Jessica Judd on a successful winter and dreams of world stage in China

After a sometimes frustrating 2014 and almost falling out of love with athletics, Jessica Judd is back and making the headlines again with a lively start to the New Year.

The Sky Academy Sports Scholar has been combining studies at Loughborough University and putting in the miles over a gruelling winter as she gets ready for an action-packed few months with dreams of the big stage in China and an Olympics in Brazil just over a year away.

Here's Jessica's latest blog on her training, fun in the mud and dietary blow-outs...

I've done a lot of endurance work over the last few months and I'm now focusing on the 800m and 1500m for the summer.

I also have to get used to the pushing and shoving, especially in the last lap when your legs get tired. Hopefully all my training will pay off

I've just run an 8K race and it was really good to step up a distance. It was a long way compared to what I am used to but it's all about learning! It was really tiring! I ran for half an hour which is a long time for me! 

I knew I wouldn't be that competitive which is tough because I am naturally a very competitive person! I did have to give myself the day off afterwards though. I just chilled and ate loads of food! I was so hungry after the race. I had a burger and milkshake on the Saturday night and on the Sunday I had another burger! It was back to the drills on the Monday morning though - it had been a nightmare two days of food but I eat so healthy at University I thought I'd give myself a treat.

Doing the longer distances is all about fitness though. It's been a great winter. Running in the Midland League for my University has gone well, I won the European trials and I was second at the Europeans which was massive for me.

I trained loads over Christmas and the cross country races have gone well. Then it was out of the mud and into the indoors. My aim was to break up the winter training and I even won the 1500m at Glasgow.

But it's not all about the winning. I like giving myself a kick up the backside and it's quite helpful being beaten sometimes! It inspires me to get back into training and work harder.

I've always been a 1500m runner since I was 11 and the last two years I've really fancied the 800m. I always wanted to get back to the 1500m and it's all down to my own determination to see if it really is right for me. I don't want to be wondering what could have been. I want to mix it all up and see what happens.

You need endurance and tactical awareness with the 1500m. So much more can happen with the extra two laps and it's an area I need to get better in. Things like increasing speed and slowing down and the chopping and changing in a race.

I also have to get used to the pushing and shoving, especially in the last lap when your legs get tired. Hopefully all my training will pay off!

I am off to America soon for altitude training. I'll compete in some low-key races but the 1500m should be fun. I'm aiming for the U-23 Europeans and if all goes well then it will be the World Championships in Beijing.

I won't be getting complacent though. I need to just keep plugging away at the training so I really hope I am there. Overall though, I'm really happy with where I am. I am feeling very fit, despite all the burgers! 

Jessica Judd is one of 11 athletes being supported through the Sky Academy Sports Scholarships scheme.

The Scholarships offer a programme of support tailored to each athletes specific requirements covering areas such as funding, media coaching, mentoring and wider developmental support.