Claxton hopes to be competing in front of her home crowd in 2012

Colchester sprint hurdler Sarah Claxton has said she hopes a year away from competition will reap future reward.

The 2008 Olympic 100m hurdle finalist has taken a sabbatical in 2010 in order to prepare for the 2012 Games.

She told BBC Essex she needed time to rest and recuperate from the physical and emotional high of Beijing.

"I've still been training, just not as intensely. It's about getting some areas strong and mentally recovering," said the 30-year-old.

"I trained six days a week, sometimes twice a day, so it's a lot of strain," she added.

"It's not just the actual competitions, it's what we do outside of the competitions as well."

Because I've been active and still training, my body will remember what it needs to do Sarah Claxton

Having taken time away from her usual regime, Claxton was confident that she would get back into the swing of things quickly.

"If I hadn't been doing anything and had been just sitting around, it would be harder to pick up where I left off and get my times back up quickly," she said.

"Because I've been active and still training, my body will remember what it needs to do."

Claxton will take part in her first major competition following her break in January 2011, followed by March's European Athletics Indoor Championships in Paris and the World Championships in August.

The 31-year-old said she only had two goals in mind for 2012.

"The final and a medal," she said.

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