Having just flown back from Warsaw where I competed in an International 1500 metres against World Class opposition, I have just set a new PB (a personal best time) of 4:03.62! The significance of this time is that I have just ran a World Championship A qualifying time that will hopefully help me get selected to represent Great Britain at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin at the end of this summer in August. How exciting!!
Having just stepped out of the Junior age group and after having competed in my first Olympic Games in Beijing, I can’t stop smiling, as at this very moment in time I am currently ranked 8th quickest in the WORLD over 1500 metres! I am soooo happy!
The cheek ache I am experiencing from smiling so much all began Friday 29th May when I competed in my first fast 5000 metres on the track since 2007. Here I also set a new PB of 15:18.44, a huge step up from my previous personal best of 15:47! Not only was this hugely rewarding for my coach (Mick Woods) and I, but I also won the race by 7 seconds. It felt so awesome crossing the finish line in first place and this enhanced my excitement about racing again on Wednesday night, 3rd June.
Although I see myself as more of an endurance runner, on Wednesday I competed in an 800m at the ever so familiar track of St Mary’s University College (where I study). 800m = two laps of the track. For someone who is very happy to run 12 and a half laps, the 800 metres can be a deadly two laps of pain, you often see athletes swimming in lactic acid all the way to the finishing line! Certainly the case if you get your pace judgement wrong! I don’t get the chance to run 800 metres very often but they are vitally important in helping me to run quick over 1500 metres. They are particularly essential to help me develop the ability to finish fast at the end of a 1500 metre race when things really start to heat up!
I raced in front of lots of friends and some family, and this helped me go on to win this race! Although I came close to swimming at the end of the race, rather than effortlessly running to the end of the line in the same way Usain Bolt could, I set another PB, which gave me added confidence to know I could go and run quick over 1500m on Sunday!
Although I am in the swing of racing and training ready to prepare for the World Championship Trial race and World Championships themselves, even just reading and writing this first blog myself, I have probably not just had an amazing last nine days but possibly the best last nine days of my life!
Here’s to much more cheek ache in the future. In athletics you take the highs and the lows, you learn from them and move on. I sure am on cloud nine at the moment but I know there is much higher places to go yet and now I need to get my head down, continue to train hard, stay injury free and get ready for a fantastic summer season ahead.
One box ticked. Moving on to the next one; qualifying for the Berlin World Championships in August. The trials are being held at Birmingham on 10th to 12th July.
Wish me luck, and I will keep you updated!
Ciao for now,
Stephanie Twell
Xx LONDON 2012 xX
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