Well, this is it, the big one- race day! A long coach journey awaits the boys, who are full of excitement and nerves. Select family members make the journey to Birmingham with them, six travel but only four will run.
I did't sleep the night before with worry as to who to leave out and how to tell them. When we arrived at the track I think the penny finally dropped as the boys at last saw the magnitude of this race: the crowd, the arena, the opposition... this was a long way from the lonely quiet training track of Southampton. Yes, their day had arrived.
We all sat down to relax and the guys nearly brought me to tears, they had saved up and got me an engraved vase saying thanks for the opportunity to change their lives, love the boys. This gesture was really overwhelming for me, I have grown really fond of these lads and would do anything to help them.
I spent a bit of time talking to them one by one to see how they were feeling, would the pressure make them sink or swim. I was really worried about Des - he truly deserves to run as he has been there at training all the time and is a good kid but he has an injury.
All the others seemed up for it so we started to warm up, I secretly was keeping a close eye on Des, he was in my squad in my mind but no way could I run him if his leg was too bad. They all looked good warming up but so scared; I kept reassuring them how hard they had ttrainined and how good they are - this was not the time to try get them psyched up, the environment did that for me, this is a big stage and they knew it.
The time had come to select the team, I sat them down: this was tough.
1st leg: Nat - no worries here, I think up to date the best competitor of them all, always races well.
2nd leg: Ryan - if he could turn his nerves into belief I know in my mind the most talented athlete of the lot - this is his time to shine.
3rd leg: Des - my risk would his injury hold out - to be honest deserves to run, James and George have missed sections of training through illness and injury.
Last leg: Sonic - my secret weapon - the bullet boy!
For Tom and George this must have been heartbreaking, I explained how it happened to me in my European Junior Championships; I ran in the heats then was replaced in final - it broke my heart but not one of the athletes who ran EVER beat me again.
So we warmed up, went through normal drills, got lane numbers and time had come. I walked onto the track with my boys, continuingto reassure them how they were ready and to forget the opposition, do their best and they would surprise everyone.
I was so proud of them and how far they had come - now up against the best seven teams in the UK, my little lads from a background miles away from the others.
Bang the gun goes, Nat runs strong just as I knew he would - a mature run holding onto third place.
Ryan runs out of his skin - to most people's surprise - but not mine, as I knew someone would shine and rise to the occasion, its Pretty Boys day and he storms into second and runs the best I have ever seen him.
Des takes the baton in second but runs off a bit too slow but battles hard up the home straight showing true guts; I am really proud of him but then.... disaster... handing the baton Sonic he gets cut up and they drop it - my head is my hands gone from clear third to losing a few seconds which in turn makes Sonic panic a bit and goes off too hard to try to catch up. Unfortunately he fades at the end and we come in 6th but I'm so so proud, I'm sure my boys would have been on the podium if they had not dropped baton but I think I was the proudest guy at the track - I had been though loads with my boys and I felt like a proud father.
In my eyes my squad of six had done themselves proud, and me proud - I promised I would stick with them and I will, I am here for those guys and will continue to train them away from the cameras because I have no doubt those boys have talent. And if I can continue to be a positive influence in their lives, I will - I have gained six little mates who today became men.
GOOD ON YA LADS - GET READY FOR 2010!
