High Hopes

"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out."

- Robert Collier

Hola Bloggers!

Ha! I know most of you didn't think I would keep up with the blog but I am proving you wrong! Lol Let's see, what has been going on in Landria's world. I guess I'll start with my personal life again.

Well, I'm still kind of looking for a job. I had an opportunity to work a few places but one of the places hours weren't going to work and another well... I might as well not have had the job the way they pay. Lol. But I'm not worried, something will pop up.

I sent my whole (immediate) family cards last week. Sometimes it's nice to have someone surprise you with a card saying they love you and appreciate you. I'm kind of a softy when it comes to making people feel special. I like to make people know how much they mean to me and when I have a little extra money sometimes I will do a little something. Little things go a long way :)

On another note, my old coach no longer works for Howard and I feel all types of ways. If it wasn't for her there is no way I would be where I'm at today. She not only helped me on the track (dropping me from a 14.00 to 13.18 almost a full second) but she looked out for me outside of the track too. She has always been a friend to me and came through with support and jokes when I needed it. Now when I go to DC to visit and pop up at a track practice it just won't be the same, especially when she always pretended not to be happy to see me and I would jump on her and give her a hug :) Even though she will no longer be there, I'm going to make sure I see her whenever I come in town.

The weather here has been amazing for the last 2 or 3 weeks! It's been over 60 everyday! I'm not use to this kind of weather so early in the year and I am loving it! Training is great when it's warm, you can be free and not bundled down in clothes. I can definitely get use to this.

My roommate has ventured off to Australia to compete in two meets. I can't wait until I get to the level where meets will pay for me to go run. Hopefully it will be in a few months. Lol. I'm definitely going to miss her while she's gone, once you get use to seeing someone daily it's weird for them to be gone.

I'm back to natural. After a short break from my hair being in it's natural state it is back. This time I am more prepared to take care of it. I plan to Henna my hair when I get a little extra cash and do a lot of other stuff to it, but in the mean time I'll keep it simple. Currently it's in two-strand twist, I'm still working on mastering that style. Lol.

I'm working on myself. Trying to get closer to God, figure out more interests and hobbies, and what I want to do Post-Track. I have an idea of what I want to do after track but I want to start working towards those things now because you never know when it comes to sports, one day you can be on top and the next working at Burger King lol. As far as getting closer to God, it's something that I really need to do because I have been beyond blessed!!! So many things have come into my life purely through the Grace of God. I was actually talking to my father today and he asked me if I had any testimonies and I told him I am a testimony. Me even being down in Georgia pursing my dream is a testimony, there have been a lot of times when things where not adding up and all of a sudden a door would open. So that is another one of my goals.

Now, for trackside. I am sooooo happy it's March! The season is right around the corner and it is grind time, I'm in countdown mode! I plan to open up in the open 400, so I can see where I'm at and set up my 400 hurdle race. I'm really excited about my first season out of college. I have high hopes! I want to go at least 53 something in the 400 to open but I'll take a 54 if I must lol After all, it will be the my first race and all. I'm definitely stronger then I've ever been and the massage guy I go to said my body is finally starting to look like a track athlete lol (speaking of my lack of hamstrings and muscle). Everyone (a few people lol) kept telling me I looked bigger so I stepped on the scale the other day and I gained weight. I am currently 127. I guess :shrug: it doesn't bother me or excite me, it's just whatever lol

I finally got to get over hurdles!!!! I missed them sooo much, just flat running is soooo boring!!! And I did 400 hurdle alternate leg, as much as I didn't want to do the 400 hurdles this year I did actually miss them, or maybe I was just happy to be jumping over something lol. I'm not going to lie, I was scared a little before we started as I was looking at the 10 hurdles lined up with 9 inches between them. But it felt great going over and by the end of practice my alternate leg was looking and feeling pretty good.

Practice is going great! I feel like I'm back! I'm keeping up with the workouts and my coach is telling me I'm looking pretty good. I'm doing extra stuff to get me right for the season. Runs, drinking lots of water, ice baths, icing, stretching, and whatever else I can to make this season great. I'm making routines and setting myself into habits. Now all I need to tackle is my eating habits. They have gotten soooo bad but I'm working on it. It's been a lot better in these past few weeks but this month I'm really going to put in work to eat better.

My goals for this season is to at least obtain the A standard in each of my events (100h 12.96, 400h 55.4) so I can qualify for the USATF Post-Grad Fund and so I can run in Europe this summer. I know I can do it! I put my goals as my background on my phone, so I can see it everyday and motivate myself when I'm the least motivated lol And it's been working. I've been super motivated these last couple of weeks and sticking to my habits. I have to make it, I don't have time for an adjustment year. Go hard or go back to Michigan lol And I ain't goin' back! Lol.'

Well, that's all for now... Sorry it's so long :Blush: Thanks for reading... ttyl :o)