The road to Rio has started!

British Championship - way ahead of opposition!

It’s September and training for the 2016 season has already started, not in Bath but the other side of England, in Brighton.

The last couple of years have been very difficult and have not gone as planned. I have loved my time in Bath, I love the city, love the lifestyle and loved training with my group! Unfortunately,  I have not progressed so I decided to make the difficult decision and leave Bath. It was a decision that was not easy to make.

2015 season did not go as I wanted. Injury, changing my stride pattern and bad luck all had a massive influence. The last straw was not making the Great Britain World Championship team this year despite travelling and running races around Europe trying to get the qualifying time. 

It has been a great experience and a lot of fun training with James, we have had a huge amount of highs and lows, his constant support has stopped me from going insane! I am really pleased that he will still be helping me in the future. I want to thank everyone in Bath who has supported me through the last couple of years! You will all be missed! I won't be a stranger though! That's for sure!

My aim for 2016 is to qualify for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro (my father was born here) but also to start enjoying racing and getting back to running the sort of times I am capable of running. To achieve this, I feel there was only one move I could make, and this was back to my originally coach, Steve King. Steve and I have spent so much time together over the years, we made history and we are really looking forward to working together again! Thank you for having faith in me and welcoming me back Steve!

This season has taught me so many very important lessons, but most of all to love the sport I'm in. For the first time ever, I have not enjoyed racing this season! As many people know athletics is a physically and mentally draining sport, and when things aren't going your way it feels like there's no light at the end of this long tunnel!

The season started badly with an injury which meant that I could not train probably (alot of swimming and cycling but no running). This affected our plans to run 3 to 4 races before the season started.

European Team Championship ~ Cheboksary, Russia

After running in the Manchester City Games followed by selection to represent Great Britain at the European Team Championship, I felt alot more positive, although I was not happy how I ran in Russia, I felt good and ready for the British Championship and World Championship trails. I easily won my semi final only to be disqualified due to an opinion of one official. It was up to me to prove that I did not run over a hurdle incorrectly. Unfortunately the BBC were not filming on the Saturday and we could not find anyone in the crowd who had filmed the race. Talk about one decision by one official ruining your season!

After all I have suffered this year, it has made me stronger and now feel very excited and positive going into the 2016 season. My main goal of course, is always Rio!


As frustrating as this year has been, I can only imagine how stressful it has been for my family, coach and friends, they have had to deal with me all year! But thank you so much for all your help and support! This season hasn't gone to plan but as they say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and this definitely applies! I will be back!

So a huge huge thank you to James Hillier, I will miss you, my group and support team in Bath, my friends and family!

Also a BIG thanks to Greg Funnel for fitting me in whenever I needed him and always being able to put me back together! He is an amazing Physio and friend.

And last but by no means least, thank you to Nike and my Agent Dave, Stellar Athletics Management LLP for always supporting me.