Get the hardback
(Amazon UK)

Or the paperback
(Amazon UK)

A week of mixed emotions
14th July 2005
Hi All,

Sorry once again for the delay in posting my diary updates. All is well but I have been in a hard phase of training out here in the Pyrenees and also putting in the physio and exercises hours in order to make sure my back stays how it should be! This has meant that my energy reserve for typing at the end of the day has been a bit low!

What a week of emotions, we were on such a high on Wednesday when the announcement was made that London had won the race to host the 2012 Games. Unfortunately things changed the next day when we got back from the morning training to the horrific news of the bomb attacks in London. It was a vicious and cowardly attack on innocent people and our thoughts are with all the victims and their families. Once again the British fighting spirit showed immediately in the way people came together and helped each other. They showed that despicable acts such as this will not bend the British spirit and that we will fight on to eradicate terrorism and murder such as this.

When the Olympic news came through I was on the massage table but jumped right off as soon as I heard the word 'London.' It was great to see all the emotion on people's faces too. All those involved in the bid worked so hard and did and said all the right things out in Singapore. Congratulations and a Big Thank you to Seb and all his team for all their hard work. Now I'm figuring out how to keep going until 2012 and also help the new talent to come through strongly so that we can host a successful Games in seven years.

On the training front I am feeling lots better now. After some hard work by Rone Thompson, Pipsa Rippon and Vaughan Cooper back in Loughborough to ease the tension in my back and legs I returned here feeling much straighter and stronger in training. Amazing how much difference it made just by freeing up my lower back. Now I feel like my normal self and am looking forward to the run into Helsinki. I also benefited from UKA physio Neil Black coming out for a couple of days last week to make sure everything was still ok and coping with the heavy training load out here. Thanks so much to all these people for helping me get back in one piece!

Finally a big congratulations to Jo Pavey on her great run on Rome on Friday night. She did most of the work and fully deserved her big pb. Also well done to everyone who took part in the AAA's Champs last weekend. I hope everyone achieved their goals there.

Just eight weeks to go...
Entry 27, 13th Nov 2006

A special announcement
Entry 26, 12th Jul 2006

Making progress after foot surgery
Entry 25, 9th Jun 2006

Back on track
Entry 24, 25th Apr 2006

Out of London
Entry 23, 10th Apr 2006

Out of Melbourne
Entry 22, 9th Mar 2006

Starting the new year on the right foot
Entry 21, 24th Jan 2006

Rounding off a good year
Entry 20, 10th Dec 2005

Frustrating few weeks
Entry 19, 1st Nov 2005

Up-coming races
Entry 18, 11th Oct 2005

Back from holiday
Entry 17, 21st Sep 2005

A week of mixed emotions
Entry 16, 14th July 2005

Post Pre
Entry 15, 10th June 2005

Facing track debut
Entry 14, 27th May 2005

Back from a Break
Entry 13, 16th May 2005

Post-London Buzz
Entry 12, 24th Apr 2005

Cobwebs gone in New Orleans, next stop: Limerick
Entry 11, 27th Mar 2005

Hicham shares the Albuquerque quirky weather
Entry 10, 21st Mar 2005

No World Cross for me
Entry 9, 8th Mar 2005

From Flagstaff, back to Albuquerque
Entry 8, 23rd Feb 2005

Update and pictures from Albuquerque - Part 2
Entry 7, 31st Jan 2005

Update and pictures from Albuquerque
Entry 6, 19th Jan 2005

London, here I come!
Entry 5, 10th Jan 2005

Looking to 2005
Entry 4, 31st Dec 2004

Tidings of Comfort and Joy
Entry 3, 18th Dec 2004

Visit to Portland
Entry 2, 8th Dec 2004

Frantic Few Weeks!
Entry 1, 3rd Dec 2004