World Tour: Part 2

After short stops in T.O and Cancun I headed back to ATL for two days. It was great to get back to training, but my body definitely felt the effects of my travels. However I was happy to get on the road again to NYC for the Millrose Games, which would be my fifth time at The Gardens.

Unfortunately all I could manage on Friday was a pedestrian 8.10, good enough for fourth. Definitely disappointing but not a complete surprise. In warm-up my legs felt like lead. So I'm guessing three flights in five days and another two days later to compete wasn't very race prep savvy.

I'm just glad I came off the track healthy, and nothing to do now but learn a lesson and move forward. Thankfully the next race isn't too far away and I have no more world tours planned around it. Here's to a solid week of training and focusing 100% on my day job.

Ciao!

P

World Tour: Part 1

The world tour has concluded and now I'm back in Atlanta. Your girl has been to three different countries in less than a week. Lots of fun I must admit but when I blogged about this a few posts ago, I didn't think I'd feel so beat up.

Two Days of T.O

First I flew to Toronto late last week and spent the next day on a set as part of a media commitment. The day was long, demanding but I was surrounded by great people and the best catering a girl has ever had. (Shout out to those mini PB cookies, wherever you are... dee-lish!).

The next day I was able to squeeze a work out in, it was basic and I was happy to not feel too drained from the day before.

Another highlight before I left town was being able to hook up with one of my favorite networks: The Score.

DJ and I sat down to chat about some very interesting topics for The Score's Black History series airing during February. I was happy to lend a black female perspective and not necessarily from a sports angle. Big up to DJ for the provocative line of questioning, I can see why the series was nationally nominated last year. *And off topic but, Cabbie Snuggies are for everyone!

Carlton & I

The next day I jetted off to Cancun, Mexico and I was ready for it. Flip flops? tankini? sunscreen? check!.

Unfortunately I was too ready, since I was only there for work and not for a mini vaykay. But between the two hours it took to address the gracious audience and sign autographs I did find time to take a few walks on the beach.

...and kick my dawgs up!

RBC held their work force convention on site, a trip earned by the top 10% IRPs and Mortgage specialists, etc. across all of Canada. It wasn't my first time addressing a major corporation but I was pretty nervous having to address them so far from home. It better be good: "They flew her all the way over here for that?!".

In the end I was myself and shared my ups and down in my sport and paralleled them to the ones they face every day in business. I spoke of what we had in common as the best of the best: It's what drives us, what excites us and how unshakable our commitment is no matter what others say. I closed with reminding them that devotion to our craft is great, but devotion to self and family is greatest.

I was honest and hoped they got something out of it once I walked off sage. Needless to say I was completely floored to receive a standing ovation from 400+ of Canada's business elite. Wow. Talk about humbling. At least if I ever need a mortgage, now I know where to go.

Thanks to Steve and everyone from RBC for having me, it was an absolute honor. And BTW sorry if anyone got in trouble, after I left. I can't say how many Bvlgari lotions went missing from carts mysteriously abandoned in hallways (shrugging shoulders).

TBC...I'll fill you in on the Georgia Peach & Big Apple parts of the world tour in my next post.

P

Hey,

I'm back from Florida and can say it was a really good trip. The weather in Atlanta was cold and I can't say Naples was that much better but we did get some nice days.

This past Saturday I opened up at UK , which is mad early for me, yes I know. But with the cold and no indoor facility in town I've had a total of two weeks of hurdling sessions with my new coaches. So a girl needs all the race situations she can get.

In the heats I felt that I executed a good 75% of what I wanted to do, mainly my reaction and attack through the first three hurdles. My rhythm felt myeh after 7 hours on the road, but I ran a decent 8.13.

In the final my execution was non existent, I didn't control one element of my race. I was nervous and my back foot in the blocks would not stop twitching. I was so focused on getting it to sit against the block (and not false start in my first race of the season, like I did last year outdoor). That when the gun went off I actually stayed put for dear life--flinched and then--Went.

