DEFIANT Dave Bishop insists his failure to finish the 3,000m at the Wales Indoor meeting in Cardiff won’t derail his plans for the rest of the season, writes KEVIN FAHEY.

The Chippenham international had hoped to put down an early-season marker at the distance with a sub-eight minutes time but it quickly became clear that those plans were not going to happen.

“Once the race got under way I was the only runner who went with the pacemaker,” said Bishop.

“Unfortunately the pacemaker only lasted to one kilometre and then I was left way out on my own. I was close to the pace I wanted to get under eight minutes when I reached 2k but I drifted off that target from that point.

“I then decided what was the point of carrying on if the chance of running a fast time had passed me by?

“If it had been a big event then obviously I would have continued but on Sunday it didn’t seem to be worth it and after the meeting I did a training session with my coach.”

Having ended 2012 on a positive note with victory in the Ribble Valley 10k road race and 13th in the trials for the European Cross County Championship Bishop was disappointed with the way his first indoor race of the season turned out.

“Sunday was kind of annoying as I felt strong early on and was comfortably running behind the pacemaker,” added Bishop.

“But once he dropped out and I was left on my own I felt so much more tired.

“If I had someone else with me, even sitting on my shoulder, I am sure that would have helped.

“Usually a DNF is a complete disaster but it is not the case here. I know I am in good shape and my training is good so a fast time over 3000m is there and if I take anything from Sunday is that I need to race the race.

“As for my next race the target remains the UK Championships and European trials on February 9-10. I would like to have a crack at that and just concentrate on racing rather than chasing a fast time.”