Evening :)

Am back in Scotland now and planning my next few weeks training and racing... I think im going to run the Commonwealth trials in a few weeks but obviously that depends on how my training goes between now and then. My last race at the Senior AAAs went ok and I came 7th in my first British Senior Champs. However I find 5000m a strange distance and I know ive only done 2 and ill get used to it, but its an odd distance for me at the moment and I know im not the only Junior who thinks this as Kate and I discussed if after the weekend, because you cant run hard from the gun because you die but up until about 5 laps to go you feel like your jogging and going too slowly.... Anyone else agree??

Strangely though im enjoying the distance and want to learn how to run it well and hopefully over the next few years I can get it right as I have enjoyed my first 2 5ks even though I havent achieved the target time I was looking for as of yet, but im confident it will happen soon as my training has suggested im definately in shape to achieve it, just getting the 'perfect' race to do it in.

I learnt quite a few lessons from the Junior AAAs, the main one being stick to my race plan because thats the plan I know will work. I didnt do this in Bedford and got caught up into someone elses plan which didnt work for me. Another lesson I started to learn is I have to believe in myself when it comes to it and believe that I am good enough to achieve what I want too but its just hard when your past two summers have gone so badly... but I think im on the way to correcting this and after a good run at the Seniors where I stuck to my plan and started to believe in myself a little more I think theres quite a bit more to come. Maybe this year or next year it will happen but in the meantime just got to stick to the plan, believe in what im doing and have a little bit more faith in myself and Liz.

I enjoyed being back home seeing all my friends and family, but also the change of scenery. Also I got to run with my dog Rupert for the first time in a while so that was nice, having some easy company on my runs. Im glad to be back in Scotland though as its where my life is now, what with work and training but also just my day-to-day routine is here and its something which I tried to replicate at home but its just not the same because I didnt have work or any real daily routine apart from obviously training times and eating at the right times for training otherwise I was pretty free just to do whatever I wanted without much of a plan to the day.

Well Done to all in Birmingham especially one of my training partners Morag, who had a few of the 'belief' issues I have but she overcame them this weekend which was really nice to see :D

....x