Hi Honey I'm Home

Yep I am officially back in the UK for the season.  I left sunny Atlanta last week. Things seem pretty good as I work into my new routine. The drive to Lee Valley ahhh man I thought it would be torture but the past few days have been a breeze. I'm not gonna get too excited until I have done a full week with no hitches.


It was sad to leave my training environment at Marietta High and of course the group and my friends in Atlanta. But, I'm due to see Dani and Nicole this weekend at the 'Great City Games Manchester'. So that will be cool.


I'm really looking forward to it. I really wanted to take part last year. But, as the say all good things come to those who wait. 


So for now that's that. But I will update after Sundays race.


Jx

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

Coming To An End

So my week in LA is coming to an end

Its been relaxing to say the least. Each day I think 1PM was the average time for my shower as I sat around Jacks apartment eating pancakes and watching breakfast TV. Now I have to deal with the wide ass issue that I have obtained in such a small amount of time.



Kai Kelley who's a friend of Jacks has been great. He is the restaurant guide to LA. lol He has come up with some great places to eat.



Some good and ONE place not so good

Here is the exact moment when Jack found a fly in her water.






And to add insult to injury we didn't get a discount for our meal.

I thought Jack was getting stable on her crutches until we had a little incident last night. One minute she was up and the next minute she was DOWN. We chuckle at it now but when it happened it was not a pretty sight. There really is not much you can do for somebody who is on crutches other than to hover around them braced to catch them if they fall. So how I ask did Jack manage to fall at Kai's feet and him not notice. lol. He can explain that one to you himself.

Her spirits are up as she displayed she still has the bug for buying shoes. Only Jack could hobble to the shoe store, try on one shoe and purchase two. lol

She also had the first 1 foot Pedicure. It turns out this is Jacks 3rd Pedicure ever. Her last being 1990 something. Even the women painting my toes nails commented "oh only 11 years since your last Pedicure" lol. We both shot her a look like "who was talking to you?" lol






So I wanted to get my chill on and thats exactly what I've been doing.



In the next couple of days I will post a few conversations that we have had that have made me say. Hmmmmmmmmm

lol

But, its back to Atlanta next week to start practice. I know I will blink and then January will come around and I will be hearing the familiar words "Tracksuits off please ladies".

So its time to knuckle down and get my practice on

Final Leg - Part 1 - Poland

So I headed out at the crack of dawn this morning to the airport for my final two meets.

My flight left at 6.55am from London Gatwick. Please don't ask me why I was still in the house at 5.30am but I was. Clear roads, luck on my side you name it but I pulled into London Gatwick at 6.01am. I know cause I checked the clock and patted myself on the back. 31mins for some 20 odd miles.

So I'm travelling with Easyjet known as 'Cheapie Jet' to me. Well let's just say they aint so cheap no more. I checked in online last night so managed to be boarding group A. Not bad Joicey!. But received a frown from the check in clerk because I did not print my own boarding pass. The she dropped the doozie. "Do you have a bag to check in?" To which I replied "yes". Placing it on the scales it weighed 24kg. Hey I'm going straight to Shanghai from this meet. So go easy on me. Would you believe this 'witch' that's me being polite smiled at me and said "That will be £52 eachway to check your bag in" apparently its £16 for a bag and £9 for every kilo over 20kg". Yep I got robbed and it wasn't even 7am and she wasn't wearing a ski mask.



So my mouth was push up as I got molested by the security woman. Remind me to take my bracelets of next time. Then I did the Easyjet run to gate 38 which of course is at the furthest north part of the airport. To then be jostled by randoms fighting to get on the plane to secure that seat at the front. Why is it when they finish the assort like there on the damn 'Krypton Factor' assault course. (Yeah I'm old and what)?. Do they sit there with a smug smirk on their face like they achieved something. Like "Dude the plane aint going nowhere till we all get on!!"



