Hey, thanks for taking the time to read

Congrats to everyone competing at the Irish Indoor champs, UK Trials and all the guys in the states, some really impressive times have been recorded this weekend.

Special mention has to go to Jonny for his victory in the 3km, my belgrave team mate Steve Davies in second and also Mark Mitchell for his 3^rd place and Sub 8 in only his 2^nd ever indoor 3km. Interview with Jonny and Mark are here;

Jonny,  http://www.athleticos.org/coverage/248227-2012-Aviva-World-Trials-UK-Championships/video/601778-2012-National-Indoor-3000m-Champion-Jonny-Mellor

Mark, http://www.athleticos.org/coverage/248227-2012-Aviva-World-Trials-UK-Championships/video/601775-2012-National-Indoor-3000m-Bronze-Medalist-Mark-Mitchell  

I was keeping an eye on all the updates coming in from Belfast, Sheffield and the states yesterday, and even watched some of the Millrose Games last night live. When you're a runner but also just a fan of the sport, it's a great time of the year, there are so many meets on all the time that it's hard not to find a stand-out performance by someone you know every weekend.

When you not competing yourself, it's a little more difficult to watch, but none the less enjoyable. I can't help but feel that all these guys are moving up a step and I'm stuck at my current level because I haven't been able to train hard for a few weeks now.

All the cross training and social activities in the world don't take away from the fact that I just want to run. It's pretty simple I just want to go out my door in the morning and come home after an hour of running, that's not too much to ask is it? Hopefully I'll be able to do it soon.

I'm going to Kenya tomorrow for my second stint at altitude. The physio, Jereon Dean, that I seen the last time I was there was able to keep all my little niggles under control, he treats all the top Kenyan distance guys and girls, so I'm hoping he will be able to keep me healthy while I'm there.

When I went out last August I hadn't don't much running in the weeks leading up to the trip and I've the same injury now, so I'm hoping once I get there and have the time to do all the correct things, stretching, ice, rehabilitation exercises the healing process will be a lot quicker than if I just stayed in the UK.

I'm really looking forward to being in Kenya, although the journey to get there isn't all that nice. Mt flights gets into Nairobi at 9.05am on Tuesday morning ,but the last flights to Eldoret leaves at 9am, so unless it's late, I'll take a bus. The bus journey last about 5 hours, or so I've been told, but it should be interesting to see a little more of the country before I settle into life in Iten for three months.

Nest weekend the Kenyan XC Champs are on in Nairobi, so I think I'll try to go to watch them, the standard should be amazing. It's supposed to be the hardest foot race on the planet, considering there are only a dozen Kenyans competing in the World Cross Country, it should be interesting just to witness the speed that hundreds of guys can run at over 12km, and also the ladies over 8km.

I'm packing most of my stuff into boxes that I'm not taking with me, but it's hard to know what you will and won't need for the next three months, possible even longer. The last time I went out I didn't nearly bring enough shoes, so this time I'm not going to make the same mistake, courtise of the guys at Saucony, I received some earlier this week and I shall put them all to the test on the roads/trails in Kenya.

I'll write another blog soon enough, just as an intro to life back at altitude, hopefully I'll be running a lot more by then as well.

Until next time

Thanks for reading