2011 Outdoor has started

So the seasons has started and not too shabby if I must say.

I began with a little meet in Orlando which was in my own words terrible. Putting my 1st race together after weeks of breaking down different aspects of the race was the worst. I didn't start and basically played catch up which you can't do in a 100m 11.7?.  I can't even remember that's how much attention I'm paying that race.

After that I flew home to London for a night and then headed up to Manchester for the street race. That Friday night I managed to fall ass over tit  down some fire exit stairs and tear the hell out of my right heel. Can anyone one say ouch. Blood all over the place and 2 nice chunks carved out of my heel. .

The street race was a wet and windy Sunday. I padded and tapped up the heel and ran the 200m.  Just before the start I asked an official where the finish line was.  He said 'run to that 1st traffic light' lol

Job done without dying a terrible death on TV. 23.6? (I need to get better at remembering these times). My heel was on fire by the end of the meet. But such is life.



I then spent the week in London preparing for the Loughborough match. Had the doping lady round who woke me up at 7pm. She got the moody slapped ass Joice. Does she have any idea how hard I am finding it to sleep right now?

Heel still very sore. I had now upgraded to Compeeds. But they keep fusing themselves into the healing wound. (Not nice)


Loughborough Meet


23.40 +2.4 (I won) what I like about this race was that people actually lined up to compete. Very rarely other than trials will we all be in the same place to line up against each other. My coach and I decided I would run as many 200s as possible before I race over the 100. The problem with Europe is that is hard to find 200s. So I decided not to double up in Loughborough. 200 and 4x100 was enough for the day.

Training at home alone always has its challenges. But this year I seem to have fallen into a win win. I stumbled upon Jade Johnson at Crystal Palace. If you don't know Jade is the original Gladiator when it comes to weightroom. (Which is my least favorite part of practice.) We have been lifting and running the odd intensive tempo sessions together. We compliment each other well in our weaknesses.

So Caroline my agent has me on a healthy race schedule. I'm off to Hengelo this weekend. With more races to follow.

I have some other fingers in pies which as they are solidified of course I will share with you.

But season wise I would say so far so good. I think 1 more week and I will be over the jet lag and in a good daily schedule.

Chat soon

Jx

The Fat Lady Sang

So the indoor season is done. To say the last few weeks have been compact would be an understatement.  I have enjoyed every minute of it. Ironically I stared with an Aviva meet and ended with one. Nice!!!


Yesterday was my last race in Birmingham.  My preparation for the event was nil. I mean really nothing. I was sick all week.  I was invited to the Fulham v Chelsea meet last Monday. I caught a could sitting out on the balcony watching the 1st half. (That will teach me to be out there trying to look cute).  Pepper soup from my mum and lots of sleep and laying up in the bed is what my week consisted of.


I did a pre meet warm up on Friday night and basically turned up at the meet Saturday morning.


I finished off with a seasons best in the 200m  and a 3rd place positioning. I also ran in the 60m. That was not so good. I was extremely dehydrated after my 200m. The dry atmosphere in Birmingham Indoor Arena is no joke. I cramped in my hip in the blocks and that was pretty much it. The short turn around between the 2 events meant I could not guzzle down litres of fluid. 


Hey Ive had a great indoor season. 


Next week I am going to wear one of my other many hats. I'm going to be Auntie Joice as its half term.  My 5 year old nephew has it in his head I'm taking him to Euro Disney. Thanks sis.  I hate to break it to him but Disney Channel will as far as I stretching next week.  lol


I love him like he was my own son so I can assure you there will be lots of spoiling. As Im due to head back to the USA soon after to prepare for the outdoor season.


I got some news I can't share right now as always but you will have to keep popping back to the blog to find out what I'm up to.


Take care


Jx

Whirl Wind Stop Gap

So here's the update for the week.  This has been an on going piece which I have been adding too as the days went by)

Russian Winter 2011 (Moscow).
(Update 5 Feb 2011 5.45pm)

This was my 1st 60m of the season. In a 60m there is no margin for error. My start was terrible. No other word to describe it. I don't know if it was nerves or dipping out mentally. But, I stumbled and that was pretty much me out of the race.

The 2nd part of the run once I got going was good. But that's by the by.  The time was 7.43 which I'm not happy about. But hey hoe. There is no room for a pity party.

