As Kelly Sotherton breezes into the Alexander Stadium it is clear she is radiating happiness.
Despite suffering a back fracture and relegation from the European Cup with Britain, she is comfortable in her Birchfield Harriers home.
Sotherton believes she 'failed' last year - even though she won a Commonwealth Games gold medal - after adjusting to life without Charles van Commenee.
The forthright coach left a gaping hole in Sotherton's training when he returned to Holland and she has replaced him with a team of six.
It was definitely a case of too many cooks, however. Six egos all clashing over training routines didn't lead to perfect harmony so Sotherton has now crowned herself queen. And the totalitarian stance has paid dividends as the septet has developed into a well-oiled machine.
Which is just as well as Sotherton is appearing at the AAA Championships in Manchester next week, which are doubling as trials for the European Championships in Sweden.
After Gothenburg, she is returning back to the Alexander Stadium for a Norwich Union international against USA, Russia and China.
Following her enforced hiatus, Sotherton remains positive whilst setting the record straight over urban myths regarding her injury.
"Halfway through Melbourne my back was so sore and I struggled through the last two events," she said recalling her Commonwealth gold medal earlier this year.
"I got back and found out I had a fracture, so I am back in training slowly. A fracture doesn't just repair quickly [2014] not in that place. They (surgeons) probably could do something but I don't want to go down that road. Someone said I have had an operation. I have never had an operation on my back.
"There is a procedure to remove certain parts of the vertebrae but I don't want that. I will just have to learn how to throw the javelin properly," she added with a laugh.
Sotherton's self-deprecating style concerning her performances in the javelin masks a desire to change.
Easily her worst discipline on the seven, Britain's best heptathlete is acutely aware of the need to improve if she is to stay ahead of the field.
Whilst a fractured back would generally be regarded as disastrous, such is Sotherton's attitude she views it as an opportunity. "It (injury) is a blessing, as I have had to slow down and start from scratch, especially with the javelin. I have learned so much more than I would have done if I hadn't had a fracture," she said.
"Things happen for a reason and I think it happened for a good reason. Touch wood, I have had no problems since. I don't expect to produce fireworks right now. It is the beginning of my year and I expect to be firing on all cylinders in August, which is when I need to be."
Which brings us back to the unusual decision of employing six coaches.
It was thrust upon her at short notice initially and Sotherton was forced to adapt to the circumstances if she wanted to thrive.
"It is a lot easier than it was last year. I was put in a situation I couldn't help. It is quite hard but I know what I am doing and everyone is working quite well.
"It is more structured this year whereas last year it was more haphazard, which is probably why I failed. I have a network of six people; a shot-putt, high jump, long jump, javelin, weights, hurdles and speed coach," declared Sotherton.
"I do all the running myself, as well as managing the time and writing the training programmes. So, basically I am co-ordinating my training.
"But when we have a coaches meeting, about once a month, everyone puts their five pence in and says, for instance, 'why isn't she throwing 50 metres in javelin as I've got her to jump 1.85 in the high jump?' I get six or seven different opinions and I have got a good group of people. I am very lucky."
