danny crates

Well as I am sure many of you are now aware.  Beijing did not quite work out as planned.  After many months of battling injury I finally succumbed to a 2cm tear in my right soleous, ruling me out of the race I had worked so hard for.

Sadly all this came less than 24hrs after one of the biggest highs, and proudest moments in my career.  Carrying the flag, and leading Paralympics GB out into the opening ceremony.

It is hard to describe the emotions of the Opening Ceremony, it is something that as an athlete you dream of, that honor.  But whilst I enjoyed and cherished every moment, I had that 1% doubt in my mind.

 Just knowing how much I had been through, just to be there.

After I realized that I would not be able to compete, I took the toughest of decisions, I Left early and returned home.

So what now, well I am back in training and hoping to put the demons of Beijing 2008 behind me.  I have the small matter of going back after the 800m World record I held since 2004.  I do not believe a middle distance World record belongs in Poland!!!!!!!

When I last updated you I had just had another injection.  Well at first it did not seem that it had worked, then things started to progress.  Much faster than anyone could have imagined.

I did my first tentative grass jog on Sunday 27th July followed by another during the week.  I did my first track session since march on Monday 4th Aug., 2nd on wed 6th and raced on that Sat 9th, where I ran 1:59,  securing my place.  A very fast progression.

From then on training went from strength to strength and I improved with every session.  So much so that on wed 20th I ran my second race.  Clocking 1min 57.54sec, which showed that I was getting back and looking like I could once again dream of the medal.  All seemed well and I felt no pain.

I went for a run the next day and felt some pain in my achilies again, so rested ready for the flight on sun 24th.

Once I arrived in Maccau, sadly things got worse, the injury has re-appeared and I have been unable to run.  The medical team are working hard on me, and I have had a series of 3 injections again and another ultra sound scan.

The original plan to get some good training in has now gone.  although as always I am training hard, just not running, and as always I  have not given up the hope and dream.  The focus now is to get me on the start line, and able to run. They can put a local anasthetic in the area for the races, but, to do this for training would run the risk of injury, and I still plan to compete next year and further.

Not the build up I had hoped or dreamed of.  I can safely say that this has been the toughest season of my career and very hard to deal with mentally.

Believe me there can be no one more upset and hurt than me.  But it is not over yet, and I have not endured the last 5 months to give up just two weeks short. and I have not endured the last 5 months to not put up a fight in the race.

my races are on 14th and 15th sept.  I will keep you posted on how things progress and hopefully the 15th can shed some light over my season

Good news has yet to come..

Well, Once again I was hoping to give you some good news, and be able to say that I was running again, and catching up fast. Sadly this is not the case. After 5 injections I am still unable to run.
That does not mean that I am not training though. I am working hard, in the gym, pool and out on my bike. The latest tool in my armory is the G-Trainer.

The G-trainer is a weight compensating treadmill, which in basic terms lightens the load. This enables me to run without inflaming the Achilles too much. The treadmill is based at St Mary’s Uni in Teddington. Whilst there I also have use of the altitude chamber. This reduces the oxygen I breathe whilst training. Which increases my workload and helps speed up fitness.

I am in for what will be my final injection, and shot at fitness for Beijing on Monday. I can assure you that I, and all the UK Athletics support team are doing all that we can to get me, repaired and prepared in time for Beijing.

View the new brand advert, for the Great Britain Paralympic team.

Since returning from South Africa in February, I could safely say that Feb. and March was a period of highs and lows, or to steal a much over used phrase, a roller coaster of emotions.

Click here to read on

On April 6th Danny carried the torch along the river at Greenwich before handing over to Theo Walcott.

It was a great honor, to help the flame on its journey to the Olympics and Paralympics in Beijing. As an athlete the flame represents every thing about the games. When they light the cauldron at the opening ceremony, you know the games have begun, and that’s when the nerves really start to get to you.

It was a real shame that every thing that is good about the relay was overshadowed by the demonstrations, not the 99% that demonstrated peacefully, but as always that 1% you always get, that are out there to cause disruption. I am sure there were thousands of families who chose not to go due to the threat of trouble, my wife and 6month old son being among those who sadly thought it would be safer to stay at home. And for those who did brave the cold, they did not get to see the torch as up close and personal as they would have desired and deserved. You see the flame represents every thing that is good about the games; it does not represent the country that hosts it. The Olympics is the friendly games, where athletes come together to compete with no political agendas.

For a track and field athlete the winter months are long and tough. Double training sessions in the coldest and wettest conditions.

That’s why January can never come around quick enough. The first of the warm weather training camps. This year we are in Potchefstroom, about 1 1/2 hrs from Johannesburg, South Africa. Potch is about 1400m above see level. Which means that when you first arrive it is tough. The air is thinner so we have to take it easy over the first few days until we acclimatize to the conditions.

click here to read more on South Africa and what is the first installment of my journey to Beijing

Danny is awarded an honorary degree by the university of essex and south East Essex College at the graduation awards ceremony.
.

click here to read about danny the person

Another gold - for Corringham’s Danny Crates

The 34-year-old, from Corringham, held off Algerian Hamza Rahouni in the closing
stages to win in 1.58.35mins in Manchester.

And Crates insisted he was pleased with the performance.

Crates latest triumph in Manchester, saw him defend the crown he also won last season.But it was certainly close as Rahouni chased him down the home straight and almost overtook the Thurrock Harrier.

Read the rest of this entry »