Livestrong is Lance Armstrong's global initiative to fight cancer. You'll recognize its symbol whenever you see someone wearing a yellow band on their wrist.
I have lost a loved one to the disease, and I don't think there is anyone in the world that hasn't been affected by it.
This year during the Tour de France Nike has printed thousands of messages of hope and inspiration on the streets of the tour from their athletes, celebrities and people involved with the cause.
Talk about the cool factor. More than anything I am proud that I supported the cause in this small but special way.
The opportunity is there for anyone around the world to submit their own message and have it written just like mine. Thousands have already done it and you can too by clicking: http://bit.ly/chlkbot.
Help the fight. Spread the word. Tweet and repost your own message or this one and let the world know your stance!
Well first you should know I don't really wanna talk about it. Yes. I know. The most talkative chick in the game has nothing to say.
GASP!.
But I adore my job and I have made a commitment to document every angle of it. The good, the bad the slow and yes even the blown-out-from-the-blocks parts of it.
Another race where I was well...no make that a well-well off the pace. Third, but couldn't even get a sniff of first place. Like the British commentators like to say.
Gee, how colourful.
Honestly it was a totally accurate description. My last two races looked like they were run by a stick jumper with no formal training. (As William Hung would have said). The technical sloppiness is frustrating, however it is fixable.
But finally some good news: Im happy and healthy (insert big applause here!) and I'm really driven to get things cleaned up. (Insert hamburger and fries I had for dinner here). Sometimes ya just gotta go ahead and reward hard work in advance people. Positive reinforcement. Try it.
Preferably with Ketchup and Mayo.
Heinz only. Equate or price chopper brands need NOT apply
Here is the race link below. **Note: I listened to it on mute. I just can't deal with the British athletics commentary tonight. I just can't.
Perdita
-Turning technical zombie to world class stick jumper since 2003
What to say about Lausanne last night?. It was great to be back at work for sure, since NYC was a good month ago. I was nervous the whole day, which was but good, I was excited to show the hard work I've done over the past four weeks.
Except I know myself to be a rhythm runner, meaning I need the momentum of a few races strung together before I start hitting my stride. And off the plane my first race in Europe is always anyone's guess. So I wasn't so sure what to expect, despite my good shape.
According to the people doing the timing last night, my hard work the last month didn't show up in their photo finish!. Liars. But then I saw my coach after and he confirmed it. Oh.
Apparently I was 4th in 12.75. The top two times were a fast 12.56 and 12.57. So yup, well off the pace for me. Looking at the video it was a lot of knicking of hurdles. I gassed out after the 5th, which is usually where I can hit a gear. Sheesh.
I'll need to work the kinks out in Gateshead on Saturday and run a race I can be happier about.
Race day is just one day away, I'm nervously excited and glad to be back at work. The weather was a hot mess last year and the forecast for Thursday is rain free and 82 degrees!. Great racing conditions this time around.
Watch the Lausanne Diamond League live online @ Universalsports.com (fee involved). If you are in Canada the feed is live (and free) on cbcsports.ca from 1-3:30pm Eastern. Hope you can watch and send me your good vibes. ;)
Again I felt a video making compulsion and answered its call. Here's a glimpse into getting ready for Lausanne. Asafa Powell makes a cameo, the entire time I'm plotting ways to steal his start. HA!
I am leaving for Lausanne tomorrow and all I can say is, it's about time. I am ready to compete again. This stint has been my longest time off between races this season.
I have to say the time training has been spent well. I do feel a bit tapped out mentally because the focus has been very technical and specific to certain elements of my race. And the concentration and mental energy that I had to bring to each session was pretty demanding.
So how refreshing will it be to leave on a jet plane and do what I love the most: just race.
This last week a few members of my team all converged in Toronto to collect some training data through the National Sports Centre Ontario.
Tuesday we used the Octi Jump in training and that was probably the most intimidating set up. I had to basically hurdle down and along alley way of technology. Not something I do every day, but after a few hurdle passes I learned to tune out the peculiar setting.
The technology is high tech and is the only one in Canada. The data and information we get from it will be a key part of my preparation and monitoring over the next couple of years.
A big thanks to the National Sports Centre Ontario and staff, the Toronto Track and Field Centre and Athletics Canada.
I haven't raced since June 12 in NYC and in track life that was a long time ago. So needless to say I can't wait for July 8 to get here already so I can line up. The next Diamond League stop will be in Lausanne, Switzerland.
All this training for me becomes mundane after two weeks. I love to train, but more than anything I like to take what we've been working on and test it out against the ladies.
"What's a Bogey?"
After a week in Atlanta I travelled to Toronto for a few charity events. Golf is kinda hot right now and I tried it out for the first time at the Joe Carter and Friends Charity Golf Tournament.
I had a blast. Not on the green though. After the ninth I had all I could take of the game. And relegated myself to golf cart chauffeur. A job I am much better equipped for, since I gave us whiplash and side swiped every other cart we passed. "Watch it!".
Golf is cool and Im going to try to get better at it, but Im all about power and speed and Im learning you don't have to muscle every shot. :( Which in that case, it sucks to be me.
It was a pleasure to be among so many elite athletes supporting a great cause. I got some really valuable life after elite sport big bro advice from Charles Barkley. And indeed a big thanks to Joe Carter for having me!
8am Workouts..."Come Again?!" I have never in life worked out at 8am, so naturally I was opposed to this. When it was first proposed I screwed up my face. "Snarf". (Just so you know this was inside a climate controlled weight room on my first day back to ATL this week).
So intent was I on preserving my extra hours of sleep, I rolled up at the track the next day at 10:30am. No 8am start time for moi. Nope, can't go for that, nope can't go. Though I saw that many had. Hmm...what is going on here.
