NORMALLY at this time of year the players are chilling out and packing the sun cream and jetting off to somewhere warm.

Well, this year is different and we have already been back into the gym working hard.

The main focus of the training to start with is about Technique and movement.

Also there is a big focus on core stability which is the abdominal area of the body, that is the main part of the body that generates a lot of power.

Although we have always done these type of exercises in the gym, it is a lot more intense and focused on certain areas of the body.

One of the gym instructors Nick Forrester has put together some real good gym programmes for the pre season and the start of the training is about 'Building the foundations for the season'. The idea is to get the posture correct in order for us to lift heavier weights in the gym.

We also have Mark who his a sprint coach, he was with us last year but again he his starting with the technique and starting with the foundations and hopefully this will help us for when pre season starts fully.

I feel its good to go back to the basics at times and I think this will benefit the team a great deal.

Getting the technique right can generate so much more power and it can also prevent muscles from being pulled and injured.

There are still a couple of guys injured at the moment, Stu Reardon, Simon Grix, Mark Gleeson and myself and we have all been given our own specific programmes until we can be brought into the full sessions.

Then there his the lads that are training with the Great britain team and i hear they have been training quite tough.

So has you can see it certainly is no holiday this year and i think the Misses is going to have to wait for them DIY jobs that need doing because i will be spending some time on the couch after the gym sessions.

Everyone of the team and coaching staff are still gutted about not being involved in the top six but i think we will use this as motivation in pre season.

We haven't met our goals that we set at the beginning of the year and that as given everyone more focus and determination.

Since we have been back in training Mark Gleeson has been driving us to training but i have to buy his breakfast each morning, its costing me more in food then it would in petrol, although hes not the biggest in the team he eats like a gannit!!!!!

hopefully i'll be able to drive soon.

Speak soon, Woody