Sunday, July 31, 2011

Training in Weymouth

Hey!

We are getting closer and closer until the first day of the Pre-Olympics. Everything around the sailing venue is changing and getting ready for the upcoming event. We now have credentials that allows only the athletes and staff allowed into the regatta area. The staging areas are set which means every sailor from their given country rig up in the same area as their fellow team mates. I am currently getting USA and American Flags plastered everywhere on my boat.

It's really exciting to be a part of this event. It's pretty much a mach Olympics and as far as I can tell everyone is treating it as though it is the Games.

Lets rewind a little bit. I have been here since the 21st training. The wind has been unusually light which is good because it has given Luther and I the chance to work on some of my main weaknesses. I have been struggling all year in moderate conditions (6-10 knots, choppy waves). Luther and I have made it a main goal to improve in this condition and lately we have been seeing some dramatic changes.

Today I sailed with Sara Winther from NZL. I believe she is one of the fastest girls upwind in these conditions so I was glad to be able to compare my technique. Luther and I have noticed a positive progression and I am happy/proud to say that I was keeping pace with her today. She is very talented and to be able to compete against her in this is very good.

Honestly my days have been very monotonous. Meaning, I wake up, read the forecast, eat breakfast, go sailing, go to the gym, eat dinner, do computer work and sleep. I guess it looks kind of boring, but thats my life and I love it. Hopefully I will see all this hard work pay off in the upcoming event.

I will write later on in the week with all the details on the regatta and my mental/physical readiness and preparation!

PS sorry if my grammar and punctuation is a bit off today. Chris, my trainer has just finished killing me in the gym. My head is not completely here right now!

Monday, July 25, 2011

Weymouth, England

Hey Everyone!

I'm writing you from the team shed as I lay on the ground with my legs elevated and in the Normatec compression boots. I'm trying to help speed up the process of recovery so I can be ready for another day of training with my coach Luther Carpenter and training partner Isabella Bertold from Canada.

I arrived four days ago and was greeted with typical English weather: rain, clouds and cold weather. It's been up and down since then, but it's bearable. Yesterday was my first day in the boat and if any of you saw my tweets then you already know that it was a long day and pretty hard because it was windy and new hiking pants. They were a bit too slippery which made hiking much harder because I couldn't grip the boat. This made my back pretty sore today, but what doesn't  kill you makes you stronger?! After sailing I had a gym session in the team shed. It was really cool because Chris our trainer is here to help us with our workouts. It's pretty hard because he is watching our every move making sure we are working hard and have good form.

Today, I helped load up a container with three 49ers, a motorboat and two lasers. It took a lot longer then we expected so we couldn't make it out sailing. What did that mean? no sailing=kill yourself in the gym. I started off with a bike and the minute I stepped off Chris was ready to work me with the weights. It was a great session, but hard (hint as to why I am sitting in the compression boots).

Tomorrow we are sailing at 11 and then gym at night. This is pretty much what my days are going to look like until August 2. My event for the Pre-Olympics stars on August 5th. It just hit me the other day that I am sailing in the Pre-Olymps. This is pretty big and I'm getting quite excited for it. I can't wait to represent myself, country, federation, yacht club, sponsors and family at this event. I'll do my best, but all I can focus on right now is getting myself mentally and physically prepared.

Sign up for my twitter PaigeSailor or facebook page Paige Railey 2012 to see the photos I upload daily. They are on the wall represented by a link that takes you to the webpage so you can view it.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Hunter-Gatherer Time

This break has been one of the best things for me mentally and physically. It has been refreshing in all ways! This year has been based around sailing, working out and gaining weight so it's really nice to do something else. I have to admit that I am really missing being out in my boat because sailing is a part of me. It has made me into the person I am today and has changed/taught me many things in my life.

So, what am I up to now?! In my last blog I had visited Lauderdale and Key West, but now I am in the Bahamas. I had an old friend ask me to join a bunch of friends and family on a vacation. It's been a blast catching up and meeting new people. It's been so crazy! Everything that I have been doing has been on a whim and I have to admit that I love it.

The trip started out by taking an 8 hour boat trip from Florida to Guana (Bahama Island). There was a variety of conditions, but all in all it was a fun ride. When we arrived to the island we were greeted by a beautiful house...perfect island decor (white pristine walls, pool, starfish, coral, and flowers everywhere!) We headed off to dinner at a local eatery and then went to bed. We woke up to a bright sun, turquoise water and warm weather. Only one word can describe it: PERFECT!

So, whats the deal with the title of this blog? Well, thats exactly what we have done...gone back to the old days where you hunt your own food. I learned how to clean conch and make a ceviche salad with the meat. Besides that we have been fishing, snorkeling and lounging around...well not completely for me. I have been diligent about working out here, eventhough the heat makes it ten times harder. One of the coolest things about the training is I have been put through boot camp! One of the guys here is part of the Airforce so he has taken me through some of his workouts. I thought I would give it a try, but little did I know that I would end up pushing a golf cart up a hill, carrying a 190 pounds person on my back and squating sand bags. Pain is temporary, but glory is forever right?! LOL

Well, England is coming soon, but honeslty I am still going to enjoy my last few days before it's back to work!

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Vacation Time!

Hey!!!!

Life has been so relaxing!!! It sure has been a while since I have had a break. We worked so hard in Europe and I was looking forward to being home in Florida. Of course my sailing objectives are still in place.....train in the gym and gain weight, which I must say is going quite well so far. I have put on the weight that I lost from being ill and a bit more. This makes me pretty excited to go back to Weymouth and hopefully bring it in the breeze!

Anyways, lets talk about my other life...my non sailing life. I returned home to a happy family and twin! I missed them all so it was amazing to see them again. I went shopping, hung out and gossiped with Brooke. It's always great to catch up with her.

On another note, Sarah Lihan and I have really bonded over the last few years. So, when I came home I told her that I would drive down to visit her. I packed up the car and off I went to Southern Florida. We trained together (which was a blast) and went out and explored the area. It is truly beautiful down here.The next day I decided to go to the Florida Keys where I celebrated the fourth with my family (which I haven't done since I was 13). I truly love the warm weather, turquoise water, fishing and swimming here in Florida. I will post some photos up in about 2 weeks.

This has been a great re-booster on my energy and I am motivated to get back sailing. Two more weeks and its back to the boat...and I can't wait!

I leave for England on July 20th and will begin training on the 24th. Next regatta: PRE-OLYMPICS!!!