Team Mall - Shelly Woods

	Following a 20ft fall from a tree at the age of 11, Shelly Woods has been confined to a wheelchair - but it hasn't stopped her from reaching the top of her game in her chosen sport, athletics. Shelly started to make a name for herself aged 18, with some exceptional performances in road races, coming second in the wheelchair race at the Great North Run and also the Manchester Run, and setting a new record for winning the Mini London Marathon. With these achievements under her belt, Shelly took up track racing, representing Great Britain to compete in the 800m, 1500m and 5000m in her first season. Shelly has continued to progress rapidly in both fields, winning the Paris Marathon in 2006 and finishing just two places behind Tanni Gray-Thompson - to whom Shelly is often compared - in the 800m final at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. She then went on to break Tanni's British record for the 5000m in June. Shelly is representing the following Malls, click to visit their What's On pages: Preston; Blackburn; Chester
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Shelly's Blog

October 07:
One year to Beijing! At the start of September I raced the IAAF world championships 1500m in Osaka. It wasn't a good race for me, it was slow-paced and really tactical. I found myself in a bad position at the bell lap and was boxed in by my competitors. I couldn't get out to the front where all the action was happening for the final sprint and finished 8th in the end.

Physically I was in the best shape I've ever been in and pushing real fast. But I messed up tactically. That race was a big lesson for me. The more races I get like that before Beijing the better and the more races like that, that I win, will be even better.

After Osaka it was back home to winter training for a few weeks hard graft.
At the end of September I raced the Great North Run. I love this race; it is probably one of my favorites. I won it in 2005 and broke the 7-year standing course record and got edged to 2nd in 2006 where Canadian Diane Roy got the better of me. 
This year I won the Great North Run. I attacked the race all the way and pushed the pace along. I really wanted to have a crack at beating my course record of 50mins07secs. In the end I missed it by 21 seconds, with a time of 50 minutes 28 seconds. Great North is a hilly race, a lot of climbing involved, one of the reasons I love it. I was happy, I went pretty fast (although a bit disappointed I didn't get to break the record) and proved to myself I'm in good climbing shape for my next and final race of the season; The New York Marathon on November 4th.
New York Marathon I think is the toughest marathon in the world. The course has a lot of climbs and is pretty technical too. This year there is an impressive, elite field filled with champions and Paralympic Gold medal winners. Everyone will be there, from the Japanese, Americans, Canadians and Swiss. I'd love to win this race. All I can say is - 'Bring it on!' 

After New York I get to take a 10 day break off training as it's the end of the season. Then I head out to Australia to train with my coach for a couple of weeks.  

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