Portugal's Susana Feitor would have preferred to be relaxed and focused when the IAAF Race Walking Challenge comes to her home town this weekend.

Unfortunately, this week the 2005 World Championship 20km silver medallist has had to deal with the loss of some vital equipment for the modern-day globetrotting athlete.

“I had my car broken into and had my possessions stolen including my laptop computer, camera, iPod and Adidas kit..."

Not, at this point of a roller-coaster athletics career, would the 32-year-old let this set-back affect her sights on medals in Osaka and Beijing.

"I’m happy with my form for this time of year but I have been a little tense because of the trouble this week. It’s not easy because all the time I’ve tried to save money for things I need like my computer, but anyway on 2 March at our national championships I did 1:31:35 so now for Rio Maior my goal should be to do one minute less.”

"We could get a lot of rain or there could be high temperatures but we are expecting a very high standard of competition. For the girls it’s almost like a World Championships - everyone is coming!”

Feitor has won the Rio Maior International Walking Grand Prix nine times since its inception in 1991 and set her personal best, a national record, of 1:27:55 there in 2001. However, with such a congested season she has decided to pace her effort ahead of her two priorities for this year.

“I expect to be in better form in May because we have a national responsibility at the European Cup in Leamington Spa and the second peak will need to be in Osaka - and I hope the second is much better than the first one."

At the European Cup two years ago Feitor won the silver medal and led Portugal team to a surprise team victory.

“I hope to do well but we are really focused on Osaka. I can’t be be so strong through all the season.”

The Mexican Challenge event on 10 March came during a training camp and, although she finished fourth, Feitor 's time of 1:34:16 did not qualify for points in the Challenge. "It was so hard as it was my first competition at altitude."

In explaining her successes of 2005, a season in which she finished second overall in the IAAF Race Walking Challenge, Feitor draws upon the lessons of the preceding years of highs and lows.

“From 1997 I planned for the Sydney Olympics to be one of my big moments. I won bronze in the 1998 Europeans and in 1999 in Seville I got the fourth place but one week before Sydney I just crashed. I had a big rupture in my left leg. I was just so angry as I’d put in so much effort.”

“Then in 2001 I needed to prove myself and it started as a very good season - a personal best at Rio Maior but then I had two disqualifications that really shut me down mentally. The first was the 2001 European Cup in Dudince and then again at Edmonton. In 2002 I had an injury and in 2003 I tried to recover but mentally I was so down."

“Usually my town gives me energy - I was sorry not to beat my best in Rio Maior since 2001 as they really support me. Every time I compete there it’s like a way to say thank you.”

“That’s why I say to school kids when I go to talk to them that it’s very important to train, and it’s important to recover but you have to have a good mentality - to be focused and motivated as 90% of the work is in your head.”

“So in 2005 I said to myself ‘No. If you want to go to Beijing you must change. Come on! Change yourself! I still have my legs, my strength. I’m still Susana. Come on!’”

“For me to be second in the European Cup and third in the World Championships shows that when you are focused and relaxed, and when you want it, you can do much better than you think you can.”

“Even though I still had some injury problems psychologically I was very strong, and that was the best thing.”

“This year and next year and even after my athletics career I will concentrate on being focused and relaxed and think ‘if you keep working, everything will be fine. Or, even better than you think!’”.

So, the theft of some possessions is kept in due perspective by Susana. “At the police station I was thinking ‘that’s just stuff’. I know I need my computer my camera, and my music - but it’s just stuff. I try to think positively.”

“Everybody has problems, but on Saturday it’s an open race and it should be fun. Athletes like to come to Rio Maior, we like to make them welcome and we have good conditions for a great competition.”

Tim Watt for the IAAF