Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

To learn all that I have to left to learn in just seven weeks is intimidating enough. To do it all without the vestiges of my triathlon fitness, without the banker that was several years of middle-distance track interval work, feels like walking out to .

At the start of this whole adventure, I had a few targets in mind. The concrete one was to finish with , the hazier ones to demonstrate just how hard a decathlon is and to explore and explain the technical disciplines that make it up.

Those 4000 points seem an awful long way off now. And while dealing with the boredom and frustration of injury is an accurate reflection of many a proper decathlete's experience, there's an increasing fear that I could embarrass both myself and this great event on 30 August.

Decathlon is a fantastic sport. It deserves respect, not a hopeless incompetent throwing the javelin like a dart and clocking 400m times for the 110m hurdles. From a selfish perspective, I also wanted to do it well. This could be the only time I ever record a discus mark in my life. Do I want to have something on my track (and field) record that bears unfavourable comparison to the Middlesex under-11s girls record?

There's been plenty of time to ruminate on such things during the last month's interminable aqua-jogging sessions. When you're staring at the same spot of the swimming pool wall for 45 minutes four times a week, your brain starts behaving in strange ways.

Other random subjects that have occupied time in recent days include:

1. If I played tennis against , could I win a single point?
2. How long would it take an average-sized man to
3. Will the "what ifs" from the Lions tour ever stop haunting my every waking moment?

And so to a plea. I'm off to Cardiff to cover the this week, something which could bring joy to the hardiest of hearts. The cricket will be fantastic, the opportunities for decathlon training less so.

I'll be there from Tuesday 7 July to Monday 13. If there's anyone in who fancies some early morning training in any of the 10 events (caveat: I'll have to nurse the hammy) I'd be delighted to hear from you.

Javelin drills, conditioning stuff, even some aqua-jogging assistance - I'll do it all, as long as we're done and dusted by 10am. , , the - name the location and I'll be there. Same goes for from 7-11 August.

One other thing while I remember. The hamstring means I can't dance like Usain B - that and a stifled sense of natural rhythm, an upbringing in Essex rather than Jamaica etc - but maybe you can. Have a look at if you reckon you can bust Bolt-like moves like ole Lightning himself. Personally I'm backing Ben Dirs to win it. That man's - quite extraordinary...