Well here we are at the end of another year.  This one has been pretty eventful, filled with highs and lows running wise, but has certainly seen some massive changes for me.  

Started with a great indoor season, probably the best of my career in terms of consistency, training and quality races.  Every race I went in with a smile on my face and just enjoying running.  The was because I had decided that I might retire after the previous summer but after a little time off just started to run, just once a day and began to get fit.  I have a couple of races that I do every year like Bahrain and Bermuda and I still fancied being able to run there so continued to train, albeit less then usual.  This seemed to work for me and I ended up having a cracking run in Bermuda and at the New Balance Games in New York.  From there I broke the Irish National All Comers Indoor Record front running in the 1500 and then finished a reasonable 2nd behind Mo in our own Nationals.  After that I had a great race at the British Grand Prix, once again going sub 3.40 indoors and very nearly getting the scalps of Lagat, Rui Silva and Kip Choge all in one go!  

I went to the European Champs really confident that I could get a medal, but in reality I was probably holding on to the fitness I had and I think I actually peaked two weeks before the champs at the British Grand Prix.  I had to run 3.41 to make the final but then I just couldn't recover, no excuses I was dead on my feet.  I tried to hit the front and be aggressive, but I lasted two laps before falling to the back of the field and trailing in last.  Very disappointing, although I would argue that for some of those guys who have run 3.31-3.33 outdoors, running 3.41 in the heats is like me who has run 3.38 outdoors running 3.48-49 and then coming back the next day and doing the same.  This always happens at our Nationals around 3.50 to get through and then come back and run low 3.40's the following day.  Basically just not fit enough.  What I would say about me is that I still believe I have under-performed massively outdoors over 1500.  There are many guys who have run low to mid 3.30's who haven't gone sub 3.40 indoors, a time I seem to be able to do consistently.  Whether or not I still have the time to do so I don't know.  I was hoping for great things in the summer and I knew I was in great shape.  I then made the decision to move to Switzerland and cracked on with the training, back into twice a day and loving running, but my Achilles which have been a problem for years started to flare up, not just the left one, but now both.  I was in agony and trying to run through it.  I tried to race but limped home last in about 3.52.  My season was over before it had begun and I was gutted coming off such a solid indoors I was ready to run fast, but it was not to be.  This now left me with too bad Achilles, I really couldn't do anything and I took 3 months off.  Without access to Physio and no money to pay for one anyway, I though that was it and career finished on a real low.  Still after a while I started to run once a day for an hour, no more, no less.  I was in pain if I tried to run fast, but I was enjoying getting out in the surrounding trials and woods where I now live.  I soon started to get stronger and started a couple of times a week to join in with some of the local guys, which include 2 Olympians (5k), 1 World Orienteering Champ and a few other guys who can run sub 30 for 10k!  All the runs were long and hard, but I was finding them ok, and so started to do some sessions, all in the forest, plus some tempos, and slowly I have got really fit, with a 29.56 10k in November I know I am in the best shape of my life endurance wise.  I am not going to predict what will happen with my Achilles, the pain is always at the back of my mind, and I am still only training once a day.  That being said with the indoors coming up, I had to try some anaerobic stuff and have now done two track sessions, the 1st after 6 months away was 10 x 400 off 1 min alternating speeds in flats.  64/61 for the lot and I was really chuffed with that.  So far, no reaction and I have added one other session on top of that which went really well, so fingers crossed I can get through another successful indoor campaign, but I'll just take everyday as it comes.  

As said above, other than my running it was this time last year that I first made the trip over to Bern and one year later I am here living, trying to learn German and really enjoying life!  Right now looking out over the snow topped mountains from the flat and waiting for my brother to come visit (he is late!)  

I am not sure if I will continue to run for too much longer, I know I am getting old in athletics terms, but running has given my so much over the years it would be a shame to stop when it still gives a buzz (not so much when your injured and loosing though!) anyway, enough of the philosophy, I wish everyone a Happy New Year and all the best for 2010.  Last year I said 2009 was going to be great, I think 2010 will be even better!

Neil