At the end of the summer 2010 I was in bits when I didn’t make the team for the Commonwealth Games in India; four years on and it was starting to look like that might happen again. 2013 had been a bumpy year with a run of unlucky injuries and it was all down to an early track season for me to bag the qualifying time for Glasgow.

Leaving after more than 8 weeks in the US I must admit I felt a little deflated. I had been on a high after running 10:00 in Mt Sac and was looking forward to a faster race in Stanford. In the later stages of the race I didn’t feel myself and with two laps to go the lactic hit my legs pretty badly leaving me feeling like jelly. Crossing the line in 10:10 is not what I wanted to see. The journey home feels so long at times like these & there’s too much time to start over thinking things rather than just parking it and moving on. read more

I can’t believe how fast the past 5 weeks have flown by in Albuquerque. I really do feel at home here & once again I have enjoyed training on the Rio Grand trails & doing sessions at Academy & UMN track.

After a winter of injury I packed a lot into my first 3 weeks here and with only a few track sessions under my belt I felt that my first steeplechase race in Stanford went well. In the early laps there was a lot of barging and pushing and clashes of legs and spikes which I had not been used to in a while, but I felt strong throughout and just lacked that race speed which will come over the next few weeks. read more

I am currently out at Altitude in Albuquerque New Mexico with my friend and fellow steeplechaser, Sarah Benson from Scotland. My steeplechase coach Geoff Watkin has also flown out for support along with his wife Karen who is a massage therapist, so we are well looked after.

The first two weeks have flown in and we have packed so much into our training and adventures.

I am staying with the lovely Judy Anderson again at the foot of the Sandia Mountains and it’s feels like I never left the place two years ago. Judy’s place is so relaxing with magnificent views and fab food too. Judy is a goddess in the kitchen and always has a treat for us after the long run or track sessions. We have been arriving home to the sweet smell of home made waffles and also Judy’s specialty Migas which is an Albuquerque Pro’s secret recipe. read more