Well this month Malta underwent a big change: the famous yellow and orange buses are no more! They have all been replaced by the standard green Arriva buses. I think it’s sad as the buses provided the island with character. However, the improved condition of the buses is much appreciated! We even have some bendy buses – however, they are too big to fit on some of the roads on the initial planned routes so on the first few days quite a few got stuck trying to go round the little streets: it was quite amusing!!
The first half of the month I continued to train very hard and work on technique: especially my blocks. I changed the position of my blocks to try and improve my starts and fingers crossed it seems to have worked or at least improved them. I have some heavy specific winter training needed to get them correct for next season.
I then flew back to England again!! Now going on a plane is like getting on a bus for me!! In fact, the last time I flew the airport staff gave me jobs to do as they now know me!! I travelled to Bedford again but this time for the Senior England Championships. However, our car broke the day before so the garage very kindly lent us a tiny car for 4 of us to travel in. Traffic was awful and the car very uncomfortable – a nightmare of a journey!! On the Saturday I had the 100m and ran a PB of 12.19sec. My start was much better than the previous week; however, the end phase wasn’t as strong. On the Sunday I had the 200m and ran a PB of 25.25sec from lane 1. Lane 1 is the hardest lane to run in because the curve is so tight. I was pleased with the weekend overall, considering the training that I had missed due to illness and the fact that it’s still my first year as a senior. Plus the weather was appalling: heavy rain and cold!! Something I’m not used to anymore!
On the Sunday I travelled back to Bolton to spend the week at home with my family and friends. It was a very busy week filled with several appointments and meetings! I never seem to have enough time to do the things I need to when I’m back at home! I’m very please to say that this week I secured some more sponsorship. I’m now also sponsored by Travel Counsellors and Active Physiotherapy. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my sponsors and I look forward to working with you all in the future.
On the Thursday one of my Maltese training partners flew in to compete in the Birmingham Games with me. It was the first time I have competed at Alexander Stadium: it’s a fantastic venue and I look forward to the day I compete there with all the stands full of people!! I love competing in front of a noisy crowd. This competition was only on 1 day. First I had the 100m but the electronic timing broke on our race so I didn’t get a valid 
time. This was very frustrating as it was my last chance to run the qualifying time for the World Trials the following weekend. I only had to run 0.04sec quicker. Grr!! But I put it behind me and focused on the 200m. In the 200m I ran another PB of 25.15sec and won my heat. This was a great confidence boaster for me! My Nan came to watch me which means a lot to me as she is very old now and doesn’t get to watch me often: it’s only the 3rd time she has seen me run. She used to be a PE teacher so she is very interested and always there to give me her opinion. This competition was the last of my season.
This month I got my English result too (via a text message!!) so I have applied for the University of Malta to study Geography and Psychology. I hope I get accepted and am greatly looking forward to starting and continuing my formal education.
So I am now back in the sun and looking forward to having a few relaxed weeks and leading a “normal” life for a while. Lots of swimming, sun bathing and partying!!
