I've got a warm glow again despite missing Aussie

This week it has been absolutely freezing and to think I should have spent the last month training and competing in the Australian heat.

Instead, I've been wrapped up back at home, pushing my chair through Richmond Park or doing weights at St Mary's in Roehampton.

Strange as it sounds, I'm glad I didn't go to Oz.
A few days before I was due to fly Down Under, I started to feel a bit rough. It was during a weights session that I noticed it. I was just so weak but my coach, Jenny, thought it might just have been because of a tough week of training.

That weekend, I tried to do a full training session but I started coughing up phlegm. After a trip to the doctor, I was diagnosed with a chest infection, was given some antibiotics and told to rest. So my trip to Australia was off.

At the time I was absolutely gutted but I think it has been a blessing in disguise as I've been able to focus purely on training.

I could have gone out there, tried to get fit and healthy and possibly done myself more harm than good.

I followed the results of the races I would have taken part in and I was very impressed by Kurt Fearnley in the Oz 10k, which he won by a good couple of minutes. I like to think I would have beaten him as I'm feeling in great shape.

I must admit, I started getting agitated and worried about what my rivals were doing during the week I had off.

When I'm like that, my girlfriend Emily just ignores me, which is the best way to deal with me.
And judging by the results I've been getting in training, the chest infection has not really cost me any time at all.

I'm back training with Richard Hume, a personal trainer, in Richmond Park. He's one of those fitness nutters who has done stuff like an Ironman and rowing across the Atlantic.

He's on his bike pushing me on as I race through the park. I'm sure we used to get funny looks from people but they don't even pay us any attention now, they're so used to it.

My first race of the season will be the Silverstone half-marathon on March 11 and, after that, I head to Lisbon for another half-marathon and a training camp in the Algarve to get me ready for the London Marathon.

I'm going for a record sixth win and it's a race I absolutely love. Now we're into 2012, more people are asking me about the Games but there's a lot more racing to do before them, noticeably in London.

After that's finished, I'll turn my attention fully to the track.

Aside from training, I've been nominated for a Laureus Award, which is a great honour, and I've got that event to look forward to on Monday.

We athletes head to No10 Downing Street to meet the Prime Minister during the day, which will be great although I'm more excited about meeting Lionel Messi, if I'm honest. Hopefully he'll be there.

Also, I passed the 1,000 followers mark on Twitter this week and am hoping to get another 1,000 pretty soon.

Follow David on Twitter @davidweir2012