Athletics: Tom Walsh update May 20

Tom Walsh competes at the IAAF Diamond League 2016. Photo / Getty Images

Sorry it's been a while since the last update, but there hasn't been much to report, just getting back to the hard graft in my next training phase.

It's been a really good few months since the World Indoors - I've been hitting some good numbers in the gym for reps, and also hit a new PB in the squat of 260kg. So things are all still heading in the right direction. Throwing distances had gone down bit after World Indoors, but that's to be expected with the heavy loading in the gym.

I had a lot of planning to do before I left for Shanghai, so along with training and work I was a busy man. But I managed to do everything I needed to do, now I can focus on the job of being on tour.

I was really looking forward to Shanghai - it was my first Diamond League event for the year, and my first comp since the World Indoors. It was good just to get back into the swing of things, and after all, that's what I do the sport for - to get over and compete against the best guys out there.

I was feeling not too bad leading into Shanghai, throwing was coming up back in NZ, and I knew that a few days rest would make all the difference. I was pretty happy with the result - first comp in a while, and it is always good when you can throw 21m, especially doing it in the last round when the pressure is really on. After a solid opener of 20.79, I was a little disappointed with the four middle throws, as I went missing a little bit, but to come out on the last throw and hit a 21.20, my best throw of the comp and good enough to take second place, was very pleasing.

Now, what's up for me next - I'm in Phoenix, Arizona for two weeks leading into the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon. I'm here with Ryan Whiting, who some of you might remember visited us in NZ last year, and Jordan Clark, so it should be a good week or two of training.

After Prefontaine, I'll still be in the U.S. but will be based a bit further south, down in Athens, Georgia, where I trained for a bit last year. I'll be there until Rio apart from a couple of trips to Europe for Diamond League events.