It is a problem faced by all top-level sportsmen/women and is called: “hitting the wall”.  As someone who is considered by many as being at the panicle of my sports “chess”  I have experienced this phenomenon!

It happened to me on Friday night, I was out training with Tim Jones and Dave Miller, (Two other semi-professional sportsmen) working on the drinking element of our tough training schedule, in preparation for the 2007 Nationals. 

We have all been giving it 100% commitment for some time now and I suppose on some level I knew it was bound to happen at some stage!

I think I first knew I was in trouble was after about the eighth or ninth Vodka with DIET COKE!  I began to feel as what can only be described as “full”, I said nothing to the others, not wishing to alarm them and just tried to drink my way through it, unfortunately four or five drinks later I was almost facing defeat!  I racked my brain trying to think of what Paula Radcliffe would do in this situation, however urinating by the side of the bar was not going to make me popular with the landlord, nor the burley bouncer in the corner of the room.

I decided that a change of location could possibly be the answer, and a short walk later I found myself in new surroundings at a different venue.  “Dave’s round”(not what we call him) meant that I was able to tackle my demons head on, to my relief this beverage was consumed without issue, and I quickly found myself enjoying the rest of the night and looking forward to a “Sports Kebab” with chilly sauce and SALAD, followed by a long walk home.

On the walk home I thought about something a sports hero of mine  (Eddy the Eagal Edwards) had once said to me “Stop stalking me or I will call the police!” good times…..