Dakar - Update

Quote for this track meet

What we see depends mainly on what we look for.
John Lubbock

The weather forecast for the day is WINDY.

In track and field 2.0 is a legal wind. Last night I stepped into the Twilight Zone. +5.8 and +4.6. wow!!!!!



100 Metres
Official Results - Women - 100 Metres - Wind : +5.8 m/s
1 Stephanie Durst [USA] 11.10 10
2 Angela Williams [USA] 11.22 8
3 Vida Anim [GHA] 11.30 7
4 Brianna Glenn [USA] 11.35 6
5 Oludamola Osayomi [NGR] 11.36 5
6 Joice Maduaka [GBR] 11.43 4
7 Kadiatou Camara [MLI] 11.47 3
8 Gloria Kemasuode[NGR] 11.52 2


200 Metres
Official Results - Women - 200 Metres - Wind : +4.6 m/s
1 Brianna Glenn [USA] USA 23.13 10
2 Joice Maduaka [GBR] GBR 23.33 8
3 Kadiatou Camara [MLI] MLI 23.40 7
4 Natalie Knight [USA] USA 23.53 6
5 Vida Anim [GHA] GHA 23.54 5
6 Symphora Béhi [FRA] FRA 23.62 4
7 Moushaumi Robinson [USA] USA 23.81 3
8 Oludamola Osayomi [NGR] NGR 23.94 2



Windy up my Jacksy definitely is not good for me. In the 100 I felt like I was on a magic carpet.Basically not going anywhere. With the 200 I am happy with the position not bad an effort from lane 8. I was the hare basically.

Anyway onwards and upwards

Next!!! lol

Now for the sad part.
Two things struck me deeply on this trip

The first were the children around the arena. Now we are used to being asked for autographs at track meets. Yesterday for the first time EVER I was asked for the bottle of water I was drinking and the protein bar I was eating after my race. A child came up to me and gripped his stomach and motioned to his mouth. I just wanted to cry.

The second was a comment that a lets say not so smart USA male athlete made loudly on the bus as we were leaving for the airport. It went something like 'Man, I hope the next meet I go to I share a room with some one who speaks English and don't smell bad' A female thrower from the USA turned and said the most poignant thing. I will paraphrase 'You should be grateful that you get the chance to a) travel to these countries and b)be in a position where people are able to speak your language. Alot of these athletes you see here do not have English as there first language.'

This trip and these two incidents have made me look within. And be more respectful of the gift I have and privileges I have experienced will taking part in this sport that I love so much


I hope you all have a good day

Jx

Below are just some more snaps I thought I would share


Start of the womens 400m


Donald Thomas (BAH) and Me


Durst (USA), Bri (USA) and Me

Hello Mama Africa How Are You?

I'm here in Dakar,Sengal for my first race of the season. Its in a couple of hours and so nothing as of yet to report.

I especially wanted to come to Dakar being of African decent. Its been a long time since I have been in Africa.

A few people went to Gorée which was the slave island. I didn't want to go. Maybe another time. Right now I'm just enjoy my brief time here and preparing for my race.

I thought I would just post a couple pictures and update later on how the race went.





I looking forward to racing and should post some decent times for an openers

Jx

Happy Easter

It was a pretty decent day yesterday so Loren decided to open up his house to the training group.

BBQ
Guitar Hero
and
Taboo



It was also Stephanies birthday so two reasons to get together. Im not sure if I mentioned it but the latest addition to Team Seagrave is Stephanie Durst. Stephanie is one of my good friends so again I am lucky to be training with and seeing a dear friend every day.





I have never played Guitar Hero before. Really did enjoy it. Dear Santa............. lol

Derrick of course was his usual happy self and got straight into the fun of the game. Gyrating his Bahamian hips and singing really badly.






Dean gave us a very strange Jamaican version of Hotel California. I still have that damn song in my head.




