I'm not afraid of change, to be honest I actual enjoy and look forward to change. In the recent months I have changed my place of residents here in Atlanta GA, change my training regimen, how I view life and the everyday experiences I encounter.
June 24th 2010, I began training with my new trainer, Coach Williams; a former track coach at UCLA and Florida State. He is teaching me about my sprinting technique, understanding why we do certain movements as athletes and visualizing myself doing all these things that we practice. He says, if you can see it in your mind then you can accomplish it in your life. Although we have only worked together 3 total sessions as of today (June 28th), it is apparent that coach teaches as much about life as he does about sprinting; as if they are one in the same. Already I have made and I can see great improvements in my running style, speed and life. I'm starting to believe that running and life are one in the same.
I met coach Williams through a friend, she gave me his information exactly a week ago today. He told me that he would like to meet and I should come to the track where will be at the very next day (Tuesday June 22nd) and I agreed. I was beyond excited to meet coach, the way he spoke about track, speed and power really had me pumped. His excitement and attitude seemed so intense that I knew this was a good decision.
When I arrived at the track, I noticed that this was a serious meet and not at all what I had imagined. Coach told me to call him, but he also described himself and I immediately recognized him when I walked in. When I approached him saying his name and introducing myself, he stopped me and said, "wait I have to get this time". I waited next to him and figured I would watch the track meet too.
The gun shot, I could feel a chill upon my body as if I were running in the race. The same feeling I have when I'm running a 40 yard dash and the exact same feeling I would have during my high school track meets. A heavy weighted feeling as if it all depends on my time, or the place in which I finished. Sometimes that feeling can be so overwhelming that it effects my running form and unfortunately my outcome.
The event was the Women's 100 meter dash and I remember thinking to myself as they took off running, man they are moving fast. Standing at the Finnish line with coach as they past, I noticed something very interesting about these ladies and I soon realized that there was something interesting about all the individuals and relay teams participating in this track meet, They Were ALL ADULTS. Whats so special about that, well the winner of that event was 55 years old and ran a 13.99 100 meter dash.
There were a variety of ages at this track meet, ranging from 30 - 90 years of age; one of the most amazing things I have ever seen in my life. Fathers, grandfathers, mothers and grandmothers all competing at a very high level and enjoying themselves. Just to see them run the 1, 2, 4 and 800 meter dashes was amazing, not to mention all the field events, high jump, pole vault, Javelin etc. Everything you see at the Olympic track meet was there and the times, heights and distances were very respectful.
I'm not sure if coach invited me to this event because he wanted to meet me asap, or because he knew that this would be a life changing event for me. This open my eyes once again to the realization that nothing is impossible and the mind is the most powerful thing on Earth. There are no limits just places and events and a world full of energy that needs to be explored and received.
Everyday is a gift and today is a new one, so open it and enjoy!!!