So I'm sat by the window minding my own business when the only two black men on the flight want to sit next to me. (Eye roll) and then want to make conversation. Now remember I've been robbed by Easyjet, molested by security, elbowed in my guts by some random fighting to get a seat as close to the pilots lap as possible. Now these two wanna ask me where in going. "Erm check your boarding pass if you don't know". Its aint even 7am please give me a break. So in perfect Stephanie Durst style up went the hoodie and out came the sunglasses. Lol




I was faking sleep before we even pushed back.
Whilst sitting in the car on the 3 hour drive to the meet Loren (my coach) pins me to tell me that a Lufthansa flight landed gear up and belly first. He's in the queue for take off. Now he's gonna be delayed for some 4 hours. They have to evacuate the people, put air bags under the plane to jack it up, rig wheels under it so it can be towed away. Then they have to clean and inspect the runway.



So now I take back my early morning start cause we all know Easyjet flights get pushed back and pushed back. Europe is gonna be disrupted for the best part of the day cause of this. Now Claxton was supposed to be on the 1pm Easyjet flight. I might see her at midnight. Lol

I emailed my sister to let her know I was ok. My mum the worst in any crisis will convince herself and anyone listening that I was flying to Stuttgart when I specifically told her I was flying to Berlin when I left the house this morning. My sister is the voice of sense and reason. Lol

Whilst driving through German to the meet I saw so much beautiful scenery. I've decided for my birthday which is at the end of the month I want an SLR camera. I need to start taking in all of this stuff. My little digital Canon don't do my pictures no justice. So if anyone is interested I want an Olympus Evolt E420. Lol



I went to the track to do my pre meet warm-up. Gonna get some dinner and go to bed early cause I'm racing tomorrow.

Update

It’s been a minute since my last blog as I have been travelling and internet access has not be available without hanging out in hotel lobbies.



So here’s a quick update on what I’ve been up to.

European Teams Cup


This went well I suppose yet again I ran 11.43 that’s the 3rd time and in completely different conditions. So I’ve watched video and will to figure out why I have this 11.43rhythm in my head.
It was nice to be part of the relay team again. Hanging out with the girls was cool. The new relay manager Tony Lester has some great plans going forward and it sounds really promising.

I’m now in Nancy, France. I’ve been here since Wednesday which has given me I hope enough time to come down from the European Teams Cup. I race later on tonight and then on to Lille for the Grand Prix there on Tuesday.


It’s an exciting weekend for a large number of my training group as they have their nationals this weekend
So I have to say good luck to (and this is no particular order. Lol)

Dani Carruthers

She goes in the women’s hurdles at USA nationals

Stephanie Durst

She goes in the women’s 100 and 200 at USA nationals

Dwight Phillips

He goes in the means Long Jump at USA nationals


Travis Padgett

He goes in the means 100 at USA nationals

Derrick Atkins

He goes in the means 100 at the Bahamas nationals

Karl Jennings

He goes in the 110 hurdles at the Canadian nationals

Andre Sturdivant
He goes in the means 100 at USA nationals

Dean Griffiths


He goes in the 400 hurdles at the Jamican nationals

I have one other speacial friend who is at their nationals also. Here is my quote for them. "pressure is a privilege" Billy Jean King. Good luck buddy.

And of course good luck to Loren who will be running round like a Blue Ass Fly all weekend.

10KG you cant be serious

I'm on the move again tomorrow to Poland for a track meet. The thing is I am on an extremly cheap airline who has given me an allowance of 10KG. The first thing that came to mind was WTF.

Those who know have been lauging cause they know I struggle when it comes to packing.


But, I have managed to do it so there. lol

Now I thought I would be going to the airport in my competition kit with my spikes tied round my next.


Jx

Doha Update

I'm pretty tired from all the travel but thought I would type a quick update.

I basically feel like a missing child right now. I been travelling for what felt like 3 days. Aaaaaaargh

I have to get over it as I have practice tomorrow morning.

Anyway Doha



100 Metres
Official Results - Women - 100 Metres - Wind : +1.3 m/s Pos Athlete Nat Mark Pts
1 Kerron Stewart [JAM] JAM 10.93 20
2 Stephanie Durst [USA] USA 11.15 16
3 Sheri-Ann Brooks [JAM] JAM 11.20 14
4 Ebony Floyd-Broadnax [USA] USA 11.30 12
5 Vida Anim [GHA] GHA 11.39 10
6 Angela Williams [USA] USA 11.42 8
7 Joice Maduaka [GBR] GBR 11.43 6
8 Rakia Al-Gassra [BRN] BRN 11.61 4

It was cool. Technically I put the race together pretty well. It just needs to be quicker. I don't fell like I have my race rhythm yet but it will come.

