Ive been back in the UK for nearly a week on my return from an excellent spell of altitude training in Font-Romeu. I have given myself plenty of time to re adjust to sea level by taking the first few days one step at a time. Even though I've been feeling so good on my easy aerobic runs I've had to take into account specific advice to treat coming down from altitude as you would going up.

Looking back on my 24 days of training in Font-Romeu i would describe them as being extremely tough but also very fun and altogether successful. I was sharing a flat with Irish athletes Kerry Harty along with her partner and coach Richard Rodgers who were both not only kind enough to put me up in their apartment but also keen to share some very valuable training advice with me. Also joining us was top European Championship 800m representative Roseanne Galligan and junior sensation Noel Collins. I was lucky enough to be able to do a few training runs with those guys as well as continue with my own training programme.

It was great to train along side other nationalities and also get to meet them in a social atmosphere. On a couple of occasions the track was buzzing with runners from France and Spain as well as the UK and Ireland. We had the opportunity to chat with some of the Maltese athletes on the track after recognising them from the bar the previous night when watching the champions league match Barcalona Vs Real Madrid. To the Catalonians delight Barca won 2-0 with Messi and Pedro bagging up both goals on the night, the bar erupted each time they scored! Two of the athletes there that night to my surprise had been to the European cup and a female athlete with her baby wrapped in her arms had represented Malta at the European cross country. This we were only to descover the following day when bumping into them again on the track!

In our spare time in Font-Romeu there was plenty of time for a few recreational activities such as egg rolling. This took place on Easter Sunday on the golf course behind the apartment. The idea was simply to roll the egg down the hill with the aid of a wooden spoon! Kerry took the win with me taking runner up spot and with a few slip ups on the wet grass Noel and Rich came in joined last place. Unfortunately Roseanne DNS so she got to keep her egg as a souvenir. To the delight of Kerry's whippet (Zola) it was to be a suprise feast if scattered boiled egg! In the end it just became a laughing free for all with us all in complete tears!

There was also time for complete relaxation between sessions with a trip to a thermal spa with naturally heated springs to bathe in with the sun glaring down on us at the same time. I also got the chance to experience my first ever Indian massage. I wasn't totally prepared to have my shorts pulled down so low and being stood on might of been a slightly different approach to the one adopted by my sports therapist but it seemed to do my muscles the world of good.

With all this behind me i can now focus on the Loughborough International where i will be hoping for a personal best in the 5000m. Cant wait!