1 Down

So 1 week down and not a bad job done if I do say so myself. OK so I have spent a large portion of the week asleep after practice. lol  But, that just shows I have put the work in.

I managed to get a good 12 hours in one day. Missed dinner and Oprah at 4pm.  : (

Its all good though as coach Seagrave has stepped up practice once. As we have a smaller group this year. There is no hiding place. The attention to detail is welcomed. 

I got back into see my Chiro who I have not seen in over 6 months. That session was amazing as he pointed out defects that I had picked up during the summer. My lower back  had be locked up for several months. Lets just say I feel like a dash board holla girl now. lol

So more of the same and some for next week whoop whoop.

In you absence it got turned up several notches

Ive been gone for a minute from practice in Atlanta it would appear.  As the work has been turned up a whole heap.  Its only day two in this six day schedule and I am smashed but, not out.

To start off with we had body fat testing. Yep jump on the scales and then the calipers were out to measure all those areas where you hold fat. I did pretty good at 11.8%. Got some work to do by hell it could have been alot worse. 

The session yesterday was a bitch on paper and an even bigger bitch when I ran it. Short recovery session on a Monday. Why????    lol 

Sleep was the cure after practice 2 PM till 8 PM i only got up because I need a pee and was hungry.  : (

Today was acceleration I was tapped out by the second set. But, its so good to be back with the group I was able to muscle through. I still have 4 more days. No such thing as easing me in gently.  : )

I've got a new camera so here are some snaps from today enjoy.

The gang

Karl must have just had a good start he's cheesing

Black is slimming.  lol 11.8% remember 

Dani C in between her hurdle runs

Lisa looking over the workout

New toy

Back in Tha A

To say I was OVER prepared for every eventually that would irk me as I left for the airport yesterday to travel back to Atlanta, Georgia is an understatement. I have over time tried to take everything in my stride when it comes to air travel. Security are after all doing their jobs, right?. The amount of travelling I do I figured it’s the easiest way to approach the events at the airports.

After watching the news updates in London. Yes the news updates. One thing I find annoying is the lack of World News I get in the USA. I have to visit CNN and web pages just to find out what is going on in the world. I digress. The news updates in London had informed me of the new changes to travel to and from the USA.

• Expect 2 hour delays

• 1 Piece of hand luggage

• No blankets for the last hour of the flight

• No world map showing you where you are and time to destination

• No use of the bathroom during the last hour of the flight

• Random full body searches

• No neck pillows

 So I went dressed like cat woman in a Pea Coat minus the mask. lol

(leggings and a T-shirt). "No miss airport security woman no concealed weapons here". 8/10 times I'm subjected to the pat down (touch up my stuff search).Never nice and so not cute. I had the one piece of carry on luggage (handbag stuffed nicely inside) that fit in that little size thingy they have. With no pushing or ramming in to make it fit . Passport and wallet in my pocket.


I bumped into my friend Taneisha Robinson-Scanlon (Irish Triple Jumper) who was on the same flight with her husband and daughter. 

So what trouble did I get into? you ask. Well I am happy to inform you none.  I actually got upgraded which helped. As each person was subjected to a full body and luggage search. I mean take everything out of your bag, shake it out and put it backin search.  They told us to go up to the lounge and they would call for us when they were ready to search us. 


The US end was kinda strict as expected. Before we even got off the jetty we had to have our passports checked and then checked again at passport control. 


Presently i'm in the jet lag "where am I?" state of mind
I have been sleeping most of today.Will just rest up and get ready for practice tomorrow

Quickish Xmas turn around

I’m headed home today for a xmas. Over the last couple of weeks, I have been missing my family a lot. Phones calls and emails just are not enough. So I’m looking forward to sitting up on my mum’s sofa watching cartoons with my nephew. Sitting in the kitchen with my sister having a proper catch up with a cup of hot chocolate and a packet of chocolate digestives and being dragged around IKEA by my mum.

