More the merrier for Woodward in London next year
Bethany Woodward is set for six races in four grueling days at next year's Paralympics - however she believes, unlike her rivals, the more times she takes to the track the better.
The 18-year-old is bidding to run the T37 200m, 400m and T35-38 4x100m relay in London next year and does have firsthand experience of doing so at a major championships.
Woodward tackled all three events at the World Championships in Christchurch back in January - returning to the UK with 400m gold and 4x100m relay bronze to declare at customs.
However, with Woodward missing out on the 200m final and no heats needed for the 4x100m relay, she ran four times in eight days in New Zealand - a far cry from what she will face in London.
But still Woodward, who also finished sixth in the 100m at the Commonwealth Games last October, is adamant her packed schedule will be a help and not a hindrance.
"Doing the 400m, 200m and the relay at the Paralympics next year does mean I am quite busy and there isn't much time between each of the events," said Woodward.
"So it will be intense but most of the girls will do those races and I am quite good at endurance and a lot of athletes don't have that so having no rest in between is a plus in a way.
"It has been a very, very long season and for me especially having gone to the Commonwealth Games and having to peak for those and then peaking for New Zealand and then peaking for the summer.
"It took a while for it to sink in that I was a world champion, it was very surreal and a lot of people wanted me to talk through the race and how it felt but I couldn't honestly remember.
"But I got introduced at a race as the world 400m champion and that was an incredible moment and I have a lot of responsibility now. Before I was chasing but now I am being chased."
Woodward spent nearly two weeks of this month at a London 2012 Simulation Camp in Monte Gordo, Portugal, courtesy of Aviva who have been supporting British athletes since 1999.
She will return to the exact same place in the immediate build up to the Games next year - and Woodward believes there will now be no surprises when she does.
"I've actually just come back from a month's rest and I am in better shape than I thought I would be and it was nice to go back away to Portugal where the weather was a bit warmer," she added.
"I think it was a great decision to bring everyone out and when we come back we will have a good picture of what it will be like and what environment we will be preparing in."
You can apply for tickets until 6pm on Monday 26th September for the London 2012 Paralympic Games - for more information, please go to www.tickets.london2012.com. Three quarters of tickets are priced at £20 or less.







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