AVIVA UK Trials

As a virgin of the UK trials it was all new to me that day although I was thinking 'how different can it be'. When I arrived at the track there were a few more people than normal at a track race I suppose and more stuff going on outside but I was still thinking it would be fine.

I went to collect my number and then looked at the board to see what time I was suppose to be at the call up room, it was then I realised it would be different. I normally know my warm up and what I am going to do but when you have to go to a room 25minutes before you start I wasn't sure whether to do my normal routine and then go to the room or do less and do some out on the track, but then how much time will we get after we walk out etc...

So I opted to do normal warm up and then go to the room, looking back I probably wouldn't do as much early on and would put spikes on etc when in the call up room rather than do all that stuff and then go to a room just to stand around for ages.

After we walked out I did a couple of short strides as weren't aloud further and I tend to like to do 100-150m strides to get going. I also started to notice it was quite warm out on the track, humid rather than burning heat. After the camera ran down the starters we were ready to go.

The gun went and I was happy to stay at the back thinking it might tick over at a decent pace but realised after 100m we were crawling long. So at 200m I saw 38s on my watch I made the decision (right or wrong) to go to the front kind of knowing I wasn't going to get a medal so wanted to at least get a decent run in.

My legs didn't feel great as I ran at the front and knew it might be one of those days, I continued on and went through 1k in 2.57 feeling ok and picking the pace up nicely and continued on to around 4 laps I think....then the group came around me. As they all went past I stuck on the back for a lap or so and hit 2k in 5:46 but just felt really heavy and sluggish.

I went out the back door but kept working and a couple of laps later I caught Lewis Timmins but did think for a lap about pulling off, I quickly changed my mind knowing you have to get through the bad days because it's not always going to run smoothly and this is the time you find out what type of a runner and person you are.

I actually thought at one point that I was running slower than 3minute K's the way I felt and did glance up to see where the leaders were in case they were going to lap me but they were only about 150m ahead.

Right leg, left leg, right leg....that's all that went through my mind the last two laps and I was happy to see the finish! I can't say I enjoyed the experience to be honest but it was worthwhile and a tough test personally on the track.

Not a great end to my short track season but 2 good ones and 1 bad and after a few days off I will get back into training and look forward to the road races in the autumn.

simx