It got me thinking about the small simple things we do that we over look until we are unable to do them. Now I’m not going to go into some long dialogue about the little thing s or anything like that. Lol

I have not blogged about practice for a while cause there is not much to report. We have all just been knuckling down and getting on with the work.
We have several new people in the group. So let me give you give you a roll call of whose in the group now.
I’m going to list in alphabetic order so no one get offended. Lol

Me'Lisa Barber


Danielle Carruthers


Walter Davis


Perdita Felicien


Steve Flemming


Ebonie Floyd Broadnax


Justin Gatlin



Karl Jennings


Fanni Juhasz


George Kitchens\


Avard Moncur


Travis Padgett



Dwight Phillips



Angelo Taylor


And last but not least we have an additional coach
Rana Reider


I had best add Loren Segrave before he feels left out



lol

Final Leg

So I have been without my passport for a week. Its been holed up at the Chinesse Embassy going through the visa application process. Not the easiest of processes like I said its taken a week. I can remember a couple of years ago going throuh the same process and it taking 1 day. Hmmmmmm .

Im sure the pretty visa will confuse the hell out of the passport control person that greets in my Atlanta in a couple weeks. Really dont need another episode like the one I had earlier this year. If you dont remember read here




So I have two more races Shanghai being the last and then the 2009 season comes to an end. Yep the fat lady is tuning up in the wings.



Like I have said before Im looking forward to getting in the weight room, running hills, segment runs and all the other things that make up winter training. Oh cant forget the group warm up. The first time I ever did Lorens group warm up, which takes between 40 and 60 mins I saw stars and nearly passed out. He has us out there like the 'Bolshoi Ballet'
. He has since revealed that he was aware that I was struggling. But, decided to teach me a lesson for turning up in Atlanta a month late by seeing how far he could push me before I tapped out. Needless to say I will be in Atlanta before fall training starts. Point taken Loren.



See the resembalance? lol






Also Im told there will be some new faces in the training group. I cant and wont give names right now but lets say Loren has been very popular this summer. Lots of people have approached him asking him to coach them. Must be nice to be so popular. lol.

So I will introduce you to the new guys in the coming weeks.

My friends in town for the weekend can you take him out to eat?

A couple of weeks ago both Dani and I received a PIN from Patrick Stevens which said 'Hey my friends in town for the weekend can you take him out to eat'. Funny thing is I had stayed round Dani's house that night so we both received the PIN at the same time and laughed at Patrick who was obviously trying to be slick. lol

We went back and forth with 'His names Edgar I will give him your PIN so he can contact you'. Dani and I were headed to Lennox Square Mall and during the day told Edgar this. Long story short he decided to go to the mall too. Whilst shopping a guy appeared in between both Dani and I. I thought he wanted to walk past so stepped aside to let him through. It turns out it was Edgar he was with another friend of mine Caimin Douglas. Who thought it would be funny to let Edgar breeze up to us in the mall. Hmmmmmmmm

We hung out we ate and it turns out Edgar was Edgar Davids the Football player. Yeah dumb blonde moment for Joice. Now I'm not clued up on my football players as you can probably tell.



As we were talking it turns out that Edgar had worked out at Velocity Sports. I told him Loren coached me and he couldn't believe it. He asked if he could work out with us the following day. I got Loren on the phone handed it to Edgar and long story short Edgar has been in and out of ATL over the past 4 weeks working out with us.



I now first hand have an appreciation of just what a determined and talented individual he is. He loves working out and he's a pretty decent guy too. Down to earth and a good laugh.



He kept hinting that he was quick enough to make the Dutch 4x100 team. The funny thing is with a decent pair of spikes he probably could. lol

Credit for my WAM Degree

Tonight I decided to gain credit towards my WAM Degree (Wife and Mother) lol

Up at Chateau Segrave Loren rules the kitchen with the best of them. Jamie Oliver, Lloyd Grossman. If you want a good feed after practice this is the place to be. Part of the reason why Derrick has been hanging out a lot. Claiming to be over watching video of the days training session. It just always so happens to be around dinner time. lol. He thinks we don't know. Well the cats out the bag now.

