Louise Hazel is an English track and field athlete who specializes in the multi-event heptathlon. She has competed in four major international championships. The first was in 2006 when she came 17th at the European Championships and the second was three years later when she finished 14th at the World Championships. During 2009 she was ranked 2nd best in the country and 9th best of all time. In the 2010 Commonwealth Games she won the gold medal for the England team, with a personal best of 6156 points. At the 2011 Mehrkampf-Meeting Ratingen she scored 6166 points but this included wind-assisted performances and she also competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics. In July 2012 she appeared with Tasha Danvers, Mark Foster, Derek Redmond on the Channel Four programme Come Dine With Me prior to her Olympics competition, and won the show.
Lets begin the month of March with an inspiring journey of the track & field athlete Louis Hazel as she speaks about her life, training and diet routines in a candid conversation with Namita Nayyar, President Women Fitness.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You began training at the young age of 10, and in 2009, you were ranked 2nd best in the country and 9th best of all time. You reached the pinnacle of success at the 2010 Commonwealth Games where you won the gold medal for the England team. While still at university you joined the renowned Birchfield Harriers Athletics Club and rest is history. Share with us your journey in the world of athletics.
Ms. Louise Hazel:
My athletics journey has been one of ups and downs you could say a bit of a roller coaster without a doubt the climax of my career was winning Commonwealth gold in 2010 and then going on to represent my country at the London 2012 Olympic Games. My Carrillo came in 2008 when I suffered the tragic loss of my father followed by another blow of losing my national lottery funding in place in the Great Britain team I bounced back a year later in 2009 with a personal best performance which placed me amongst the best heptathletes on the all-time rankings. Just a year later I got myself a spot at the world Championships. At a time when most people would have easily left the sport I somehow managed through persistence and determination to not only stay in the sport I loved but to thrive in the sport that I loved. As a life lesson this taught me to never give up and to constantly work hard in the face of adversity and failure in pursuit of your dreams.
All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2018 Women Fitness
Video
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Tell us about the training and motivation that helped you to become a gold medalist at the 2010 Commonwealth Games?
Ms. Louise Hazel:
My training regime for the 2010 Commonwealth Games was unorthodox I actually wrote my own training program as my coach at the time had to accept a job in London so I was left in Birmingham without a coach.
As a result of being coach-less I had to form a support network in Birmingham made up of different coaches specializing in high jump, long jump, shot putt, javelin, speed and I had to make it work.
My training program was six days a week at twice daily and I can remember at the time I was training for the Commonwealth Games my usual track was out of use and so I spent many a lonely evenings running my 800m training sessions on my own at the University of Birmingham and it was that training, that hard-work and that determination that gave me the confidence to attack and go for a podium finish at the Commonwealth Games.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics commonly known as London 2012. Provide us an insight into a day in your life back then.
Ms. Louise Hazel:
I would train twice daily six times per week. My day would start at 8am with breakfast and I would start my first training session at 10am. Typically this would be one of my technical events such as high jump, long jump, shot putt, hurdles or javelin. The evenings were saved for track work (running), or gym work (strength and conditioning).
I would have to schedule in where possible one to two weekly massages and physio therapy. In addition I would see a private osteopath.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
In September 2013 you announced your retirement from heptathlon. How has life changed post-retirement?
Ms. Louise Hazel:
Retirement is like rebirth, when you’re a professional athlete, training and ALWAYS competition takes priority. For me my creative side was repressed in favor of my sporting ambitions, so now I’m free from those responsibilities I indulge in other work opportunities, family time, holidays, good food, good people and dancing!
I didn’t realize until after I retired that I am a creative at heart, I write, design, produce and plan.
Video
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Your passion for sports and fitness is clearly evident in your present role as a personal trainer. What exercises comprise your fitness regime on a daily basis?
Ms. Louise Hazel:
My purpose in life is to teach others how to perform better for longer. So where training is concerned it’s important that every exercise has a purpose. I’m not the type of person that just goes out and does burpees for the fun of it – I always ask WHY am I doing this and HOW does this fit into my overall plan. Every training plan I curate I like a piece of art that I’m very passionate about – but you can guarantee there will almost always be squats!
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Optimum nutrition is an integral part in the life of a sports person to stay fit and recover from wear & tear. There is no doubt you too need to take special care of your diet? Do you follow a strict menu to stay healthy and physically fit?
Ms. Louise Hazel:
The key to optimum nutrition is balance and moderation. I’m not particularly strict with my diet unless I need to be (for work).
My diet is high in protein, fat, vitamins and minerals and typically low in carbohydrate unless I’m in a heavy phase of training.
I tend not to consume too much dairy and my weakness is fries.
I never skip breakfast!
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Being a professional track and field athlete, you are a role model for many striving to make it their dream come true, provide us with some motivational words to help others climb up the ladder of success in this field?
Ms. Louise Hazel:
Anyone can be successful but if you want be a winner, then you need to be happy with the fact that there will be times when you are on your own working towards your goal.
So before you commit to any goal – Ask yourself are you happy being one of many or do you want to be number one?
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
As an activist and campaigner for Women’s health, you are the ambassador for the British Heart Foundation and in 2017 you appeared on a charity edition of MTVs The Challenge and competed to raise money for Save the Children. Tell us how have you been able to achieve and quench your thirst of giving back to the society through these endeavors?
Ms. Louise Hazel:
Life is a cycle – if you’re not giving back to your community you’ve already expired!
Video
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Having performed so well throughout your career, who all have been your role model, inspiration, and motivator in your career as an athlete?
Ms. Louise Hazel:
Honestly, I don’t have any role models there are many people who I respect for various reasons. But I’ve always known that inspiration, motivation and determination comes from the self, from within. So any success that I’ve had has come from the fact that I felt like I deserved it.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
As a female-entrepreneur, you founded the online training plan The Podium Effect, in 2013, creating an impressive 360-day online solution to long-term fitness. Provide our viewers a deeper insight into this technique and how does it help in staying fit and healthy?
Ms. Louise Hazel:
The podium effect is currently being reworked and I am planning a re-release in 2018, when I filmed the 360 day plan in 2014 I was looking like a hot mess – activewear has vastly improved since then!
My aim with it is to provide continuity to women’s training – to provide a workout that keeps you fit not just in 30 days but in 5months time!
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You finished second on Channel 4 reality winter sports show The Jump, where you were the only competitor to attempt the K40 (the biggest ski jump) on live television during series two. What are your tips for taking proper nutrition and diet to compete at such level?
Ms. Louise Hazel:
Stay hydrated ALWAYS during competition – your body is a very clever thing it will allow you to perform even when you are running on empty. But cellular function will fail and you will fatigue quickly when dehydrated.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Please do add your input on our website Womenfitness.net and message for our readers?
Ms. Louise Hazel:
Ladies, if there is one thing that I want you to ask yourself when working out it’s – is what I’m doing sustainable?? Can you see yourself doing this 6 months from now and if not then you’d better have a plan in place – preferably one of my plans!
Follow her on:
- https://www.instagram.com/louisehazel/
- https://www.facebook.com/LouiseHazel
- https://twitter.com/louisehazel
All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2018 Women Fitness