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As this is a quieter time of year in terms of the demands of competition and the travelling, it is also an opportunity to put something back into the sport that I love and has given me so much.

So, I’m more than happy to complement by training demands with a bit of school work. No, not actually school work but going into the schools to help the kids and act as a bit of a motivation and an inspiration to them.

As I’m a north-east lad I normally do a lot of work in the schools in that part of the world but as I now live in London a friend asked me if I would come along and give the Year 6 and 7 a talk at a school in North London and also take them through a warm up.

Now it might sound a bit cheesy, but I really enjoy this part of my job. It is all for no pay but it is far more rewarding than spending the afternoon on the Xbox. I remember myself if ever a Middlesbrough footballer came into my school it was always such an exciting day.

The kids all seemed to enjoy the talk and came up with some really astute questions, although my task was made easier by the fact I was told they had done a lesson just on me in preparation for my visit. Kids never fail to amuse, though. I had to laugh when one of the lads asked for two autographs from me – one was for him and the other was for his cat!

I’m delivering some awards up at Bury St Edmunds later this week and it is really the unseen part of many track and field athletes go through and are willing to help the sport.

Training has been going well and I really feel revitalised under the direction of my new coach, Frank Attoh. I’m also training alongside Greg Rutherford, my main rival in British long jumping. Fair play to Greg, though, he does not see training with me as a threat, although as you imagine some sessions can be quite intense.

It is quite interesting that the power stuff – like the standing long jump – Greg is awesome at. However, when you put anything with a running element in, I’m right up there. We both have our different strengths and that was been really interesting to discover.

As for now it is just head down and get on with the training. The Olympics is firmly behind me and I already can’t wait to step on that start line come January and the start of the indoor season. I feel like a new man.