So two people want to know why I moved clubs (possibly three) so here it goes.....I was fed up making Wicksy look better than he was!

Nah, the main reason was my now coach George, and not in a bad way like he came up to me and said 'You have to join Swansea'. I had been training with the Swansea group for a few years and at the end of 2009 after seeing his methods and the person he was I asked him if he would be able to work a bit more with me, he said yes. After a few months he said that long term it would be difficult to help me improve, not only through his coaching but organising the group to help to help in certain sessions for me to then turn up at certain team events and going against his team (he is also Swansea team manager).

I understood his point of view so agreed that if after a year the relationship was working for both of us I would move clubs (turned out the next 8months were a right off anyway through injury).

We won the 12 stage by nearly a mile one year

We started training properly around October 2010 and by March it was clear I was improving and the two of us worked well as he has very high standards (like myself) and is more a thinker, he has a lot of experience not only in running but more specifically success with the same type of runners as me.

Around early May it was decided I would move, I spoke to a few of the guys at Belgrave and Alan the team manager. In complete contrast to how Cardiff were when I left them Belgrave were really supportive with it and showed their class, Alan was so understanding about it that it actually made it worse because I knew I was leaving a great team/club (and if I'm honest still my favourite team because of the time I had there), but I am being selfish and doing what I think is right for my running.

My 5 years at Belgrave were fantastic, I joined to win some team medals and it was a bonus that I had such a good time doing it. From my first race for them at Milton Keynes I just seemed to fit in which was strange in a way. There were and still are some big characters in the team and the relays were brilliant weekends, even when we didn't win. Emails would be going round all week leading up to the race before a get together the night before....then race day, before a night out with most of the team. The atmosphere was always relaxed, funny, determined and friendly....guys like Bill, Alan, Brian and partners always used to look after me for some reason, which was lovely and I remember one time Brian and Mo were at one race and came over to me and said "We have got some sandwiches for you but don't tell anyone as we havnt made any for the others". Pat used to always keep a chocolate brownie/cake aside for me in case they were all taken by the time I got to the tent and I even got invited to Alan and Pat's for food three times (more than Wicksy I think) which was always special and not to mention Hazel and Maria screaming at me during races which was a cross between frightening and encouraging.

I had great times with the team outside of the club. Whether it was on a training trip, a race or just meeting up....  I have had brilliant times with Sharpy, Speaight, Pollard, Kelly, Davies, Mulhare, Goolab and so on. I still chat to Mulhare and Wicksy regularly, not to mention going away with Pollard all the time.. who is probably my best mate from the team.

I cant write all the good stories on here as it would take forever, but as a stand out moment it would be the weekend we won the 12 stage with an unstoppable team and then nearly everyone made it for the 'After Party' in Birmingham for the dance off....I think Kelly might have just edged it ahead of Miles who wouldn't leave the dance floor.

So, as they say nothing lasts forever and I have some good friends at Swansea and excited about the future. I am sure Swansea will be pushing for medals but I am more interested in myself at the moment. It will be hard to beat what I won with Belgrave though. I think off the top of my head I won 6 golds, 4 silvers and 3 bronze (I will have to check).

I have nothing but good to say about Belgrave and my time there.

Simx