Well it’s the time of year again where the hard winter in the gym will hopefully start too pay of and the annual trip to Monte Gordo in Portugal for the BWAA (British WheelchairAthletics Association) warm weather training camp.

We met up at Gatwick all ready and raring to go, but one of the party was late, this person is often late and not very organised and this was again proven when she walked into the airport in a huff because she had left her wheelchair at home in her car as she hadn’t thought about it because she came to the airport in a different car!  Oh, did we laugh!

The flight went without a hitch and arriving in Portugal I do love that feeling of warmth when you get of a plane in a hot country. We were staying in a different hotel to previous years but some had stayed in it before and we were assured it was nicer, and when we arrived it certainly was nicer. The rooms were nice but the doors were rather narrow to say the least! My wheelchair was the only one that would fit in the bedroom door so for the next 10 days me and my room-mate went through this routine of me going through the door jumping out my chair my friend getting in mine too get into the bedroom!

Now onto the training….the stadium is about 3km away so the people who enjoy 'pushing' push there as a warm up in the morning and the people who don’t like pushing (like myself), get the bus! The stadium is an excellent facility and has everything an athlete could want.

The first day was encouraging as I was already throwing over my Personal Best (or ‘PB’as we call it); this training malarkey does actually work!

As the days continued, both my shot and discus progressed nicely and I ended up throwing about 6 meters over my PB in my discus! This was all down to me working hard in the gym over the winter and working with new coaches who have given me a new-found confidence in my technique and ability.

The aim of Portugal Warm Weather Training is to do lots of throwing and get yourself ready for the outdoor throwing season, but we do also have some fun, sometimes brought on by the consumption of alcohol!  And the cobblestones and high curbs in the town also cause considerable amusement for us wheelchair users.

So, summing up; a great camp had by all and bring on the 2011 season and hopefully the ultimate aim of reaching London 2012!

Seb Trezise

Sports Lead, Enable Me Project

April 2011

Links:

British Wheelchair Athletics Association: www.bwaa.co.uk

London 2012 Paralympic Sports: www.london2012.com/games/paralympic