TTTTTTTTHHHHHHH-AFE!

Rite here we go abit of fun.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Write down a memory that you and me had togehter. Maybe it was a chat, maybe a phone call, maybe even a kiss. Doesnt matter how much you know or dont kno me just post up on my blog the best memory you have of me and yourself! Doesnt have to be a good memory, just post of you u remember me by!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nice and All That

G x x x

Some People ask why we enjoy running?

Well here is ur answer:

1. When your standing behind your starting blocks in a competition, with your heart in your mouth & your nerves goin crazy. When the gun goes eveything changes, the rush you get when u take off out of the blocks is an undescribable feeling.

2. The relaxation fellin you get wen you cross the line, knowin all your hard work & dedication has paid off whether uv won or lost, if you have set out to break a certain time & u achieve it then u can be proud of urself,winnin doesn't last forever, pride does.

3. U will never forget the people u meet through athletics or the timse youve spent with them, whether this is your own club mates, people u compete against or just other athletes, you'll always remember the craic, the fun, the drinkin sessions, the mischief and one ting all athletes share, the love for the sport.

This season was my first season coming off some hard training during the winter and the first season which I totaly went 100% over the 400m Hurdles. What sums up my season - One race. One race were I performed at 100% were everything went well. No disrespect to athletes in Wales but there is only 2 athlete's that went under 60 for the 400mH this year so it left us to do nothing really.

My season started with the Cardiff Schools Championships in Leckwith which is a good event to start, a sizeable crowd of athlete's. I remember it was a really nice day and it was the first time I met my ex. My PB coming in to the new season was 58.1 which I ran in my last but one race in Brecon in 2005. I was drawn lane 6 in the second heat, Fred (My Main Rival) in lane 3 inside me. I went on to win the race in 57.9, which was a nice PB considering I hurdled like a donkey, I was essensialy doing the steeplechase. But happy with my speed and I kept it together. Also that day I ran a 11.6 100m which was tidy considering I was coming off training like 8x400m's.

I did Cardiff Schools Multi Events the week after, won that, ran a 2.09 which was a PB by nearly 5 seconds. I knew then that the winter work had gone well and that I was expecting something big this season. I pin pointed 3 races this year were I knew I could perform -
British Schools
AAA Champs
Celtic Games
And then later on finding out about the Uk Schools Games.

Futher races were just league matches with nothing special happening. I ran my first ever 400m in 52.9 at Aberdare which was quite tidy.

The next big event was most probably the Welsh Schools Mutli Events Champs In Carmarthen. I think every event I got a SB or a PB, expect the High Jump. But the most impressive event was my 800m, improving it again to 2:05.91 which I was soo impressed with. That would be my last 800m of the season.

But the week after it was the Welsh Schools. I couldnt sleep the night before because it kept going through my head how I would run the race. Not being bigheaded but with Fred not being there, it wasnt a question of will I win, it was how much I would win by.
I was drawn in lane 6, which two 67 runners outside me. I thought to my self, fun!

I came through to win that race in 58.12, the same time I ran a year before at the same track, which miffed me abit. But taking postives from it I ran much better and my technique was very good.
I also medaled in the 100mH.

Before the Welsh Championships, disaster, my parents had booked a holiday straight after the British Schools. As soon as I got back it was the AAA's!
I went to the Welsh Champs, I wasnt bothered at all. It was wet and windy and the officals messed us around and I wasnt too happy so I just did what I had to do to win the medal.

I always knew that the British Schools would be my breakthrough race. I had the right race, the right time, the right competiors, and to find out I had lane 2 inside of Nathan Woodward and nobody inside me in lane 1 I was even more happy. I dont think ive ever been so focused in my life. I didnt talk to anybody I was in a world of my own.
I went off at usual pace for the first 200, mabye just abit quicker usualy, I knew Nathan was going off hard and it would of been suicidal to go with him, so i just sat and I kicked at 275m to go. Coming on to the 100m I was in a battled with ''Rambo'' from Ireland, we were stride for stride going down the home straight, with Nathan and Mike allready gone. But Rambo's 10.88 100m time got me and he took me coming off the last hurdle. But 4th at the British Schools I was over the moon, and the time, 56.61.. it just felt I was on the right road. I had my mother in tears down the phone and my coach was just as happy as I was.

What happend in the night at the British Schools is something Id rather forget and Im not going to talk about it too much. But this incedent put me off abit and like the other lads felt abit hard done by being banned from the Uk School