High hopes of reaching my summit

WE ARE just getting back into what we call our summer season set-up for training. It means that, this week, we have just started our first high-jump sessions. It’s proper training. The winter work was more about building up my body, but it’s now time to do the technical stuff that will make you jump higher more consistently. I’ve now done all the hard work, so it’s down to getting everything else right — then I can turn in my best-ever jumps in the major championships this summer. The signs are good already. We’ve been back at working for only a week and we’re jumping off of a short approach at the moment. But, so far, I’ve set personal bests in everything I’ve done, which is really encouraging for the summer ahead. Admittedly, it has been a slow process for me but it is coming along. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens once I put everything together. Obviously, the main push is the Commonwealth Games and, beyond that, I’m also trying to qualify for the European Championships. That target will be difficult because, if everyone stays fit, there might be four of us fighting for one place. I enjoy the fact that my event is more technical than some, because it splits up your training week. Along with gym and track work, running and general conditioning, the work on actually jumping just adds variety — stops the whole thing getting too repetitive. After changing my coach during the winter, it has taken time for me to get back to where I’d like to be. Changing the training environment was the right thing to do, but it was always going to take time for it all to click. I know it’s early in the summer season but I feel I’m coming back to my best form again, that every aspect of my jumping is improving greatly. So I’m looking forward to seeing what happens now. I am chasing that 2.30 metres mark — and I’m confident it’s within my capability. My first event takes place just outside Paris on May 11 and I’ll be looking to make a good start, although you never can be certain how you’ll perform first time out in a new season. After that, I have the Loughborough International the following week, then the European Clubs Cup — and it’s pretty much a full-on schedule from then. There is something every week, including the trials for the Europeans and then, of course, the Commonwealth Games.