WAIS javelin thrower Kim Mickle has just headed off on a eight week European tour ahead of the World Athletics Championships in Berlin in August. Kim, who is currently ranked top eight in the world, will keep visitors to wais.org.au up to date with the latest happenings from Europe as well a providing a few laughs along the way. Her first blog is below:-
Travelling from Perth to Kourtane in Finland takes guts!!!
My coach, Grant Ward and I have just encountered 25 hours worth of airports, flights, buses and trains to get to where we are now. We left Perth on Saturday at midnight to travel to Hong Kong which is about eight hours of flying which usually isn't that bad... But when placed next to a large local Hong Kong man who has no volume control of his voice and absolutely no manners when asking for 10 cokes and 10 waters throughout the trip which had to be with ice, made the trip interesting. Poor Grant wasn't in any better position either...
Finally Hong Kong, we had a quick stop over which was great, enough time to get water, stretch and prepare for our next leg to Helsinki (11 hour flight). Grant scored an exit aisle seat and I was at window next to another large man. I noticed two seats behind me that were free (I think everyone wanted them) so I decided to move fast and totally score them!!! Usually two seats are still too small to lie down but having ‘Mickle legs'...short (thanks dad!) I was able to scrunch up into a ball and get some decent sleep. Awesome!
After two meals, two movies and about four hours of sleep and we have made it to Helsinki. Time to get our bags and my Javelins and head to the bus station... Mmm luggage belt has stopped and no Javelins... I think my Javelins wanted an extra holiday from throwing and decided to go to America instead. Naughty Javs! I like to look at the positives in life... We had to get a bus and then a three hour train to Kourtane and having no Javelins to travel with was a TOTAL BONUS!!! I didn't have people asking “are they fishing rods” or “geez, I wouldn't want to mess with you”... Great!
We are finally here and the place is amazing! The weather is beautiful, 22-26 deg and there is absolutely no night time here... Always light!!! It's weird to sleep but a pillow over the head is always a winner :)
Today is our first day here so Grant and I headed to the indoor and outdoor track to have a light run and gym session to try and get the 25 hours of travel out of my system. Just had lunch and now it might be nap time to get amped for the next training session which is about two hours.
My first competition is on the 28th in Finland which gives me six days to train and psych up before hopefully unleashing a big throw... I'm really pumped to get started with these comps! This is the first time that I have travelled overseas and actually felt confident and in form... I highly recommend it! I have five major comps throughout Europe before the World Championship in Berlin in August and I'm looking forward to every moment and every challenge that will come my way...
Kim |
