Two races to try to run inside the A Standard

OLYMPIC DIARY:All the training I’ve done comes down to this. Loughborough today and Santry tomorrow. To get inside the 10.18 barrier, writes JASON SMYTH

THIS WEEKEND is my last chance. I’m in England today for a race in Loughborough and then back to Ireland tomorrow for the National Senior Championships in Santry. It’s a pretty simple, straightforward scenario. Two races to try to run inside the A Standard qualifying time of 10.18 for the 100m. All the training I’ve done comes down to this. I actually don’t have any plans for Monday because my coaches and I have never looked beyond getting the time. I haven’t thought about what happens next if I don’t get it.

My training has gone well but my racing hasn’t been good. When I ran 10.24 in May, I felt it was setting me up for a good season and that I would definitely find the 0.06 seconds that would get me in. But since then, I haven’t put a race together. My technique has been just terrible at times in races and when your technique is losing you a couple of hundredths of a second with every stride, you will see it when you cross the finish line. This weekend is obviously about trying to run the time but all I can concentrate on is trying to put the technical problems right and hopefully the time will follow.

I know I am running out of time and opportunities but I think you continually have to be optimistic. I know the work has been done and I know things have gone well in training for me. You have to be positive, even when things go wrong.

The European Championships in Helsinki were a bit of a disaster for me from start to finish. It felt like everything that could go wrong did go wrong. I flew out of Belfast to Heathrow but missed my connection when I got there. My bag didn’t arrive to Helsinki for three days. My times were poor when I ran. By the time I left, I was just happy to be getting out of there. But no matter what went wrong, there was no excuse for coming out and running so poorly.

It’s done and dusted so I’ve just to let it go and get ready for this weekend. It’s going to be what it’s going to be. I can’t let little things distract me, I’ve just got to get things right from my end. I’ve been back at home for a few weeks now and it’s been great to have a bit of a life again. I haven’t done much but I’ve been able to meet family and friends and just take back a bit of a life again.