Jessica Judd moves house, watches Roger Federer and steps up to 1500m
Sunday 28 August 2016 07:59, UK
Dealing with change can be a stressful part of growing up. Moving house and switching jobs must be right up there.
Chuck in the pressures of blasting your legs around a running track four times (1500m = just over a mile) in 4 minutes 16 seconds to qualify for the World Championships and it all adds up to a crazy month for Sky Academy Sports Scholar Jessica Judd.
The 20-year-old from Essex recently packed up her laptop and pens at Loughborough University and now in the last week she's had to deal with changing accommodation and testing her new endurance skills in the 1500m instead of 800m.
The plan is to race at the Worlds in China in August. Here's Jessica's latest blog on a fine bronze at the British Championships and how a trip to Centre Court to see a Swiss superstar reduced her stress levels.
I was lucky enough to go to Wimbledon and watch Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka play. Federer is my favourite tennis player (and my boyfriend's) so we were both very happy when he won and made the semi-finals.
We treated ourselves to strawberries and cream and then watched Stan Wawrinka lose to Richard Gasquet in five sets (Gasquet won the decider 11-9). It was an amazing game and lasted for over three hours!
We were starting to get a bit worried as we had to make it back to Canvey Island in Essex with the tube strike so we were hoping someone would win! It was funny that Gasquet won because there was a French guy sitting next to me who seemed to be very pleased.
It was a great day out and we had a brilliant time. We'd both never been to Wimbledon before so it was very enjoyable and topped off a great couple of days. It was nice to run well at the weekend and then spend time with Rob and show him around Essex and London.
My mad few days started last Friday in Loughborough moving out of University halls and into my new house. I am really excited to live there and am very lucky with my housemates. I'm living with five rugby boys and my best friend Georgie so it should be really fun! It was great to finally move in - I didn't realise how much stuff I had.
After moving in, I drove to Birmingham, picked up my boyfriend from the train station and got ready for the Championships at Alexander Stadium. This event acts as the trials for the summer's World Championships.
On the Saturday I had the 1500m heats and was so nervous. I really wanted to make that final! I've never been entered in the 1500m at the trials before so it was a bit different for me. I was so happy to qualify in second behind Laura Weightman, and was excited to get back for the final the next day. I love competing at these trials as you get to talk to other athletes and the atmosphere is always great.
I was nervous for the final but also excited. I had nothing to lose and knew if I ran a smart race I could potentially make the top three. It was a strange race and Laura Muir took it out hard with 800m to go. I found myself boxed in so had to wait until I could kick on. I felt really strong though and I was over the moon to come in third.
It was nice as my season has been a bit up and down so I was really happy for my coach (George Gandy) as he's put so much effort into my training and racing so it was great to finally be able to achieve a medal at a championship.
I now have to find races to achieve the qualifying time of 4:06:5 [Jessica would need to take 10 seconds off her time in Saturday's race]. I believe it's possible. I just have to find the right race. I have a couple of opportunities coming up so hopefully if I get the time and along with my third place at the trials, it would keep alive my aim of competing at Beijing.
It's been nice catching up with my family and heading back to the Chelmsford track and seeing all the other athletes there that I miss while I'm at Uni! I am very excited to get back to Loughborough and training with my coach again, and excited to race and see what the rest of the season holds for me!
Jessica Judd is one of 12 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.
