My week was all about gearing up to my third race of the summer, which was taking place in the Swiss town of La Chaux De Fonds up in the mountains. I don't know what mountains, but they were high and they were not called the Alps. I know them, they have snow!!

It's a small meet, but I was happy to travel there, as it can be a fast place if you get the weather. Also, the new IAAF diamond league is turning into a bit of a mess with hardly any 400m races around, so you got to take what you can get!

Traveled out on Saturday morning form Luton to Geneva, got delayed an hour when leaving Luton, something to do with the plane. Then a bag didn't arrive for another athlete, an hour waiting around, and then a 2-hour mini bus journey and due to tunnel closures we had to go the long way!! It wasn't too bad though, I managed to pick up an Irish Indo in the airport, so I was catching up on the "wedding of the year" Brian and Amy, nine pages of coverage it got. Mighty!! Makes a good break from the usual doom and gloom anyway!!

The line up was good with French runner Leslie D'jone drawn in the lane outside me. Conditions were OK, it was warm and sunny, but it was fairly windy down the back straight, but sure look you cant have all your own way!!

I knew what I had to do! Gun went and I got out fast, La Chaux has big bends so I made sure I drove hard for the first 50/60 metres and then relaxed down the back straight, Leslie had gone out fast too, so I made sure to stick with him. Closing in on the 200 mark I made ground and made a move around the bend. With about 130 to go I went for it, running tall and fast off the bend into the home straight. Up the home straight I tried to remain relaxed as possible, shoulders down my back while moving fast.

I won the race and stopped the clock at 44.98, which is my 4th fastest time ever.

Overall im happy with my run. Still a little rusty in parts, but its an improvement on my runs this summer. I did want a little quicker and I feel the wind cost me a few tenths.

Also, I got a great Swiss watch for my efforts. The meeting is sponsored by all the local watch factories and they do not disappoint!

Onwards and Upwards