Thought the 1^st of a New Year would be a good time to start my blog and introduce myself to Runnerslife. I am very pleased to be part of such an exciting project and when Simon approached me to get involved I was more than happy to say 'yes'. As my kindly written introduction on the front my page explains most of my previous successes, I will give you where I am currently at and where I want to go in the future.

The just of 2008 was a roller coaster ride of both success and failure from start to end. It has been a hard year mentally as have has so many set backs but also glimmers of 'brilliants' that keeps me coming back more. Running is a cruel mistress like that, anyone who truly lives and loves the sport will agree. At the start of 2008 I was unable to run at all as my long standing Achilles injury had reduced me to a total stand still, the only exercise I had was buying a cheap cross trainer in the January sales. I hit this hard and finally had some improvement with my Achilles with the help of an epidural injection! Yes I gave birth to a healthy new Achilles and was back running in early February. The cross training had kept me fit enough to toe the line in two Gwent league cross country races and I even managed to win the second. I got quite fit but by April the Achilles was very bad again, and again was reduced to a 5minute hobble at best. The last resort before a scheduled surgery in mid May was a re-try of the epidural and hopefully its success. The over night relief is still a major puzzle, but tens after I was winning a big 1500m race in New York I n spikes totally pain free! During the season I pulled out some solid results my fastest 1500m came in the final of the British Olympic trials for a solid 6^th place. I had some other good results like a 3:58.0 mile in Dublin and a satisfying 3000m win Denmark. The season finished with a 3:57.0 mile down 5^th avenue and then a 5km road best in Dublin, just for good measure.

I got back into winter training, but was also trying to give the Achilles some rest bite so did a lot of cross training. I have not really found my form this winter, with a disappointing run in the Gateshead international Cross-country. I then had a once in a lifetime chance to race in Saudi Arabia, Thanks to out good friend Ian Wilson, of SAAD track fame. I thought I was in good shape to go out run a sub 4 mile even at the start of December, but I was disappointed with a 4:07 effort. Since returning I have not really been able to find consistency in my training, I have had some good sessions, but also sub par ones. I can't explain why and hoped it would get better and my performance Boxing Day confirmed I was struggling.

Then sometimes things do get worse before they get better, and I had this at the Nos Galan race last night. My previous record at this race before yesterday was four wins in four starts, so it was a sobering end to 2008 to only finish 8^th. But being a good runner and good coach is about coming back from the bad days and working out the way forward. In the past I would have put my head down even harder and tried to run as hard through this bad patch. Experience has taught me this is the last thing to do, I need some easy running and recovery and just to relax. I wouldn't have been able to do some of the session's I have without some kind of good fitness, but I have to allow this to come out, without beating myself up. This is the crossroad that a lot of runners will find themselves at, and it's about having total self-belief that 'less is more' and also to 'stay positive'. So now its time for me to practice what I preach and believe good times are ahead for me and also all the Runnerslife team in 2009.

Thanks for reading, and be good.

Cheers James