The 1st 60m race is out of the way.  Its hard to have any emotion about what happened cause there is not too much I can do about it.

Tomorrow I'm off to Paris. 6.30am departure from the hotel.  As the song goes. 'Onto the next one'

48 hours to get back on the race horse.  : )

Meeting Pas de Calais (Lievin)
Updated 9 Feb 2011 11.40am)

Last night was not too bad. A seasons best in the heats (7.40) but a crap run in the final. The gap between both races was too short. I just about had 15mins to fart after finding my clothes and figuring out if I was actually in the final. Hey hoe its all good. Onto the next one which is nationals in Sheffield. 


I needed these races before trial just to get back into the swing of things. I call it catching my race rhythm.  I have NEVER gone to nationals cold. I have to get the shaky runs out the way prior.


I had a major disappointment in Russia I left all my MAC make up behind. Some chick in Moscow is having a field day with all my brushes, eye shadows and bronzers. Lucky for me there are more than enough black chicks on the circuit. So I got hooked up for the race. Shame on me for nearly crying over a damn makeup bag. It wasn't until my friend Ameerah pointed out she has never seen me that emotional over a man that I had to crack a laugh. lol


So I'm looking for friends at MAC so I can use their discount to replenish.  lol (joke)


Below are a few pics from this weeks travels

Jesus take the wheel

My training cycles are planned on what i refer to as the traffic light system. Green easyish week.  Amber up the intensity.  Red twilight zone which is aways followed by an 'Unload' week. Now these cycles can sometimes run from between 4 -6 weeks. As the title of this blog shows I was DEEP in the red part of the training cycle this week.

Around the IMG Academies complex I have had a not so sexy walk. More like an zimmer frame shuffle. My hamstrings have been singing and I feel like I am 5ft 5" instead of the actual 5ft 8" that I am. I have put some serious work in this week. The football guys have asked me on numerous occasions "where have you been" lol.  Oh i've been around now, just running my ass off doing 6x200 and 6x100 for one of my session. I've been  in the weight room putting on a show on the squat machine. The pro baseball players have a new found respect for me. Im sure a saw one of the sneak into the squat machine and try to push the weight I had set up during my recovery.

No yoga for us this weekend as most of the guys left this morning for the Senior Bowl  (I wish them all GOOD LUCK). So instead I have weight room and a time trial to top off my red week.

This week i feel  has been very productive and I have taken my body way beyond what I thought I was capable of. So 1 more session to be complete and then unload. Please don't be fooled by the word unload. It basically means it wont be as intense as the week i've just had. 

Tightly wound

To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream;

not only plan, but also believe. 

Anatole France

There is an old saying I have heard in Track and Field over the years "Same Shit Different Toilet".  Once again that statement raises its head as I get ready to open up for my indoor season. 


Since Jan 1st I have been playing email tennis with my agent Caroline Feith. We have been planning my race schedule. As the confirmation comes in the reality sets in. As the flight bookings come in I get more and more excited. As an athlete I live to race. Thats the long and short of it. I can go to practice EVERY day but it don't mean a damn thing if I'm unable get to race.


I had a chat with Predita Felician last night and she called my race schedule 'Healthy' lol.  We will be at a couple of the same meets so the blog and pictures should be interesting. Never a dull moment with Ms Predita..


My time here in Bradenton, Florida is coming to an end. Its nearly time to pack up Delsey and head out on the circuit. Oh what joy. lol  The airports, the foreign beds, the 3 hour bus rides, the room mates from hell, and the added pressure of trying not to get sick.  I jest I love what I do wouldn't change it for the world.

Week 2 - Turning Up The Heat

So I have completed week 2 in Bradenton at IMG Academies. I wish the heat in the title of this blog had been the temperature. Alas not, just like the rest of the USA we experienced a cold snap here. But, this did not put a damper on the intensity of my work outs. I was joined by Angelo Taylor who made the week fun. Hes a work horse but also a good laugh. He brings such nice balance to practice.

I've basically been in a coma everyday after practice but hey ho not a problem in my book.  lol

The good thing about being down here is all of the facilities and technology that is available for use. This week I worked with the guys from OPTOGAIT. My starts session was very productive because of the on site feedback we was able to get on my stride length and power.


