Merry Christmas!! I've written a lot of reflective posts in the past year, as surgery and the subsequent recovery makes you look at where you've been and where you're going while challenging you in the present. This is slightly different, as in order to move forward completely, you can't keep dwelling on the past, but you should try to learn from it and apply those lessons to your future success.
I love being with my family. Russ is almost (and has always felt like) my family, so he counts in a lot of situations, but it has been super fun to come home to Washington so much more now that we live in Colorado Springs. I'm extremely grateful for the extra bridge games we've gotten in and the multitude of puppy pictures I've been able to take, among other things. I've learned how to value family time over almost everything else in the last few years, but this year has taught me even more about how wonderful it truly is. Make that trip home, even if it costs a few extra bucks.
Soreness comes in different forms. Every athlete knows this, but not every athlete consciously recognizes when the different kinds of soreness are happening. Some types you should be grateful for: My single-leg dumbbell RDLs with a band around my hips have had my glutes screaming for mercy since I did them for the first time on Monday! Other forms of soreness need to be paid attention to. That little nagging hip flexor super tightness has me resting on Christmas when I might have pushed through in the past. Soreness is not soreness, and going through major injury has me extra aware of when I should be getting more rest vs. getting my workouts in anyway. I've immensely enjoyed the normal soreness that has come with normal fall training this year. I haven't trained normally in the fall for two years because of my surgery, so body parts that forgot what an entire year of javelin training is like have been complaining (shoulders, intercostals, adductors, etc.). For normal soreness, be grateful!! In response to abnormal soreness, be careful.
Those are the two major lessons I'm thinking about today, as I listen to the bridge tournament starting without me and have already taken photos of the dogs in Santa hats. What are the biggest lessons you've learned this year? Merry Christmas :)
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
2014
Since July, I've camped, road-tripped, backpacked, fished, photographed, played card games, seen old friends, made new friends, and slept to my heart's content. I started bodybuilding (higher volume lifting with specific recovery times and such) in mid-September, coupled with whatever cardio I wanted (hikes and interval runs). After five weeks of that, I started my first block of training, which is now over! I'm currently in the beginning of my first week of block 2, and loving what my future looks like.
Have you ever experienced a major injury? I've had a few, and the seasons following those years are always so fun to train for. Grateful doesn't begin to describe how I feel for the fire and attentiveness I experience at practice every day, and I've never lived my life more purposefully. I felt this way in the year leading up to 2008, after a stress fracture in my back in 2007 left me on the sidelines for a year. If I made the Beijing Olympic team the year after that injury, what could happen now? I'm excited.
This year won't happen without its own challenges. I'm already experiencing some of my old SI joint pain, but since I know what helped me with that before, I can attack it head-on instead of wasting months trying to figure it out like the first time around. You really do live and learn! I still get to work on being confident in my block leg, but after yesterday's first practice on the runway, I'm feeling really good about it.
Kibwe asked me how my approach to this season might be different from seasons of the past. The reason for that question is that 2014, like 2010, is an "off" year. A non-championship year. A year without a major medal up for grabs. The Continental Cup lurks at the end of the summer, and would be a fabulous place to go back to and redeem myself, but there is no Olympic or World Championship for outdoor track and field athletes to compete in (meaning Kib and I are in the same boat).
I definitely want to use this year to get back out on the international circuit. I need that experience for the future, and I've been removed from those meets for two years now, so getting my feet wet again will be good. However, I would moreso love to use this season to compete a lot domestically and bring the javelin to the people! In Chicago in July, I absolutely loved having friends come watch and meeting up-and-coming javelin throwers who were both spectating and competing alongside me. In the same way, I had a total blast teaching my campers at Iron Wood last summer, and would love to help instill a passion for javelin in even more kids around the country. I plan on posting my competition schedule completely and as early as possible, inviting anyone and everyone I know (and probably people I don't know) in the areas I'll be competing in to come watch, and actually spending time with those that do. There are hardly any opportunities for young people to be exposed to javelin throwing, and I'd like to do my best to fix that. Keep your eyes peeled for competitions in your area. :)
Here's to 2014!
Have you ever experienced a major injury? I've had a few, and the seasons following those years are always so fun to train for. Grateful doesn't begin to describe how I feel for the fire and attentiveness I experience at practice every day, and I've never lived my life more purposefully. I felt this way in the year leading up to 2008, after a stress fracture in my back in 2007 left me on the sidelines for a year. If I made the Beijing Olympic team the year after that injury, what could happen now? I'm excited.
