Paula

Today I am compelled to write in defense of Paula. Same age as me, same period at Uni, same degree and same love for running. That's where the similarities end - I have 10% of her running ability.

The Tory MP Jesse Norman who effectively implicated her yesterday deserves to be shot. Of all the people to implicate with a desasterous throw away line. Paula has almost single handedly been the one to promote 'clean' running and frankly does not deserve this particularly when the unfounded throw away comment is so damaging. I really feel for her.

The story is the lead for the Guardian and the Times today. The lead in the Metro is further evidence of the emcumbant Tory (UK Conservative) party prowess. Simply shocking.

Paula was (still is) an anti doping pioneer and requested that the IAAF not only randomly test her more than others but also took the unprecedented step of demanding that her blood samples be frozen (long before this became the norm). As David Brailsford eloquently articulated 'if she were doping (which she was not) this would be incredibly stupid'. 

I really do pity the DOUBTERS. As I have said previously in this blog, they the DOUBTERS are killing our sport just as much as the actual dopers. This was Matt Dickinson's (chief sports writer for the Times) main point in his article (see pic below - 'Lord Coe needs to tackle this cynicism'). I like too how he has pulled up Seb Coe. As I have previously said I don't believe he is doing enough.

In Lux today and Amsterdam tonight. Will try and get out late for a jog.

At home we are still in shock that our Jack (#10) did not make it through the final round of his district (rep) trials. This is lthe first knock back he has had with his football. His coach was also dismayed particularly as the rest of his club team got through who have varying ability (they effectively took all the kids from last year). In hindsight it will be a blessing as he has too much on his plate at the moment. It was really hard to gee him up though as he was really dissapointed.

I was really proud of him when the phone rang and his mate from his old school asked him in which position he had been selected to which he replied he had not and was very gracious by telling his mate well done a number of times on his selection. Dealing with dissapointment will be key in terms of whether he has the desire to push on or not.

His trials are going well at Millwall and this week he was also offered a 6 week trial at Charlton in November.