My 2009/2010 cross country season has come to an end. The National was my last race on the cross scene and in summary, I'm rather pleased. Steve said top 15 at the Euros, top 5 in BUCS and a successful defence of the National title and I can walk into track with my head held high. I managed to come away from each championship with a medal and surpassing his expectations, which isn't too bad. Well he gives me those targets, but I know he likes to down play where he thinks I can finish to take the pressure off me. He dosen't do it all the time, so it's difficult to tell whether or not he's lying to me, but I think I'm starting to get the hang of reading when he's down playing my expected result. 

More importantly, I'm going into the pre-track training still feeling fresh. Last season I went into track tired because of all the races and hard training with not much of a break. As a result I had to take two weeks off in the middle of the summer after a few bad races. I still came back after a few weeks training and ran PB's so it wasn't all bad. Hopefully this year being a bit more sensible and less racing will benefit me over the summer, which I'm very much looking forward to. Also, some new Brooks kit I ordered last week has just arrived, so this has made me even more excited!

I've been getting the same question thrown at me recently, "Nick, are you going to be running the Inter-counties?". Of course my answer is no, and when they ask why I explain using the reasons from the Coming of Age...How Daunting blog. But speaking to Steve the other day he has come up with another very good reason why I shouldn't run. My confidence at the moment is very high. If I was to go to the Inter-counties and somehow make the team, I would then be on the plane to the senior world cross, that's right, the SENIOR world cross. Now it goes without saying that I would get battered over there, in fact, I would get my ass royaly handed to me. Steve described this situation and then asked, what is the point? What is the point of going to Poland to get beat by 150+ other runners. I already know they can beat me, why do I need to go to Poland to verify this. He then described the more likely situation, what if I was to run in the Inter-counties and then not make the team, producing an average result. Is it really worth it at the end of the day?

I think one of the keys to making it as a senior, or staying in the sport in general, is to stay positive. This early in my senior career, is it really worth going to races, getting beat and getting demoralised. I can either end my season now on a high or end the season with an average result at the Inter-counties or end the season with a ass-kicking from a boatload of Africans. I can end my season happy, with mixed feelings or demoralised. The way I see it is that I'm going into track a happy bunny and eager to race, which is the way it should be. Yeah you could argue "but Nick, you're in the best shape you've ever been in and may never be in this shape again, why waste it?". Well I don't intend to stop improving here, I'm in this for the long run. I believe in my coach enough to know in the future he will get me faster and stronger. There's no need to try and grow up too fast, I've got plenty of time to do stuff like the Inter-counties. At the moment I just want to get a feel for the senior age group and enjoy myself as much as possible. Then hopefully as I get older the results will come.

I've already mentioned it in my race report, but again I would like to give the Sam Haughian Memorial fund a mention. They kindly gave me some money for winning the National on the weekend, and they did the same last year. There is money available for the winner of the National Junior Cross and the National Junior 5k on the track which they give out to help cover training costs. I never knew Sam, and I was never lucky enough to see him run, but Steve has told me about him before and he sounded like a great talent. Also speaking to his coach on the weekend, Conrad Milton, he was telling me just how good Sam was. Then looking at his times, it's clear to see the guy was animal. Thank you to the fund for helping me out, it's greatly appreciated.

All the best,

Goolab xxx