Quick Update...

Hey Everyone!

I lived to fight another day. Woohoo!!! Prelims were tonight and the top 12 move on to Thursday for the finals. I was 5th overall with a jump of 21'5 (6.53) but those marks don't carry over to Thursday. Overall it wasn't bad. Lots of nerves on the first jump but once I got it out of the way I felt much better. I can't thank you all enough for the support and prayers and well wishes. I will probably write a legit post tomorrow but right now I am EXHAUSTED!

Surrounded by Love

So far everything in Eugene has been great. I was greeted at the airport by three of my very best friends who made sure my arrival was one of importance (as evidenced by the picture above). Normally things such as this would embarrass me but on this occasion I was thrilled and only just slightly embarrassed. Once I arrived at my hotel there was a huge bouquet of white and pink roses waiting for me with a wonderfully sweet message from my friend Debbie out in Chicago who played detective and found out where I was staying so she could have the flowers waiting for me when I got here. It’s absolutely great to be surrounded by all this love. I had talked to my friends before I left and they said they were out here to be supportive but totally understood that if I had to have my space and focus they would keep their distance. But what I wanted more than anything was to have them near. So near that we actually had a slumber party Friday night! I know everybody is different in regards to their preparation before competitions, but I have found that I don’t function better when I completely cut myself off for long periods of time. I have spent tons of time in solitude while out in Tucson and what I needed more than anything was to have friends around and let my brain take a bit of time off. For so long each and every thought that has ran through my brain has been about track and the Trials and so it was good to have them here and enjoy friend time. We even had an arts and crafts session where they went to work writing out everyone’s inspiring messages on construction paper that I have taped up all over my walls. My job was project manager so I sat around playing DJ on the computer and passing out quotes and taping up the finished projects. My room is now a cocoon of encouragement and inspiration and many of you contributed so thank you so much for that!

I did spend some time at the track on Saturday and so far the Trials have been amazing and very inspiring. I thought it might be a little tough watching the women’s 100 meters knowing that I was supposed to be a part of it, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought. I appreciated the event as a spectator. The ladies ran phenomenally and it was so remarkable to see Lauryn Williams make the team once again, running a great race when it counts and getting the job done as she always does. Earlier in the day they showed a interview with her on the jumbotron and she said she wanted to finish in one of the top 3 spots and it didn’t matter which one, then once she got to Beijing she was going to go out there and win. And sure enough…she found a way. 3rd place by the smallest of margins but I have never seen someone so consistently get the job done when it counts and it truly is a testament to her character. Today will be low-key for me. I might make it out there to watch the men’s 100 because I have a feeling it will be something remarkable. The track is unbelievably fast. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support!

I'm off to Eugene!

Have you ever felt like something couldn’t come fast enough and at the same time seemed to creep up on you incredibly too fast?! I have been waiting for the Olympic Trials for years. Lots of them. And yet…I can’t believe it’s here already!!! It’s a crazy feeling knowing that the buildup is about to be over and all that’s left now is to get it done. No more preparation, what you have now is all that you’re working with. For the last couple of days my coach keeps telling me ”It is what it is.” This is in response to my constant anxious observations about each and every little thing. How these times compare to the times I was running earlier this year… Should I be worried that last year I was able to do such and such in training… Look at how different my landing looks compared to JJK’s…How much fitness did I actually lose…Am I strong enough in the weight room…. And the simple answer to it all is WHO CARES. I have no time to add tools to the toolbox, I simply have to get it done with what’s available. So I simply take a few deep breaths and say OK.

