Here Back To Business

I have just landed yesterday and i have already done two practice sessions, this after traveling 13 hours yesterday. I jumped right into it and I am a lot fitter than anyone thought i would be. It has been a major concern and component of my preparation

I am not 100% there of course, but i am not too far off, especially for someone who has not trained or competed for over two years.

Did a morning training session at 5:30 and then a mid day at noon. I am over 4 weeks behind in the schedule and i need to really catch up and exceed.

We are mainly running, it is difficult for me, don't think otherwise, I just try not to show it, but my fitness will improve and I will catch up.

Leaving The Rock...Again

It is a hard decision to leave, not because I am chasing my dreams or leaving my job really, rather it is the emotional break of leaving my family. I may never see them again, bc of how life is so fleeting coupled with their ages especially my father.

Anyhow it is just a few days before I leave to go back to Springfield Mo, where I went to school and feel most comfortable in the USA. The ticket has been bought and arrangements made for accommodation as well as training of course. I am very excited and anxious.

This entire summer i have watched about every Grand Prix and Golden League track meet and IAAF event.

I am ready and my co-workers are very excited for me too, I thank them for that.

Decision Time

It is decision time, Track and Field and my dreams or a corporate career. Time is getting away, my mother grudgingly has given her blessings, my father really has not and he thinks I have lost my mind officially this time, hey maybe I have, who knows.

I am really only thinking of a few things which are; my finances, coming back after being so long on the shelf for an Olympic year; guess no time to knock off the rust. That is about it really, I don't worry too much about injuries or competition, just getting my legs back and managing my weight and my money.

Without my sister Rhonda and her boyfriend Ryan I would be totally stranded. Ryan has come to rescue me by taking my car, which at this point is like an anchor and kept me here in Barbados last year. So with that taken care of I can now more free to leave. One month left before my Oct 2 planned departure. It is also my last planned month at work.

I have formulated a plan whereby I could still work for Duty Free Caribbean Holdings while I am away, it would be beneficial for all parties involved. They could get their work done with continuity and get exposure through me and my quest and provide a feel good story for public relations. As for me I could secure my career, while earning some income and gaining more experience. Hope my Regional Marketing Director is in favor...fingers crossed.

Progress #2

This is sort of a continuation of the progress report; I apologize for the time in-between my last few posts, work and track practice as well as my social life or my attempt to have one have taken their toll. Every evening I run to the stadium from work, it is about a mile and a half or so...all up hill, lol. It is cool though. When I get there I do my full work up, which I make sure to write at least two weeks in advance, so that I am not influenced by any emotional or physical distractions that may go on at the time. You know, like if you got to the track and then tried to decide what you were going to do, say on a stressful day at work or what have you, and then you look around and no one is looking over your shoulder, there is no one, so you change those ten 200m with 4 minutes recovery to something like 6-8 200s with 5 minutes recovery and then woo, tomorrow I got this report so maybe I'll just take the day off, you know what I mean, well I need to eliminate that temptation.

Anyhow everything is going well, I do my workouts well. Even had Oba in awe when I was working out, when he was home, lol! We'll leave that alone.

So I was an staying dedicated, the jumping portions are the problem and also finding some real competitive people to run with and get myself in shape is difficult, because most of the other athletes are still in season of course, it being august and all.

I am able to things that I could not even get done, when I was younger or in competitive shape in college; well let me say rather, these are things I may not have tried or thought I could do or felt like doing, like the mileage. I also put some beach training in there on the soft sand, I try to jog for 30 minutes to an hour and then frolic in the sea there after.

Things are going well, but nothing like the acid test of getting back in camp and really training. Less than 8 weeks left before I leave.

Progress #1

I am still home, but my mind is in a better place, I am training after work. Currently I work with a really nice company in Barbados I came on board with Duty Free Caribbean Holdings to assist them with the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, being held in the Caribbean. I really like the experience I am gaining in the corporate world and I am certain that it will help me in many facet of life in the near and distant future. I am in the Marketing Department as an executive and I am in charge of the e-commerce store as well as tourism reporting. I like the amount of responsibility that I am given; in that I have to present important reports and oversee critical projects with the senior governing executive body with coalition with my Regional Marketing Director. It is awesome to get to have such responsibility after working there for such a short time and being at my age. I feel the respect, which is a departure from some organizations in the past.

Anyhow, my colleagues seem very interested in my track and field even my Director and some of my clients. One of them is looking to give me some assistance, which I would really appreciate, because I desperately need my money for upkeep and preparation for Olympics next year.

Leaving will be difficult, because on one hand I have my dreams, which will be difficult to fulfill; conversely we have me in a very good career path making good money, being with my family in their waning years and having a seemingly prosperous and happy life...but I am not quenched I am very much thirsting for the track and competition, even the training and traveling and what comes along with all of that. The hardship and lean times, the uncertain money for a while until I pay my dues and earn some recognition and hopefully...hopefully I am rewarded for my efforts. There is nothing less secure, nothing more out there, singular.

It is a really big risk, but it comes with following your dreams, do I say DARE...Dare To Dream!!!