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With Yelena Prokopcuka at the San Silvestre 10km

Starting the new year on the right foot
24th January 2006
Hi Everyone,

Again, sorry it's been a while since the last diary piece. Hopefully everyone is settled into and enjoying 2006.

In Madrid

I had a great time seeing in the New Year at the San Silvestre 10km in Madrid. This was a crazy and fun race, the last 3km were really narrow and rammed with thousands of people who sprayed us runners with shaving foam, streamers and wanted to smack hands the whole way. It was like a big party atmosphere and everyone had lots of fun. It was also nice as Gary's family all came out to Madrid too so we got to celebrate the New Year and eat the Madrid grapes on the strikes of midnight together. Thanks to everyone in Madrid for a great time.

Christmas was also really nice as my brother Martin and Nicole and Maya were over from Australia. It was great to see them and spend time together and meet up with all the rest of the family too. Maya even got to see her first snow.

The latest pair of Nike trainers

So now we're settled in out here in Albuquerque and things are going well. The weather has been dry and sunny almost all the time though this last week has been pretty cold. It's deceptive as it looks nice out of the window and then you go outside and the wind-chill is about -10 C! I'm enjoying running my favourite trails out here again and catching up with friends. I was really pleased to see Chris Thompson back racing again in Cardiff at the weekend after such a long fight back from his injuries. Emily Pigeon also had a solid win in the senior age group so it seems like she is carrying on where she left off last year at World Cross. Congratulations to them and to all the other runners last weekend.

Featured on a Spanish poster

Jan 23rd also sees the announcement from the recently formed "Big 5" Marathon group. It is a really important and exciting time for the sport as these big organisations are coming together to share their expertise, making sure that the athletes are rewarded properly and that the sport receives as much press and exposure as it can which ultimately, is really positive for the sport as a whole. It is really important that everybody works together to secure our sport's place in the shop window especially with so much competition from other sports.

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