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Raise Your Game: How do you prepare for big events?

Joseph Maynard: Every athlete tapers down their training just before a big race. I sit with my coaches and talk about my tactics for a race. We work on very specific sessions and two days before a race it's just a matter of turning the legs over.

RYG: How important is the role of the coach in getting you motivated for a big event?

JM: Very important. You need a coach that's really experienced. My dad's my coach and he used to be an 800m runner himself, so he knows it all.

RYG: How do you bounce back after a disappointment?

JM: Sometimes it's best to take a step back and start again. If I have a disappointing race, I'll have a couple of days off to rest.

RYG: How much work goes into creating a winning performance?

JM: So much hard work, especially for people like myself who work full-time as well. I work nine to five as a physiotherapist, lifting people around hospital wards. Once I've finished there I drive straight to the track to train. It's hard work but if you enjoy it you've got to do it.

RYG: How do you ensure you manage your time effectively?

JM: My Dad's my coach, so I don't really have a choice (laughs). I wake up in the morning and go for a run. I finish work and head straight for the track. The only rest I get is when I sleep. It's alright because all my friends are involved with running.

RYG: There are a lot of sacrifices but do the rewards make it worth it?

JM: Yes. The race is the icing on the cake for all the hard work you do running up to it. It's nice to get some recognition and hear the crowd cheering when you're running on the track.

RYG: What are your goals for the future?

This year (2008) I'd like to get into the top ten on the power of 10 rankings. I'm fourteenth at the moment so that's pretty close. Next year I'll just aim to improve my personal best.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games would be nice. I run for Wales and they usually take three people. If I can get my times up, hopefully I'll be in the top three.