Mar 23, 2011
World Championship Trials and Family Time

I returned to the UK at the end of Feb. I had that long 24-hour trip back to the UK, on my own which was quite scary! Not a massive fan of flying, so I was a bit worried about going all that way on my own. When I landed in the UK I had my brother and my dad waiting to pick me up! I spent the evening with my family catching up as I hadn’t seen them since the beginning of December. My mum cooked me a Sunday dinner which was awesome, I love my mums cooking, it’s the best!
The next day I travelled up to Loughborough to start my preparation for the 2011 British world champ trials, I had just less than a week before I competed. I was feeling slightly Jet lagged and a little bit under the weather.
Unfortunately within a couple of days of being back I ended up with a cold and conjunctivitis! I knew that this was the last thing I needed before I had to compete in a few days time!

I stayed with close friends Michelle and Barry and pippa the dog whilst I was in Loughborough. One night we went to a local pub for some proper English grub! I miss my low ceiling and open fire pubs that serve traditional English puddings like crumble and custard!! Mmmmmm…….
It was also great to catch up with all the girls! Jo, Fran, Lizzie, Lowri, Steph, Gemma and myself had a girls lunch out to my old local café Wests! Had my favourites a panini and a chocolate slice for dessert! It was great seeing all my friends, I miss them all lots!

Trials were up in Manchester this year at the Commonwealth games 2002 pool, I was only 15 when I competed there!
My first race was on the Sunday morning. I was just getting over my cold and feeling ok. I raced the heat of the 100m Br well and qualified first through to the semi finals that evening. In the evening the semi also went well qualifying me 1st through to the final the next night.
After my semi I didn’t feel to well again. I couldn’t eat my dinner which for me is very odd! I always eat my dinner! I had a good nights sleep and in the morning headed down to the pool for a loosen off. My body felt pretty tired and ached but I just tried to ignore that and carry on concentrating on the final which I had that evening. Unfortunately things didn’t go to well that evening and I didn’t make the qualifying for the World champs! I was very upset as I know that I am capable of going so much better than I did.

Moving to Australia was to help me improve my swimming for Olympics 2012. I have turned my whole life upside down. I am learning and doing lots of new things in my training. All of this with the combination of being ill is probably why things didn’t work out at the trials. For me next year is the most important thing right now. Not making worlds means that I can get an early start on my preparations for next year and be better than I have ever been! Onwards and upwards is my motto!

I got to spend a week with my family before flying back to Australia. It was great to see everyone and spend some time with them. One of my brothers took the week off work so we got to hang out. We went to see the movie Paul which I thought was funny but very stupid! He also let me drag him around the shops so I could spend my birthday money!! My mum also treated me to a new hairstyle for my birthday, which is actually next week (April fools day!!!)

I also attended a SplishSplosh swim school at The Mount School in York. It was great to see all the SplishSploshSS team. The swim school went great. I did a great Q&A session with the swimmers and Parents. I told them all about my swimming career and hopefully inspired them with my achievements. I then showed them my Breaststroke swimming in the pool before they all jumped in to swim with me! I did a few races with them and gave them some of my swimming top tips!

I am now back in Melbourne and back training. My training group are preparing for there World trials which starts next week. I will be joining them in Sydney at the end of the meet to race the 50m BR which I am really looking forward to! Going to do some sight seeing whist I’m there too!

As I said earlier its my birthday next week. I am going to 24!!! So this weekend I will be looking for a bike! That’s my birthday present from my boyfriend Kevin! He is also taking me out for a lovely meal in the city which will be lovely, I am hoping the weather will be good!

Remember you can keep up to date with me on twitter @katehaywood and facebook

Kate