Season Opener

Whoa! Let's just say things did not go as planned this weekend. I went into the meet planning to hit the national automatic qualifying mark, but instead I did nothing. Out of six throws, I only had one over 16 meters. For all you known track folks, 16m is slightly over 52 feet, which is not bad, but definitely not what I expected to see today. I honestly thought I had set the bar a little low by aiming for 16.90, which is a little over 55 ft and would have guaranteed me a spot at the national meet; I really expected to see something more in the 17m range. In two weeks when we go to Houston, I'm going to have to make something happen because I don't have many more opportunities to qualify.

I'm not trying to make excuses, but I think part of my problem is worrying about my wrist. For about a year now I have been battling a wrist injury and here recently it's gotten worse, so I think I'm trying to over compensate for the injury and in return I'm not finishing throws the way I should because I'm afraid of the pain. I'm going to get an MRI done on Monday, so hopefully they can tell me what's wrong and we can get something done about it.

On the other hand, the freshman KeKe that I mentioned a few posts back had a phenomenal day! She hit a two ft. PR (personal record); that's huge for anybody. I would've been thrilled with a 2 ft PR today. Heck, I would've been thrilled with any kind of PR. The point is, she has a competitors spirit, which I knew since she stepped foot on campus. If only she could pass it along to some of her other teammates. Not everyone performs under pressure.

But anyways, that one is in the books and now I have my eyes set on Houston. I don't know what's going to happen there, but I can guarantee it's going to be better than what happened today. I've just got to get more focused and find my rhythm. This is only the beginning. I'm still claiming a national title, just wait and see!

NEW YEAR . . . NEW SEASON . . .

Whoooooo!!!! It is almost that time!!! In 14 days I'll be on a bus headed to College Station, Tx to compete in my first meet of the 2011 season.

But, before I get into all of that I hope you all had a blessed Christmas and a happy New Year.

Okay, now back to the reason why we're all here--my road to a national title.

I'm doing things a little differently this year. Instead of going into track meets hoping to do my best, I've mapped out marks I want to hit at each meet, so I don't peak to early or get to comfortable with my performances. Not only do I have my mind set on winning a national title, but I'm set on reaching my goal of throwing 60ft in the shot and 60 meters in the discus.

Remember earlier in the year when I said my rhythm was kind of off, but I wasn't really concerned? Well, things are starting to feel better, which is a good sign. We've been on Christmas vacation for 2 weeks now and I can honestly say I haven't missed a day of training. Because of that, doing some studying and having some alone time to drill and focus, I've found my rhythm. I still get off beat from time to time, but I can get back into sync a little easier than before. Overall, though, I think I'm gonna be just fine!!!!

Now, looking forward to the season ahead: expect greatness!!! This is my senior season, if I don't do it big this year, I won't have another opportunity. I can either look back at this season knowing that I left everything I had in the ring or look back and regret not doing things differently. Well, I don't plan on living with regrets, so I'm going all in at every meet. I won't be satisfied until my name is in the history books!!!

The 2011 season is here . . .LEGGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Insane in the Membrane

Like most athletes, I have a very meticulous way I approach my throws and during season, even the events leading up to competition are very routine; this is both good and bad. If everything falls into place and all the stars are in line, then I tend to have very good days, but if one thing falls out of wack, it could ruin everything. Remember last week when I said I couldn't find my rhythm in the ring? Well, a large part of that was due in part to the fact that I couldn't get the proper grip on the shot put out of the back of the ring and it was throwing off my whole throw. I mental visual every throw--in practice and competition, and when I'm in the back of the ring and if things don't physically line up with how I mapped them out mentally it seriously throws off every throw. I've been trying to get to the point where I get in the ring and just go so I don't have time to think about how odd things feel sometimes, but I haven't been successful yet, but it's something I'm still working on. I'm trying to get in and go because if I'm in the back of the ring too long, I have too long to start thinking and my mind starts thinking about all kinds of things. Throwing, and really any sport, is 50% physical 50% mental. I've got the physical, it's the mental I'm working on and it's something I've been working on since my sophomore year. I've gotten a lot better, but I'm not nearly where I want to be. My road to becoming a NCAA champion starts in my mind; I've already conjured up the thought, now it's time to buy into it. Right now, I'm fine. It's when the doubt and the quesitoning comes that I'm at risk of losing sight of why I came back this year. But, what I've come to realize is that sometimes I'm going to have bad meets and I'm not going to perform as well as I hope, but as long as I'm better than my competition on any given day, I'm still going to come out on top.