This year won't happen without its own challenges. I'm already experiencing some of my old SI joint pain, but since I know what helped me with that before, I can attack it head-on instead of wasting months trying to figure it out like the first time around. You really do live and learn! I still get to work on being confident in my block leg, but after yesterday's first practice on the runway, I'm feeling really good about it.
Kibwe asked me how my approach to this season might be different from seasons of the past. The reason for that question is that 2014, like 2010, is an "off" year. A non-championship year. A year without a major medal up for grabs. The Continental Cup lurks at the end of the summer, and would be a fabulous place to go back to and redeem myself, but there is no Olympic or World Championship for outdoor track and field athletes to compete in (meaning Kib and I are in the same boat).
I definitely want to use this year to get back out on the international circuit. I need that experience for the future, and I've been removed from those meets for two years now, so getting my feet wet again will be good. However, I would moreso love to use this season to compete a lot domestically and bring the javelin to the people! In Chicago in July, I absolutely loved having friends come watch and meeting up-and-coming javelin throwers who were both spectating and competing alongside me. In the same way, I had a total blast teaching my campers at Iron Wood last summer, and would love to help instill a passion for javelin in even more kids around the country. I plan on posting my competition schedule completely and as early as possible, inviting anyone and everyone I know (and probably people I don't know) in the areas I'll be competing in to come watch, and actually spending time with those that do. There are hardly any opportunities for young people to be exposed to javelin throwing, and I'd like to do my best to fix that. Keep your eyes peeled for competitions in your area. :)
Here's to 2014!
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Season wrap-up!
So my short, somewhat-miracle of a season has come to a close! My bronze medal at USAs this year allowed me to chase the World Championships A standard of 62.00m to potentially make my third Worlds team and travel to Moscow, Russia. I was fully capable of doing that physically, but my technique didn't allow for it.
I only gave myself one chance at the A. My knee was sore for two weeks after USAs, and I knew it was silly to even consider competing every week in a desperate attempt at a trip to World Championships. Tom Pukstys was awesome enough to set up a meet at Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago) for myself and a few other javelin throwers to throw at on July 20, the last day of the chase period. All or nothing!
The difference between my left knee on June 20 (USAs) and July 20 was ridiculous. I felt so powerful, so fast, and so much more comfortable on the runway than I had a month prior. I had had two great practices at Iron Wood the week before, and I felt more confident than I have since before my injury more than a year ago. More than anything, it was fun. National championships were fun this year simply because I was releasing a javelin in competition again, but Chicago was fun because I finally felt strong and sure on the runway. I've been patiently waiting for that feeling all year, and even though I only managed a 57.12m toss (a season's best and a win!) and will miss Worlds, I couldn't be happier looking at the future of my career. I also had a huge group of Purdue friends in attendance in Chicago, and couldn't be sad about spending time with them immediately following the competition!
This year, I started throwing javelins in practice in April. In the previous three training seasons of my career, I've thrown javelins from November (at least) through the end of the season (usually the end of August). That's five months of technique work that I missed out on this year; I can't duplicate javelin throwing with med balls, as many as I may have thrown! My shoulders, core, back, SI joints, glutes, and even knees felt awesome in Chicago, but a few great sessions out of only a few months of throwing practices are difficult to duplicate when the pressure is on. It's hard to not be disappointed about missing a third straight World Championships team, but I knew that if this was the outcome of this year I would be left hungrier than ever for future seasons, and that's exactly how I feel. I also know what I need to work on and what I loved about my training this year, and am empowered to put those things into practice in the Fall.
I've blogged about how long this journey back to health has felt and I've shared about the hard days, but I hope that the overwhelming feeling I have of gratitude has shined through. I took a few yoga classes in the week after my season ended, and one day we were asked to consider something that we take for granted in our lives. Honestly, moving to a new place, making new friends and cherishing the old ones, earning my health back day by day with the help of the best athletic trainers, relying on Russ and my family for support when I needed it, being lucky enough to re-sign with ASICS after a major injury, understanding how awesome my management team is, and knowing that I still have a place at the CSOTC by the grace of USATF even after a post-injury sub-par season left me hard-pressed to think of something. This year has been amazing despite the challenges I faced each day, and many days because I overcame those challenges. I'm going to stock up on seeing the beauty in the world through my camera lens during all of August and September before taking this grateful attitude and renewed hunger into my Fall training. So excited!
