Spirit of London Bike Rally

Please watch this video before reading the blog





Yesterday I attended the Spirit of London Bike Rally.

In true Tasha Danvers style. I received a lastminute.com BBM pin asking if I want to hang with her at and event. Being a little worse for wear from our previous night out I agreed and I'm glad I did.  Thanks Andre and his team for having me along

So lets give you a little detail about the Spirit of London Bike Rally. The event was held at Potters Fields  The event was a joint venture between Spirit of London Wards. SOLA, the Damiola Taylor Trust and Barclays Bank  Sadly Richard Taylor, Damiola's father was unable to attend.

The aim was to break the record for a choir on bikes. There was a pretty decent turn out.

I personally had a great afternoon.

In light of the riots that occured in London a few weeks ago. SOLA really needs our help. For every not so great kid there are 10 outstanding young adults in London who aspire to be enhance their communities.

Coming from London town myself. I never had a clue that Joice from South London would go on to achieve all the things I have. What i'm trying to say is not all the kids you see out on the street are bad.

I plan on supporting SOLA any way I can.

They will be holding their awards to celebrate the unsung young hero's of London. So please check out their site and vote, and find a way to get involved.

I know where I will be October 10 2011.  The Royal Albert Hall at the Spirit of London Awards.  Click the link to get your tickets.

Ain't nothing to see here darling

Yep its been more than a minute since my last blog.

My 2011 season has ended and I ponder my next moves. Coach has given me a month off and then I am due to start back. I'm pushing for October so I can get my ducks in a row.  The 2012 OGames circus when it rolls around is gonna be hectic to say the least. So maybe this premature end to the season is a blessing for my body.

I'm spending time with my family. As nephew number 1 in on summer break. So its death by children's tv, milkshakes and all the things 6 year old boys know they shouldn't be doing.

Now to the title of this blog. Well in terms of track this summer was hmmmmm interesting.  For the 1st time ever I think I allowed outside forces and people to get in my head. Yep they won. I gave a good fight now.  Its made me question myself, peoples motives and myself again. A healthy angry Joice is so not what they want going into the 2012 season. But hey that's what you got. Cause last time I checked. Karma is a bitch and she don't know when to stop.

So I didn't make the World Champs team. Hmmm been there before in 2005 and what a fab season I had in 2006. Thing is how many people on this Worlds team wont make the team next year? Damn I'm not the only person sitting at home from team GB. Life goes on.

Track allows us to dust ourselves off and come back again. Hard work is hard work is hard work.

Its the randoms that have tried to worm their way into my life this summer that has prompted this blog.  What is it they see in me that makes them what to pry into my life. Facebook requests, Linkedin requests from people I have never meet. Kinda defeats the purpose of the site if you ask me. I thought Linkedin was a little cleaner than Facebook. (I guess not) shrug.

Yesterday was a classic. A guy claiming to be a serial networker with 500 people on his list contacted me. In my head I'm thinking sponsor or he knows someone who can. Yeah right and pigs might fly. He told me he doesn't know anyone who can help. Well Sir, maybe you should forget networking and collect beer mats cause you suck at networking.

On a real note the OGames is around the corner and come September (October if I have my way) I have to get my head down and train like my life depends on it.

No word of a lie I need sponsors I have not been funded by my governing body since 2008. All serious sponsors are welcome and needed.

But if your looking to peer in the window and merely watch what I am up to. Please don't bother me I have work to do.  Like the title of this blog says. 'Aint nothing to see here darling'

I'm really just trying to achieve my own personal goals in an Olympic Games in my home town. Now how many people in their lifetime can experience that?

I'm looking for 'Team Joice' not sightseers. So who's with me?

Seats on the bus are limited.

Happy Birthday To Me

There is always a certain excitement that comes with an up coming birthday. September 30 usually coincides with lazy summer nights turning into cold winter evenings. 

Birthdays to me are like changing seasons nudging me from one milestone to the next. I would not be Joice Maduaka if I did not as always refuse to remain stagnant. So as I move from one era to the next. I step in confidence knowing that nothing is permanent. Not joy and definitely not pain. 

This birthday as many more to come will serve as my platform for growth. 

So happy Birthday to me.

You Really Think This Song Is About You? Don't You?

Hanging onto resentment is letting someone you despise live rent-free in your head.
-- Ann Landers

It really does amaze me, how people are able in their own heads to elevate them selfs to positions of grandeur. How they really think they are the puppeteer in your life pulling all the strings.