Doha was a beautiful city. Dani Travis and I was taken to lunch by a good friend of my coach. I have acquired a taste for Lebanese food. lol







Also I was taken around the city the day after the meet by Abdual Yusef who used to run the 800 for Dakar. His driving skills were interesting. At one point he drove into the back of some poor guys car. When the guy got out to inspect the damage and discuss what would be done regarding repairs. Abdual winds his window down an crack and say. (I shit you not) 'Hey man, your driving a Kia and Im driving a Porsche. Go!' With the flick of a wrist he fanned the poor guy away like a fly. He had no choice but to get in his now damaged car and drive away. Hmmmmmmm





Pics below

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

Update - Feb 2009

Its been a minute since I last blogged

Basically I'm now back in Europe and have been racing and have found it difficult to find the time.

So let me give you a little update on what I have been up to.

I arrived back in the UK last Friday in time to swing past my sisters house and drop my nephew off to school. I think I was more excited than he was.




I was only in London for the day as I had to head to Gent for the Grand Prix


It was my first European meet and I was finally getting the chance to compete on a banked track. The qualifying was the 1st 4 in each heat would progress to the final.

I was 5th with the same time as 4th. Lets say I need a bigger chest. lol.



It was a seasons best 7.38. Not bad after getting off a plane from the USA. To add to this the 3rd place in the second heat was slower than my 5th place time. But, hey this is how track and field goes.

60m Women Heat 1 ; Official result

1 5 9 STURRUP CHANDRA BAH 7.26
2 3 4 HARRIGAN TAHESIA IVB 7.27
3 4 13 BROADDUS JUANITA USA 7.28
4 2 6 DAVIN ELISABETH BEL 7.38
5 8 31 MADUAKA JOICE GBR 7.38
6 6 14 DAIGLE-BOWEN ANGELA USA 7.52
7 7 12 BERINGS ELINE BEL 7.54
8 1 2 AKIHARY ESTHER NED 7.58

After a brief chat on the phone with my coach I sat and prepared for the 200m. I had lane 2 which alot of people think is not a good lane. I was able to negotiate the bends pretty well and finished 2nd with another seasons best.




Note:
I have learnt from this meet that I need to go to dipping school. Hmmmm

I did see my two favourite track fans Jolanda and Alan. Over the years I have seen them everywhere. Its so nice to look up into the stands in Europe and see them waving and smiling at me. They are my adoptive track and field family.




So onto the next meet Lievin

This time I was only competing in the 200. It would be a straight final. The times from both 200's would be combined.

I was 4th overall with another seasons best

Race A
1 Virgil Hodge SKN 23.45 SB 0.210
2 Ami Mbacké Thiam SEN 23.56 NR 0.277
3 Joice Maduaka GBR 23.58 SB 0.181
4 Nina Gilbert USA 23.84 0.203
5 Myriam Soumare FRA 23.88 0.196

Race B
1 Yuliya Gushchina RUS 23.54 SB 0.223
2 Yuliya Chermoshanskaya RUS 23.83 SB 0.193
3 Thélia Sigère FRA 23.94 0.295


Note: Technically there were 2 mistakes I made which when corrected will make my time quicker.

And onto the next meet. Nah just kidding

I headed to Birmingham via London. I had to pick up something speacial from the heathrow (My Coach). Loren is here for his 1st European Indoor Trials. It has been great having him here already. We have been in Birmingham 2 days just doing final prep for the European Indoor trials which are this weekend. I have been at the High Performance Centre which is an excellent facility its roughly 130m long. Big change to being outside in Atlanta freezing my tits off. lol

Whistle stop ............Back in ATL

This morning at the crack of dawn I set out to the airport to head back to Atlanta. A 9am flight meant I had to leave the house at 6am to get to the airport and check in.

I don't consider myself to be a moody person especially in the morning, but today takes the biscuit. There are just some situations where if a person took the time to read my face they would see clearly that I have 'F*$@ RIGHT OFF' written clearly on my forehead.

