As the title suggests, thing's haven't been going so great recently. In my first blog I said I would tell you about the times I spanked Steve in a session, well the opposite happened this week, twice!! It started during the usual track session on Tuesday with him and Nicholls where we were doing 4x1 mile in 4:40. On the third one Phil and Steve picked it up a bit and left me for dead. I trailed home 12 seconds behind them, unacceptable. I was not a happy bunny and Steve even rang me the next day and said "have you finished sulking yet?", I couldn't stop laughing. I did a few good runs after that and starting to get a bit of feeling back in my legs so was really looking forward to the session of 2 mile reps on Saturday. It was me, Steve and Mark Miles tearing it up on the rapid road loop of Cannon hill. I did the first one and found it tough but I thought if the pace stays the same I should be able to hang on for one more. Steve and Mark both went off harder than the first and after a minute I was nowhere to be seen. I wasn't as annoyed as Tuesday but still a bit frustrated. I want to be in the shape I was in at the National and Inter-Counties but realistically, after a break, it's not going to happen. However, I still gets me down as I'm not where I want to be.

All week Steve and Maria have been trying to cheer me up, and even Mark gave a bit of advice after Saturday's disaster. He said it's easy to throw your toys out of the pram, get annoyed and give up but you waste time and lose so much that in the end it's just not worth it. He also said not to think about running until I put put my running shoes on before I go out. Maria also had a word and said try to stay positive, otherwise I'm just going to feel worse and it won't help the situation. Steve decided to pull the guilt trip on me and came out with "if you start feeling down then I will as well because I look after you, so chin up", he's always thinking about himself, horrible man. Jokes aside he does say things like that to life me up and they do help. Him and Bud have called me a "class act" so many times now I'm starting to get sick of it, and with every bad session that goes by, not believing it.

I think in sport your mental state can affect your performance and being positive can make a big difference. I've cheered up since Saturday but I won't be convinced I'm back until I start running fast times. Hopefully it will start with a good track session later tonight. I was really looking forward to pissing all over Steve's time at the relays but I might have to wait until next year now.

Remember, stay positive,

Goolab xxx

PS I love the banter on the other blog, keep it up!!