Heptathlete Jessica Ennis won the nation's admiration with her World Outdoor and Indoor and European Championship wins - and our affection with her down-to-earth personality. We caught up with Jessica after she launched the adidas 5K Women's Challenge at Hyde Park, waving on over 15,000 women to put their best foot forward.
You're starting the race for the second year - what does it mean to you?
I just think it's for a really good cause. Obviously there's the money adidas raise by selling the pink ribbon range which goes towards breast cancer research, which is incredibly positive. It's also really great to see everyone coming through supporting all the different charities and getting fit. So I'm just really happy to be a part of the event and involved in supporting it.
What tips would you give to people competing in races?
Obviously you need to train hard and push yourself to achieve what you want, but you also need to be sensible and set yourself realistic goals. And enjoy it as well - it is hard but if you don't enjoy it you won't want to progress and achieve.
You've finished your season now. Do you still have to keep training?
I've just been having a bit of rest, doing some lighter, less intense training and just ticking over. Then I'll have a bit of a holiday for ten days and as soon as I'm back from that I'll be back into performance training. In the next few months it'll be hard conditioning work and preparing and getting ready for next year.
How do you feel about your season this year?
I'm really happy and content with the year. I've been having a really good indoor season and becoming World Indoor Champion was amazing. And then to maintain that through to the summer and become European Champion, I couldn't have asked for more really, everything came together really well. That's why I felt I was really happy to end my season there, take a good rest and make sure my body recovered from what I'd done this year - and then just focus on next year.
Are you confident you can retain the world title next year?
It's going to be really, really hard, an absolute battle. Obviously Nataliya Dobrynska pushed me all the way in Barcelona and the American hepthathlete Hyleas Fountain will be there and she wasn't this year, so it's going to be really tough. I just hope I can keep improving and maintain my lead. I'll definitely give it everything I've got.
Which event do you think you've got more to give on?
I generally work on everything but I think the area where I could pick up a lot more points is still the long jump. There's a bit to come in my throws and then I still don't feel as if I've reached my potential in my strong areas, the hurdles and high jumps.
What are your tips for picking up speed when running?
Well for my speed we do work in the gym - we do weights and work on power. We also do different distance running sessions in which there's a mixture of short sprints and longer runs. I work on all different drills and technique work so I'm running efficiently to carry and maintain speed. There are lots of different areas where you can work on, and once you get them all right and put them together, then you're good to go.
There's been talk you may compete in the 100m hurdles in addition at the 2012 Olympics - providing the events don't clash. Do you have any more news on whether the timetable will allow it?
I haven't seen the timetable and they are obviously still working on that, but if it fits in and it's an option, then I would definitely consider doing the hurdles. Why not? Obviously my sole focus would be the heptathlon, that's what I give everything to, but once that's done if there is the opportunity to run the hurdles and I qualify and it fits, then why not do it. It's the home Olympics, so I just want to go for it.
How do you keep motivated? There must be days when you don't want to go to hard training sessions at the gym...
I quite often reflect back on the injury I had before the Beijing Olympics [a stress fracture to her right ankle ] and I think of how I felt then and how down I was about not being able to run or do anything. It makes me realise how lucky I am just to be able to train and compete. I just take my mind back to that and it always motivates me. Also I think about what other people are doing and what I want to achieve and that keeps me going.
What about breaking Denise Lewis' record - is that important to you?
It would be really nice - I was eight points off in Barcelona. But if it was between winning a gold at the 2012 Olympics or the world record, I would want the gold every time. However, Denise was a phenomenal athlete so to get closer to that record is great and hopefully one day I'll break it.
