Technically this part shouldn't exist as I was meant to get home last week, but once again nature triumphed over technology and grounded all flights home. This meant missing the 12 stage which was gutting, but it was even worse for Steve. He hasn't missed a relay in 8 years and had done 35 on the trot so you could forgive him for being a bit depressed when the race was on. Even so, all the guys that made it did a great job despite numerous injuries, especially James Kelly who had half of his leg hanging off and Simon running with one foot.

So what have I done with my extra week? Mainly the same stuff I did the week before, running and a bit of revision. To break up my revision a couple of times I had a little walk down the beach to take my mind off things. The Saturday night when we should've been home we did have a cheeky night out in Vilamoura and we met the Loughborough lot, the Luton crew and Christian Booker (he was upset he didn't get a mention in the last blog, so I hope this puts smile on his face) in the famous Rui's bar. Rumour has it the week before there were over 100 runners in there. There were a good few when we were there and it was cool catching up with a few people. The Luton lot and Christian were especially a good laugh and Nat Quigley has got a few questions to answer after he made the claim he was the biggest drinker in Birmingham (Dean Miller will be livid when he reads that). We were also lucky enough to witness Chris Parr and co perform their debut single "Smack the pony" and it's definitely one to look out for.

The next day we did our post night-out Sunday run and if you read my training log you'll notice it was a bit longer than normal, let me explain why. Steve thought he knew a certain route home via some dirt tracks but he actually hadn't run down them before, so how he knew they took us home I don't know. Well we ran down this path taking various turns, we could see the hotel the whole time and it was getting closer so we assumed this was a good thing. Anyways, Steve said we should come to a stream and it's fairly low and there are some rocks you can walk on to get across with ease. So after 65 mins of running we arrive at this stream, and believe me it was not low, there were no rocks and it was far from a stream. It was more like one of those fast flowing rivers kayakers use!! This "stream" didn't look very safe but like the idiots we are we decided to proceed. Steve got a stick to test how deep it was and well, the stick was bigger than Steve and half of it disappeared under the water. So it was fast flowing, deep and I'm pretty sure I spotted a crocodile or two and despite all these signs we strolled in. We walked in each armed with a stick to test the deepness as we got closer to the middle. The water was freezing and about a third of the way in the water was going so fast the sticks would get dragged off so they never reached the bottom. There we were standing in a freezing river, water above our hips and on the brink of being swept away by a vicious current. It's at that point you question whether you want to play the life or death game, and that day we decided we weren't quite up for it. So we got out soaked and had to find another route home with wet shorts and loads of stones in my trainers. It then took us a further half an hour to get back totalling a run of 97 mins!! We told Maria we would only be 75 mins so she didn't see the funny side of us being out so long and she almost called the police to get us. That's that last time I let Steve navigate on a run, the muppet.

I also got a chance to have a one-to-one conversation with Lindsay Dunn during the week. We were talking for about an hour and a quarter and it was mainly me asking the questions. It was a phenomenal conversation and the best chat I've ever had with anyone about running. It was good hearing stories about runners he's coached like Brendan Foster, Charlie Spedding, Barry Smith, the Hudspith's and Nick McCormick and also runners he's talked to like Paul Tergat and Paula Radcliffe. The stories he was coming out with were amazing, races his athletes have done, sessions or training they've done, the lessons he's learnt over the years and we even touched on altitude training. I think the best bit was not hearing about the races they ran, but the training they for the races, some of the workouts are absolutely sick and we talked a lot about Brendan Foster. But it wasn't just the stuff he was telling me, but the way he was saying it. Before that conversation I thought running was one of the hardest sports in the world, but when he was talking he made it sound all so easy. I walked away an inspired man and the hunger and desire to run was higher than ever. Also, he said me not doing the World Trial was the best decision Steve made all season so hopefully any doubters will agree. He also said Steve's a good coach with some brilliant ideas, and I think with Lindsay as his mentor hopefully things should carry on going well for me and Phil.

Like the other blogs from Portugal, here are a few pics to brighten the page up. They come from our track session on Saturday when we did a bit with McCormick but unfortunately Maria turned up late so there's not much of us running, enjoy!!

Us on a recovery, I look like I'm hurting here!!

Lindsay wanted a picture of us doing strides.

Here I'm talking to Steve and for some reason I'm closing my eyes and holding my hamstrings, very odd. Anyway ignore that, check out the new Brooks spikes on my feet, The Wire. I'm not just saying this, but they're awesome!! They're the best track spikes I've ever worn and look the part aswell.

(L-R) Steve, Nick McCormick, Lindsay Dunn then me after a top session. It's a bit worrying Steve has his right hand where it is while looking at me...

That's the last from Portugal as I've finally made it home. The last 10 17 days worth of training couldn't have been more perfect and the tan isn't looking too bad either. Looking back this warm weather block has filled me with so much confidence. I'll put it like this, I thought I was in good shape going into BUCS cross and the National Cross, but right now I would make that guy look average so I hopefully I'll make a good account of myself at BUCS next week. But doing all this training means nothing unless you transfer it into a race, and the question Nicholl's asked me last time I saw him summarises this beautifully:

 "Do you want to be a trainer or a racer?"

Run happy,

Goolab xxx