Scott Overall's blog by Scott_Overall

Hi guys. It’s been another busy week of training for me and another week closer to the Olympics. I have had some very solid sessions and long runs this week and I’m starting to feel things coming together. I am looking forward to racing in a couple of weeks out in Holland, just a 10km road race for starters before the NYC Half Marathon on the 18th March. I like having these mini targets throughout the year as they provide stepping stones to August and it keeps me motivated during the months before the Olympics. Having things to aim for really helps take my mind off the Olympic Marathon and allows me to train and not always be thinking about the race, which is still so far away. There are hundreds of miles to be banked, thousands of laps on the track and numerous tempos still to be completed - all just building blocks.

Last week I had the privilege of being asked to go along to the Brentford FC Community Sports Trust 25th anniversary bash. Brentford's Football in the Community Programme was established in 1987 and was amongst the pioneering programmes aimed at engaging football clubs with their communities. Twenty five years on and the Trust has won the  Football League Community Club of the Year award four times. They now employ 27 full-time staff and over 50 part-time coaches, whilst reaching in excess of 27,000 participants per year. The evening was a great success and I was on stage answering questions fielded by Rob Wotton and Natalie Sawyer from Sky Sports News. They really made the evening and acted as hosts, introducing people to the stage. The Trust has also benefited from a £41,000 Virgin London Marathon donation to help with one of their projects during the summer. The Sports Trust really is doing everything to help children from all sorts of backgrounds take up sport and help the younger generation. It really is nice to see a football club doing something like this.

This weekend also saw the Southern Cross Country take place in Brighton. I’m not sure if anyone took part in this race, but it really is brutal - 9 miles through mud, over hills and battling the elements. I think the person who had the most fun that day was my friend Alister Moses. He was talking a good game when I ran with him last week at Reigate and was full of confidence heading into the race. This confidence had well and truly evaporated come Monday morning when he was at his desk, flipping the pages of results to see his name... in 256th place. For someone who has been to the World Cross Country Championships for GB he was very disappointed, but he will be back. At least he had the balls to show up though.

Next week I turn 29, my final year in my 20's, as Vicky likes to remind me often enough. She'll be planning my 30th this time next year, is turning 30 really that bad? I'm sure I will find out soon enough. While out and about in London we came across the Olympic countdown clock in Trafalgar Square. There really is no getting away from the countdown, both to birthdays and the Olympics! Until next time.