MARCH heptathlete Louise Hazel has her sights set on the IAAF World Championships, in August, but recently, her priority has been on completing a gruelling training camp in Portugal. In this exclusive online diary, Cambs Times sponsored Louise, 21, descri

MARCH heptathlete Louise Hazel has her sights set on the IAAF World Championships, in August, but recently, her priority has been on completing a gruelling training camp in Portugal.

In this exclusive online diary, Cambs Times sponsored Louise, 21, describes the camp and how she was reunited with an old friend from March.

Before travelling to Portugal I was hit with the unexpected news that my coach Darrell Bunn was ill and therefore unable to fly out for the trip.

Having adjusted to the idea that I would have to survive without his valuable feedback, I decided to make the most of the good weather and purpose-built facilities in Portugal.

And fortunately, I was lucky to have my previous coach from March, Martin Green, looking out for me as well as the other members of my training group from Birmingham.

The training schedule that was planned previously by my coach was challenging to say the least, and with few rest days planned, the trip was going to be anything but a walk in the park.

The first few days saw the practice and drilling of lots of technical work on the high jump, shot, javelin, and hurdles not to mention a couple of killer running sessions.

The following rest day was well appreciated. Although the weather in Monte Gordo did not live up to its usual standard, the cloud and drizzle at times didn't put us off the hard work in the gym and on the track that finished off the second week.

Unluckily, the training from the previous week began to take effect and I suffered minor niggles at the beginning of the second week of training.

Due to lots of impact work, through jumping, lifting heavy weights and running at high intensity, I battled to overcome a minor hamstring problem and mobility problems in my lower back, a common problem for most athletes.

As the second week continued I soldiered my way through the final technical sessions and remaining endurance runs. Although, I was feeling tired and run down, I knew that in the following weeks I would be able to see the benefits.

Having returned from Portugal, I entered my first competition in France on Saturday, April 28 - a 100m in the French southern town of Agde.

I won the race in 12.02s - the second fastest time I have ever recorded. I was very pleased with the result, despite a poor start and a head wind, and the time is still respectable for this point of the season.