CHRIS RAWLINSON

©Press Association

WEEK 5
Date: August 28

Mixed fortunes from Monte Carlo to Brussels

Well, seeing as the finishing statement of my last entry was informing you that I was off to Monaco, it only seems right that this should be my first talking point.

If you ever get the chance to take a trip to Monte Carlo, it's like a different world, one in which the weather is always nice and everyone is a millionaire, it has every material expense in abundance.

During the day both myself and Nick walked around the principality with our jaws dropped and dragging along the ground. If you love Ferraris, Monte Carlo is heaven on earth, and a warm one at that, a wonderful 29 degrees helping to warm our bodies through.

After a couple of bad performances in Oslo and London, I was hoping to set the record straight in Monaco. If I was going to do that, this was the place in which to do it - the Louis II Stadium is very beautiful indeed (though it is more aesthetically pleasing than user-friendly).

The warm-up went well and I was feeling quietly confident that everything was going to be better than the two previous races I'd had. I drew lane 2.

I went off too slow but at 300 metres I was joint leader with the Olympic gold medal favourite, Llewellyn Herbert of South Africa. With 100 metres to go I thought I was going to win but approaching the last hurdle he got away from me and I couldn't quite get him back on the run in.

Second was to be my finishing place. Before the gun had gone I would have settled for that just to get my confidence back, so all in all I was happy.

The other big event of the week was finally getting round to having the Olympic rings tattooed on my shoulder. I'd waited four years for this since the last Olympics because I didn't make the team for Atlanta.

One of the tabloid papers came to take photos of the memorable occasion. There's obviously no drama going on in the world this week! If I do say so myself, the tattoo looks far better than one would have imagined. Just as well, since I'm scarred for life!

At the weekend, I had a poor run at the Golden League meeting in Brussels, and finished eighth behind Llewellyn Herbert. Not exactly according to plan. But on such occasions, the best thing to do is learn the lesson, put it behind you and focus on what's to come.

On a final note, Jared Deacon, my friend, got the nod from selectors and is now a member of the Great Britain 4x400 metres squad going to Sydney.

Its good to have friends on the team. Sydney looms large and I feel like a young boy waiting for Christmas to come. There is less than two weeks before I leave for the Gold Coast and this is my penultimate diary. See you next week.

Read Chris's diary for WEEK 1 ...

Read Chris's diary for WEEK 2 ...

Read Chris's diary for WEEK 3 ...

Read Chris's diary for WEEK 4 ...