I am actually really excited that the Trials are in Eugene this year. As some of you may know, the University of Oregon is where I won my 2 NCAA titles back in 2001. In many of the sports psychology books I’ve been devouring this year, they say that it’s helpful to recreate vivid pictures of past successes. This helps to reestablish old connections and embrace feelings of accomplishment. Naturally my experience in Eugene is part of those visualizations. The crazy thing is, I have an absolutely horrible memory. For the most part, the events that I try and focus on will bring up a very vague picture in my mind. I can remember their importance and the marks I achieved, but I usually have a hard time recreating the experience. Except Eugene. There are certain parts of that week that have stayed engrained on my brain for whatever reason. Winning the long jump isn’t really the part that I do remember clearly unfortunately. It was the first day and I won on my first jump, so of course at the time I wasn’t thinking that was the winning jump. And then at the end I was still so focused on the other two events I had I really didn’t let it sink all the way in. But I do remember the moment after I won the 200. I remember the feeling. I remember the look on my face. I remember the conversation I had with myself in my head. Of course it helps that it was captured on film and displayed on the front page of the sports section…



I look at that picture (I still have the original newspaper article but this one was conveniently already online just in black and white) and I can experience that moment all over again. I remember I wanted to outwardly show more emotion but I was so darn tired! Hence the half-hearted fist pump—that’s all I could muster. But that look on my face speaks to me…because I know the thoughts that accompany it. And that’s why I’m glad I am going back to Eugene. Because I have never been more confidant and I have never believed in myself more. I realize that occurred 7 years ago, but it is what it is. I have to use what I’ve got and right now I have that memory.

Think out Loud

In the past few weeks, I have done a couple interviews for various magazines, websites and such. I always enjoy the opportunity to give my thoughts because it not only allows me to share my story with a broader audience; it helps me to reaffirm my beliefs in myself and in my talents. Saying something out loud provides a stronger anchor and it makes you focus on all the positive feelings that go along with this experience. Any time someone thanks me for doing an interview, I know I was blessed far more in the process.

The following link is an interview I did the other day for a website/blog that covers our sport and you will also find interviews from other athletes competing at the Trials in the next upcoming weeks. Take a look…

PRERACEJITTERS.COM

I don't give out my number

***I know I had said ALL TRACK from here on out but I'm giving you guys a break! ;)


I had an interesting conversation with a few friends a couple of weeks ago about the difficulty we always experience when asked for our digits from gentlemen we’d rather never hear from. She’s a super nice gal and incredibly friendly and outgoing so I think oftentimes people get the wrong signal and assume she’s interested when really she’s just that way with everybody. So inevitably they ask and then she feels stuck. I, on the other hand am not that nice or that outgoing, but I still have always had a hard time telling people no thanks. Not interested. Never in a million years…in a nice way of course. I don’t like rejecting and I also don’t like to hurt someone’s feelings, however slight it might be. And before you start in on how men are grown and they can take it, blah, blah, blah…no they can’t. Many times bruised egos make for rude men. Or men that just don’t know how to let it be and now feel it’s ok to try and bully the number out of you. So more often than not, I lie. I have a boyfriend…and just in case that still doesn’t seem to deter you and you want to convince me we could still be “friends”…we live together. And we share a cell phone. So you see, there is really no way I could give you my number.

But that’s a bit childish, right? I’m 28 years old, why am I lying about my relationship status in order to not have to give out my number? Which brings me back to the conversation I had with my friend the other week where I finally decided I was going to stop being a punk about it. She said we needed to start saying I’m sorry, I never give out my number. This definitely states that the number is not to be had but does not make it personal and also does not have to involve lying about a fabricated relationship. If you so choose, you may offer up an email, but of course this is on a case-by-case basis.

So…yesterday I was at Borders. Yes, my home away from home away from my other home, Starbucks. I was in the book section looking for something specific when I saw a man pass and give me the once over. I tried not to make eye contact because I wasn’t in the mood. This of course is another one of my problems. I am single. I complain that I never meet anybody. But, in any circumstance that is might be possible to meet somebody, I don’t want to be bothered. Unless of course one look at them blew my socks off…and this particular man did not.

By the time I made my way over to the magazine section to find my reading material for the next couple hours, he had also found his way over to the magazine section and into my personal space. He struck up a dialogue that was not in the least bit witty or clever in any way and after a moment, without any sign from me that I might be the least bit interested, he asked for my number. Armed with my new response intended to not bruise any egos, I quickly told him that I did not give out my number…and then I hastily added that we could exchange email. I’m not sure why I included the last bit because he had not come off as someone I could possibly find interesting in any form or fashion, but I suppose I was still wearing my training wheels.

