keya, and DJ Lopo T. I've been very stressed out over the past few weeks trying to set the whole event up but the end result made it all worthwhile. Thanks to everyone involved, especially our Chairman, Solomon Mugondi who was MC.

Now the hard work really starts as we try to get the funding to run classes in Art, Dance, Music, IT, Creative Writing and Sport. I will have to balance my sporting activities with work for the charity but I will do it because I relish a challenge. Bring it on! Can we make it a successful organisation, YES WE CAN!!

The Red Arrows.

2010-02-16T04:32:00.000-08:00

Phew! Training has been going well but the poor weather has meant more gym work and sessions on the rollers. It's been tough but I'm determined to do well this season so I'm really pushing myself hard to prepare for my first race of the season at Silverwood next month.

Training apart I had the great privilege of being invited to meet the Red Arrows so I set off with my husband Norman and son Tim on Sunday morning. The journey didn't get off to a very good start because there was a replacement bus service from Harlow to Stanstead due to the never ending engineering works that seem to happen every weekend. I couldn't get on the coach so the staff at Harlow had to order a taxi to take me on the first part of my journey. We had to wait almost an hour at Stanstead before catching the train to Peterborough but the station staff were brilliant and really helpful. We had breakfast in the airport terminal before returning down to the train station where a ramp was waiting to get me on the train and I was put in a lovely, spacious wheelchair space.

How different was our experience at Peterborough! We had to wait an hour here as well but the station staff were their usual grumpy and rude selves. They left us to our own devices and we managed to find a space in the waiting room. We had to catch a train to Newark Northgate and when it arrived the grumpy staff member told us to wait with him, then made us hurry along the platform because he had been standing in the wrong place. There was no wheelchair space available so we were jammed into a very crowded area just inside the door, being told not to worry because it was only a 30 minute journey! The only consolation was that I was glad to leave the rude Peterborough staff behind. I have travelled through that station many times over the past 10 years and my experience has always been a negative one. They have no idea how to deal with disabled people and I can easily vote them the worst station staff in England!

At Newark we had to wait another twenty minutes in the freezing cold but at least the staff there were friendly and helpful and we completed the last stage of our journey to Lincoln with no problems.

We had decided to treat ourselves and stayed in a 'posh' hotel next to the cathedral. We had a quick look around but it was pouring down with rain and none of the restaurants near us had wheelchair access. We had a late lunch in one that my husband had to haul me up a step to get into but the food was nice so it was okay. Mind you, Lincoln is very hilly so we were very limited in our travels.

We had dinner in the hotel which was lovely then turned in for an early night after watching a bit of tv.

We had a delicious breakfast of fresh Lincolnshire produce and it was lovely to taste real fresh food for a change.

It was snowing when we got into our taxi for the short ride out to RAF Scampton where the Red Arrows are based. We had a brilliant time and were treated like royalty. An engineer took us into the hangar and explained everything about the planes and how they work. Then we went to the crew briefing where the Squadron Commander explained what the crew would be doing that morning. It was fascinating stuff and Tim was really enjoying it all.

We went outside and watched the planes taking off before being driven to the control tower where we watched the Arrows go through their routine. It was excellent,breathtaking stuff, and we took loads of photo's. We then had our photo taken beside the plane with the crew when the planes had landed before going back inside to watch the crew being debriefed.

We had an excellent lunch of chicken curry and the crew mixed with their visitors, signed autographs and posed for pictures. They are lovely people and Tim was thrilled with his autographed poster and toy plane. We all had a great time and I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone involved for giving us such a memorable experience.

The journey home was okay, apart from at Peterborough where we had to change and a staff member just ointed at the platform we needed and walked off, leaving Norman to push me up and down the steep ramps with me having to balance our luggage on my knees. However, even their ignorance couldn't detract from a great day that we'll never forget.

Team Essex Ambassador Awards.

2010-02-02T08:25:00.000-08:00

Last night I attended the awards ceremony at the Radisson Blu Hotel at Stanstead Airport where I was delighted to accept my award from Team Essex for the second successive year. I felt really proud when my name was announced and I went up onto the stage to receive my cheque. It was also great to see three residents of Harlow being honoured; Faith Pitman, Judo, James Huckle, Shooting, and myself. Harlow certainly excels when it comes to producing sporting talent.