What (most) Canadians Want
Big mistake. Because your girl was feeling hot hot hot. "Don't you have island blood?", my training mates were beginning to question this internet rumour.
Indeed I do. In fact anybody from St. Lucia?!.
But I retorted that I am also Canadian to the core and as a result I really dig ice. Personally j'adore mukluks and will do anything for a Klondike. You see in my world frost bite will forever trump heat stroke.
Marietta Heat Warrants Action
Well needless to say the day after that guess who was the first one at the track?. And with a newly acquired blue cooler--on wheels, a huge Nike parasol, sport sunblock and a plastic misting fan from the dollar store.
It's over 90F with 100% humidity, not conditions to play with. See that blue cooler, yup its a wheelie and chalked full of liquid fuel. I rolled up to practice with it, I heard some giggles. But those same gigglers will soon be sipping hot tea in narrow plastic "mugs".
It turns out the heat is way less oppressive that early in the day, so now I'm all over it. I have changed my bedtime to make sure I get a full nights rest. I'm up by 6am to make sure I eat breakfast and still have time for my pre-workout routine.
It's definitely a tough adjustment and everyone who knows me knows I LOVE MY SLEEP!. But this change means the quality of training is higher and the risk from the heat is lessened.
12 Hurdle Triumph
One of the toughest technical training sessions for a 100m stick jumper is all out runs over twelve. We only have ten hurdles in competition so to add two more in training is not a workout for the faint of heart. It is also a very strategically placed workout that can't be attempted without the proper fitness and timing or else you'll have problems.
If you want me you can find me under my umbrella ella ella eh...(I had to). But watch yourself because anytime coach has reached in to hand me the video camera or a teamamte seeks refuge under my mini personal oasis, I've always almost cost them a retina. Wish I was joking.
So despite the heat today, I managed to tackle that taxing session for the first time this year. And when it was over my body felt like it had given birth to multiples. But no matter because I was so happy to have conquered the day!.
Take a peek....
P
Tuesday, June 15
Holy Jalapenos
I'm back in ATL and let me tell you it is HOT here, heat wave advisory kinda heat. I haven't been in town for five weeks so this was a brutal introduction. It took me three hours to warm up, do a few sled pulls, and starts over three hurdles. In less hellish conditions gimme 90 minutes and I'll knock it all out and be out.
But so oppressive was this heat at 10am that I had to find the one tree and park myself underneath it for minutes at a time after each pass. While doing my hurdle starts in the blocks, I'd have to totally abandon ship before I got commands because the track was burning my fingers. As much as I complain about York U, I really miss the dungeon right now.
Nationals Toronto 2010
Toronto is hosting Canadian National Championships again this year. I'm so excited as always because it gives my peeps the chance to see me run. And this will probably be the last time I get to compete at champs so close to home ever in my career. Since the next two years Calgary is hosting and then I believe New Brunswick will play host. And at some point I gotta have some chilrens.
Smaller Cheering Section
Last year was a big deal in that it was my season back after injury and my fam came and held me down. This year may be a bit less crazy since some of my family will be in St. Lucia during nationals. But I'm sure I'll hear my mothers frantic cheering from Gros-islet, the tiny village where she was raised. If you're in T.O July 28-31 do come out and support the event.
It's funny that people are already inquiring about getting their "Perdita Tees", since the blue and orange ones my peeps rocked last year was a hit. Not sure what the design is this year, but if you are coming out and want to show who you're cheering for, get at me.
On this a festive occasion I've decided to fancy up the blog. Give it some life. You likey?. Of course you do. But if not, dunno what to tell you.
So you guessed it, the festive occasion is indeed my season's best! And not any SB but the second best time in the world this year. Check the credits, yo!.
Anyhoo, this is a distinction I haven't had the pleasure of dawning in some time. And of course I know it's hardly a global title or anything ginormous like that. And perhaps the girl with the fastest time in the world has a way way better blog layout than moi....But you know your girl: every small accomplishment is celebrated to the fullest. So new blogs for all!!
I'm happy about dipping into 12.5x territory this early in the season, that's officially some serious hauling tail. More than anything I'm happy with how I competed and managed to be in tune with parts of my race as it unfolded. I wasn't happy with my first half but managed to ignore my position and just work on executing the remaining hurdles as best I could. *It is easy in a hurdle race to panic, press or get into another lady's rhythm.
*hurdle nerd speak
I'm back in Atlanta and with no more around the world trips planned, I get to train solid for a few weeks. I'm craving getting back to the drawing board and getting some finesse back to my racing. My old coach Gdub always said to be pleased with progress but never satisfied.
Word.
Thanks for the texts, calls and wall posts everyone. And as always I'm so blessed to have the inner circle I do, who make me feel great regardless.
I posted some links below, caution while viewing my interview post race with Flotrack, as I'm clearly high on life.
Wow.
Smile,
P
**LINKS**
Peep race video here and the official results here.
On Sunday I raced in Bydgoszcz, Poland and it was my first time ever in the country. I always get excited about going to a new place. So far I've added two new countries to places I've been this season, Korea was the first.
I raced on Friday night in Oslo and travelled all day Saturday to Bydgoszcz, it wasn't the easiest town to get to. The race was the next day and I was happy to not feel too run down during warm up.
I came away with the win but when all the ladies saw the jumbotron results we were confused. The race felt a lot faster than what it was telling us.
But turns out the wind was a very strong -1.8m/s. So in that regard my 12.99 isn't too bad.
I'm looking forward to racing a tough field this weekend in NYC as the Diamond League comes to North America. And hoping to finally execute a race I can be technically happy about.
Talk about the cool factor. More than anything I am proud that I supported the cause in this small but special way.
