It was a great few days with the boys in Majorca & was lucky enough to meet some great people on top of that but sleep deprivation kicked in & I was very grateful that I was able to resort to my sleep on any plane any time skill.  Once I picked up the hire car at Barcelona airport, I was then able to enjoy what is a stunning drive up from the city, deep into Catalonia & over into France.  The picture today is of Monserrat which is just an incredible sight to behold & isn't done justice on my Sony point & click camera.

Now that I am up here, I am working with the endurance athletes that use this as one of their altitude training camps that UK Athletics in association with London Marathon organise every year.  Throughout the duration of the camp the athletes are provided with coaching, medical & exercise science support, with many aiming to qualify for the World Championships in Deagu at the AAAs National Championships in Birmingham at the end of the month or in the last chance saloon of the Diamond League meet at Crystal Palace a week later.

I am sharing an apartment with Loughborough-based coaching institution George Gandy, who is here in his role as UKA National Event Coach & Barry Fudge who is one of the UKA exercise physiologists heavily involved in the altitude training programme.  The athletes training out here include Mo Farah (accompanied by his coach Alberto Salazaar), Helen Clitheroe, Jemma Simpson, Hannah England & last but not least part-time Font Romeu resident, Paula Radcliffe.  I am also being ably assisted by soft tissue therapist, Becky Ellis.

As it is though, after a flight, a long drive & supper with George, Barry & Becky, I am now absolutely shattered & am off to bed.  More tomorrow!