It was a lovely event and the buffet was superb, a delicious blend of hot and cold, and I really enjoyed it. Also, there was beautiful music provided by the Essex Youth String Quartet. It was great to get dressed up and mix with some lovely, talented people.

Canal Boat Project

2010-02-01T09:10:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I had a rest day from training and took the opportunity to take a leisurely cruise on the canal in 'Stort Daybreak', the boat I launched a few years back that began my association with the Harlow Canal Boat Project. Its a charity I'm very close to and try to support as much as I can because it allows people with a disability to enjoy our wonderful network of canals in specially adapted wheelchair accessible barges.

I went along with my niece Sylvia, my son Tim and two of his friends, Ben and Daniel, and we were joined on board by Robert Halfon and his girlfriend, the Project Co-Ordinator Doreen Goodall and her husband, and Mark, a wheelchair shooter. Our skipper was Tom Bilbow,first mate Les Hunt and Michael Motts was the crewman. It was lovely to be in such mixed company and we all had a great time as the barge crunched its way through the frozen over canal. Tim and his friends had a great time helping the crew to work the locks and got a lovely certificate each for their efforts. Mind you, I felt like I was on the 'Titanic' and was on the lookout for icebergs! Thank goodness there weren't any. We had a lovely lunch at Parndon Mill before returning to base. It was a lovely day out and many thanks to Doreen for arranging it and the crew for making our journey a safe one.

Always Look On The Bright Side of Life.

2010-01-28T05:58:00.000-08:00

I always look on the bright side of life and stay optimistic, vital if you are a person with a disability let alone a disabled athlete. Anyway, I believe that how you define yourself is how you confine yourself. Self belief is always important.

Training has been going really well, though I still feel a bit heavy and slightly overweight. That is something I will put right over the next few months as my training schedule intensifies as we get towards the new season. I'm feeling very optimistic at the moment because I did a track session on Monday and it went very well, and my roadwork continues apace.

I had to go to Hertford hospital today to have some x-rays done and it was a strange experience to see all the curves in my spine but don't you dare to call me bent.

The most exciting news has been my being re - appointed as a Team Essex Ambassador and getting another award to keep me going in the coming season. I feel very privileged and it means I can travel abroad to compete, vital if I am to get the times I need to qualify for the World Championships later this year. I'm also grateful for the opportunity to interact with young people because they are the future. A huge thank you to all those people who have shown the confidence in my ability to compete on a world stage. There is to be an Awards Ceremony at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Stanstead on Monday February 1st and I'm really looking forward to attending because it gives me an opportunity to 'glam up' and look my best. Usually I'm to be seen sweating in a tracksuit on the cycle paths of Harlow! And, on that note, I'm off on the road again for a 6 mile steady push today. I'll be back.

Free At Last.

2010-01-21T04:53:00.000-08:00

I managed to finally get back out onto the road again today and it felt fantastic to be out pushing long distance again. Mind you, I couldn't take my usual route because the police had cordoned part of it off for some reason so I had to find another route. Thankfully, Harlow is blessed with lots of cycle paths so it wasn't too difficult. I'm just hoping the bad weather stays away so I can get right back into my usual routine.
Last night I went to the track at Mark Hall Sports Centre and did some much needed track work. I was exhausted when I finished but had that lovely feeling of self satisfaction that I had achieved something. I'm feeling really positive about the coming season, which kicks off with a half - marathon at Silversone in March which I'll be doing to raise money and awareness for one of the charities I support, AbleChild Africa.
Talking of charities something exciting is going to happen in the next month or so. Watch this space!

Snow Go Area Part 2.

2010-01-14T05:08:00.000-08:00

The past couple of weeks have been extremely frustrating because the heavy snow and awful weather has meant that I haven't been able to get out onto the road for some serious distance training. That's the part of my sport I really love, pushing myself to improve after every session and a nice warm glow of satisfaction when I finish my 10 miles. Oh well, no point moaning about it because the weather is something none of us can control. If I had the money I would return to Kenya for some warm weather training. That would be lovely, but no point in day dreaming either.I'ts back to the gym for another heavy session on the rollers, like a treadmill for wheelchairs that really works the muscles.