Hey Joice pull a sad face. Now make a happy face. With the Pièce de résistance being. Im gonna affect your mood.



Even have the nerve to call you or pin you asking. "Are you upset with me?".

reply

"No. I just realized what an ass you are and didn't want to give you any of my time'

Well a little word to the wise. That don't work and hasn't for a very LONG time. I pride myself on being true to myself. Its so not worth allowing people to get under your skin. You might get me for a little while but trust me it won't last very long. If your real lucky I might blog about whatever it is you did to me. lol. But 9/10 times I will look through you and ignore you before I will let you get under my skin.

There is ALWAYS something a whole lot better, I can be channeling my time and energy to.

So as I continue this journey being the best Joice I can be. Surrounding myself with positive, good people. Please know I have ideals and opinions on how things should go and how I expect people to behave. I have locked off members of my own family for their improper behavior. So some random I meet along the way really don't stand a chance.

Plain and simple "This song really ain't about you'.

Now let me get up and start this wonderful new day that I have. I got my smile on and I'm ready to catch joke.

Church

For those who don't know I was raised a Catholic but lets say I'm not a regular go to church on Sunday practicing Catholic. Its not that I'm scared of religion just at this present point in my life I feel religion is in my heart.

I have had many friends in the past who have showed their religious up bringing and I am forever being invited to different churches.

As I'm in California visiting Jack I decided to take her up on her invitation. Plus how else was she going to get there.

Lets just say I had a very pleasant time. I was made welcome and did not feel out of place. Even though I did not necessarily pack clothes to go to church.

They had a visiting choir from Japan that really blew me away. These kids do not have English as their first language but they can sing in English.

Jack was up on her one leg making sure she got a good view and I had goose bumps

Below is a clip of them at yesterdays service.

Enjoy I defiantly did

Chilling

So I have a week before I officially start back at practice.

January will come around so soon so I'm savoring this time and enjoying just chilling.

A few weeks ago I corrupted my nephew Maxie. I was watching him over night as my sister was headed out some place. We played and I was tortured by non stop 'Scoobby Doo' It was 1pm before we decided to take our baths and start the day the next day.



At one point he looked at me as we layed in the bed and asked. 'Aunty Joice, What are we doing' My reply 'Chilling' This child really did repeat the word like he understood what I had just said.

Well thats what I'm gonna be doing this week

Oh I'm in LA what trouble can I get myself into.





No for real I'm here chilling and visiting Jack who had her surgery a couple of days ago.

So she has 'Nurse Maduaka' at her side. I draw the line at bed pans and bed baths



lol

Happy Birthday To Me

So some 36 years ago today Betty Maduaka gave birth to me

Birthday Reflections
Your birthday's a time for careful reflection
About your life, and its future direction.
You see where you've been when you look at the past;
Most of it's great; you had quite a blast!
You wonder what's coming, what life has in store;
Will it be just the same? Will there be a new door?
Remember this, as you blow out the last candle:
Life holds no challenge that you cannot handle.
By Joanna Fuchs

What an honor

Late last year I received an email from the marketing department from the Royal Mail. The email basically informed me that an artists impression of me running had been selected to be one of the stamps which would be used in the lead up to the 2012 Games. The queen is the only living person who can appear on a stamp. That's why its an artists impression from the waist down. So the battle scars on my legs ain't there. lol




I just so happened to be in the kitchen washing dishes when it appeared on the news. I had completely forgotten. I told a good friend of mine and all he could say was 'yep can't miss that twisted left ankle' lol. Well I'm honored twisted ankle and all.



I'm off to the post office to go by a couple. :)

Bucket List - Whats on yours?

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all

Helen Keller

I saw the above two quotes and started thinking about my 'Bucket List'. You know top 100 things to do before I kick it. lol (These are honest geniue things I would like to do)

So anyone wanna help me tick some of these items on the list off? lol



I have sat and poured over this for about 2 hours and can only come up with 68. So anyone wanna help me come up with suggestions for the other 32 to make it 100?


1. Be with friends when doing as many things as possible from this list.
2. Watch wild whales
3. Milk a cow
4. Go to a drive in theatre
5. Visit all 7 continents


6. Compete in a TV game show
7. Drive a car that is worthy of wearing driving gloves (and wear them doing it).
8. Get married.
9. Have a family.
10. Adopt a child
11. Be in charge of an organisation with at least 50 employees
12. Work for Google
13. Ride a helicopter to an important meeting.
14. Watch the world-wide premiere of a movie
15. Float in the Dead Sea

16. Give blankets and socks to the homeless.
17. Spend no money for a month
18. Volunteer abroad for a month
19. Partake in a Japanese Tea Ceremony.

