Exactly two weeks ago was the day of my race at the European Champs and supposed to be the start of an exciting couple of weeks of racing in the European circuit. I was confident I was in good shape after a solid training block in the month of June, followed by two 1500m races under the qualifying time and a perfect tune-up 800m race at Nationals. But unfortunately things don’t always turnout the way you plan.

Starting in the second semi-final I knew exactly what was needed to make the final. Because of the fast first semi-final it looked like it would have to be a top 4 place, so I reminded myself…positioning is everything. Right after the start I positioned myself perfectly next to the leader. Everything seemed to go to plan until I let a competitor pass me and ended up on the inside next to the rail. One tactical mistake after the other made that I ended up at the back of the field, to race back to the leaders and waste way too much energy to contend for the qualifying spots in the final lap. Not only my time (4:11.03) and place (10^th), but especially the fact that I ran such a bad tactical race are very disappointing. Clearly I’m not at the point where I can afford to make any mistakes. A bit of a harsh reminder that this is the highest level…and we’re not playing around!

I felt like the result didn’t reflect the shape I was in at all, which made it hard to accept I didn’t make the final. In the couple of days after the race I totally had my mind set on making up for it. But in the transition workout I did in between Euros and my next race I felt that a niggle (plantar faciitis) I managed to deal with before Euros, had come back much worse. Just a couple of days of alternative training and I thought I’d be ready to race. But with my plantar hardly improving I decided it is not worth taking the risk of rushing back anymore. Yesh, frustrating it is, having the feeling I didn’t get everything out of the season. But I figured it would be more frustrating having to rehab in order to get healthy again before starting the preparations for next season

To finish on a positive note; besides running within 0.5 and 0.6 seconds of my 1500m and 800m pb’s in far from perfect races, I also did learn some valuable lessons this season I will take to next year and beyond. Obviously there’s the one I learned in the most important race of the year. But I don’t want to forget that the season didn’t start out the way I wanted at all and in just four weeks time and lots of help of team Suzy I managed to turn things around. And that is the other thing; I have a team of great people around me I believe in. Working with my new coach, Scrivo and training with his group in Australia has been a pleasure. I know that once all these other little things fall in place, together we can come to great things.

Special thanks also to the other members of Team Suzy, my Seven Hills & Aussie training partners and ofcourse my fans! When I know what’s on the cards for the next couple of months this is the first place to find out about it. For now I’m just going to enjoy a bit of a break and hopefully start back training early September.

-xx-

Susy K