AW - Fenn lets family iron out her problems

JO FENN, the world indoor 800m bronze medallist, has revealed one of the secrets of her success is her mother and mother-in-law carrying out her washing and ironing.

Fenn, 29, said the first major championship medal of her career was very much a team effort and she praised the part her mum Marie and her mother-in-law have played in helping with her household chores.

"Over the last six months I've tweaked things to become even more professional and I'm even more a 24-hour athlete," she said. "I've cut down on my housework and my mum and mother-in-law help me out with my washing and ironing. I've a great network behind me. My husband and I both run and we have so many clothes that need washing. The washer is on about three times a day."

As has been widely reported, Fenn became a meat eater last autumn in an effort to boast iron levels, a big sacrifice after 15 years as a vegetarian. She has also started to go to bed even earlier - at 9-9.30pm - in an effort to gain adequate rest.

To start eating meat again was particularly tough but when asked how she was finding it at the moment, she replied: "I bloody love it, especially eating fish."

But the greatest praise was lavished on coach Ayo Falola, of whom she said: "Ayo has always been there and he has dedicated so much of his own time to the group. He has taken me from a decent club athlete to a world class athlete.

Olympic Hopeful: Jo Fenn

PRE-RACE, ATHENS

Jo Fenn is off to Athens to represent Great Britain in the 800m event at the 2004 Olympics.

How did you get into athletics?
From an early age I used to race my brother down the end of my street so I always thought of myself as a runner.

When I was about 12 I was introduced to a local athletics club by my PE teacher. She was encouraging and took me down the club which was where I got my first coach.

How long have you been competing in races?
From the time I joined the club - I was put straight into a race the following weekend.

But obviously at that age it's all about having fun. My 100m time was 13.6 seconds so every time I raced, regardless of where I finished, I always wanted to beat my own personal best.

Didn't you have a pop career before becoming an athlete?

Three years ago I got an acoustic guitar... I started writing music. I thought: "These songs are quite good!" So I sent them off to various record companies and next thing I knew they'd been entered into the European country charts and one of my songs had reached number 13!

Who is your athletics hero?
I used to watch Sebastian Coe, Steve Cram, Steve Ovett, Diane Modhal and Kelly Holmes when I was growing up so they are my British childhood heroes.

Are you nervous or excited about competing in Athens?
I've competed in five major championships so far so I think it's going to be a very similar sort of outlook.

I'm trying to not put too much emphasis on the Olympic Games because if I was to take a minute to think about it I think I would get really, really nervous.

How are you preparing for the competition - are you following a special eating plan?
I train six times a week twice a day. I generally have Fridays off and race at the weekend.

I eat lots of red meat, chicken, fish, plenty of vegetables and loads of fresh fruit - that's my diet.

What are you hoping to achieve at the Olympics?

I want to run the 800m in 1 min 57 secs and I think that will guarantee a medal. If you look at previous Olympic Games, to get a medal you have to run under 1.58 - and that's my aim this season.

What do you think about when you are running?
When I'm just running or jogging in the park I think about what I'm having for tea or what I'll watch on TV. But in a race I'm concentrating on my technique, I'm concentrating on the other girls around me and I'm having to think tactically.

Have you got any helpful tips for someone young starting out in athletics?

Athletics is a free sport - you can go to a park and it doesn't cost you anything.

My advice for you would be to join an athletics club. That way you can have fun and socialise and meet other people who enjoy running.

You need to have a lot of self-discipline, you have to tell yourself: "I don't want to have late nights." When you're young it's all about having fun but if you want to persevere in the sport you have to believe in yourself.

If you train hard you're going to get success. It's that simple - work hard.

If you're thinking about joining a club now just think, in eight years time you could actually be competing in London 2012! 

Jo Fenn to Miss Track Season
3rd May 2005, UK Athletics

After keyhole surgery to her left knee this weekend, Jo Fenn, the 800m runner from Leytonstone has been advised not to compete this summer, but focus on qualifying for the Commonwealth Games in 2006.

Jo who sustained a stress reaction to the knee whilst warm weather training in South Africa early this year said: 'We were half way through our usual morning session when I felt pain in the knee, at the time I thought it was just a niggle, but later scans showed more serious damage.  The patella is out of line, which is pressurising the surrounding area causing inflammation and stress on the cartilage.  UK Athletics have been fantastic with me and without their expertise and support in providing medical assistance it would have been very hard for me.'

As ever, Jo refuses to be downbeat by the situation citing the Commonwealth Games or the Indoor World Championships in Moscow as comeback targets for 2006: 'The good thing about my sport is that we have a major championship every year and on the positive side and with huge thanks to the EIS (English Institute of Sport) I'm much stronger than in previous years.  They have given my coach (Ayo Falola) a specific programme to improve my core strength so I can focus all my efforts on remaining in good shape throughout the summer.'

When asked about Kelly Holmes' final season Jo said: 'I'm bitterly disappointed to not have the privilege of running against Kelly in her final domestic season.  She has been an inspiration to me over the last couple of seasons and I really wanted to go out there this summer and see how my hard work over the winter would stand up against a double Olympic gold medallist.  However, I can take heart from the fact that Kelly was 34 in Athens and I will only be 33 in Beijing, who knows I may end up doing the TV commentary on her races this summer.'

Away from the track the injury has given Jo the opportunity to pick up her guitar and get back into the recording studio to focus on her other passion of song writing.