20. Visit every capital city in Europe
21. Meet and shake hands with Nelson Mandela
22. See the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco
23. Climb up the Statue of Liberty
24. Visit Waikiki Beach, Oahu, Hawaii
25. Invest in the stock market
26. Send a message in a bottle
27. Ride a camel into the desert.
28. Be someone's mentor
29. Shower in a waterfall on an Island somewhere
30. Get passionate about a cause and spend time helping it, instead of just thinking about it.
31. Teach someone illiterate to read.
32. Sleep under the stars.
33. Go to Wimbledon finals day

34. Grow a vegetable garden.
35. Give a large amount of money to a charity -- anonymously.
36. Go deep sea fishing and eat your catch
37. Have twins
38. See the Mona Lisa at the Louvre
39. Run a marathon
40. Learn to play golf
41. Learn how to swim
42. Learn how to ride a bike
43. Learn how to ski
44. Take horseback riding lessons
45. Learn how to ice skate (or figure skate)
46. Learn how to roller blade.
47. Learn to play the piano

48. Skinny dip
49. Fall in love and not have my heart broken
50. Become fluent in French.
51. Learn conversational Spanish
52. Learn to say "hello" in 50 languages.
53. Learn sign language

54. Learn to tango.
55. Learn the foxtrot.
56. Ride in a hot air balloon
57. Go scuba diving
58. Go snorkeling in a shipwreck
59. Ride a mechanical bull
60. Fire walking
61. Experience weightlessness
62. Drive a race car
63. Mardi Gras in New Orleans
64. Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
65. Times Square on New Year's Day
66. Visit St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican, Rome
67. Visit the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
68. Visit the Seven New Wonders of the World
1. Machu Picchu, Peru
2. The Colisseum in Rome
3. Petra, Jordan
4. Christ Redeemer, Brazil
5. The Great Wall of China
6. Chichen Itza, Mexico
7. The Taj Mahal, India

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.

I love this one.....................one of her best

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...

one old love
she can imagine
going back to...
and one who reminds
her how far she has come...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...

enough money within her
control to move out and
rent a place of her own
even if she never wants
or needs to...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...

something perfect to wear if
the employer or date of her
dreams wants to see her in an hour...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...

a youth she's content
to leave behind...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...

a past juicy enough that
she won't mind retelling

it in her old age...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...

a set of screwdrivers,
a cordless drill, and a black
lace bra...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...

one friend who always makes
her laugh... and one who lets
her cry...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...

a good piece of furniture
previously owned by anyone
else in her family..

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...

eight matching plates, wine
glasses with stems, and a recipe
for a meal that will make her
guests feel honored..

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...

a feeling of control over
her destiny...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

how to fall in love without
losing herself...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

how to quit a job,
break up with a lover,
and confront a friend
without ruining the friendship...
and how to change a tire!!!!!!!

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

when to try harder... and
when to walk away...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

that she can't change the
length of her calves, the width
of her hips, or the nature of her
parents...

A WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

that her childhood may not
been perfect...but its
over...

A WOMAN SHOULD KNOW....

what she would and wouldn't
do for love anymore...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

how to live alone... even if
she doesn't like it...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't
take it personally...

A WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table..
or a charming inn in the woods...
when her
soul needs soothing...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

what she can and can't
accomplish in a day..
a month...and a year...

By: Maya Angelou

Few days off from practice

I have a couple days off from practice as we have been on it hard this week.

I think this quote sums it up



'Sometimes it's important to work for that pot of gold. But other times it's essential to take time off and to make sure that your most important decision in the day simply consists of choosing which color to slide down on the rainbow'. ~Douglas Pagels

Through the eyes of the coach

I firstly must apologise for my short sharp blog yesterday. Frustration is a beast. But, in good old Joice style, I have marinaded it and now continue forward. If anything I was just upset with myself for putting my foot down the pot hole. Jack, has come the conclusion that I am clumsy. Which is something that I really need to work on. There have been too many incidents where I have tripped, fell and walked into things. Bruising and constantly needing ice.

I applied caution yesterday and took the day off practice. The Dr was not in the office yesterday, also had something to do with it. So all I could get was a massage, which was needed. Plus ultra sound on my ankle and knee.

