Second Saturday

Sun, Aug 22,2010
Pre-Noon Workout

Feeling good before this lift. Let's see if I come out feeling better (doubt it).

a little bit of this, a little bit of that...

Post Workout
Tues, Aug 17, 2010

This morning I woke up feeling really good. I got really good sleep last night, at least 9 hours, which is unheard of if you know me. In any case, I think that massage I got really is what did it for me. I woke up so much more relaxed and clear-minded. Being that I was feeling really good, I got to the weight-room early and got after it. Every weight went up really smooth. Don't get me wrong, I was getting after it but you ever have one of theose days that you just feel really good? Well today was my day. I'm not sure how good I will feel tomorrow but for now I will steal this day. I may be really sore tomorrow but whatever.

I'm learning that training by yourself can be either a really relaxing, enjoyable experience or a VERY stressful one. So far I've had a mix of both. I'm having fun while feeling the pay of my labor. Whether you a a scholar or and athlete, you know the importance of pushing yourself both physically and mentally. On one hand training by yourself helps you to focus SOLELY on just YOU, getting away from all other distractions. And on the other hand you're by yourself, so you have to look within for inspiration. Or if you train with a group, others.

In order to be the be the best at anything, my trainer Ryan once said, "You have to grow and get better. There are no egos." We all know that having an ego is a huge part of competing. I won't lie I do have a pretty HUGE ego but lately I have toned him down a bit. I call him Hugo. Hugo and I have been together for 22 years and I don;t see us breaking up anytime soon. He's been there for me when I was up and all the times I was down. So as Diddy said, "We ain't goin' nowhere."

All in all I'm excited about my life. School starts in two weeks and I am totally ready for it. My rims are in and I'm ready to roll! Now all I need are handlebars, grips, tires and tubes lol. Yeah a lot of stuff, lol. It's been real. Stay tuned to my blog for my upcoming squat, bench and pull up test. I shooting for 400 lbs on squat!

And if you're ever guilty of being something; A.B.Y. Always Be You.


-d

Inspired

Post-Workout
Sat, Aug, 14, 2010

Today's workout was awesome yet again. I squatted well enough but not as well as I wanted to but it's like that sometimes. I've become such a perfectionists, it's actually scary sometimes, lol. I didn't squat the heaviest weights today but I learned something today. It's not about how much you squat on a particular day. It's more about using that strength from the weight-room and putting in to use on the track. Power sprinting.

Ryan was getting on me a little bit because I was a bit unfocused. I was upset a little but then I realized he just wants me to be the best, that's why he's so tough on me. 40 lbs out of my weight class, I squat with throwers so I'm always trying to stay on pace. All in all I believe my progress from the end of last season is so far along that I'm actually scared. I'm putting up wights that I've never put up EVER. They're going to start testing me soon, lol. I hope NOT.

My back is really sore again so I definitely will be setting up and appointment with my sister for a massage tomorrow. I need it bad. I'm hurting. I can't even lay down because my back is so sore already. Advil in excess.

In other news, I watched some videos from the Diamond League in London. Tyson Gay is the man 9.78 today. The guy the fastest man in the world right now, hands down. I watched so many videos on sprinting and technique. I try to model my running after the best but I make sure that I don't change my personal running style. Allyson Felix also held it down today; doubling in the 200 and 400. She is also an inspiration of mine. Although she's a female sprinter she's the best; point blank (can't hate).

It's a great year for Track & Field right now. Athletes are jumping further, running faster and throwing big! I'm so excited about this upcoming season that I want it to start tomorrow but I am taking it one day at a time. Today my mental preparation before weights was better. I visualized what I wanted to do before I did it which helped me put my wights up with ease. On some of my reps my form was TRASH but the weight was easy. Kinda mad at myself for not being more focused. It's in the books now. Gotta move on and progress.

Next workout is Tuesday morning. I'm looking forward to that day. Time to go to moms and get some much needed home cooking! Peace, see you all Tuesday!!!

Signing off,

-d

Random Thoughts...

Pre-workout....12:33AM Sat, Aug 14th, 2010

Doing a lot of thinking about my future. For the first time in years I am completely clear-minded and absolutely focused on obtaining my dreams. I know exactly what to do, now I just have to follow through. In other news, yesterday I got the gears turning and decided to get a massage. Fortunately for me my little sister is a massage therapist. So I solidified her services from my pre/post races and workouts. SCORE!!!! So she's apart of my regiment now and the best thing is that it's free. Thank goodness!! I don't have $100 to give some stranger every week.

