JUGGLING a job and a baby is difficult enough but adding an international running career on top of that certainly takes some doing. But Amanda Parkinson, from Baxenden, is enjoying every minute of it. The 29-year-old gave birth to Jamie just 14 months ago and is back stronger than ever, with sights set on racing the 5,000m in next year's World Championships in Canada as well as running for Great Britain during the current, muddy, cross country season. Here she speaks with DANY ROBSON.

How do you juggle all this?

To be honest, I have a good family who will look after Jamie. I work 11-4 at Baxenden Chemicals so I can usually fit a run in in the morning or at night and I go to my club Sale Harriers for speed training on Monday nights.

I really enjoy running and never thought about giving it up even after I'd had Jamie. I was running my best just before I got pregnant -- I raced to my personal best of 4mins 14secs in the 1,500m about two-and-a-half years ago. I just missed out on qualifying for the Commonwealth Games at Kuala Lumpur with this as I finished fourth. The top three went through but I was quite philosophical even though fourth is the worst possible place to finish!

Once I hit 12 weeks pregnant, I stopped running and didn't start again until eight weeks after I had him but I've found I have come back stronger than ever and am now looking at stepping up to 5,000m on the track next summer.

So you'll be glad Paula Radcliffe is racing at 10,000m and maybe marathons?

Paula's an outstanding runner, I don't come up against her too often. She is is in a class of her own.

What is your current Great Britain ranking? Last year, I was in the top ten in the 1,500m and in the 5km and fifth in the 3,000m.

What is your best achievement in running?

Probably qualifying for Great Britain in the World Cross Country championships in Morocco in 1998. I enjoyed qualifying but the race itself was a nightmare. I contracted salmonella -- in fact half the team did -- and I felt awful. I ended up finishing 76th in the 4km. It brings back horrible memories.

What are your realistic aims for next year?

At the moment it's the cross country season and I've just had another nightmare!

I went to Margate to compete in the European trials and got food poisoning last weekend. Me and my husband Steve were up every half an hour being sick so I couldn't run on the Sunday -- I couldn't move!

But the selectors have recognised that I am running well by picking me as a reserve for the Europeans in Sweden in three weeks' time which is a nice compliment.

On the track next summer, the aim is the World Championships in Canada. I've got 5mins 56secs as my best at 5km -- in the one race I've run -- and the qualifying time is about 5mins 55secs so I could make it. Then of course there's the Commonwealth Games in 2002 in Manchester. That's a bit too far away to think about at the moment.

What was it like watching the Olympics in Sydney? I enjoyed watching as I knew so many people there but I kept thinking 'I want to be there.'

Where has your athletics career taken you?

Well it started at St John's Primary School, in Baxenden, then I went to Hollins High School, ran a lot of school races, including the English Schools, and then joined Hyndburn Athletic Club before, about four or five years ago, joining Sale where I got the chance to compete nationally.

From there, I've been to Japan twice, Morocco, Portugal, Belgium, France, all over really and hopefully there's more to come.