Riight...exactly as I have been taught...right Rana?! lol.

I gave up ground, ran sloopy early, but managed to make it up and get credit for the win. And guess what I ran?. Yup. 8.13. lol.

Overall some good things to take from the w/e and lots to work on. Proof of progress and a great pace for the season. With lots more hurdling to be done in practice, I'm happy and glad to have dusted off the cob webs and pre race jitters.

Check this video I made from the weekend competition. You'll see your girl is super excited and perhaps delirious to be getting on the road for a meet...Aaahh smells like college!.

P

Week 2 In Naples is Upon Me

Back in action here in Florida, we trained Saturday and had Sunday off. Which was a pleasure, I did nothing. And I left the hotel only to pick up my only edible abomination of the week: General Tso's Chicken!

Big mistake. It's 11:39pm, I ate it at 6:13pm and the stuff is still sitting heavy in my gut. I don't know why I insist on putting cheap fuel into a Ferrari.

Anyhoo not much to report here, it's going to be a busy few weeks for me. I train this week in Naples....then head to Toronto next week for some commitments...then I head to Cancun for a few days on the behalf of one of my sponsors. (tough life)...then I head to NYC for my pro season opener.

A full plate, I know. But the best way to make sure the rest of my season is free of distractions and outside obligations.

I'll update ya later,

Per

P.S Click here for a good read on the rise of the mega athlete

Click the link to read USA Track and Field's press release on the **60m hurdle fields** for The Millrose Games on Friday, January 29th. This will be my first professional opener of the 2010 indoor season, and will be my fifth appearance at the Garden. Wow. Can we say seasoned.

After two meets in the U.S, i'll head over to Europe for most of February.
With the culmination of the season being the 2010 World Indoor Championships in Doha, Qatar.

Till next time,

Peezie

Don't you just love my header! Yup, good times. I put it up in remembrance of the last time I was in "sunny" Florida. Last March in Clearwater visiting the BF while he was covering spring training. Oh man I ate so good at night and trained so well in the day.

Anyhoo I totally packed according to those same weather conditions.

FAIL!

Because now that a Bella is here, I see it is not even an SPF 15 type of situation. While it is not a fridgid 20 degrees F like Atlanta. It's not even T.C.A (tankini clading appropriate).

Cha.

And to add insult to hypothermia, there is no Joe's Crab Shack in this town. And what sense does that make?!.

Naples, Florida you're hurting me.

In other news, training is going very well. And it is only 23 days until my opener at Millrose Games at Madison Square Gardens in NYC. Yeah so excited!. Now there is a city that holds up its end of bargains.

Nippy...ish in Naples,
Per

Two weeks of fun at home is over. I ate, danced, laughed, ate, trained, opened a present, (yes no "s") and got to see my family that I can never get enought of. I made my way back to Atlanta Saturday night and left today for warm weather training in Florida. I spent the last few days at home fighting a cold that came out of nowhere. I rarely get sick so when this one got me I was definitely a sulking, feel sorry for herself, ugh to be around. Sorry. I was encouraged not to train during this time and Monday at camp will be my first session back. I am feeling world's better, but hated taking sick days.

Atlanta is pretty cold right now and I am looking forward to being on the Gulf of Mexico and enjoying the warm weather. Bye for now from sunny Florida!

P

A Few Christmas Pics:

Campbell Christmas Brunch

C.C I have an idea for your snuggie...

Tadah!

MC wants a piece of that Snuggie...

Get it Moses! lol

Big Sis Bov hosted Christmas dinner...what a party!

Felicien's et al getting down

And I got it all on tape...bc in the morning no one will remember

(as per usge)

Salsa on Christmas...Felis Navidad!

Cute!

Yes, I enjoy Spumante Bambino very much!

Happy New Year

Let's Make it Great!

Sincere Best Wishes,

Perdita