My legs and my lower back were so sore from Tuesdays workout (don't tell Ryan) so you could imagine how elated I felt on her table yesterday. She massaged me for an hour and it felt like two. I feel asleep and I think I even slobbered but I wiped it up before she noticed, lol. Seriously, I am happy that she has become my "official personal massage person", lol. I know that sentence grammatically makes absolutely no sense but that is my blog, so what. I came across a great quote the other day by Geoffrey Gaberino,

"The real contest is always between what you've done and what you're capable of
doing."

Just thought I'd end with that. Good night peeps.

-d

Rest

Post Workout
Thursday August 12, 2010

Today's workout was hard, from the warm-up to my last rep, it was tough but well worth the pain. "Gun Show Days" are great. I'm still trying to get my bench up so I can look swoll, lol. I'm so far behind everyone else it isn't funny but luckily for me the guys I work out with are throwers, so I don't mind looking weak in front of them. They all know that they can't handle me on squats, lol. We have a bet, well not a bet but a competition to see who will hit 400 lbs. first on squats. so far I'm the closest. I hit 385 lbs. the last time we had a test. It's only up from there. In any case it's been fun competing against the other guys and pushing them to be better.

Now that I'm older and much wiser, in my own right, I see the importance of having like-minded people around you. The benefits are tremendous. When I was younger I worked out by myself and tried to be as individual as possible. I said I did it, "To be more focused" but really I was being selfish and a a-hole. I can only attribute my past attitude to wanting to be the best. Wanting to be the best made me an outcast but a fast one, lol. to each his/her own I guess.

I still have bit and pieces of that attitude and it comes out from time to time. Sometimes I just want to be alone. That can be interpreted as acting superior or different. So be it; these days I try my hardest to assist others to reach news level of success in their own lives. Getting better during training sessions or the classroom cannot be made possible without a strong support group to push you when you wanna give up or slack off. T.N.D.O has been pushing me for 3 months now and I can see the results. Not just physically but mentally as well. I'm more focuser and determined to be better than I was before I walked in.

If you know me personally, you know I'm a no nonsense type of guy on the track and in the weight room. I might joke around with you here and there but when it comes to my training, I'm all business. That probably why I was as good as I was. I didn't play around with my training. It was my life. My secret to being the best is not the weight room or the track, it's having the ability to pull yourself and your mind away from your sport when you're not doing it. Having some alone time. Some solitude, some rest helps you appreciate other things besides your training.

It's important to incorporate other things such as going out with friends, watching t.v., video games or even other recreational activities into your life so that you don't grow tired with the monotony of practice or lifting. I'm currently reading a book called, "Mental Training for Peak Performance". I picked it up in the weight room today. No harm in trying to pick up some tips from people who have changed their sports like M.J. Tiger Woods and Micheal Phelps. In attempts to grow stronger physically, I want to become more mentally tough and more focused not only on my training but in my life as well. Learning to separate the two is key.

Ralph Marston once said, "Rest when you're weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. then get back to work." there's nothing wrong with taking some time off to get back home mentally. I suggest you pick up a book, get a massage, go for a walk, nap (my personal favorite), or do something fun to take your mind off of your busy life. Trust me it will help you to be less anxious and more prepared to handle future tasks.
As of today I'm 221 days or 7 months and 9 days or 5304 hours or 31 weeks away from my first official meet however you look at it. Each day I'm getting better and each day I'm getting closer to earning the number one spot in the 100 and 200 meter dashes in school history and in the CAA. Everything after that can wait. I'm focused on reclaiming my titles and moving on to Regionals once again. But I'm taking it one step at a time. Don't rush your progress. Be patient and stay focused. Everything will take care of itself if you're holding up your part of the deal.

Good luck,

D

Gettin' Better, Gettin' Focused

Today was a good day......a really good day
Tuesday August 10, 2010

Lifting went really well. Hit some really good weights and overall had a good session. Today things were a bit loose. Lots of chatter and joking, which is different from our normal lifting sessions. Nonetheless, we came, we lifted, we left.

I'm looking forward to all of these test coming up after labor day. Ryan is going to be prepping for them after my test in a couple weeks I believe. I'm very excited to be back in school and competing next Spring. Getting into classes was the hard part; not its time to get some quality grades and make music to the track this season.

