The earlier winter, I left my earlier coaching set-up at St Mary’s and went to Tony Lester, who was extra well-known as a sprints coach, and we actually clicked. I labored with numerous world-class coaches, and I might have him proper on the very prime, nevertheless it was undoubtedly a shock to the system.
The very first thing we did was enhance my pace. I’d beforehand skilled with the Kenyans for a couple of years so I had numerous endurance, although I didn’t run 1500m. It got here from doing lengthy runs with [form world and Commonwealth 5000m champion] Daniel Komen and [three-time world 3000m steeplechase champion] Moses Kiptanui so I had that background.
However pace’s the secret so Tony requested: “What do it is advisable to do?” For a superb 800m, you want to have the ability to undergo 400m in a sure mark and one other at 600m so we actually labored on our pace.
I did a full indoor marketing campaign, which was new. I’d been used to doing an indoor assembly or two simply off cross nation or endurance coaching, go and run a 1:51, after which simply do a few races – normally the British Champs – and cease. This time, I did all of it. It didn’t fairly work out for me within the European indoors last, after I had an altercation going into the final 200 and got here fourth, however the pace was actually within the legs from February and March.
Once we got here to the outside season, I opened up at Hengelo, which I at all times discovered had a smooth observe and was fairly windy, however I got here third there and felt actually comfy. I ran 1:45 a couple of occasions after that after which the world championships in Helsinki got here alongside.
I bear in mind sitting within the name room forward of the heats and no one needed to truly go onto the observe. The rain was coming down sideways. So I mentioned: “Proper, I’m going to simply go for it. I’m going to go off arduous, as a result of they’re all going to hate it.” It labored and I solely acquired edged into second on the road.
Sadly, I acquired knocked out within the semis – within the 800m, it’s Russian roulette – however I ran 1:45 there once more after which went to Zurich, the place I anticipated to run 1:44 however clocked 1:45.35 as a substitute.
Then it was on to Rieti which was, together with Zurich and Brussels, the perfect race on this planet. It was initially simply on a six-lane observe, however then they resurfaced it to an eight-lane one. Nevertheless it was nearly unattainable to get into as a result of they attracted the perfect of the perfect – the likes of Wilson Kipketer – and solely ever took 11 athletes within the 800m at most.
James McIlroy (Getty)
It was the race to get into. Now there are such a lot of Diamond Leagues however again then there have been most likely simply six huge occasions. Brussels was normally straight after the world championships, or Zurich was both aspect of it.
Each of these races have been principally Olympic finals or world finals with a pacemaker, so that they have been very excessive calibre, and Rieti was undoubtedly in that very same bracket.
It was very picturesque and ideal for operating quick. It has the proper altitude too, which at all times made for a terrific race. Equally to Zurich, all people at all times went out very arduous. Every part clicked for me. Even in an excellent area, I felt excellent. As an alternative of attempting to win it, I ought to have tried to sit down in and I feel I might have run slightly bit faster.
Wilfred Bungei received it, and he ran the world lead that 12 months. In a method, I’m glad I attempted to take him. He slowed it down on the again straight, and I used to be proper behind him. I used to be like: “You already know what? I’m going to go for this.”
READ MORE: My biggest race collection
With about 120m to go, I got here on to his shoulder, after which he simply kicked once more off the crown of the bend. He’d slowed it all the way down to kick, whereas I hadn’t acquired that in my engine. I ought to have sat on him and let him tow me spherical. As an alternative, he kind of stockpiled after which kicked off the bend and I blew up a bit.
Antonio Reina, the Spanish 800m runner, handed me as properly on the line, however I acquired my 1:44.65 which I feel was the quickest time within the UK in 16 years. It was my third to final race of 2005 nevertheless it was the spotlight of that 12 months.
As instructed to Mark Woods
Factfile
Born: Dec 30, 1976
Occasions: 800m/1500m
PBs: 1:44.65/3:39.73
Honours:
2008: British Indoor Championships 1500m gold
2005: European Indoor Championships 800m fourth place; British Indoor Championships 800m gold
2004: British Indoor Championships 800m gold
2002: Commonwealth Video games 800m sixth place; British Championships 800m gold; British Indoor Championships 800m gold
2000: British Championships 800m gold
1999: British Indoor Championships 400m gold
1998: European Championships 800m fourth place; British Championships 1500m gold
» Subscribe to AW journal right here, try our new podcast right here or signal as much as our digital archive of again points from 1945 to the current day right here