So yesterday I was the coaches apprentice so to speak. I sat in the stands and saw what he saw. It was actually really good for me. I watched the guys running flying 30's. Lets just say there are many ways to skin a cat. I was able to question Brooks and pretty much had a 1:1 visual training session with him.

So there you have it. Always find a positive in every negative.

I'm going back to the Dr's office now as I am her first appointment this morning. I have practice later on this evening so need to get checked out.

Chat soon

Jx

If we have to move again.........................................

OK so yesterday morning I received a phone call from the management company for our apartment. The guy informed me that as of April 1st they no longer managed the property so we had to move to another unit. Wow is the polite version of my reaction. Move when? Today the guy informs me. Where? Across the way to another unit. OK so not too bad. Whats the unit number so I can go check it out before we move our stuff.

We go over to a huge apartment with a beautiful sunken bath but, it has 1 Kingsize bed and 4 singles. Hmmmmmm. So we head back over to our apartment to inform the guy that the bedding allocation is not sufficient as we need at least 2 double beds. So he gives me another until number same block once again hugewith the sunken bath. Also again with the 1 King size bed and 4 singles. Ok so am I speaking in Swahili?

Yet another phone call where Matt (the management company guy) now tries to get smart. Informing me there is no guarantee on the bedding allocation. How about I'm paying for the apartment and there is no way I'm gonna put Jack not even for one night in a single bed. He then starts calling me Mame. Hmmmm so I ask to speak to his manager. She is a little bit nicer understands my plight but, still gives me the no guarantee on bedding allocation. Jack at this point has shut down and is talking about going back to LA.

What we don't understand is why there are so many apartments on this complex with 4 single beds. How many people come to Orlando with 4 kids? Is that the only type of visitor they expect? The management company are wrong for their approach. Come on now. Why would you allocate an apartment with pictures of Mickey and Donald on the walls to two adults, expecting them to sleep in single beds?

The manager calls around and finds us an apartment on the same complex but in a different part.By this point, we don't care just give us the unit number as long as it has two double beds. We have practice at 3pm today and by now it 1.15pm. I tell her that we have to leave at 2pm for practice so if we are going to move, it needs to be soon. 'The units not ready'. Oh boy!. It won't be ready till after 5pm. 'OK so whats the unit number' She can't give it to me until after 5pm. Yeah, by this point I just sigh. So my instructions are call this 1-800 number when I get back from practice and she will give me the details.

So now we head to practice ill prepared because we had packed up the apartment, food included. Had not really eaten well. If you call 2 Weetabix and a glass of Pink Lemonade OK then hmmmm.

We get caught in a thunderstorm. Yep we didn't really dress for this so sat in the car for a good 15mins. That is until we see Brooks walking in his waterproof USA Track and Field jacket. Suppose we had better get out the car and follow him. Its drizzling by now. It tried to rain for the whole session. The thing down here is after the rain its so humid. So I'm in a crop top sweating whilst being rained on. Oh and I'm hungry.

Session done so I sit and watch the guys doing starts. You can always pick up a little something from watching Capel and them do starts. That is until there is a flash of lightening. Capel raises his sun glasses and looks at Brooks with a genuine look of fear in this eyes. The thunder followed too close for comfort. Capel literally ran off the track and started changing into his running shoes. The hurdlers ever the Trojan horses wanted to continue. Then we hear a siren. Yeah a siren starts peeling across the Disney complex. Brooks informs us 'OK that's it they want us out of here'. Practice is done for the day. This is made even more obvious as Brooks jumps on the back of a golf cart driven by a Disney employee and shouts 'See you guys at 3pm tomorrow'. lol

Oh hell we still have to move!!

So we are now in our new apartment with two double beds.

If we have to move again I think Jack will kill me and I will lay on the floor and cry. Oh the view from the balcony is OK anyway.




Forgot to tell you guys this is our 4th apartment since I have been in Orlando.
Reasons for moving.

Apartment 1 - Champions Gate Tuscana - Lovely apartment just in the middle of no where.

Apartment 2 - Vista Cay - The first experience of the allocation cop out. We moved in on a Friday so had to spend the weekend here. 1 King size bed and 4 singles.

Apartment 3 - Vista Cay - The two bed that we moved out of last night.

Apartment 4 - Vista Cay - The one we are now in.