Trust me to take Loren's advise and fly with Delta. Firstly they did not allocate me a seat at check in. Telling me something about being given a seat at the departures lounge. I'm thinking UPGRADE. Hell no!!

I stopped off at EAT to get some breakfast and well see below for yourself as to what happened .



Adding further insult to injury idiot boy was on the same flight as me. This meant he witnessed me not getting my upgrade. Instead I get subjected to another security check this time by two women who looked like they had snuck out from cleaning the toilet duties. They have set up a desk in the departures lounge. Secondary security check my arse. This woman touched me up in full view of the other passengers in the lounge. (Including 'Idiot Boy)'. That's when I kicked up and asked why I was being felt up by this woman? The Delta guy tried to assure me this was normal procedure. Toilet lady stopped her assult of my Maduaka when Delta guy told her to stop and let me take a seat. So far I had no seat, bothered twice once in EAT and another in WHSmith finally get touched up in the departures lounge. Great!!

I land in Atlanta and end up in the illegal immigrant room with some very shady individuals. All because customs lady did not appreciate the fact that I had several visa's in my passport and stamps to the USA. 'Ummm I run track, travel around the world' Doh.

45 mins later Customs lady calls Loren to vouch for me.

And how was your day?


Anyway now I have got that off my chest. My whistle stop trip home was great!!. I hung out with my niece Fontaine, who has turned into a young woman since last I saw her. We went shopping and caught up. I also spent bags of time with my sister mum and nephew Max. Max has become a very funny talkative 4 year old. Several times I asked my sister if he ever shuts up and she said 'no' lol



Mum was mum she now has an email address. lol Watching her peck away at the laptop was so funny. Bless her!!

So I'm back on the grind tomorrow God knows what Loren has planned for us.

Where you headed?

'God will never take you to what he can't take you through'

So I'm on the move in the morning I will be heading to my new training location.

I'm excited, nervous and all the other emotions that run through your veins.

I will give you an update in a few when I settle in.

Jx

I ache all over

I ache all over. This is no joke!!!



I managed to pick up some bug from the plane on my flight to Madrid to race in Salamanca.

I knew as soon as I landed that something was up. My nose was running and I had sneezing fits. I always carry my emergency supply of Iburprofen and Vitamin C with me. I starting taking them straight away. But my results from the race show it did not work.

Why did I race? You might ask. My answer now I don't know. One stupid idea point goes to Joice. :(



The night after the meet I had night sweats so at least my body is/was trying to fight it. My main concern was not allowing it to settle in my chest. A sore throat and runny nose with muscle ache can be dealt with. A chest infection is another thing.

I think I must have drank about 10,000 gallons of water. Ok, yeah slight exaguraation but you get my point. lol

So I'm off to the Dr this morning as I am now home. I feeling a little better and praying it's just a 72 hour thing. Hang on no take that back I just sneezed. lol

I did pay back yesterday on my flight back. Sneezed all the way and spread my germs all over the plane. lol.

Well Brooks wont let me wallow so I will be doing some sort of pratice session this afternoon after seeing the Dr.


Anyway just a quick update. Im not to worried yet but if I still feel like this next Wednesday then hmmmm.

Update

So I have a viral infection and have been told that I can not go to any of the 'High Performance Centres' in the UK for the next 5 days. Great!!!!!!!!!

So I will chill and leave this quote with you.

Challenges are gifts that force us to search for a new center of gravity. Don't fight them. Just find a different way to stand.

Marisa My Agent

My agent Marisa launched her new website this earlier this month.



Feel free to check out the site. Track Pathos

I find working with Marissa a breeze. She is for her athletes and works on my schedule not the unknown agents agenda. lol

Track and field and racing is difficult. Just imagine there are only 8 lanes and how many athletes trying to occupy one. Having a GOOD agent is essential.

All those races that you see us at are called the circuit. There are to put it nicely many different versions of the circuit. I call it the A circuit, B circuit, C circuit and the slum tour. The slum tour is where I think everyone should dip a foot every now and again. It makes you value the sport that your in. Just imagine being sent to Bratislava,Slovakia via Slovenia by bus. Yep in a past life I did it. Surprisingly the race went pretty well.

