Joey Duck Talks To FemaleFirst

Joey Duck is a rising British sprit star that we should all be keeping an eye on as the 2012 Olympics creep ever closer.

I caught up with her to talk about her preparation for the London Games, her excitement at the prospect of a home Olympics as well as moving into the senior ranks.

- The London 2012 Olympics are getting closer and closer so how excited are you about having then here in your own country?

Having the Olympics in your own country is amazing! Because it's so close to home, family and friends will be able to experience the excitement that you as an athlete go through.

It's just something you won't experience again, so to be a part of it in any way will be so exciting.

- A home Olympics means running in front of a home crowd - that must be an exciting prospect. How do you expect that support will help?

The support of a home crowd will be huge. I have been to watch England play at Twickenham, and that was an amazing atmosphere, so having that in the athletics stadium with hopefully double the noise will be absolutely incredible.

As athletes we don't really experience large crowds for domestic race meets so it really will make a massive difference.

- We are just over a year away from the Olympics so how will you tailor your training programme between now and then as you prepare?

My training won't really change too much. I am doing everything I can to prepare for my 2011 season first, so my programme will continue as it is for this summer and then carry on in to the winter for preparation for next year. There are no secrets I'm afraid, it's the same grind every year.

- Can you talk me through a standard week of training?

I will usually train six days a week. On a Monday and Wednesday morning it's usually weights and strength training. Tuesdays and Sundays are running sessions in the winter they are my hard running day so I often dread those days.

Thursdays is often a nice technical, speed session and some explosive plyometrics which is much more fun! Fridays are my day off and Saturdays are often everything rolled in to one.

Most days will also include coming back in the afternoon and doing all my prehab/maintenance exercises which help injury prevention and improve strength. I also have to do dreaded circuits every day.

- The world championships in South Korea are just around the corner so are you hoping to be on the plane or are you going to focus on 2012?

I'm taking each year as it comes, there's so much work to be done this year before I can let myself think about next year.

There is a long way to go until 2012 in an athletes mind! So I will be doing my best to get to the European u23 champs and the World Champs this year.

- You have been representing U23's so how are you finding the transition into the senior ranks?

I am still an u23 for this year and it is difficult to move up in to the senior ranks. I have been racing the seniors in various races for a while now, it's something you get thrown in to at a young age which helps hugely.

In a way all races are the same no matter who they are against. You still have 7 other people on that start line you want to beat.

- How did you get into athletics in the first place? And who is your major inspiration and why?

The first time I was told to go to an athletics club was by my teacher in primary school. I beat the boys at sports day and it took off from there really.

Though the boys didn't like being beaten much! Alison Felix has always been a huge inspiration, her success speaks for itself, but her technique when she runs is just brilliant to watch.

- You were competing while you were studying at university so how difficult was it juggling the two?

I did find it difficult at university to fit everything in. You don't have a typical student life by any means. While your friends are off on a night out, your just heading to bed ready for training in the morning. I

found third year the most difficult with so many exams, essays and my dissertation all at the same time.

But as long I was organised I could cope. Training was often a release from all the studying, I would have gone crazy if I couldn't go training between studies.

- Beijing put on a great show back in 2008, what are you expecting from London in 2012?

I am as excited as everyone else to see what London has to offer next year. I think we can do an amazing job.

Sydney, Athens and Beijing have looked incredible so I really think we can continue the trend and reach new heights

- Over the next year or so where are you going to be competing as you prepare for the Games?

I'm still going to be based at my training venue in London, and competing in and around the UK mostly. I'll have various races abroad as an when I can, but I suppose I ll have to get used to running in the UK's lovely summer weather in preparation for next summer.

- Finally, what's next for you?

I am hoping this year to be a part of the European u23 championships and from there look towards the World Championships and/or the World Student Games.

Training is going well and I need to put some races together now, so I am looking forward to seeing how this season pans out.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw