So I have been getting a lot of questions on how professional athletes make the Olympic Team. So I decided to do a blog dedicated to what it will take for me to make the 2016 Olympic Team! I will go over the Olympic entry standards, the U.S. Olympic Trials, and what I have to do to make the team. Don’t worry, I still have advice for young athletes and workout tips. 🙂
The Marks Continue reading Making The Team – The Journey to Rio De Janeiro
Egle Staisiunaite is a Lithuanian 400 meter Olympic hurdler. Her track accomplishments include competing at 2012 London Olympic Games, making semifinals at European Championship in 2012 and 2014, and finishing 22-nd at 2015 World Championships! She started running track when she was 13 years old and fell in love with the sport ever since. She is one of my amazing training partners here in Phoenix! She was graciously agreed to be featured on my blog!!
How was the 2012 Olympic experience? Continue reading Featuring Olympian Egle Staisiunaite!!
Hey All,
I’m going to format my post so that I give you an update on practice, advice to young athletes, and tips for the average person. I have each section in bold.
Practice Update
I just finished my second week of practice. The first week was what they call an “introduction” week and even though it was supposed to be mild, everyone in the group would agree it was anything but mild. Everyone was sore!!! Especially me, because as you know I haven’t trained since last year. This week was even more intense with timed runs that equaled about 300 – 600 meters on the track. This was a great opportunity to see what kind of shape I am actually in and how far I have to go. To my surprise, I am not too far off. 🙂 But I still have a ways to go. Continue reading Weight Room Update, Advice, and Tips
A week or so ago, I met a college triple jumper and somehow ended up asking her if she wanted to compete professionally. Her response was, “It’s not my dream but I wouldn’t mind.” Upon further reflection, I believe when I first came out of college that was me. It wasn’t my dream to run professionally, I don’t think I really knew what I wanted to do (I’m not sure if I even know what I really want to do now lol). When I first came out of college it just seemed like the right move. It was more of a curiosity than a dream. I believed I could run a lot faster. I thought that by going to a small school and doing well (becoming All-American, making Nationals 3/4 years, going to the Olympic Trials) that if I’d been able to go to a larger school with more resources, I would have done even better and I wanted to know how fast I could go under the “right training” but “a dream” probably not even close. Through that journey, I met some amazing people, traveled, and learned a lot about myself and others.
You are probably wondering, well is it a dream now???? A dream?
Well according to Webster, a dream (in the context I am talking) is defined as;
Something that you have wanted very much to do, be, or have for a long time
4. a: a strongly desired goal or purpose <a dream of becoming president>
b: something that fully satisfies a wish :ideal <a meal that was a gourmet’s dream>
I don’t think this defines how I look at it now. It is more of a relentless mission. Something I feel I have been assigned to do and must fight tireless to achieve. There is an objective, a plan, a strategy… it is no longer a strong desire because a desire is longing for or hoping or wanting… No, this is not desire it is will, diligence, sacrifice, action. A dream is something that isn’t going to happen, “A dream come true” is a surprise. This will be fought for with sweat, lactic acid, tears, prayer, weight room, workouts, drills, it will be no surprise, it will be deserved. This is not a game, it’s a war, against opponents but more importantly myself. As Muhammad Ali said,
“Champions are not made in the gym. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them- a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have the last-minute stamina, they have to be a little faster, they have to have the skill, and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.”
All of this to say, the young girl made me think about how far I’ve come, where I’m headed and what it takes.
Hurdling Through Life 