Last night,Wednesday, I was invited to speak to Saffron Walden Rotary Club. There were only two women in the room and one of them was me! Ooooh, all that attention from the men. Anyway, I told them about how I survived polio as a child in Kenya and the stigma attached to it, and also how I have never let it stand in the way of my pathway to success. They seemed to like what I said and they gave me a nice bouquet of flowers to show their appreciation. The Rotarians are working really hard on a fantastic programme to eradicate polio from the world and every year in February the have 'Purple Pinkie' week to raise funds for their vaccination programme. Bill Gates is a strong supporter and has donated a lot of his personal wealth to the project. Good on him! I was also amazed to learn from their magazine that Mia Farrow is also a polio survivor.

Snow Go Area and Goodbye to Santa.

2009-12-26T05:37:00.000-08:00

The weather over the past couple of weeks has been really awful, and especially over the past week when the snow came and stayed. As an athlete this has meant indoor training on rollers down at Harlow Sports Centre, and my usuall strength and conditioning training with my coach, John Campbell. I have been working really hard over the past few months and I'm looking forward to the New Year and the challenges ahead.
I've also been learning to swim and Neil Mann from Stewards School here in Harlow is the unlucky one trying to help me. I have never met such a patient person as Neil. He is an excellent teacher and has been working with me, off and on, over the past year. I must admit to finding it difficult to slot the time for swimming into my busy schedule, especially on these freezing cold winter nights, and when I got into the pool last week it was my first time for about 8 weeks. I managed to swim 8 breadths of the pool unaided and Neil was convinced I must have been having secret training elsewhere! I haven't and my success is all down to Neils patience and my own determination. It's good to learn new skills and my next target is to pass my driving test. I passed the theory so now its just the manual driving to master. I'll do it!
Outside of my sporting life I have been just like everyone else and getting ready for Christmas. Timothy, my son who is 8, is beginning to question the existence of Santa and wonders why he can't deliver presents to children in Africa, and do us parents give him the money for his presents. It's sad but inevitable that I think this is probably his last Christmas of believing in Santa. It's all part of growing up, at least in the developed world. As a child growing up in Kenya there was no such thing as Santa. We just woke up on Christmas Day and if we were lucky would be given a new dress or pair of shoes which would be proudly shown off at church. For us, the true nature of Christmas was to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. I feel that has largely been forgotten here in the U.K, at least it has if you have to judge by the media.
Anyway, it was still a delight to see Tim's face at 8.15am on Christmas morning as he opened his gifts, and to watch him happily playing throughout the day. I was shattered by the time I finally got to bed but it was a great day with the family. Roll on New Year.

Training and Training and More Training!

2009-12-10T03:14:00.000-08:00

After the celebration of a 1000 days to the 2012 Paralympics I suddenly realised that it doesn'r really leave me with a lot of time to get myself in tip top shape so I went straight out onto the road on Saturday and did my usual session. My route has quite a few hills, and with the bitter wind blowing in my face and my nose running it is really exhausting. When your nose is running and you're gasping for breath you realise that being an athlete is not very glamorous. I have to push up the long slope past Parndon Crematorium and that's when it is really hurting and my arms feel like jelly. Sometimes I feel like taking a right turn and getting it over and done with! What drives me to keep pushing to the end is my determination to do well. The best bit is when I start to make my way downhill and I can see the road to my house. This is where my coach always reminds me to work on my arm speed so no coasting for me, just more hard work.
When I get the chance to 'glam up' I jump at it and so on Tuesday I attended a fund raising champagne reception in the Natural History Museum in London organised by Save The Children, a charity that has touched my heart. It reminds me of growing up in Kenya and as a mother myself I know how important childhood is in forming who we become as adults. There were so many stars there I thought I was in the Planetarium instead!It was a great honour to meet the Princess Royal. I also enjoyed meeting Louis Barnett because he is a chocolatier and had designed a Christmas Tree and Santa made out of chocolate which was to be auctioned for the charity. Hasbro had a fantastic tree also, made of small toy ponies. But the most amazing tree was one made by Ethiopian children who have benefitted from being helped by Save the Children. It was made out of sisal and was beautifully coloured. It was a lovely evening and it made a nice change from training.