I only gave myself one chance at the A. My knee was sore for two weeks after USAs, and I knew it was silly to even consider competing every week in a desperate attempt at a trip to World Championships. Tom Pukstys was awesome enough to set up a meet at Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago) for myself and a few other javelin throwers to throw at on July 20, the last day of the chase period. All or nothing!
The difference between my left knee on June 20 (USAs) and July 20 was ridiculous. I felt so powerful, so fast, and so much more comfortable on the runway than I had a month prior. I had had two great practices at Iron Wood the week before, and I felt more confident than I have since before my injury more than a year ago. More than anything, it was fun. National championships were fun this year simply because I was releasing a javelin in competition again, but Chicago was fun because I finally felt strong and sure on the runway. I've been patiently waiting for that feeling all year, and even though I only managed a 57.12m toss (a season's best and a win!) and will miss Worlds, I couldn't be happier looking at the future of my career. I also had a huge group of Purdue friends in attendance in Chicago, and couldn't be sad about spending time with them immediately following the competition!
This year, I started throwing javelins in practice in April. In the previous three training seasons of my career, I've thrown javelins from November (at least) through the end of the season (usually the end of August). That's five months of technique work that I missed out on this year; I can't duplicate javelin throwing with med balls, as many as I may have thrown! My shoulders, core, back, SI joints, glutes, and even knees felt awesome in Chicago, but a few great sessions out of only a few months of throwing practices are difficult to duplicate when the pressure is on. It's hard to not be disappointed about missing a third straight World Championships team, but I knew that if this was the outcome of this year I would be left hungrier than ever for future seasons, and that's exactly how I feel. I also know what I need to work on and what I loved about my training this year, and am empowered to put those things into practice in the Fall.
I've blogged about how long this journey back to health has felt and I've shared about the hard days, but I hope that the overwhelming feeling I have of gratitude has shined through. I took a few yoga classes in the week after my season ended, and one day we were asked to consider something that we take for granted in our lives. Honestly, moving to a new place, making new friends and cherishing the old ones, earning my health back day by day with the help of the best athletic trainers, relying on Russ and my family for support when I needed it, being lucky enough to re-sign with ASICS after a major injury, understanding how awesome my management team is, and knowing that I still have a place at the CSOTC by the grace of USATF even after a post-injury sub-par season left me hard-pressed to think of something. This year has been amazing despite the challenges I faced each day, and many days because I overcame those challenges. I'm going to stock up on seeing the beauty in the world through my camera lens during all of August and September before taking this grateful attitude and renewed hunger into my Fall training. So excited!
Sunday, July 14, 2013
USAs and Iron Wood
I COMPETED!
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| photo by Becky Miller |
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| photo by Becky Miller |
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| Super proud of this Bronze. |
Russ also competed well! After years and years of solid showings in both shot and disc, he finally earned Silver in the discus. He's also chasing a World Championships standard, and I'm so pumped about how he looks this summer. It'd be fun to go to Moscow together!!
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| What a cutie! Victory Lap. |
After USAs, Russ and I had the opportunity to help out at Iron Wood Throws Camp, run in its 24th consecutive year for the first time by Jarred Rome. Jarred wanted currently-competing professional athletes to be involved with the kids this year, and I had a blast.
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| All my campers who wear ASICS. :) |
Duncan Atwood and I had twice-daily sessions with our javelin thrower kids from Tuesday to Friday, with an optional session on Saturday. These kids were so fun to work with, listened, stayed positive even through the soreness that comes along with walking a college campus and training 5 hours a day, and had a huge impact on me.
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| Sterling controls the javelin by throwing through a hoop. |
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| Russ shares his story with the campers. :) |
I went into camp thinking that I'd probably benefit from talking about the basics with the kids all week. I thought I might be reminded that keeping things simple can help anyone out, not just a high-schooler. That happened, but I benefitted even more from their enthusiasm, open-mindedness, and pure love of the sport and event. On Thursday, my group of beginners released their first few javelins ever, looked back at me with giant, round eyes, and said,
"I LOVE this."
