Teach Your Children Well.

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.

Always Look On The Bright Side of Life.

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.

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

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.