1000 Days to the 2012 Paralympics.

2009-12-04T05:59:00.000-08:00

On Thursday I attended a fantastic event at Mark Hall Sports College in Harlow to celebrate a 1000 days to the start of the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. There were a lot of disabled children there to try out a wide variety of sports and they all seemed to have a great time. Who knows, we might even see some of them actually participating in the Paralympics in the future. Harlow has already produced three Paralympians in Noel Thatcher, the late, great, Isobel Newstead, and myself and it would be truly fantastic if we could add a few more in the years to come.
In the evening it was back to the gym for another session on the dreaded rollers. My muscles ached after a really hard session but I basked in the afterglow in a hot bath feeling really good about myself and what I'd achieved. I'm feeling really positive about myself and feel confident that if I can remain injury free I will do really well in the coming season.
Of course, athletes have Christmas to celebrate as well and my eight year old son, Tim, has to be the centre of my attention so I'll have to take a couple of weeks off to enjoy his pleasure and excitement at the arrival of Santa in just three weeks time, not to mention having to shop for the toys to put in Santa's sack! Come the start of the year it'll be back to my routine of training 6 days a week.

Boxing Clever.

2009-12-04T05:09:00.000-08:00

On Monday it was a heavy session in the gym on rollers because the weather was still bad. I sweated and worked really hard to build up my stamina.
On Tuesday it was off to the annual President's Sporting Club Christmas Party for disabled children. I love this event because the kids are presented with trophies and medals for their achievements throughout the year and its great to see their joy at being rewarded for their efforts. Frank Bruno and John Conteh were there and it was lovely to see how well they got on with the children, especially Frank, who always makes them laugh. He is a really lovely man and I felt really proud to be in the company of two boxing legends. Also present were actress Sandra Dickinson, Bill Murray from Eastenders, Paralympian Fran Williamson, and Eammon Martin. It was a really enjoyable event.
After that I had to travel up to London for a meeting so when I returned home in the evening I felt exhausted but happy at such a productive day.

Stormy Weather.

2009-11-27T05:19:00.000-08:00

The weather has been terrible the past few weeks so getting out onto the road to train hasn't been possible. So, I took the training rollers out of my shed and had them transported to Harlow Sports Centre, along with my racing chair. Now I can just pop down there and do a session on the rollers any time I want, in the warmth! Mind you, its not an easy option because training on rollers is tougher than going out onto the road but I get a great sense of satisfaction when I finish a session, and its a vital part of my build up to the new season next year.
Today, Friday, I spoke at the launch of 'Rethink West Essex - Ethnic Minorities' at the Chinese Community Centre in Harlow. It's a charity dedicated to helping people overcome their mental problems and I was on the platform with local Labour MP, Bill Rammell. I was, as usual, very nervous before I spoke but the audience seemed to like what I said so I felt better at the end.

Journey to the Podium.

2009-11-10T04:34:00.000-08:00

I had a very busy weekend with my family and then on Monday it was even more hectic. I had to prepare for a trip to Bristol for a modelling assignment then head for Harlow Sports Centre for a gym session with my personal trainer John Campbell. We had a good workout that was being photographed by Elaine Tribley for her project for the Team Essex 2012, 'Journey to the Podium' ,where artists are teaming up with athletes to produce artwork in the lead up to London 2012. I'm very excited by the project and also I feel very honoured to have been chosen. John is an excellent coach and he has really helped me to develop my upper body strength, essential for a wheelchair athlete. It was a great workout, and equally great to meet up and chat to Elaine again. She is a very talented artist.
My husband, Norman, picked me up and we headed for Harlow Town train station to begin my journey to Bristol. We had to get to Liverpool Street then head across London to Paddington. The journey was made more stressful because of a bus strike but fortunately the 23 bus was running and we made our way through the rush hour traffic and arrived in plenty of time to catch the 6.30pm train.
As usual, when we reported to the room where disabled people can get assistance we were told off for not giving them 24 hours notice. It really does annoy me that disabled people are supposed to be able to plan everything 24 hours in advance whilst everyone else can just turn up. Anyway, my journey was made much nicer by travelling with another lady in a wheelchair and I arrived at my hotel ready for a good night's sleep.