Oh and I have had to inform drug testing every time I have moved. lol

The wonderful English language (and I thought I was getting it at last)

Last night the girls from my training group were invited around Brooks house for dinner. He has some of his friends in town and had hired an Executive Chef to cook. (Bob)



Now you don't have to ask me twice when it comes to good food. lol

Knowing Brooks both Jackie and I tried our best not to be late. But, somehow we managed it. There was that moment in the car when we both looked at the clock and each other and asked how the hell we managed to be late.

Not ones to turn up with two long arms and a smile (empty handed) we stopped off to pick up a bottle of wine. Whilst at the counter we received a call from LaClair our training partner asking me to pick up 2 gallons of lemonade. Pretty simple request you might think. Hmmmmmm. I convinced Jack to stop off at CVS (pharmacy) for the lemonade. She did give me a strange sideways glance but went along with my suggestion. We arrive at the refrigerated section and she says 'nope see they don't have it in here'. I look at her like 'what?'. Here it is in front of you pointing at the bottle of 7up and Sprit. Wrong wrong wrong Joice. Apparently in the US lemonade is lemon, water and a sugar mix.

All I can say is lucky Jack was with me cause Brooks would have got 4 litres of 7up from me if I had been by myself.




I thought I was doing so well with my integration into US life. Oh well I need to go back and dust off my phrase book.

But, trust me some of the stuff I hear from my training group baffles me. A little selection for you.

Tapped out - Unable to continue

Swagger Jack - Copying someone (i.e I buy a pair of shoes and Jackie goes out and buys the exact same pair)

Hunching - Having sex (I think) when ever I ask what they mean they laugh so I can only but guess.

Sneak Diss - Talking bad about someone behind their back.

Yes I often have that confused look on my face

Complain

What do I really have to complain about?



I had a conversation with a good friend of mine a few weeks ago. We both compared the crazy week we had had. I think we were competing for the craziest. I won hands down. But, she put it all into perspective.

She like me is an athlete (different event same sport). We are the same age and understand each other pretty well. She has adopted a ‘I don’t give a damn’ attitude when people try to distract her from her goal of making her Olympic team. In her own word ‘I’m focused on the task at hand’

She reminded me that we have both put ourselves in situations where we left our homes and went to places where we didn’t know anyone and didn’t know anything (local area, how to get around etc.) But, we did it because we want to perform well in our give events. We are already out of our comfort zones and with that in mind we can not allow other things to make us feel uncomfortable. I will learn to deal with all of these changes because the trade off is my fulfillment of my dreams.

She trains at a Training Center where you share dorm rooms that are not the biggest for one person let alone two. This site that she trains at is the main training location for the Paralympic athletes. One of the girls in her group is an amputee. She does EVERYTHING the rest of the training group does, with one leg.

I talk about this because I have under 6 months to the games and under 5 until the Olympic Trials. I have a lot of work to get done before then. I will not focus on outside stuff. The amputees she trains with work hard everyday with no complaints. There’s no way I should be complaining about anything. As she told me she watched a blind athlete doing box jumps in the weight room. I should be turning up to practice everyday ready to kick butt. I’m keeping my mind on the reason why I brought myself out here. I am so fortunate to have this opportunity. She has training partners out there one fell under a train and it ripped off a leg. Another slipped on the grass and got their foot caught in the lawnmower. I have all the tools I need to do well. I’m training so hard to get my body ready; I sometimes forget I have to train my mind to do the same.

So I ask again ‘What do I have to complain about?’



If you have time to whine and complain about something then you have the time to do something about it.

~Anthony J. D'Angelo, The College Blue Book

Surgery and technology has come a long way

Whilst browsing the net this morning I came across this clip of Jermaine Dupri having LASIK eye surgery.

This is something I had some 4 years ago, with not one side effect or change in sight since. Why do this you might ask? I was fed up of being on the first leg of the relay team because I could not see the check mark. lol

I was fortunate enough to have an agent who contacted Optimax and asked them if they would treat me. They did and it was free.

I was curious to watch this clip. At the time I did not want to know in full detail what was about to occur. All I do know is there was distinct smell of burning chicken in the room, during the procedure. lol

No for real there was no down side a little discomfort whilst trying to sleep that night. But, well worth it. All I kept reminding myself through the pain was no more contact lens or glasses.



I recommend LASIK to everyone who asks me. To not be able to see is a crime. This procedure takes roughly 20 mins.

Don't be scared I did it and I can be a whimp with the best of them.
Jx

(Note the clip is a bit grim)