Winning the worlds is great, but it is one part of a wider plan – Tokyo
Kaizen philosophy of continual growth has served me well this year and will hopefully come to fruition at next summer’s Olympics
It was at school that I first heard about the Japanese philosophy of kaizen. It means continuous improvement, small steps that – taken consistently – allow you to achieve your goals. It could easily be a sports philosophy, that concept of pacing yourself rather than waking up one morning and attempting to climb a mountain without having put in consistent groundwork. It resonates with me and my personality.
Focusing on the Olympic Games in Tokyo next year, it is ironic to be thinking about a Japanese proverb. But for me it is a natural fit. With John Blackie, my coach, we always talk about growth, improvement and consistency. Those key words represent the season we have just had which was full of growth – both physically and mentally, as an athlete and as a person. When all those things come together you can see it on the track. Two personal bests, British records and three medals in the World Championships in Doha. There is a lot to be happy about.
Winning the Diamond League was a bonus. On the day of the final it was cold in Brussels, and I was focused on not getting injured before the World Championships. But a lot of things came together in that 100metres and arguably it was my best run of the year over that distance. Crossing the finish line it did not sink in that it was the Diamond League final, I was just happy I had won the race.
I remember the photographers saying, “Smile more, you just won the final!” and it only then occurred to me that I’d won the whole league!
I was really happy to win the 200m in Doha, and even though – being picky – I could have run better in the 100m, a world silver is nothing to be disappointed with. And I was very, very proud of the women’s relay squad – to be consistently medalling over the four-year cycle on the global stage is a real achievement.
People always ask me, “How did it feel to win?” and that’s not an easy question to answer. Of course I am happy to win a race, but I don’t have those euphoric highs. Even winning in Doha – because it is part of the Olympic plan, it feeds into the bigger picture. I’m sure I’ll look back and feel proud, but it is hard for me to zoom out and reflect because, psychologically, I’m so in it. And actually it’s really good for me to just keep being part of the process. I keep forgetting that I won the worlds. It’s cool, but it’s done and I have to focus on the Olympics.
John and I work in two-year cycles. Irrespective of whether Doha had gone well or not it would just be one part of a bigger plan. John plans a lot, he always has done. He plans so far in advance, even the other day he was saying: “Oh, you could easily keep going for another 10 years.” I said: “I don’t want to think that far ahead!”
This season we played a game that turned into aiming to run consistently sub-11 seconds, which I’m really proud we were able to do. Well, almost – if it wasn’t for an annoying headwind at the Birmingham trials in the heats. That race aside, to run sub-11 come rain or shine, no matter which time zone, no matter who is in the race, is hard to do. We also set ourselves the target of finishing top three in every race, and top three in the world, irrespective of who I had to beat to make that.
Often it was the small things that were satisfying. I wanted to be on the Diamond League circuit across both the 100m and 200m throughout the season. That brings a lot of challenges – like managing jet lag. People underestimate how much preparation goes into being able to fly to the West Coast for three days, acclimatise, get over jet lag and then be ready to run times against the fastest women in the world – sometimes people who live in that same time zone.
And then the next day getting back on a plane and ready to do it in Europe later that week, in front of a packed stadium of people who want to see fast times, even though you might be tired and not know what day it is.
Finishing the season fit and fast was the most important thing for me. Obviously I wanted to win in Doha, but it was essential to me that I finished the championships fit and ready to train for the Olympics, because time is of the essence.
Now I am in winter training, six days a week, focusing on getting stronger and faster, trying to work smarter and harder every day. As my coach would say, it is about putting money in the bank, hay in the barn. Every single bit of effort we put in now will come to fruition in the summer. Longue duree, if you’d want to use a more academic term, it’s all about long-term, overarching plans. You have to put the groundwork in years before. So, it’s all eyes on the Olympics now. It always has been really. Seeing John get recognised and named as the Coach of the Year really makes me happy. He is selfless, intelligent and has been with me every step of the way. He deserves this and I’m so pleased for him. We very much became world champions together. I’m obviously really happy to have come third at Spoty, too. Thank you so much for your votes and, of course, your ongoing support.
The photographers were saying, ‘Smile more, you have just won the final!’
Selfless John deserves Spoty prize