Natalie Van Coevorden: Monthly Report- November

Getting back into the swing of things... was my body ready for it after the lazy days with some days the most exercise being the walk up and down the 20 steps of stairs in my house. I was ready and excited to find out. This month we gradually started to ease back into training focussing mostly just on our aerobic capacity and strength conditioning work.

Earlier this month, we had testing at NSWIS. This involved testing our VO2 max levels on the treadmill but more importantly analysing our running technique to be able to run faster and more efficient. This then helps us to incorporate strength and conditioning work into our everyday environment to get those magic golden glutes! We have a great team at the NSWIS that help us sort out not only our physical issues but also the mental and issues outside the triathlon world like university. I applied for a new degree for next year with distance education as this would allow me to finish a degree earlier and take it away with me overseas. 

As its time to start getting serious again,  I am currently in Falls Creek in altitude just over the border of NSW. It has been fairly fresh up here with it not reaching over 10 degrees yet. Falls Creek especially this camp is not over doing it as being at altitude means you have less oxygen to breathe whilst training. Every morning we have a routine of testing that we must complete to check if we are hydrated, our weight, oxygen levels, haemoglobin and our training diary. This place is like a home away from home. Although we are in isolation from the real world, it’s great to be running on the trails in the fresh air and in such a elite environment.  I enjoy getting out of our house and going to the gym everyday for our session as it is something different to what we usually do and a important component in our sport. The pool at Mt Beauty has been abit chilly so I have been wearing a speed suit for each warmth- it might even make me a tad quicker beating the newbie Grace in our 66m butterfly challenge.

It will be great to go home as 3 days after we do I turn the magic 19 years old and have Christmas to look forward to with the family. My room is also getting a renovation which I am excited about to see when I arrive home