So the Black and Teal meet officially mark the end of the 2010 Fall track season. Every training session we have from now until January 8th(?), while under the direction of Shump and Gabe, will be on our own. Here's a little run-down of how my year has been so far:
I am working my ass off. I went into this fall knowing full well that this is the second chance on my junior year that I am not willing to throw away (I know of some people who have taken a red shirt and watched that extra year be no more extravagant than any other, and even less than before. Not in my case [Not necessarily your fault. That's here nor there]). I have learned the value of LISTENING to a Coach who knows what he is doing, and I have put that into practice.
I am very blessed to have a coach who not only knows exactly what he is doing, but who cares about how his athletes develop. I respect this man more than almost anyone on the planet (bar my parents), and I know that he is doing his job because it is his passion, not because it pays the bills. This man truly wants us to succeed, and he wants that glory for us...not for him.
I have been put through workouts that for the first time in my life had thrown me to the ground, made me pass out in the shower after, and after a short sprint to the trash can had me puking my face off. Not because he is trying to kill us, but because he has taught us how to work. And I come to every practice ready to work. There is no half-assing anymore. If you want to do something well, you have to put everything you are into it. Trust that the hard work will pay off, and guess what? It will.
My running style is well on it's way to being perfected. No more kicking back--knees up, pushing off, no more wasted effort. I am unrecognizable from where I was a few years ago. Things make sense when someone is willing to explain them. It feels good to run around the track and hit every hurdle so flawlessly. Switching legs in an IM race literally requires no thought anymore. It is incredible to have the team watch you and you alone running a workout and tell you afterwards how smooth and fast everything looked. It also makes me realize that I am not in this alone. I have a team who I care about, and who cares about me. I have a coach who would give up anything for any one of us.
It all ended at our Black and Teal SHOWDOWN. :)
Black team reigned victorious..of courrrseee!
Here are some winners (if I can remember them all):
60m H-
Men- Shane (B)
Women- Ashley (My girl) (T)
60m-
Men- Tyler (B)
Woman- Tylia (T)
150-
Men- Tyler (B)
Women- Erica (B)
300-
Men- Evan (B)
Women- Vondeeshia (B)
300H-
Men- Shane (B)
Women- MEEEE!! :):):):):) (B)
I can't remember who won the jumps and the throws, but my hard work paid off and I won my race a full 3 seconds before second place.
Boooo yaaaah.
I am excited for next year, and so happy to be where I am. So happy to be lucky enough to get this extra year, and so happy that May isn't going to end it.
Goals. Drive. I have it. Hard work. I do it. I am going to take nothing for granted and blow this track up come Outdoor.
DDH y'all.