Hello again!

Hello again!

The season is drawing to a close and all too soon. It’s the time in the season where I always look back and think where did it all go!

Berlin was a great experience. I was particularly impressed with the stadium and the sense of history surrounding it. The German supporters were great but I was particularly humbled and happy to see just how many British supporters had made the effort to be there to support us.
We were staying in one of the biggest hotels I have ever seen, the rooms were comfortable and spacious and we were even given a few treats…the best of course being free internet! The food, I have to admit, was awful but that’s usually a given at championships and besides until you finished competing its probably for the best, you really need to eat right while your at an event.

2009 was somewhat bittersweet for me, although I reached my first major world championship final; it was not quite the journey I had envisaged. Still it is another stepping stone towards 2012 and valuable learning curve. Injury and obstacles are all part of the sport so it’s all about how you bounce back from these setbacks. There really is so much to look forward to in 2010 with the Europeans and Commonwealths, I’m excited already!

Since returning from Berlin I have ended my season and am currently on my break and trying to do all the things that you simply just don’t have time to do during the season. First on my list was sorting out my bedroom!! It might sound mundane but it’s actually exciting for me having been away so long. Aside from that I will be going on holiday to relax in the sun, but not before some birthday celebrations next week!

Maz’s Top tip :
As one season ends and we roll on to the next have you ever thought about keeping a training diary, it is always useful to log your sessions, thoughts, physical feelings and anything you think is relevant to your training preparation for the year ahead.

Hey everyone!

Can’t believe a month has flown by so quickly. When writing my last blog I had just begun my campaign for 2009… since then I have had a few more runs; including a great win over the 800m in the Golden Spike grand prix, Ostrava, I took some good scalps there. I have also managed to get in a couple of 400m races, the last of which I won in a seasons best time of 52.3…not bad for a half miler.

I moved house three weeks ago, which is probably not advisable in season and although I wasn’t too busy, it was still stressful! My new house is just perfect; spacious and light and with this I feel a whole new sense of organisation and order which is an essential part of the lifestyle of a professional athlete. Training full time for me has meant that I am always on the go so it has been important for me to get the work /life balance right as you should in any career. The only difference with Athletics is your work goes with you…everywhere and all the time!

What I do in my down time often makes or breaks a training session and consequently affects my competition. Since becoming full time I have learnt to incorporate naps into my days. I have been blessed with the ability to try my hand at two events the 400 and 800m. Whilst the 800m is my main discipline, I come at it from a 400m/speed background. Training for both you can imagine at times can be conflicting! I continue to adapt well and I have completed my biggest ever endurance volume and that hasn’t come at the detriment of my speed as we so often see. My coach Ayo Falola has structured my programmes in such a way as to peak when it matters and I have every confidence that come Berlin I will be more than ready to meet the challenge ahead of me!

So that’s it from me…as always it’s been a pleasure, thanks for taking the time. Look forward to meeting some of you at the next McCain roadshow!

Maz’s top tip for July: REST and RECOVERY are just as important as training! Listen to your body, it never lies!

Well it’s that time of year…

the atmosphere is buzzing around the track especially with the great weather lately, definitely given me a boost in training.

My season has gotten under way finally. I ran my first 800m in Hengelo and whilst racing a few girls with a race or two in hand I was still my competitive self and was rewarded with a pleasing 2.00.58mins opener! Definitely bodes well for the season ahead!

My excitement for the season began a couple weeks back however at the very first McCain roadshow in Nottingham. We had an awesome day of athletics. After my usual Sunday morning long run I headed off to join the action in Nottingham’s Market Square. The turn out was fantastic and the rain posed no deterrent for the budding young athletes and their equally competitive parents! Everyone was so keen to learn about the core skills behind track and field: power, strength, speed, endurance, nutrition… even I learned lots on the day! I was soooooo impressed with the giant pod, I’m wondering if I could get one in my garden? Probably not so I’ll just look forward to the pod visiting London in July!

So this is my first blog and I’m going to try my best to be as informative and give as much advice as I can so if anyone has any specific questions related to running please ask away and I will do my best to answer as many as I can each month!

Maz’s Top Tip for June: As the weather is hotting up it makes me think hydration! Make sure you’re drinking at least 500ml of a sports electrolyte based drink at least two hours prior to exercise.

Thanks for reading!