2014 Here I Go.

Hello and happy new year.

Since I last touched base with you I have been having such a good time. Such a good time that I haven't found time to sit down and write about the experiences. When I first started this blog it was the day before surgery in June 2013 and for the following 4-5 months I couldn't do a great deal, especially the first month when I could barely walk let alone do my training so I was able to bombard the blog with updates. Anyways, now that I am 'healthy' again time has once again become precious. I endeavour to keep this short and to the point, and not leave such long periods between updates going forward. 

Christmas day family ride along the Great Ocean Road. 

Christmas Day Family Lunch

The last 3 weeks I have been on the move a bit, I spent christmas and saw in the new year while in Lorne on the Victorian coast. It was the 21st consecutive year that I have spent a period of my summer holidays in Lorne, you may recall me speaking about this place a few months ago so will not elaborate greatly on how much I love this coastal town, other than to tell you what I did. I cycled along the great ocean road, I went mountain bike riding in the Otways, I ate, I lay on the beach, I swam, I napped, I enjoyed time with the family and I had time to think back over the previous 12 months along with my goals going forward.

This is cycling on the Great Ocean Road and I love it

Climbing 'Benwerrin' in the Otways and holding 460W for 23:30 (Data here)

Following on from Lorne the Victorian Institute of Sport rowing squad headed to the Victorian alpine region to falls creek for a 9 day training camp consisting of rowing, cycling, ergos, hiking and weights training. This camp was slightly disrupted due to particularly cold weather and persistent winds which made achieving quality rows somewhat difficult. However this did make for some fun cross training sessions on the bike, on the ergo and in the gym. The short video below is one the ergo sessions we completed at around 1700m of elevation, at this elevation you really do notice the decreased oxygen in the air.

Attached below are some photos of training on falls creek camp. For more photos please head to the Unsinkable Facebook page. 

To finish up:

I do not normally get so excited for new years eve as I did a few weeks ago. 

For me the beginning of 2014 was a good milestone and one I had been looking forward to for some time. I had a pretty unenjoyable 2013, I went from travelling reasonably well on national training camp in january with an eye on returning to the national team, to surgery in February, rehab that followed was a waste of time as I had surgery again in June, from here you know most of the story and how 'crazy' it all became for me. Thankfully with the new year I am able to push this all behind me and get on with the task ahead. 

Things are really about to get going for me and before too long I will know if I am up the standard I desire. NSW state champs and world cup team one selection is in less than a month so wish me luck as I am going to need it. 

For now that is all from me. 

Cheers, John