A Hard Road

2009-11-05T04:28:00.000-08:00

On Saturday I did 10 miles on the road with lots of hills. I felt really good afterwards and know I'm getting into good shape for next year. I really want to do good times next season and improve on all my personal best times.
I had a rest on Sunday, then on Monday it was back on the road for another 10 mile push. On Tuesday the weather was terrible so I did a hard session on rollers in my front room. It's not ideal because I have to open all the windows and doors to get enough fresh air into the room so I can breath freely but that's what really hard training is all about. You have to suffer a bit if you want to do your best.
Yesterday, Wednesday, I went to the local track at Mark Hall school and did 4 laps as a warm up then did a lot of work on my starts. In wheelchair racing its essential to get off to a good start in sprints, and its in this area that I really need to work hard to improve my PB's. I'm feeling very confident at the moment that I can do this. I finished the gruelling session with another 4 lap warm down, then came home and enjoyed wallowing in a hot bath before having an early night.

'Eastenders'.

2009-10-31T06:12:00.000-07:00

I took a break from training yesterday to spend the day filming at Elstree Studios as a Supporting Artist on 'Eastenders'.This was my second appearance because I was there back in July making my debut. The whole experience is fascinating and its really strange being in 'Albert Square' after seeing it so often on the TV. Many years ago, back in Kenya, I can remember watching 'Carry On Camping' on video and Barbara Windsor had a wardrobe malfunction involving her undergarments so it was incredible to be actually in a scene with her yesterday. She even gave me a lovely smile and a wink and I felt really special. I won't give away the storyline but I can say it took ages to get the shot right and I didn't mind at all because I just was enjoying seeing the people I've watched myself on screen. You never know, perhaps one day you'll see me sprinting round Albert Square in my racing chair!
Back to the office today with a gruelling 10 mile road push. It was great being away but it's nice to be back to normality doing what I'm also passionate about, WHEELCHAIR RACING. As I was pushing on the road today I thought to myself that self belief and determination are vital to success, and I really want to succeed in my sport and get into top shape in the 1000 days leading up to London 2012. All my thanks to Team Essex!!!

Journey to the Podium | Project blogs | Artists talking | a-n

2009-10-28T08:54:00.000-07:00

Journey to the Podium Project blogs Artists talking a-n

The Downs Primary School, Harlow. Assembly 23/10/09.

2009-10-23T03:46:00.000-07:00

This morning I was invited to do morning assembly at The Downs Primary School in Harlow, and also to present a few prizes. I love doing this kind of thing because the feedback I get from the pupils is always very enthusiastic and it's great to meet the children

As a Team Essex Ambassador it's a real privilege to attend events like this so that young people can hopefully be inspired and encouraged to participate in sport. Self- belief is very important and the earlier it's learnt the better. When I was growing up in Kenya my father always told me that being disabled didn't matter, getting new things didn't matter, getting 3 meals a day didn't matter but what did matter was self-belief because that's what helps us to achieve in life. Anyway, the children were brilliant and were full of questions. They wanted to know how much I train, my diet. I didn't tell them that when I first started wheelchair racing my diet was KFC and MacDonalds until 'I saw the light' ! If only one of those children takes up sport then the morning was a success.

My training is going really well. I'm visiting the gym twice a week for strength and conditioning, and my personal trainer, John, really works me hard. Two evenings a week I go to Mark Hall track for speed work and interval training, though with the onset of darker nights I can't push to track so I have to arrange transport, and the COLD and the WET and a bit of my SWEAT will combine to produce better results for me next season. Wheelchair racing is like a drug for me and I am well addicted. It keeps me sane,it keeps me alive, and it keeps me healthy.

Team Essex Ambassador Artists.

