Immediately after my last post, I started the annual build-up period for the competition season. The Winter Training. Anyone in Athletics can tell you, you’re going to break down. So do I. But I’m going great except for some minor aches and coughs.
Blog
How I clean, tidy up, and straighten out my messy life
This year I cleaned, tidied, and straightened out what it takes to excel for the next two years. This year was not easy for me; nevertheless, this gap year was an excellent time to investigate and implement the necessary repairs. The start of my season felt good, and...
The start of the racing season
After the Camino I slowly started to build up again from three days to six days of training. In May, just before I left for a training camp in Crete, I was back in the full program. For this reason, we have decided to open the racing season later, on July 1. This is also the date of my aunt’s death and has been a difficult day for the past few years. It doesn’t feel that way anymore.
Then I took your hand.
Last March, I walked the Camino from Porto to Santiago de Compostela to find and lose something. I wanted to give a place to the heavy feeling that my aunt left behind and find pleasure in my sport.
Get ready, set!
In this post I reflect on what brought me to Tokyo, the challenges and choices that helped me become the fastest version of myself. I still have quite a bit to improve. But first the Paralympics
The journey to the top, is the journey to myself
When I look back on my journey to Paralympic top sprintster, the title should actually be; 'The journey to myself'. In elite sports you are dependent on yourself, so if you drop the ball physically or mentally, you will immediately feel that during the race. May 8, I...
Meeting in real life
Joep and I have produced a good winter training period, even though the current method was nothing like I’ve been used to these last few years. Because of this change in approach, I did not have a great feeling about my progress so far, until the training-camp in...
Who is the first female on the Xiborg V blade?
I've already run with it at the ONK Para Athletics, but I was not allowed to make it public at that time. That changes now: "My new blade is a Xiborg V." And, Xiborg is also a new partner for the Paralympic Games in Tokyo. Xiborg supplies me with this...
Silver at the ONK Para Athletics
Later than expected, the party called ONK Para Athletics. This time it took place in Tilburg at AV Attila instead of at Eindhoven Atletiek. To be honest, I did not feel any pressure to perform. I thought 2020 was partly a disappointing year and I'm sure I'm not alone....
A quick getaway
For some athletes, the Coronavirus pandemic was a convenient crisis. For others, less so. Every athlete deals with the situation in their own way. One person might merely sustain their level of fitness, another might focus on achieving peak performance. For myself,...
My new coaches, just like the movie
As you might know, I brought my training facilities closer to home. For about a month, I train at PH in Vught (near 's-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands), which feels like coming home. Do you know the movie "The Next Karate Kid"? I've dreamt of being trained by someone...