We had all the girls in the group giving a bad rendition of One Way or Another. Durst pulled diva moves and announced she was quitting the band when we got booed. She then informed us she don't do back up when Dani wanted to sing. Beyonce best watch out Durst is in town. lol




Even Anthony got in on the actoin. He's got The Eye Of The Tiger



Carl's was in town for a spell



We had a really good time.


We finished off with a game of Taboo. All I'm gonna say is I want Lisa on my team whenever we play again she awesome.

Oh for the record I'm shit on any instrument other than the drums

lol




Lots of pics courtesy of Fonz

Sensitive Smurf

For those who know me my Blackberry Bold is an extension of my left hand. I have been known to have tapped the toggle ball into place when it once fell out. I basically can't live without it. I am a living example of a Crackberry addict. Even though I do have a timer which turns my phone off at 10pm so Princess Joice can draw some Zzzzzzz's Lol


This week I have been having problems with my thumbs when it comes to my blackberry.



I have so far pinned the person below a particular person the wrong message. Both times it has not been language I am not proud of (yeah I have a gutter mouth when i'm ready) lol. Then I have had to explain my actions to the person I pinned in error. Yeah not a nice convo. Thank God for understanding friends

I have also deleted people thinking I had deleted a conversation. Yeah that didn't go down well either and I did it twice.

The first person was a new male friend the second was Jack. Male friend was easy to resolve but still funny because when I re-added him next day the question I got from him was "What did I do wrong?'. Lol



Now Jack was classic. She really took the ball and ran with it. At the end of a convo which ended with us agreeing to stop talking about a particular subject because we disagreed. I thinking I was deleting the convo actually deleted Jack from my phone.



Now forgive me if I'm wrong but wouldn't you just re-add yourself? Not Jack! She got a mutual friend to pin me some hours later asking if I had deliberately deleted Jack from my phone.

Sensitive Smurf for real Ms Edwards. Lol

Needless to say all is right on the world of my Blackberry. But, please if I have deleted you please just send me a request. As it obvious that unless I flat out argued with you. Which I aint had a good fight in God knows how long. I have probably deleted you thinking I was deleting a convo.

Now come on you aint gonna get rid of me that easy. Lol

Jx

When you opening up

The song posted had this line that so rings true about this post

"Everybody's got opinions, they all been in my position"

<

There's so much advice out there and I ain't even asking for it. lol

Over the past couple of weeks I appear to have had the same conversation with numerous nosey people, disguised as friends. lol As to when I will open up my 2009 outdoor season.




They have not been to impressed with my response. The funny thing is that no matter who asked, I have pretty much given the same answer.

"I don't know June maybe" lol




The mad frenzy of the hot question of the month in track and field is "When you opening up?" I'm oh so tempted to say none of your damn business and check for results. If you see my name then you know I raced. But, I have found myself answering with my wishy washy vague untrue answer.

People seem to have forgotten that since 2006 I have actually had 4 coaches. That means 4 different philosophies. Even though they have all been a little 'Loren Seagravest' So please let me knuckle down and practice. Once you open up you have to keep going. Practice is practice for a reason. Racing is another mind set.



I received a pin from one friend this week who gave me a run down of the start list for the Women's 100m in the Texas relays. Telling me I am missing out on opportunities to run in fast races. Well I'm sure there will be plenty of them still in the season ahead.



Said friend has no idea what phase of training I am in. Just because some guy has electronic timing and a starting pistol don't mean I need to line up and race.

Funny cause a good friend of mine who's a hurdler said this week. "When they start lining up 10 hurdles I start racing" So that'll be April 4th. Good on ya buddy.



World Champs is in August and Trials are in July. I'd rather stick with practice a little longer. If that's OK with you?

So friends you do you and I sure will do me. I assure you I will open up eventually just when and where I want to and not before.

Oh and for those still guessing. I hate racing in the USA so I assure you it wont be on this Continent. That should keep people off my back for a few weeks.


Jx