I'M BAAAAAACK!!!!!

Whoa!!! It's seriously been a whole month since I updated, sorry about that guys, but if you're wondering where I've been ask my professors. I spent the first couple of weeks this month TRYING to study for midterms and the last couple of weeks being depressed from my midterm grades. I definitely have had a rude awakening; this ain't undergrad. I might have studied twice as an undergrad; I applied my same "no-study" methods to grad school and my professors definitely showed me what was up. There's not a class I'm taking that I feel confident about. On the up and up though, I did pass my GRE!!! Yay!!!

As far as throwing, things aren't looking too good right now. I don't know why, but I can't find my rhythm in the ring. I would say one every eight actually feels right. I'm not really concerned though because I still have a long time before I need to peak and I feel confident that things will come around. The other girls are looking really good though, especially Mook (my apprentice, for lack of a better word). BUT, I'm really concerned for her. She started this year off really strong, but here latley she's been losing focus.

We're in college; we're gonna have some fun and do some things we'll never tell our kids, but our main focus should be getting an education and representing NSU track and field. I'm not really sure if all of my teammates understand that. I try not to say too much, but if things continue the way they are, I'm going to have to speak a little louder.

Aside from that, my personal life has been a little crazy. Cherie (my daughter) has strep throat and I've had to stay home with her the past two days, which made me miss a couple of days of practice, BUT I've been at home drilling, so when I get back to practice tomorrow I'll still be ready to go. I think this year, I'm really having to balance school, work and my family life. Last year was Cherie's first year with me in school and things went relativley smooth, but this year I must admit things are more of a struggle. She's more active, my schedule is more demanding and I think there's only 20 hours in a day now--that's how it feels atleast. I'm really struggling to get a hold on life right now. I'm seriously stressed.

But, God is going to make a way. I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I know there is a plan for me and there's no way I'm giving up. So with that being said . . . LEGGO!!!!!!!!! lol

TRACK SEASON!!!!

There's a familiar smell in the air . . .kind of smells like track season. The scent is still kind of faint because this is the first week of drills and what not, but I can definitely smell it. I got in the shot put ring for the first time since July; I was a little too excited. We haven't actually touched an implement, just doing some drills, but it's still exciting . . . sure beats running. lol jk jk Seriously though, I feel really good about this year. I think my body finally knows what a throw is supposed feel like. Drilling felt so natural. But, on the other side, I have to remember that drilling has always felt somewhat natural to me, it's what happens when I get an implement in my hand that's the problem. I can drill and drill and drill and do it perfectly, but for some reason, things always change when I put weight in my hand. I hope that by drilling a lot during fall training that my body locks in this technique and doesn't screw up things in the long run. lol We shall see. lol

To change gears a little bit, we got a new "thrower" today. He seems pretty cool, but he's never actually thrown before. Strange, right? I know, but he looks like he might actually be able to do a little something. I guess we'll see when he gets in the ring.

Well, that's really all I have for now.

I'm really trying to upload some videos and more pics on here so things aren't so blah, but for some reason my camera won't upload anything, so after I figure it out things will be more interesting.

Until next time . . .

