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Image 086 - Anna getting a lactate test (from our sports scientist Scott Gardner) after a hard effort on the ergo.

Image 088 - Anna rolling out her legs on the ergo, preparing for another hard effort.

Image 089 - Anna at the Kenrick Tucker veledrome for a training session, changing gears for her efforts.

Image 091 - Jobie Djaka, Shane Kelly, Scott Gardner, Martin Barras and Alan Downes (the masseuse) at the Kenrick Tucker Velodrome for a training session. Great weather, perfect for Athens preparation!

Image 092 - Craig Colduck (the A.I.S. strength and conditioning coach) at the track training with the sprint group.

The Australian Track Cycling team left Rockhampton airport Sunday morning and it was very hard to hold back the tears.

I longed to go with them as Martin Barras (the coach) started asking for all the athletes passports and frequent flyer cards, but not this year for me.

Myself, mum and dad, Mark( Anna's boyfriend), Alan and Del (marks parents), Rachel (marks sister), Scott and Dan (our bother and his wife), uncle Arthur and the Bulletin were there to wish Anna good luck and to say farewell.

She was very tearful at the departure gate but at the same time excited to be going to her first Olympic Games.

The sadness for me didn't last for too long, as the plane took off I started driving home thinking what I am going to be doing to get back on track for next years World Titles and the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

During the time I spent here in Rockhampton training with the team, I sat down with Martin and decided on a plan.

I will be leaving to go down to Adelaide at the end of this month to train with the strength and conditioning coach Craig Colduck and his TID group that he coaches.

That way I can be assessed by Craig in the gym and out on the bike, for good feedback to Martin when the AIS training program starts again some time after the Olympics.

I have a few training goals I am setting out to achieve while I'm down there, like e.g. to perform a standing start with out pain, fitness, strength etc.

It will also be nice to have a change of environment for a month or two, but I will be coming back to Rockhampton to be a guest speaker at a charity dinner and who can forget Anna's Birthday in September!!!!!

The past 3 weeks have been great, besides the critical media being so persistent!

I have made huge progresses in the gym and on the track whilst I have been here training with the team, I have gained a lot more confidence and belief in my ability to bounce back.

I look forward to competing again soon.

It was great to catch up with Anna, I thought it would be nice for her to have a chick around to train with for a while.

I really enjoyed going to the team dinners and listening to all the adventures and stories from the past world cups of this year.

Prior to coming to Rockhampton to train, I was staying with Hayley Wright who is a very promising junior cyclist from Brisbane for a few weeks.

I was training with Hayley before she had to go down to Melbourne for a camp, before she departs to the Junior World Titles in L.A.

One day when we had road sprints, she broke 3 spokes off the hub in her back wheel!

She is so strong and I wish her all the best when she leaves to L.A to compete at the Junior Worlds.

I had a lot of fun, she has a wonderful family.

I have never know anyone to eat as healthy as she does!

I certainly have taken away some tips from her.

I also like to thank James Victor (QAS coach) for taking the time to look after me while I was in Brisbane, I appreciate it very much.

And also to thank Wendy Swift my (sports psychologist) for getting me through the rough times and helping me get refocused.

I will forward on Anna's email updates and I also will let you know on what's happening over there when I get the word.