I almost cried, I was so happy. I relate to these kids now more than ever: I've felt that way all year, too. I got frustrated right after USAs this year, because all of a sudden, my expectations were sky high. I threw almost 56 meters, so why am I now not consistently throwing 60? Silly Kara. I realized that I needed to calm down, and that going to Iron Wood might be what I needed to do that. After laughing with the kids and seeing lots of improvement in one morning session, I had the best practice I've had since right before the Trials last year. Keeping it simple and having fun throwing again was the perfect recipe for connection to my implement and easy, far throws. On Friday, after three more days of laughing and love for the sport, with extremely tired legs from a week of feverish coaching and demonstration, I had an even better practice on the same runway with these awesome kids. Working with Duncan in those practices was really fun too, and both of us giving tips to the kids in between my throws was a fabulous experience. Feeling like a real part of the national javelin throwing community is so important to me, and I won't forget Friday's practice for a long time. Thank YOU to my Iron Wood campers. You are amazing.
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| Duncan taught me how to handstand! Finally!! photo by Eryn Vanney :) |
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Expectations (and Gratitude)
I throw at USAs tomorrow!!!!!!
I really can't believe I'm returning to competition in less than a day. As long as this row has seemed to hoe at times, I've really had an awesome, awesome year.
1. I seriously love rehab. Like, I actually enjoy it, not just because I know it's good for me in the long run but because it's fun. Doing new exercises all the time makes me happy.
2. Photography is my favorite. Finding the beauty around me every day has been so fun.
3. My mind is getting a workout. I get so much joy out of my MBA classes through DeVry University's Keller Graduate School of Management. I feel so much more fulfilled than I have in a long time, and I know it's because I'm expanding my horizons in the academic area again.
4. My new home is awesome. Colorado Springs took me a while to warm up to, but now I'm totally invested. Any new place is tough to adjust to, but the people, scenery, opportunities, and way of life just make sense to me. So happy.
5. Traveling is a blast. I'll be traveling a lot more in the next few years during the training season than I had been from San Diego: Ty is in New Orleans, I want to go back to Chula Vista periodically, and I am not shy about going home when I want to. I've taken the opportunity to go where I want, when I want this year, but I always fit the training in. I'm in my element when I'm figuring out how to get a workout in before going to lunch with a long-lost friend in a new city, etc. It energizes me. And I've gotten to see more important people in my life than I can count right now. Life balance, blam.
5. I am SO grateful. Grateful for my health, thanks mainly to Dr. Chao, Chris Garcia, Dr. Rintala, Jamie Myers, Ty Sevin, Wendy Borlabi, Amber Donaldson, and Heather Linden. Grateful for the amazing people in my life: Family (mine and Russ's), friends (near and far), and fans who've lifted me up when I really needed it. Grateful for ASICS and the USATF Foundation and the USOC for supporting me exactly when I needed to be held up. Grateful for each and every javelin throw I take, and that I've remembered the absolute joy of things coming together correctly.
I've been laser-focused on the date of USAs for months now. I didn't know if it would be possible to even compete tomorrow, just because it hasn't even been nine whole months since my surgery yet. Every check-up with Dr. Chao went fantastically, I get nothing but positive feedback from my athletic trainers (in Chula Vista and Colorado Springs), and my one week working with Ty in New Orleans could not have gone better. I've put absolutely everything I could have at this point in my recovery into being prepared to compete tomorrow. I'm super excited.
This is what success will look like for me at the end of Thursday (in order of importance):
1. I will stay healthy.
2. I will have FUN.
3. I will hit the positions I've been working on in practice.
Anything is possible. See this link for tons of coverage information.
I really can't believe I'm returning to competition in less than a day. As long as this row has seemed to hoe at times, I've really had an awesome, awesome year.
1. I seriously love rehab. Like, I actually enjoy it, not just because I know it's good for me in the long run but because it's fun. Doing new exercises all the time makes me happy.
2. Photography is my favorite. Finding the beauty around me every day has been so fun.
3. My mind is getting a workout. I get so much joy out of my MBA classes through DeVry University's Keller Graduate School of Management. I feel so much more fulfilled than I have in a long time, and I know it's because I'm expanding my horizons in the academic area again.
4. My new home is awesome. Colorado Springs took me a while to warm up to, but now I'm totally invested. Any new place is tough to adjust to, but the people, scenery, opportunities, and way of life just make sense to me. So happy.
5. Traveling is a blast. I'll be traveling a lot more in the next few years during the training season than I had been from San Diego: Ty is in New Orleans, I want to go back to Chula Vista periodically, and I am not shy about going home when I want to. I've taken the opportunity to go where I want, when I want this year, but I always fit the training in. I'm in my element when I'm figuring out how to get a workout in before going to lunch with a long-lost friend in a new city, etc. It energizes me. And I've gotten to see more important people in my life than I can count right now. Life balance, blam.