It's Been A While; We've Got Some Catching Up To Do

Would you be surprised if I told you that last week I was ready to call it quits? Not my blog, but NSU track and field. I guess that would also mean giving up my blog, but that's relatively unimportant in the scheme of things. Anyways, this wasn't something that came out of the blue, it had actually been building up and by Friday I had just had enough. Seriously, out of the five days of practice last week, there wasn't one day where we (the throwers) had everybody either at practice or on time for practice. The fact that they weren't physically there didn't really bother me, it's what them not being there represents. Sure, track is an individual sport, but we have to combine our individual efforts to be a team. One of my goals this year is for the women's team to win a conference title (I mean it's only fitting considering conference is at home this year). But, how the heck can we expect to win anything when we can't even show up for freaking practice. What makes it worse is that I gave this long speech to the women about being accountable. Not only being accountable to themselves, but being accountable to the team. It's frustrating because I've put myself in a position to be a leader, but I can't lead if people don't follow. It's even more frustrating because I don't think anybody on the team is held accountable for anything they do. I think the coaches have gotten to a point where they are tired of trying. I try to set the best example that I can, but honestly some people just don't care and it pisses me off. It's reasons like this that have kept me from accepting this role in the past. I guess I'm just tired of all the b.s. on this team. But, I've calmed down since last week and I've decided, for my own selfish reasons, to keep at this thing. I mean, I can't be a NCAA Champ if I'm not on the team, right?



In other news, we're maxing in the weight room and testing some other skills this week. We did power cleans yesterday and I don't mean to toot my own horn, but I did get 225 yesterday Today we're doing the vertical jump and the 40 yard dash and later this week, we'll do the bench and the timed mile. I never did get around to running in preparation for that mile, so we'll see how things go. lol



I really need to studying instead of blogging considering I have a major test tonight and I take the GRE in tomorrow. Wish me luck. So, on that note, I'm gonna get dressed for practice and start studying again.



See Ya next week!!!!

O, by the way, my six weeks is up!!! My diet is over. In the process, I knocked off some of my baby fat and I lost 10 pounds!!! (Go me!) I've kind've pigged out this week, but I plan to pick back up my eating habits next week. Thanks for the support. Picutre coming soon.

This is so all over the place I can't even think of a title

I know. . .I know . . .I'm late on my update, for that I apologize, but I've kind've been busy. Well, not busy, more like tired. Track practice has been getting the best of me. I come home and I feel so nasty from sweating in the hot, humid Louisiana heat that all I want to do is shower and lay down. By the time I get motivated to do anything, it's time to go to be and I don't miss out on sleep. lol.

The past few days, I've really been trying to get to know the two freshman throwers. One of them, Shay, is still really quiet and reserved, but I have a feeling that she's gonna come around sooner or later. She really has no choice because she's gonna be spending a lot of time with us. The other one, KeKe, she's had no problem adapting to us. She's a character. She has the kind of confidence I wish all the girls had. She doesn't get wrapped up in what she knows somebody else can do; she's only worried about what she's gonna do. She wants to be the best, not the best right behind me, but the best!!! I love it!!! Her drive, drives me to better and I hope the others can feed off of her determination.

In other news, I'm still trying to come up with fundraising ideas! It's been like 2 months and I still don't have any good ideas. Ugh, it's so frustrating because I know there's money to be made!!!

An update on the diet. Things are not looking so good right now. This is week five and I've really let my guard down. For a while, we hadn't been grocery shopping and so I was just kind of eating what I could just really limiting my portion size, but today I had a total weak moment! I cheated so bad I'm thinking about not eating for week. Not really, but I probably had enough calories for a week. Burg, bought chips to go with chili dogs that we had for dinner last night, since I got out of class late and wouldn't be able to cook. Well let me tell ya. Today while I was sitting at home doing some work I pigged out them. Before I knew it I had eaten darn near half the bag--and I'm talking about the big bag. I think today was a reality check though. I'm back on pace and ready to give it 100%. I'm gonna hate to get on the scale tomorrow, but hey that's the harsh reality of my choices.