Its somewhat difficult not to be overwhelmed with all of the information that was given. I joked at the start of the session with the technical guys. Asked them not to send my back to my apartment with my feelings hurt.  lol

The good thing is Loren understands the info. He was also able to help them manipulate the system to do more than what was on the tin so to speak.

A great session was had and I did walk away with one vital piece of information that was flagged.

My crash course in NFL Combine is coming along nicely. Warming up with the players on the odd day and helping them go through their paces as they prepare for their 40 yard sprint. They think I'm a blessing as I help thing with starts and acceleration. The 40 yard sprint time can put $$$$ on their future contracts. So sprint days for them are no joke. They also let me sit on on meetings and sessions that they have. This week that included a presentation by Under Armour (sponsors of the NFL Combine) and Trigger Therapy.

Wednesday this week was our regeneration day which consisted of  a toned down work out and ice bath and  pool regeneration. No i'm not in the pool with them. (cause I cant swim) yeah yeah I know.  Whatever  lol

Check out the guys in the pool the jokes continue on land and in water. lol

Tomorrow is group yoga. I will try to post some video next week of us getting our stretch and sweat on.

Week 1 in the hole

So I completed my first week down at IMG Academies. The team down here has been so accommodating and welcoming.  The players have also been great to be around. All in all I think I have upped my training some 30% just from being down here.


Double sessions starting at 7AM in the weight room. Done by 9AM lunch at 11.30AM back on the track at 1.30PM. I'm getting so much work done I'm surprising myself. I've also been able to use the Bod Pod that they have here.  To measure my body fat composition. (the number was impressive)  : ) 


My days are packed and I'm not complaining.  I will will try to post the video of me and the combine guys taking a yoga class.  It was "interesting'  lol

Below is a little video to show you whats goes on down here at IMG

Home Away From Home, Away From Home, Away From Home

So with Xmas over I've packed up Delsey (my bag on wheels, that has gone on every long trip with me in the past 4 years). Yep we headed to the airport and headed to. Drum roll.........................Tampa. Well that was the airport and then, an hour long drive to Bradenton, Florida. What or who's in Bradenton? you ask. That would be IMG Academies.

Our training group is to be based down here for the next 2-3 months. Poor me. Not!  lol.  Loren will be working with the NFL Combine team at IMG. I had to do a little 'Google University' to understand the process of The Combine. But, now I think I get it.


IMG is 'Kitted OUT'

• 10,000 square-foot weight room filled with the most advanced equipment for athletic improvement
• 4-lane track with two lanes of composite and two lanes of rubber surfaces
• Turf training field
• Vision Training center with many of the same visual training exercises used by military pilots
• Athletic Regeneration area for minor aches and pains
• BOD POD -- state-of-the-art body composition measurement machine
• Multiple mental conditioning rooms for 1-on-1 work with mental specialists to develop confidence, focus and attitude
• Communication Training and Nutrition Analysis centers

So sun on my back. Check.
Facility to die for. Check
Bring it on


I should be updating with video and pics


Its a shame I'm gonna have to leave to race indoors.  lol

Someone must be smiling down on me

Family is most important to me. My immediate family are my strength, my core and my refuge. Many years ago I looked at my sister and thought 'There is no one in this world that can best you.' She is my best friend.  


So with all this in mind imaging my panic when I  read online about the state of affairs at Heathrow airport. 'I want to go home for Xmas' is all that stuck in my mind. Frantically looking at 5 day weather reports and various other sites, I put my trust in a higher being and carried on as if my flight would not be cancelled.

My heart goes out to those poor people stranded in various airports during this holiday period. But as the title says someone smiled down on me and I arrived back home in London yesterday. Albeit at one point we were being redirected to Paris. 

So its family, family and more family for me in between practice until I return to the US in the New Year. I still have a little surprise as to where I am going to be but will share that after I arrive safely.

Sick as a dog

Yep that has been me since Saturday. I have come down with something weird and wonderful. I'm starting to suffer from cabin fever. : (

Just how many books can I read and movies can I watch ?  Im on the vitamin I (Ibuprofen) and fluid get well soon plan.

Hopefully I will be back on the track by the weekend.

Times like this all I want is my Mum

Thanks

Thanks for reading and Happy New Year

Jx