GUEST BLOG: European under-23 hammer bronze medallist Sarah Holt

By Sarah Holt, European under-23 hammer bronze medallist

THIS time last year I had just come back from Delhi and the Commonwealth Games and I am really glad I went even though I was carrying a back injury and wasn't 100 per-cent fit.

LOOKING BACK: Sarah Holt in action at the Commonwealth Games in India 12 months ago

I had a really, really amazing time, I could have done a lot better than not making the final but experience-wise it was good to go and good to see big competitions like that.

There was an athletes' village and it will be similar to how the Olympics will be next year - although because I was injured I missed out on a whole of winter training.

I didn't start doing anything until January of this year and my number one priority is keeping my back in one piece because if it goes I am trouble.

But I am in my sixth week of winter training already this year and it has gone well. It is a lot different to what I have done before and it is the first time I have started winter training with the coach I am with now, Rob Weir.

He is based in American in Oregon, where I went earlier this year, and it is just working the same as it has done since I came back.

John Pearson, my previous coach, is overseeing the technical side of things and I take care of the rest myself. I am happy with the programme and everything and I am improving each week.

I have started doing quite a bit of heavier hammer training, which I haven't done before, and it is quite high volume and a bit of an endurance block.

I have thrown quite a lot more as when you are training over the summer that gets cut down and so I am doing quite a lot of throws a week.

And the good weather the other weekend was welcomed. I think it just helps with the feel good factor, it is nice to be outside when it is sunny and it makes it all a bit more pleasurable.

Training is tough in the winter but I am waking up every day trying to get one step closer to the Olympics so regardless of what it is like outside I haven't got any problems with motivation.

I also managed to get off to Alton Towers with friends from work. I go to Loughborough University and work on the reception for the swimming pool and the gym and my friends their aren't athletes. I like going out with those people as it gives me a bit of normality.

I also went to watch Manchester United play Chelsea and, while I haven't got tickets for the Manchester City match, I am going to the Sunderland and Newcastle games in November - it's going well at the moment.

And I know I said last time that I would probably be going back to Oregon in November but it might be after Christmas now, although I'm not 100 per-cent certain. Either way I still plan to go back.

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Sarah Holt was speaking to Sportsbeat's Ryan Bangs

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