Members Aileen McGlynn Posted September 13, 2004 Members Report Share Posted September 13, 2004 Saturday 11 September Awoke at 4am and got to the airport in time for my flight to London Gatwick, were I was told I would be met by the SportsWorld rep. Arrived in Gatwick, but no one was there to meet me. It turns out that my flight to Athens was from Heathrow and not Gatwick, so the headman at SportsWorld had to come and pick me up and take me to Heathrow himself. All was well though, as my flight did not leave until 12 noon. Met up with Ellen, Paul and Iain at Heathrow and we got to Athens about 5:30pm, Athens time. We had a police escort to the athlete village and the bus had a soldier on it. When we arrived at the village, the bus was scanned for bombs and we had our luggage scanned as well. I didn’t have my accreditation pass prior to leaving for Athens but the other three did, so I was a bit concerned that I would not be allowed into the village. Thankfully the accreditation process went smoothly and I got my pass. We arrived at our accommodation, which consists of about 5 rooms, two bathrooms and an open area with TV, table and chairs, in our apartment. Ellen and I are in one block with Geoff, the mechanic and a few of the basketball support staff. The rest of the male cycle squad are in another block around the corner. We dumped our bags and walked to the eating area, which is about the size of ADSA at Govan. There are rows upon rows of tables and chairs and a large selection of food from all over the world. There is even a MacDonalds for the less healthy athletes. We then walked back but it was really really cold and windy and the first nights sleep was terrible as we were so cold during the night. So much for heat acclimatization. Sunday 12 September Awoke about 9:30 am and met up with the others to walk to breakfast. Went out for a gentle ride around the village, dodging in and out of the wheelchair users and others on the way. Then I went for my medical classification so that I was allowed to compete. Then in the afternoon we went to the track to try it out. It is a really smooth track but it was a bit windy and as it was late afternoon, the sun was quite low in the sky and temporarily blinded Ellen as we went around. We were on the track at the same time as the American team. The female tandem team were a bit put out at Barney and Dan when they had to move out of the way of another rider in order to avoid a crash and the pilot called them a “Son of a Bitchâ€. Good to see us keeping up foreign relations! Monday 13 September 13 The BBC are going to come to the track to interview us today, so that should be interesting. Back on the track from 5pm to 7pm. Had an easy morning sitting around reading. We are now cycling to the food hall instead of walking, to save our wee legs. It is a good bit warmer today and we managed to work out how to turn on the heating last night, so we had a better nights sleep. Aileen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Blom Posted September 13, 2004 Report Share Posted September 13, 2004 Great reading Aileen keep it coming. will be watching out for you on t.v. Awra best Stevie B. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Aileen McGlynn Posted September 14, 2004 Author Members Report Share Posted September 14, 2004 Monday 13 September Our session at the velodrome started at 5pm. We did about a 15 minute warmup and then we did a flying 100m jump and did the third fastest flying 100m we have ever done, still on the warmup gear. We upped the gear and did another flying 100m and then we upped it again to our race gear and did a flying 200m and did a time of 11.87s, which is a personal best and beats the current world record of around 12.02s, so we were well pleased. Prior to this final jump, I had my interview with the BBC, which should be televised before our first event on Saturday. I am not sure if they are doing live coverage, but the women's 1km TT starts about 12:55pm Athens time. Tuesday 14 September Having a rest day today, so pottering around a bit. Went for a massage this morning. Was chatting to Tanni Grey-Thompson outside our appartment this afternoon. It was nice to meet her. It is a lot warmer today, so starting to use the suncream. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Aileen McGlynn Posted September 16, 2004 Author Members Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 Wednesday 15 September Arrived at the track about 11:30am to do a mock run for Saturday morning. Did a turbo warmup and then a couple of 50 metre starts. We then did a standing start 500m and our splits were faster than we have gone before, despite having to overtake some other riders in the way. We then did a rolling 500m were our times were better than we have done in the past. The Aussies were on after us, there are three female tandem pairings, one of them especially is our biggest threat and they were in good form. So here’s hoping we can get everything out on Saturday and that there are no other nations in such good form. Thursday 16 September Went for an easy ride around the village today and had a massage afterwards. BBC Radio Scotland have been in touch and they want to do a live radio interview around 10:50 your time on Friday 17 September, so listen in if you can. Back on the track tomorrow at 9am, Athens time to do some more starts and flying 100m. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Macdougall Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 Good Luck for Saturday Aileen. Ps wee mention on BBC sports Paralympics section http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/disability_sport/3660358.stm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Hickey Posted September 17, 2004 Report Share Posted September 17, 2004 I heard your interview on the radio Aileen - well done. I was at my computer at the time and managed to send in an e-mail wishing you all the best from everyone at the club. It was read out but I'm not sure if you will have heard it - there seemed to be a bit or trouble hearing you at the very start of the interview. Shame you're missing the opening ceremony, but I guess you'll need the sleep. Good luck tomorrow Stephen H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kenny MacDonald Posted September 17, 2004 Members Report Share Posted September 17, 2004 Hoping everything goes well tomorrow Aileen. If the nerves start to get to you just imagine its Mr Laidback Keir sitting in front of the tandem. International polo player and star of radio & the Glaswegian , as well as pilot to the real star You will do great , and we will all be shouting you on from our living roooms . And I bet you will hear us all the way over to the velodrome in Athens. ps some good news for you . Dr. Gerry has a site visit at Bellahouston to consult on upgrading the running track into a banked cycle track. A training facility on your doorstep who woul;d have believed it ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Aileen McGlynn Posted September 17, 2004 Author Members Report Share Posted September 17, 2004 Friday 17 September Had an early start this morning, waking at 6:45am for our one hour track session at 9am. We did a 40 lap warmup and then a flying 100m on our race gear and getting faster. Here’s hoping we can keep up the trend. We only had time to do one standing start but again this was our quickest yet. I then had an interview with I think Hazel Irvine and another commentator, who I don’t remember his name, but he will be doing the track commentary over the next few days. Then back to the village to do a warm down on the bike, time for a quick shower and then I went for my interview with BBC Radio Scotland. We had to sit for about 40 minutes before we got on and then they lost us as the interview was about to start. I don’t know whether you heard the interview but I couldn’t let the presenter away with blaming us for being late. I hope my response didn’t sound to cheeky? After that I went for some lunch and then to the internet café to write this. I am hoping to get another massage this afternoon just to make sure I am in top form for tomorrow. As most people are going to the opening ceremony, the dinner hall closes at 6pm here and the buses around the village have also stopped running. I hope to watch the opening ceremony in the British athlete’s lounge but I will also be having an early night and hope the basketball lot don’t make too much noise when they get back. Thanks to everyone for their best wishes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BrianS Posted September 17, 2004 Members Report Share Posted September 17, 2004 Good Luck.....good piece on Radio Scotland..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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