Last Friday the Briggs Grand Prix Athletics Meet was held in Hobart.  I decided to have a bit of a crack at the 5000m event and as there was a pace setter in the event (and it was my birthday!) I thought that it might be a great opportunity to attempt a personal best time.  Yet sometimes things don’t always go according to plan.  I was given some fantastic advice by my Box Hill Club coach, Chris, who said, ‘Just stare at the back of the leaders.  Stay with them.  When you think you can’t go any further just go one more lap.  When you really think you can’t go any further, put in once last 50m surge passed them... sometimes you never know... they might be hurting more than you and certainly more than you think!’

Great!  Let’s have a go!  But the pace was quick, really quick.  The first three laps rattled off in 71secs and so by the fourth lap I was starting to sting.  My legs were heavy, my mind felt heavy, my heart was heavy.  I had those horrible thoughts of ‘JUST PULL OUT!’ but I refused to give in to them, tried to relax, and see out the finish as best I can.  Unfortunately the time was slow but I still managed 6^th in a time of 16mins50sec.  Next time. 

My latest exciting news is that I have a new coach.  I cannot divulge the information just yet but I am sure it will give me a huge boost of knowledge and experiences.  I can’t wait!