Mike Judd reflects on coaching Sky Scholar, runner and daughter Jessica Judd
By Mark Ashenden
Last Updated: 24/03/17 11:08am
Jessica Judd has gone back to basics and is loving pounding the mud and track again after her Rio misery in the summer.
Injury, a lacklustre trials and a dose of bad luck meant the 21-year-old from Essex missed out on the Olympics.
It was devastating. But the Sky Academy Sports Scholar has an extra zip in her running pants having opted to be coached by her dad again.
Mike Judd, also part-time runner and car engineer, opens up on the challenges of working with his daughter!....
DESCRIBE JESSICA IN 3 WORDS
Determined. Upbeat. Sensitive.
HOW WOULD JESSICA DESCRIBE YOU IN 3 WORDS?
I would think she would say depending on her mood....Supportive. Horrible. Truthful!
WHEN DID YOU REALISE YOUR DAUGHTER HAD RUNNING TALENT?
She ran alongside me in a charity 3k when she was 10. I was under instructions not to go too fast and lose her. Instead it was me who struggled to keep up.
DID YOU ALWAYS THINK SHE'D BE A GOOD RUNNER?
After starting to train at Thurrock, it was clear she had a talent and could be a decent runner if she kept at it. Although from just watching over the years, it was clear there is a lot of luck involved with how the body develops and physical changes that take place during the development years.
DESCRIBE YOUR JOURNEY FROM BEING DAD TO COACHING JESS
Like most parents, I started being a taxi service and hanging around watching the training sessions. Over time I started helping out with things like jogging at the back to make sure runners didn't get lost when they drop off on runs.
With coaches retiring and moving I ended up doing some coaching myself and it's carried on from there.
IS IT DIFFICULT TO COACH YOUR DAUGHTER?
Jess has always been pretty good at just getting on with what she's asked to do. There has never been a need to be strict with her when it comes to running - the biggest problem has been getting her to ease off at times.
The main difference is that we are able to be more honest and say what we really think about a performance or session. It can get quite heated initially from both sides but is soon forgotten.
DO YOU ALWAYS TALK ABOUT RUNNING AT THE DINNER TABLE?
To be honest, with almost everyone in my family running, every day seems to be scheduled around training/racing or an athletics event these days. So I try to keep meal times a run-free event.
Obviously if it's just after a race or training though, it will be a topic of conversation.
HOW WAS THE RIO BUILD-UP AND DEALING WITH NOT MAKING THE OLYMPICS?
Jess was aiming to perform well at the 1500m trials race. Unfortunately she got a hamstring injury about six weeks before and never really got into the shape required. I was only really watching her progress from a distance at that time and hoping she could get to the race in form.
Watching from a distance, it's easier to hope that a great performance will just appear on the day but even from my perspective it would have been a surprise. But there was still always that hope.
Jess was very down afterwards and there was quite a bit of soul-searching. We talked about it and decided to try to get back to the feeling she had when she was a junior. So we've decided to look at the type of training that worked then and adapt it to a senior athlete's needs.
HOW HAVE YOU SUPPORTED JESS MOVING FORWARD - PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY?
Jess was not happy and rather than close out her season and dwell on the disappointment for months, we decided to run a number of races at the end of the season. It was useful to see where she was and also to use as a starting point to see what we need to work on to get back next season.
The aim is to run a number of cross country and road relay events through the winter to help endurance and get the enjoyment back, with the actual race results not always being the main goal.
WHAT STEPS AND GOALS ARE YOU WORKING ON?
As well as the changes to her training, Jess has also used the last few months to team up with experts in flexibility, core and mental strength. For those disciplines Jess needs to get the best help available and she is very happy with the people she has been able to team up with.
As we move towards the track season the aim has to be to perform over a range of 800m to 3K races and not specialise on just one event. This season her track times were some way off where she needs to be.
The task to get her times down will involve a lot of hard work and a dose of good fortune along the way. I know that Jess has the talent and next summer's results will show whether we have succeeded in getting it onto the track.
WHAT'S COMING UP FOR OUR SCHOLARS....
OCT 31 - NOV 6: Elise Christie, World Cup opener, Calgary