2009-10-02T04:18:00.000-07:00

The first thing I really need to say is apologies for not making more regular updates to this blog and I promise to try and make more regular entries from today. Anyway, I've had a fairly hectic time since my last entry but it has all been positive stuff so I shall attempt to backdate a bit.
Harlow Primary Schools Athletics Championships.
I was invited to attend this event which was held at Mark Hall Sports College, Harlow, to present prizes and encourage the pupils attending. It was an absolutely foul day, with torrential rain the whole time, but the youngsters were determined to compete. The children bravely fought through the rain but it was really difficult as the rain was making huge puddles on the track. They splashed on and I was inspired by their grit and determination. Unfortunately, the weather won, and the event had to be cancelled but I still had the opportunity to see all the events that were held in the Sports hall, and meet and speak to a lot of children. They were full of questions which I did my best to answer.
Journey to the Podium - 'Adopt an Artist Scheme'.
In September I attended a meeting in Chelmsford whose aim was to pair up artists with athletes so a work of art can be produced. The artists have been briefed to work with their athlete to develop an art work that either captures them, the essence of their personalities or their chosen sport. I have been paired up with Elaine Tribley, who is a painter and graphic artist. We have met and are both very excited about the project and looking forward to taking this journey together. It was very interesting when we met at my local track and chatted whilst I was doing my training. She was really interested about every aspect of my sport, wheelchair racing, and wanted to know everything about my chair. We joked about her trying to get into my racing chair. Perhaps at the end of our journey I'll let her have a go, and I'll take the pictures!
Back to the office - TRAINING!
Training has been going really well as I work towards peak fitness to prepare myself for next season. Training never stops because as an athlete you need to be constantly trying to improve, and the only way to do that is by training. Just like anyone else, illness can interfere but you have to ride over it. I'm back doing over 50km a week plus some strength and conditioning in the gym. I'm also trying to learn how to swim because this will be good for my upper body strength, as well as being good therapy. It will also help me to raise some money for charity!
Harlow Sports Awards 2009.
I attended this event last night at Harlow Playhouse and it was good to be amongst so many talented athletes, a couple of whom I mentor and who were up for awards. I was nominated for Sports Personality of the Year. I got a nice certificate for being a finalist. At least I got the chance to 'glam up' and look like a woman instead of a sweat drenched athlete in sports gear.
I'll be back!

Harlow Sports Awards 09.

2009-07-03T08:04:00.000-07:00

It's interesting that when you are an athlete and start doing well how this can lead on to other things. For example, yesterday after I'd done my usual 10 miles training it was back home for a nice hot bath and then getting dressed in my posh clothes to give a short talk at a function I'd been invited to.
It was held at Harlow Town Football Ground, a lovely venue with a great view of the pitch from the windows of the Functions Suite. It was the official launch of the Harlow Sports Awards 09.The awards started last year and I was a recipient of the Disability Award, presented to me by the famous cricketer Graham Gooch, so I was honoured to be asked to give a short talk on the Importance of Sport as part of the launch. I think it went well.
Afterwards it was nice to chat to the other guests who included Councillor Tony Hall and his wife, Robert Halfon, the Conservative candidate at the next election, Neil Mann, who won the Services to Sport Award last year, and the man who has the unenviable task of trying to teach me to swim, plus up and coming sporting talents James Huckle and Mark Hunt. I really enjoyed myself and it was a nice break from the rigours of training.

Swiss Roll.

2009-06-30T03:02:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome to my new blog. I am a Paralympian who competes in wheelchair racing, sprinting to be exact about it, and in this blog you can read about how I am progressing in my chosen sport.
It's been a difficult year for me because I missed out on qualifying for Beijing due to a torn muscle in my shoulder. I was very disappointed not to take part because even with my injury I just missed out on getting a qualifying time in the 100m. I managed a personal best time of 17.38 and the qualifying time was 17.25 secs! Still, I got over it and started training again properly this year.
I've just returned from Switzerland where I took part in two competitions. In Ibach I managed 17.73 secs in the 100m, just outside my PB, and I was delighted with that result but, as I said, the weather was wet and windy and my 200m and 400m were just ordinary.
In Jona, a really fast track, all of the Brits were looking forward to fast times but the weather was horrendous, so bad people were turning blue with the cold! There was nowhere to get a hot drink and it was generally depressing. Still, I did my races, albeit in times that were poor so it was a bit of a disappointing end to the trip. Anyway,the weather was bad for everyone so no complaints.
Now I'm getting ready for Crystal Palace in July so it's train, train, and more training.

Anne-Wafula Strike's Blog

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Anne Wafula StrikeBritish Paralympian, author, and inspirational speaker born in Kenya, where she worked as a teacher before coming to the UK