It’s been 2006 since I last trod the boards at the National Champs and I have to say it was good to be back.  I drove up on the day of the heats, trying to save some money on hotels and also as the race was pretty late it wasn’t really that much of an issue.  The aim of this weekend was to enjoy it and certainly the heats are about getting the job done and through to the final.  A little strange seeding found myself, Steve Davies and Chris Warbo in the same heat, but there you go.  I had said to Steve before the race started that if it was really slow I would take it on if he helped out just so that we could stretch the pack out.  He agreed but I didn’t get a very good start and couldn’t get out.  I tries telling him in the middle of the race but he didn’t here me so I slowed down to go out of the back of the pack and then round the outside to get to the front.  Heats are always cagey and this one was no exception.  Feeling that there were still too many guys in with a shout I decided to life the pace a little with 600 to go, so I hit the front and stretched the field, bringing 3 other guys with me.  3.52.0 was enough to win the heat and I felt ok so a good qualification.

I had thought about joining Steve Davies and Chris Moss and their partners in town for some food but it would have been a little bit of a hassle and no-one was sure if it was going to be difficult to get a table on Valentines day, so I decided to eat in my hotel.  Unfortunately my girlfriend lives in Switzerland, works very long hours and couldn't get over, so here I was, sat on my own with a rose, candle, love music and a pint of beer! 

Sunday I got up and had a little run for 20 mins, then a fried breakfast which was good!  The usual chuck out of the hotel at around 11 meant I was early at the track, but just chilled out chatting to some of the guys and relaxing.  I felt terrible warming up, could hardly put one foot in front of the other, but that’s not a bad thing and I quite often run well when the warm up goes like this. 

Again I was a bit surprised with the seeding, given that I was the fastest qualifier, and won the heat I was given lane 1?!  This actually limited my options, either have everyone come around you and so go to the back, or go to the front.  I had a feeling that Mo would try and run hard so though lets get out and see what happens.  This is exactly what happened and Mo took the pace up after 200.  I had no choice but to go with him, else I fear that if I had not then I would only have been leading the rest of the pack in a real slow time.  Unfortunately for me, the pace was just a little too hot for me and I started to struggle through the middle part of the race.  1.55 ish through 800 and I was starting to swim!!  Looking back on the race I was a good 15m off Mo and about the same in front of the other guys, so ended up running most of it as a time trial again!!

I think that most people might have thought I was done when Warbo and Steve overtook me and I dropped off the back of them with 200 to go, but I managed to find another wind so to speak and come through strong to take 2^nd and another National Medal.  Fair play to Mo for a gutsy run out front, hopefully he will have a successful Euro Champs over 3k.  I’m sure there is more in the tank for me and I have confidence that I can run time at the British Grand Prix this weekend coming.  The field is really strong, and a great opportunity to race some of the best in the world but I’m not there to get involved with the race in that respect, I will be running a more controlled race in order to get the time.  Whether or not the time and 2^nd at the trials is enough remains to be seen, so watch this space…….

Cheers,

Sp8y