GREETINGS FROM PORTUGAL - WISH YOU WERE HERE!

23rd October 2007

As soon as we arrived, we knew time management was going to be a big issue...

When we arrived at the hotel we were given time out to relax and chill and to sort out our things. Around 7 o'clock we all decided to head down to the beach, which was only 5 minutes away, and loosen off from the flight. The coaches created a light session where we had to stretch, jog and race-walk, which was really just an excuse to wiggle our bums.

We then returned to the hotel and had dinner and spent time together to bond as a team. And then the training began....

The sweat, mosquitoes and the sun were the main things we had to consider. The throws area was quite far away from the main stadium and anyone who ventured over that way was cursed. You were lucky to get away with less than 15 bites. Poor Pat (Rollo) - we used up all of her bite cream!

The weights room was up to standard with six platforms and four squat cages, along with machine weights and CV equipment. Whenever Dan (Carlin) and Allan (MacKay) were in the room you knew it, as you could here their groans from the other side of the track. It seemed the coaches used the weights area more frequently than the athletes as it was shaded.

The football pitch in the middle of the track was used by everyone to warm-up and cool down. We all ended up jogging in our bare feet even when pesticide was put on the grass...you never know, it could have been for us.

In the indoor area, all you could hear were Lisa's (Glover) grunts and screaming whilst working the medicine balls and Caitlyn (Mackie) dropping her weights. Also, every time you looked up you could see Jamie (Sinclair) and Callum (Sharp) running round with no tops on...showing off we think.

During the week we got to grips with the different aspects of athletics after talking to the coaches individually. This gave us the opportunity to see athletics from the eyes of various professionals and to determine what they needed to deal with throughout the years, such as management.

Although training was a major part of the camp, we learned to appreciate the importance of at least a 30 minute downtime - which at times extended to three hours involving the three S's: Sleep, Swimming and of course...STEAK! 8 Euros for salad, rice, chips and steak...what a bargain! The staff ended up knowing all the guys orders as they went there everyday but one. They even knew Callum's (Sharp) name - but we're not quite sure why. It's sometimes better not to know!

It got so hot  in between sessions that Calum (Innes) and Jamie (Sinclair) decided to go bald.

The night-life was good and photos and videos were taken constantly, sitting in the corridor laughing our heads off and then, when trying to sleep, people getting woken up by Eilidh's (Tait) snoring and Shuggy's various squeaks.

Competing against the coaches was another common occurrence. The last night saw Piotr and Nigel destroy Callum Sharp and Allan (MacKay) in a game of table football. This led to the boys losing the game - and most of their clothes - as they undertook the forfeit - it was eleven at night and they were forced to jump into the freezing cold water of the pool.

Despite all the tears and laughter, we trained and committed ourselves fully to try and show our ability and talent that got us here in the first place and will hopefully get us to the Commonwealth Youth Games next year in Pune, India.

Just a quick thank you to Hugh Murray, Pat Rollo (Patio Rollio as she became known), Darren Ritchie (although he needed to leave early), Nigel Hetherington, Piotr Haczek and Mike Johnston. Without the support of these six well-experienced adults, we would not have had have this opportunity to experience a professional lifestyle.  Also, another thank you is due to Mary Anderson who worked behind the scenes to organise the entire trip. Also to the 15 athletes that came out and made the trip more than a trip and made it an experience we shall never forget.

Lisa Glover, Jade Nimmo, Suzanne Begg, Caitlyn Mackie, Jill Brooks, Laura Davies, Myra Perkins, Callum Sharp, Scott Hughson, Eilidh Tait, Jamie Sinclair, Calum Innes, Joe Bloomfield, Allan MacKay, Daniel Carlin.