I have been a busy bee this week at work and been involved in the lab lots which I have really enjoyed.
Monday - I helped out with the bloods for a Graded Exercise Test (GXT). I was measuring
glucose and lactate concentrations, using the YSI 2300 Stat Plus
Glucose/Lactate Analyser, which is similar equipment to what I have used
once in a physiology lab at Bath.
Tuesday - I was up early to be in the lab by 7 to help out with blood sampling for a GXT again, measuring glucose and lactate concentrations. I also went into the biochemistry lab to watch Cian while he was separating and weighing his muscle in preparation for further analysis.
Wednesday - I could enjoy a bit of a lie in (well compared to Tuesday's wake up call) to be in for 9 to put the usual guys through their paces for high intensity wingate training.
Thursday - I had another early start (7.30am) to help out with the muscle biopsy and training of a guy just beginning James' training study. He had to have a total of 3 muscle biopsies done (all in a fasted state), one pre-training (at rest), one post-training following recovery (4 sets of wingates followed by a 15 minute ice bath at 10 degrees) and one 3 hour post-training and recovery. I'm not sure whether it was the fact I had seen a muscle biopsy before, or the guy didn't seem to flinch or find it painful, or that I saw the whole procedure (local anesthetic and cuts where the needles would go into the leg), but this seemed alot better to watch and as though it was less painful compared to the one I saw last week, even to the point of thinking "it can't be that bad, maybe I'll give it a go in a study" (famous last words!!!). I finished early at 2pm and headed straight to Sue's for the afternoon to chill out and have dinner (cooked chicken - yum) before heading to play netball. We were terrible! We got absolutely thrashed and played appalling. I played 2 GD (see my new position), 1 C (I know - what is happening?) and then 1 GA. I'm going to try and keep up the Thursday night netball even though it's a bit of an effort because usually it's an enjoyable game, however I am also going to look for another team to play for that has a night of training along with game time.
Friday - first thing in the morning we had wingate training for 3 of the guys for their final session of the week (3 sessions a week for 6 weeks in which they progress from 4 sets to 6 sets). The guys push pretty hard and are usually sprawled out over the lab after training (what we would say is a good sign because it shows they've worked hard!). Me and Mel decided we would give it a go after they had finished their training, with the aim of beating James' attempt of 2! We managed to do 5 sets (so 30 second maximal sprint against a percentage of our body weight, with a 3 minute 40 second rest and 20 second build up into the next sprint). I was pretty impressed with my attempt, but it was pretty tough and I had shaky legs after, struggling my way down the stairs. I have only ever done wingates once before and this was in a Thursday physiology lab, so in a hungover and half-hearted attempt after a big score on Wednesday night! You probably think that it doesn't sound that hard, but don't judge until you have given it a go and then I'll ask you what you think!!! The week finished like every other Friday, with an ISEAL seminar and drink in the bar!
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