The Lockdown Lowdown with Caitlin Dore….

In the first in our new series, we ask how the 2016 Rio Paralympian and Dunedin-based New Zealand Para thrower is handling life in lockdown.

How are you coping with the challenge of being in lockdown?

It has been challenging not been able to leave the house, having to change your mindset around your daily routines. But so far it has been okay. I live in a flat with five others, so it’s been great having people around, and together we try and make our daily routines as normal as possible.

How has this impacted on your training?

I have continued to train through this lockdown. I live with Holly Robinson (the 2016 Paralympic and 2019 World F46 javelin silver medallist), so we have been training together which has brought a sense of normality to these strange times.

The other flatmates have been joining in as well, although currently I don’t have the space to throw a shot, so I have been doing drills instead. We have been lucky to have borrowed some gym equipment from our athletics club, so we have everything we need to do our weights sessions. We have been enjoying our group circuit sessions, it’s been fun. It’s really important in these times to remind yourself that any form of training you have access to or can do is fine as long is your doing something. It’s definitely been hard not picking up a shot, but you have to find other ways to stay fit.

Have you put in place any innovative methods to maintain fitness?

As a flat we have made a conscious effort to be active everyday, we set a time and we workout together which has been really great because it has provided structure to the days and provided a sense of routine.

What advice would you give to any other athletes currently in lockdown?

I said to myself at the start of this “don’t get caught up in what you can’t do” and for me it’s been hard because I honestly miss throwing.

What is your current daily routine?

My flat mates have coffee and breakfast together each morning. I then do some work for a few hours and then we all have lunch together and I typically train around 3-4pm. We will then socialise and cook dinner.

Do you have any fitness videos you would recommend for working out at home?

Not really, between the flat mates we have taken it in turns to create the workouts, which has provided a lot of variety!

What is the best thing about being in lockdown?

The best thing about being in lockdown is the fact I actually have time to do things the I love such as cooking and baking.  I have used this time to experiment and create some recipes which has been fun. Cooking and baking keep me calm and stops me worrying about everything that is going on in the world right now.

What is the most challenging element to living in lockdown?

Even with five flat mates the most challenging element is the loneliness. I miss my friends and family and not being able to see them has been hard.

What is the most uplifting/inspiring social media post you have read during your time in lockdown?

I can’t say I have come across any, I’m not on social media a lot but my mum sends me these cute dog videos where they are talking about the lockdown from a dog’s point of view. One post said, humans needed to suck it up because us four-legged people do this every day – hilarious!

How often are you in contact with your coach and how do you communicate?

We communicate weekly. We have a squad chat with all the athletes, which is our main source of communication at the moment as well as individual messages, but I think we are starting zoom training sessions this week which will be interesting!

What has been the best piece of advice she has passed on to you?

It’s not advice but at the start of all this, Raylene made us reflect on one positive thing a day and I have carried that through because at times like this it is important that we focus on the positives

When the lockdown is over what is the first thing you will do?

There are lots of things I will do, but first I will head home and see my family because I have been missing them a lot. Definitely throwing a shot would be up on my list along with going to my favourite café to get a coffee.

What has been your favourite downtime activity in lockdown?

As a flat we have been getting into playing Mario Kart on the Wii, which has been really fun and something different to watching TV. The whole flat gets involved which is great and it brings out our competitive side.

If you could recommend one book to read in lockdown what would it be and why?

I don’t really read a lot because I don’t have the patience for it (haha), but one of my favourite books is Tomorrow, When The War Began by James Marsden. It is a really easy read

If you could recommend one movie to watch in lockdown what would it be and why?

There are so many movies to choose from, we have recently purchased Disney Plus to watch all the Marvel movies in order because we now have time to do it!

If you could recommend one TV series to watching in lockdown what would it be and why?

I have been watching Lucifer – It’s really funny.

What is the kindest thing you’ve done during lockdown?

When I am out walking, I make an effort to say ‘hello’ to people out walking because you never know their situation. They could be experiencing lockdown alone and saying hello could be there only contact with others.