Little Islander

Here's a dilemma for you. Nine days before the biggest race of my life to date, I received an invitation to compete at the UK Athletics Championships and Team GB Trials in the 5k track racewalk (you may remember that Peter Kaneen won bronze last year.)

This would give me the opportunity to compete on the same stage as some of the biggest names in British Athletics and even any friends or family that I take with me have to pay, from £12 per ticket.

So, I here you ask: What's the dilemma? It's only three weeks after the Parish Walk and I'm sure I won't be able to do myself justice with 85 miles in my legs. Do I give up what could be a once in a lifetime opportunity to taste life at the top of the UK table for what is a provincial ramble around the Isle of Man at an unrecognised distance? No comparison can be made between the events and in honesty this could be my once in a lifetime opportunity to win our own 'Blue Riband' race when you think of how increasingly competitive it is becoming. So there's little contest in my mind. This could be my 'Parish Walk' whereas 5k is my least favourite distance (I'm ranked 14th in the UK as opposed to 12th at 10k, 9th at 20k and 4th at 50k) and I have little chance of finishing on the same lap as the winner even at my best.

I'll just have to hope that at 42 years of age, I can continue to improve and they'll give me another shot at stardom after turning them down this time.