Random but whatever.... Tyson Gay defeats the all mighty Usain Bolt. Can you say rivalry. My had goes off to Bolt because he's out for the season with back problems. I wish him a speedy recovery. Track & Field needs him. Good luck my man. The video is posted below:

http://www.universalsports.com/video/assetid=aa51eb32-cd70-499c-b899-a82c6d1d37a7.html#gay+whips+bolt+100m

To be honest, America needed that victory. We're somewhat back on top in the world now. Now we need the other amazing talents we have to step up. For Gay that's two wins against quality opponents. He's already defeated Powell in an incredible come from behind victory. Apparently Bolt has been having back problems lately, so his coaches are saying "that attributed" to his first lost since 2008. In any case in this sport, you take a win however you can get it. Whether you beat to the stripe first or they false start. A win is a win. It's always legit win if they line up next to you, whether they finish or not.

My trainer Ryan says so many inspirational things that's sometimes I wanna keep my pen and pad next to me so that I can quote him. Dude is a wise man. He told me, "A little extra work never made anyone weaker." I think about that statement every time I feel as if I have a few more in the tank. I keep pushing as hard as I can to be better than I was before I arrived to the gym. This mind-state will take me far. Every week I see my body changing and my attitude becoming more and more refined. I'm becoming more focused and determined and its showing in the gains I'm making in the gym.

Next week I'm hitting the track for real. If you know me you know that I will be on my own. I do not like training with other people because alone I can talk to myself and work on what I need to perfect without any distractions. My goal times this year are 20.80 and 10.20. Keep me honest and straight my people.

Shout-out to D.Moss for getting it done and competing in Finland this summer. She;s such an inspirational person in my life. One of the only people I came in with that I still speak to. you deserve it. Just don't forget about me when you make it big. All I want is a jersey. I'm a simple man to please.

Signing Off,

D

King Kong Who, You Mean King Horn Right?

Tuesday August 2, 2010
Post-Workout

You wouldn't believe who I went out with today. Well I wouldn't say it was a date. A date usually includes enjoyment and fun. This date included pain, straining and lots of laughs. Not with me but at me. If you thought King Kong was fierce wait till you workout with King Ryan Horn. Don't let his blond hair and dreamy eyes fool you. His is nothing to play with. They say, "Once you workout with him, you'll cry." I've seen it with my own two, lol. Anyways my personal 1 on 1 workout with Ryan was at best: yeah. If I could take the pain I'm feeling from one of my azz cheeks and give it to you, you'd know what I mean.

I'm so tired and sore already and I just finished my 2 hour workout 3 hours ago. And might I add that today's workout was ridiculous! Totally sick! My butt, shulders, abs, butt again, hurt like a midget on a growth spurt. Sorry if you're a midget and offended; i guess that's two strikes. In any case that's why I affectionately changed the day of the week originally called "Monday" to "F-U Monday's". From the beginning the weights said, "Yeah I'm kinda gonna kill you today, don;t take it personal." My body is on fire. My bodies like burning up... *breaks into song..

Before I went home I realized that I had no food. Oh yeah I completed that workout with just 2 bottles of water in my system. Not a good idea; do not try that at home kids. In the grocery store I looked delirious; something out of Lord of The Rings. My legs weight 100 lbs, my back ached and let's not talk about my azz! Shuffling, sliding and swaying from side to side, up and down aisles I looked for food. Then it hit me, "Get some frshly sliced meat and cheese. Yeah, cheese and meat!"After waiting in the deli line for almost 30 mins, I was able to purchase some sliced chicken breast and some provolone cheese. I was not a happy camper. Today was not my day. It felt as if everyone I knew was in Kroger. And if you've ever been to Kroger on campus you know how slow people can be. On top of my cheeks burning like tiger balm caught in my tights, I was extremely tired. I ended up spending 40 bucks on meat, cheese, bread, milk, cereal oatmeal, pancake mix and Cheetos. Yes, Cheetos. Got a problem? Oh yeah I didn't think so.

After those shenanigans I am back home and all I have now to comfort me is my two chicken and cheese sammiches, a glass of water and my Cheetos. On top of feeling like someone performed a science experiment on the lower half of my body, I work in 2 hours for 6 hours. Gotta love being an aspiring pro athlete. You never a break until you get a break. I will definitely be hiding out in the back, trying to catch some zzzz's while at work. In the end today taught me a lot about myself once again. I will keep that for my personal memory log.