Don't get me started on the food. Lets just say we are not all distance runners who require pasta. lol


I am luckier than my non European opposition as I always get to go home if possible after a meet No where on the European circuit is more than a 3 hour flight. They on the other hand are usually based somewhere like Germany, Holland etc. Home comforts are missed.

So this week I start my little magical mystery tour which is the circuit. I will keep you posted on my travels.

I suggest you check out Marisa's site cause she knows before me where I'm going. lol

Been gone for a minute

I've been home since Sunday morning. All I have been doing is trying to catch up with friends and family, get over jet lag and get straight into practice.

So I'm back to the 1 hour drive to Lee Valley each day. Booooo lol

Nah it feels good to be back. The week has gone well. I've had treatment from Physio Extraordinaire. Cris Kellet who is attempting to set my body right for this weekend.

I decided to head up to Loughborough today to help with my jet lag. That is instead of heading up tomorrow morning for the 11.30am relay practice that we have. I will be running in the 200 and 4x100 on sunday.

So really not that much to report.

Martinque

Quote for this meet
Turn your wounds into wisdom. --Oprah Winfrey



It’s been a minute since I last blogged. Why? Not much really been going on. Just training and getting ready to compete.
I competed in Martinique. This was my first time to that part of the world, and I must say it was beautiful. I was down there from Monday with limited internet access, and no blackberry. I raced on Thursday May 8th 2008. Why so early to arrive? You might ask. I think it had something to do with the magical mystery tour that I went on to get there. Let me break it down for you.

Orlando to Miami
Miami to Haiti
Haiti to St Martin
St Martin to Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe to Martinique.

Hmmmmmmmmm and roughly 17 hours worth of travel door to door.

Tuesday I basically went to the track and did a workout. The aim was to get the flights out of my legs. It went pretty well. I did some starts with Linnie Yarbrough 110H. I took him to two hurdles and even if I do say so myself. I took him for a walk in everyone of the starts that we did together. Lol

A group of us ended up down at the beach after practice. It was great to get in the sea and just relax.









This, is the first meet of the season for me. Where I got to hang out with pretty much the same people from the track circuit that I will see all this summer. It’s funny how on Tuesday the small group that arrived early were able to chill. But, by Tuesday night when everyone else arrived we had found our game faces. Lol. It officially became business. Even though I had to share an apartment with my competitor. Don’t know who’s bright idea that was? But, yes I shared with Nicole Whitman who is also running in the 100 and 200 also. Nicole is cool! I meet here a couple of meets ago in Miami.



Update after meet

Hmm lets make this simple
I got caught sleeping in the blocks for the 100m French starters. (I hate them lol). Basically I barely had my arse up in the air and he shot the gun. I was playing catch up from the start, and I did not catch anyone. Lesson learnt! You should have seen how quick I threw my arse in the air for the 200m lol. Lane 8 (the rabbit) I ran a pretty decent bend and came home strong 23.11. But, the wind was over the limit +2.8. I finished third behind Muna Lee who ran 21.91. To say she put a hurt on everyone in the race is an understatement. She whooshed us. Came off that bend and kept rolling. All I can say is that I finally feel like my old self. I ran a good race which I can and will build on.

Women
100 m Wind: 1.9
1 Muna Lee USA 11.10
2 Torri Edwards USA 11.17
3 Laverne Jones-Ferrette 11.29
4 Wyllesheia Myrick 11.30
5 Nadine Palmer 11.39
6 Nicole Whitman 11.43
7 Angela Daigle-Bowen 11.51
8 Lucimar de Moura 11.68
9 Joice Maduaka 11.69



200 m
Race 1 Wind: 2.8
1 Muna Lee 21.91
2 Nadine Palmer 22.84
3 Joice Maduaka 23.11
4 Angela Daigle-Bowen 23.21
5 Moushaumi Robinson 23.29
6 Lucimar de Moura 23.92


So I put Martinique to bed, and also my time in the USA for a while. As I will be heading home today. I have missed my family dearly and can’t wait to see them.

The domestic season starts for me in Loughborough next weekend.