Anyway. I was having a Dorothy 'There's no place like home cravings' (English treats). I passed by Harry's to raid the English aisle. Found a Lloyd Grossman curry stir in sauce and offered to cook.



So with a little help from my kitchen assistants. Chief chopper upper Kyle O'Day (Massage Therapist) and Loren I gained my first credits for the WAM Degree that Anthony (Weight Room Coach) thinks all women should obtain. Not sexist at all. lol



God knows what other modules he thinks are in the syllabus. lol

Feel free to suggest some modules and please please please keep it clean. lol

Update: LUSSI

The main track that I train at whilst in Atlanta is Life University. The program that allows us to use the facility is called LUSSI Elite. Basically itsan extension of Life University’s sports health science program.

Last night was the first in a series of lectures targeted at Coaches, Physical Therapists, Athletics Trainers, other sports professionals and athletes in all sports.




This is how I met Clive Brewer. Clive was the first speaker. He spoke about "Periodization for Team Sports", how to manage players' training over the entire year, especially related to maintaining the biomotor abilities during the competition season. Yeah I thought it would be a little too techi but it was actually pretty cool to sit at the back and listen.


Clive was also available over the past two days to watch our weight room and track session. He gave me some great technical pointers to help me with my lifts.

Pics of the time with Clive below.

Anthony's TV Debut

Yesterday Anthony (Assistant Coach) had a screening gathering for his appearance on MTV's Made. Basically a kid asks MTV to make them into whatever they desire. Avery decided he wanted to be made into a basketball player. Anthony was one of his coaches during the process.

MADE - MTV Shows

Some of us from the group went along to support him. It was a nice gathering and lets just say we saw a little snippet of the other side of Anthony that we don't see at practice. Anthony was pretty hard on this kid. lol

I will post the full episode when it becomes available.



I had a pretty busy day yesterday. Hills and weight room in the morning. Anthony's screening in the afternoon. Plus Loren and I had a radio interview with Dr Casey Cooper Ph.D on 'The Dr Casey Show'

We discussed my current goals and focus, What led me to make my coaching shift to Atlanta, The differences in my training and my body's ability to recover, my values and philosophies which enable me to continue my drive to compete.
It was a nice interview which did not cover the usual stuff that I am asked.

I will post the podcast when it becomes available.

Chateau Segrave Chess Challenge

Tonight we had the first of I'm sure many Chess challenges.

Derrick Atkins gave me a Bahamina ass kicking. All I can say is that it has been a very long time since I played. Thats my excuse and I'm sticking to it. In good old sprinter mode he trash talked whilst I called myself the 'Silent Assasin'.

And then the Grand Master (Loren) stepped into the hot seat. Poor Derrick!! lol

Lets just say Derrik got his second lesson of the day from the coach. He learnt about 'Castling' albeit part way through the game. lol

The body languge said it all. Derrick lent forward poised for attach. Whilst Loren sat back calm planing a not so painful onslaught. Did Derrick think he was really going to win? The sad this is he really thinks/thought he was going to win.

Sitting and watching the game you could see that Loren was a good 3 moves ahead in thought than Derrick.

Now I always thought the sprinter boys spent every waking moment when not practing or competing playing Xbox and chasing women. Derrick dispelled that myth this evening by putting up a pretty good fight. Im sure he will be back for another thrashing. lol

Final score


Derrick 1 - Joice 0

Loren 1 - Derrick 0

Happy Thanksgiving

So yesterday was my 2nd ever Thanksgiving.

I spent it with my coach Loren Seagrave and his family. For those who don't Loren is a damn good chef. He could give Jamie Oliver a run for his money. lol

So I had the traditional items on the Thanksgiving menu. Turkey, Collard Greens (which I can't pronounce the American way), Corn Bread and many others dishes that I had never had before.

Dani (Danielle Carruthers) my training partner also came over to eat with the family.



The family also trimmed the tree. Which was really nice watching the boys dress the Christmas tree.



And then in good old fashioned style Dani caught a case of the da itus.

Yep I caught it too but, sorry there is no photo evidence.



So it was back to practice this morning. No rest for the wicked.