Richard Olsen: RT Journals:NZ

  

PB's

400m – 50.01

800m – 1.51.00

1500m – 3.45.03

Mile – 4:00:26

3000m – 8.13

Well its just about time to head off and it could not have come at a better time as the weather in Christchurch has been so awful lately with the biggest down pour in years still lingering around.

I am itching to get over to Europe and throw the spikes on again as my domestic seasonhere in NZ was never going to be a big one with Europe in mind but was still hoping to pop out a fast one at ITM and go one up from my second place at Nationals in 09. However, I was struck by a virus 2 weeks before ITM which really knocked my socks off and could barely jog. I knew it was my only real shot at a fast 15 as the season was coming to a halt so lined up hoping for a miracle really. The pace was slow until 1100 and I was actually feeling ok but as the pace heated up when Gregson opened up a can I rigged up something terrible 200m out and crawled home the last 200 in 35sec. I lay on the deck for about 60 mins after the race feeling like I had been hit by a Moi Moi bell ringer. Consequently it took me about another 3 weeks to feel my normal self again so I ended up missing Nationals which was a bitter pill to swallow but things dont always pan out the way you want them to, so I took the time to let the body recover before hitting a mini build up for Europe.

The past 8 weeks have gone very well and the progress from week to week has been clearly evident throughout my sessions.

The training group in Christchurch has been very good lately with a number of the lads building up for the half and thon on the 6^th June. The 'Tipton Tiger' Matty Smith has been a huge help as a number of workouts have fit in with him over the past 8 weeks and the 'Dunback Kid' Luke Hurring has always been sniffing around and never far from the action. The odd phone call and heckle from Chris Hamer has added to the motivation and after witnessing the Stawell Beer Mile where the Knox boys pulled through in the form of Joomey, Kano 'The Horse' Wille, Troy and that sloth like character Mattress, its time to get rolling.

Cheers,

Richy.