Well I have just finished all my racing at the World Championships and all went to the best possible plan that i could achieve over the two days of racing.
On the 18th of August, I walked out into the stadium on the night of my heat run. Unfortunately I just could not focus properly, I didnt feel 100% when I was running but my ability and my strength got me to the finish line 1st and through to the next round which was the next night.
August 19th, I am ready to run, I was so focused on making that final, I knew it was going to be tough and I knew that I had to run a good race in the semi just to get through to the final, but I was ready for it. To make the Final was my ultimate goal and will be for the rest of my career.
In the semi race I still didn’t feel 100% when i was running. I had a good reaction out of the blocks but just could not keep the momentum going. The first hurdle wasn’t the best technique wise, but I was still fast and really turning my legs over and getting quicker as the race continued. I ended up second and that means I was an automatic qualifyer for the final. I was happy, I had achieved my goal and now anything can happen from here.
2.5 hours later it is time to run the final of the womens 100m hurdles. I was feeling very relaxed and my body was feeling great, All i wanted to do now is race. As I was warming up I was feeling better than both of the other races leading up to the final, my technique was getting so much better i was racing really well out of the blocks and i really felt on fire.
I walked out into the stadium and i felt so ready I was so excited and the crowd were going nuts because the German had just won the mens discus final. So I was trying to draw the energy off them. I got the same reaction time out of the blocks as I did in the semis, but this time i still had the momentum to keep going and to get faster over the hurdles. Half way through the race I am not sure exactly what hurdles I hit, but I am pretty sure it was the 6th, 8th and 10th hurdles and they really put me off balance, messed my rhythm up and really slowed my speed as well. Even after hitting those hurdles i was still able to grab 5th place behind very experienced hurdlers so really i can’t be that disappointed with the outcome.
Leading up to these championships I had a great season breaking the Australian record and winning 3 Super Grand Prix.
However it was not all plain sailing.A week and a half out of the championships I had a training session that ended up with me laying on the ground with back spasms and not being able to get up from the ground without help from my physio and coach. I was dosed up with very strong muscle relaxants and went to bed with not a whole lot of pain but a very stiff body. The next day I woke with 50% pain but still very stiff all over. It took me about 3 days to recover and on the 4th day I was able to do a pool session pain free, and continued to get better as the days went on. I arrived in Berlin and was able to do my first sprint session after 5 days of not being able to do much at all. I pulled up with a sore hamstring and had to stay on my muscle relaxants for a few more days to let it settle. I cried and cried that afternoon and even thought about pulling out of the World to get rid of the stress that i was feeling. Rest assured it was just momentary madness and I shoved that thought out of the way a couple of hours later. The next day was going to be a small hurdles session in early afternoon then another one 2 hours later to try and replicate the worlds, I pulled up fantastic and was so excited about my improvement.
We had to make a decision whether to go public with the injury or keep it tight. Steve Waugh often talks of “mental disintegration” in cricket. Let me assure you whilst it is not as evident in athletics it is still there. I decided that I would not give my opponents anything to use to either psych themselves up or get at me. It has never been my style to step back from the challenge and a back injury was not going to be an excuse.
One of the accompanying media guys thinks I should of told the media of my injury pre race. Whilst I did say at the press conference I had a great preparation, like a boxer at weigh in, I was not ready to admit I might not perform at my best. I was actually sitting next to one of my major opponents…I was never going to give her a hint! If I had of medalled no one would of been any the wiser but in a race that is measured in hundredths of seconds my back worries may have taken off the necessary edge.
Every race at this stage of my career is a learning experience. I will take the last two weeks and file it away. I can take away positives. I am never happy losing but to clip hurdles and have some back issues in the lead up…fifth isn’t bad. Thank you for all the support.
Over the next few days I will spend some time with family and friends in Berlin and then move on to Zurich for my next race.
sally
