Memories of Beijing still tainted for Kate Reed
While her appearance in the final of the 10,000 metres in the Chinese capital was the highlight of her career to date for 25-year-old Kate Reed, the memories are tarnished.
"I still get very bitter about it," said Reed. "I don't even like putting on my Olympic kit when I go to functions. It has a lot of bad memories.
"I keep it at the bottom of my draw. Maybe I should even try to sell it?
"After coming home I thought I never wanted to run for Great Britain again. I have learned that what is most important is to be happy with my own performances and that I cannot please everyone.
"I have learned a lot and now I just want to try and forget about it and move on."
While Britain may have enjoyed their most successful games in almost a century, Reed found it hard to share in the joy of the nation.
Her Olympic debut was marred by the furore of a troublesome Achilles tendon injury that saw her forced by the GB team management to undergo a time trial on the eve of the race to prove her fitness.
Reed admitted she nearly pulled out of the Games to fly home and only her parents in Clevedon persuaded her to stay. Her 23rd place was a triumph of will over physical and mental discomfort.
But the problems continued on her return as she struggled to get any medical help to cure the problem.
In the end she dipped into her savings to pay to see a world-renowned Achilles tendon expert in London, who has ensured that Reed is ending the year back on her feet and with some cause for optimism.
"It was only last week that I started running again and it is getting much better now," added Reed.
"It was tough because when you are injured badly you have that fear in the back of your mind that you will never get back. I wondered whether my painful 23rd in the Olympics would be the end. That would have been horrible because I know I can do better than that."
Reed has maintained a core fitness because, apart from seven days of complete rest after Beijing, she has been in the pool and on her stationary bike every day.
That should help her recovery and give her a sound base to build up her running fitness in the early months of the new year.
"I haven't set any goals for 2009 because my main priority is to get fit and healthy again," explained Reed.
"At the moment I have no urge to run for Britain again. That is sad but it is so disappointing the way I was treated when I came home.
"But in a way it has been the best year I have ever had. I got to the Olympics and improved a lot, so I cannot complain really.
"And I am happy again now."
Hopefully 2009 will bring Reed plenty more reasons to stay happy.
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