I wrote this blog on Saturday however I could only submit it onto my own personal website as I have an app on my iPad for that and due to the rubbish internet I couldn't get onto the RunnersLife site.

I thought I’d do a quick blog while passing time in the hotel here in Velenje before the Euro Cross tomorrow. We set off very early yesterday morning, I stayed over in Birmingham with Wilko just over the road from the airport. This was handy as I rolled out of bed at 5, pretty much fell asleep in the shower at 5:05 then wandered over the airport at 5:15 in search of a fry up and coffee. 

Our flight was at 7am to Frankfurt. We got in at 9:30 with 4 1/2 hours to kill before the next flight on to Slovenia. A few of us decided to get the train into Frankfurt to have a wander round the German markets in the city. Somehow we navigated the trains there, wondering how we’d get back. From the small amount of the city I seen it seemed nice and pretty Christmassy. Hunger got the better of me so I ended up in a local cafe getting lunch before heading back. 

On the way back we got a little confused and when on the platform waiting for the train, on the other side we spotted James Walsh sprinting to catch a train. We soon realised we were about to head in the wrong direction. I don’t get on with foreign trains after going in the wrong direction in Barcelona in the summer and waiting 4 hours for the next one!

Eventually we found our way back and then made our flight with no hassle. It was 90mins on a bus on the other side to the hotel. That’s not going to be fun on the way home though as our flight is 6:50am! There may be a few sore heads from some on the coach at 4am on Monday morning.

We visited the course today, it seems really good underfoot. Similar to a dry Liverpool with a few more twists and a few more laps. If it stays dry then it’ll certainly suit the track boys more. It looks good for our team if that’s the case! 

There’s not a great deal to do at championship really. I just tend to chatter to the other lads, sleep or watch films. At the moment I’m just in reception with some of the lads sitting refreshing BBC sport for the Newcastle score. We’re screwed though, we just went 3-1 down. That’s what no defenders does to you!

Later tonight it’ll be more of the same, chatting with the lads, a film then sleep! Maybe throw in there listening to Andy Vernon singing before bed but thats about it. Tomorrow were racing at 2:30 local time (1:30 back home). I can’t wait to get out there though, I’ve been backing off this week and my body just wants to run hard now. 

I’ll update on how the race goes next week.