I've been a lazy boy!

I haven't updated my blog in 2 weeks.. Basically in the last 2 weeks I have had a total of 8 races. I was in Sweden, Ireland, Eltham and Lee Valley. The 3000m steeple chase race in Gothenburg didn't go so well. My plan was to try to hang onto the back of the leading group and maybe pick one or two of the guys off. I went through 2K in 5.50 but with 2 laps to go started to fade and ended up running 8.58. I was a tired lad! I have lost a bit of the strength I had earlier in the season from all the recent speed work I have done. Also 3K Steeple is a hell of a lot tougher mentally than the 1500m. As well as not paying for my flights even though he had paid for guys slower than me, the meet organiser stitched me up by rooming me with a Belarussian guy. Don't get me wrong he seemed like a nice guy, but he hadn't a word of English, or any other language I can just about speak. After that race it was not my intention to spend another evening of uncomfortable silences.. in the room.. so I went to the pub! I met a few of the Oregon Track crew having a quiet drink. Luckily they had a calming influence on me, if I met the other Irish guys in Gothenburg city centre it could have been a very messy night.

Last weekend I went home to run for my County in the Irish National League. I won the 800m and 1500m in slow times but it was good to win by taking control of the situation against decent opposition. I did a leg of the 4 by 400m which was great fun! We ended up 3rd which was good from all distance runners. The rest of the boys did really well in the other events and we managed to get within 7 points of 3rd, despite having only 7 guys. After the race my jaw started to hurt. I ignored it, but it turned out my wisdom tooth was starting to come out. So this week I haven't eaten or slept very much!

Last Wednesday I turned up to Eltham track to run the 800m. I was very dissapointed not to be in the 'A' 800m, where I had the chance to run a big P.B and make some much needed cash. Instead I was in the 'B' race and won in 1.50.1, a new P.B but I know I would have run at least 1.49 in the 'A' race. Next year I will hope to knock serious chunks off that time.

Saturday just gone, I went to Lee Valley to run for Newham and Essex Beagles in the British League. Bob rang me up a couple of nights before to ask if I would run the 800m and 3000m. I agreed, all for points for the club! When me Bob and I arrived we noticed the wind, I couldn't believe it, it actually was "Irish windy"! The facilities there are amazing however. I came 4th in the 800m, I ended up in the lead going into the bell, which I didn't really want to do, Niall Brooks along with 2 others kicked passed me with 200m to go and I couldn't react. I thought I would catch the Ugandan guy from Belgrave in the home straight but couldn't. I crossed the line and immediately thought about the 3000m an hour and 40 minutes later.

I tried to eat but couldn't really with my friggin tooth. I got a toasty in eventually, but while everyone else was warming up. Standing on the start line I felt crap! And it was even more windy than before. I sat in behind Jean Ndayisenga for Birchfield, Sam Farah from Newham and some other Birchfield guy from Eritrea or somewhere for the first few laps. Ndayisenga wound it up with a K to go and I got dropped. I worked myself back up to him and Sam with a lap to go and they kicked again! I couldn't stay with them and finished in 3rd in 8.22. Ndayisenga won in 8.20. I lay down for a good 15 or 20 minutes on the back straight after the race. I went for an easy jog with Bryn and a guy from Windsor who's name escapes me! I had to turn around when I was jogging with them because I was shattered!

I need to take it easy for a few days and get some food into me and put back on the weight I've lost. My tooth feels a bit better, but I am going to see the dentist tomorrow to make sure it's all good!

Wow, that was a long one! Talk soon. Chesser