Heather Fell, Olympic modern pentathlete silver medalist, writes about her life 'on and off' the track.

I have now officially returned to training in preparation for next year. It may be long hours at this time of the season but with the emphasis on swimming and running it means my day can be relatively flexible.

I am using this to my advantage and filling any spare time with the odd new challenge. This week I was given the chance to become a 'trucker' for the day courtesy of my sponsor Gregory Distribution. No need to worry I wasn't let loose on the roads but myself and two other athletes including local Okehampton girl Gorgs Geikie were given free reign or - should I say wheels -on a disused airfield in a rigid and an articulated lorry. One of the instructors likened it to learning the skill of horse riding, the only difference is you have the power of several hundred horses, oh and just a few tonnes of momentum behind you. Powering up and down the airfield and being a passenger overlooking all the hedges was an enjoyable experience but the challenges met on the narrow Devon roads has certainly given me new found respect for lorry drivers.

I am pleased to say I was invited, or at least allowed back as part of the crew for the next yacht race of the series. The sea was flat and the breeze quite mellow in comparison to my inaugural week — in the skipper's eyes this meant I should be capable of helming (only after the racing of course).

I can only blame my distant memories of sailing dinghies with a tiller and last week's reversing an artic lorry (for which you basically steer in the opposite direction to normal) as my excuse for turning the steering wheel clockwise when wanting to turn left. This was a little concerning for all on board but thankfully I didn't have that problem once back in my car.