What transpired afterwards was a test of my patience to say the least. He continued to try and sell himself and slip in information that I was not buying for a second. Does any lawyer you know still have the free phone you get when you sign up for a plan and not know how to input an email address?! I’m the one with the blackberry and I don’t even work! But I digress…the point is he was now getting on my nerves, so much so that I was forced to give out a fake email address. Pathetic, huh? Here I am trying to be all mature and not lie about my relationship status or give out a fake number and I forge my email because at this point I am SO sure that even words on a page from him would irritate me and I just want to take the easy way out. So I tried, but I suppose next time I will have to try harder.

Totally Committed

I’ve had success throughout my life in many different areas. If someone came to me and asked me for some insight on things I consider myself to be an expert on, I’d gladly share with them my wealth of knowledge. Shopping when you don’t have a lot of money. Eating whatever you want and not really gaining any weight. Watching an insane amount of reality t.v. and not having your brain rot. Posing in a bikini when you have way too many muscles. Working out and not messing up your makeup whatsoever. Taking pictures of yourself and not cutting off the top of your head. These are my fields of expertise. As far as track and field is concerned, one of the reasons I like talking to younger kids in high school and college is I feel as if I am able to speak with authority on that part of a career and share what I believe will help them be most successful because I had a lot of success during those years and its always helpful to hear from someone who’s “been there” and can tell you all the ins and outs you may not know.

Well the other day I was having a conversation with a friend who also doubles as a sports psychologist and works with many Olympic level athletes. I asked him what he thinks the difference is between those that make it versus those that don’t. And the way he phrased it really struck a chord with me. He said that they are fully committed to doing whatever they have to do to succeed. It isn’t a matter of hoping to do well or trying to succeed, you just commit yourself completely to whatever it is you set your mind to do. For me, this highlights a very important way of approaching things. In your mind if you are motivated by an unwavering determination to accomplish something, it seems as if that is much stronger than merely trying or hoping for things to work out the way you want them to. The former gives no other possible outcome than the one you have determined while the latter is not so resolute.

So I think it’s time to be totally committed. I understand that as a mere mortal there are certain things I simply cannot guarantee, but what I can say with absolute certainty is that I am committed to competing to the best of my ability. I am not simply going to try and do my best, I am going to eliminate the “trying” and simply JUST DO IT. There is no reason to hope for something that I have full control over. Don’t get me wrong, you will never hear me say that everything that happens is totally under my control because I am still a firm believer that the outcome is my own will being lined up and in tune with the Big Man’s, but you have got to believe that your talents are there for a purpose and make sure you aren’t shortchanging yourself. (Philippians 1:6 … being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.)

At the end of the day, I know that if I perform in this manner, I will be content. Perhaps I’ve had commitment issues in the past, but next week I will be as devoted to this cause as is humanly possible.

P.S. Even though this is the 2nd post within 24 hours, please still continue to leave quotes and verses if you aren't reading as fast as I'm writing and missed the last post!

Inspiration

I absolutely love quotes. I try and write down and remember any prolific quote that I come across, even if they only seem prolific to me. At the Olympic Trials in 2004 I covered my room in quotes that I had stumbled on throughout the year that I thought would be inspiring. The maid probably thought I belonged in some sort of psych ward with all the randomness taped on the walls but I felt as if surrounding myself with positive thoughts and reminders would be helpful. Well it didn’t really help in 2004 but I figure there is no reason I shouldn’t surround myself with positive thoughts this time around as well. But then I was thinking…while little nuggets of wisdom and encouragement from random people are great, there is so much inspiration that many of you have given me this year with the bible verses and words of encouragement that you have shared with me. So I figured that this year I’ll cover my room with that as well.

So if any of you have shared a verse with me this year or have a great one you’d like to share now, please leave them in the comments. And if you don’t really do the whole bible verse thing, you can still leave the most motivating quote you can think of or just the moving words that come from your own heart. I just hope this can be a group effort so I can print them all out before I leave and make sure I’m all ready and fired up. All of you have been so incredibly supportive through all of my ups and downs this year and I really value the extra boost I get from the blog world. Thank you in advance!