5. I am SO grateful. Grateful for my health, thanks mainly to Dr. Chao, Chris Garcia, Dr. Rintala, Jamie Myers, Ty Sevin, Wendy Borlabi, Amber Donaldson, and Heather Linden. Grateful for the amazing people in my life: Family (mine and Russ's), friends (near and far), and fans who've lifted me up when I really needed it. Grateful for ASICS and the USATF Foundation and the USOC for supporting me exactly when I needed to be held up. Grateful for each and every javelin throw I take, and that I've remembered the absolute joy of things coming together correctly.
I've been laser-focused on the date of USAs for months now. I didn't know if it would be possible to even compete tomorrow, just because it hasn't even been nine whole months since my surgery yet. Every check-up with Dr. Chao went fantastically, I get nothing but positive feedback from my athletic trainers (in Chula Vista and Colorado Springs), and my one week working with Ty in New Orleans could not have gone better. I've put absolutely everything I could have at this point in my recovery into being prepared to compete tomorrow. I'm super excited.
This is what success will look like for me at the end of Thursday (in order of importance):
1. I will stay healthy.
2. I will have FUN.
3. I will hit the positions I've been working on in practice.
Anything is possible. See this link for tons of coverage information.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
NOLA
I finally went to visit Ty at UNO! He was hired as the head coach there last fall, and has done a super job setting up a brand new track and field program. Two of his athletes head to the NCAA East Regional this weekend, and he's set to welcome lots more talent in the coming academic year.
I was so excited to have a reason to go to New Orleans, and the trip did not disappoint! I've been focused on rehab and supplemental training all year, but was fully cleared to throw at higher speeds (as I can tolerate) three weeks ago when I was in San Diego, so I booked a ticket to go see my coach and get some quality throwing work in. I could not be more encouraged!
I had been throwing on my own (with Chris, Jamie or Russ watching) for two weeks before visiting Ty. It was going okay, but there's a lot that has to become familiar again, and the basics didn't feel like the basics anymore. I tried so hard to focus on simple things, but I expected to struggle in the first few weeks of regular throwing, so my trip south seemed perfectly timed.
It was amazing the difference a few cue words made in my first session with Ty last Monday! It was even more amazing how well my second throwing session of the week went, especially because other parts of my body are trying hard to keep up with throwing again, too. This is my favorite throw from my second session (filmed by Lucais MacKay).
I'm a little open and slightly slow to my toe-first plant foot, but I am thrilled with this and the connection that I feel to the javelin. I'm going to slowly work more speed onto the runway and focus on stabilizing my block leg with my glute: Trusting my left leg is obviously the priority. I'm excited.
New Orleans is a fabulous place to look forward to having training camps next year! I had a blast exploring the area and eating as much seafood as possible. Some photos from the week:
I was so excited to have a reason to go to New Orleans, and the trip did not disappoint! I've been focused on rehab and supplemental training all year, but was fully cleared to throw at higher speeds (as I can tolerate) three weeks ago when I was in San Diego, so I booked a ticket to go see my coach and get some quality throwing work in. I could not be more encouraged!
I had been throwing on my own (with Chris, Jamie or Russ watching) for two weeks before visiting Ty. It was going okay, but there's a lot that has to become familiar again, and the basics didn't feel like the basics anymore. I tried so hard to focus on simple things, but I expected to struggle in the first few weeks of regular throwing, so my trip south seemed perfectly timed.
It was amazing the difference a few cue words made in my first session with Ty last Monday! It was even more amazing how well my second throwing session of the week went, especially because other parts of my body are trying hard to keep up with throwing again, too. This is my favorite throw from my second session (filmed by Lucais MacKay).
I'm a little open and slightly slow to my toe-first plant foot, but I am thrilled with this and the connection that I feel to the javelin. I'm going to slowly work more speed onto the runway and focus on stabilizing my block leg with my glute: Trusting my left leg is obviously the priority. I'm excited.
New Orleans is a fabulous place to look forward to having training camps next year! I had a blast exploring the area and eating as much seafood as possible. Some photos from the week:
Crawfish boil at Ty and Marie's.
Lake Pontchartrain sailboat at sunset.
Pony! Equest Farms in City Park had a fundraiser yesterday.
This horse wouldn't keep his tongue in his mouth. So funny.
There was a donkey race! Hilarious.
Sunset over the lake last night. Saw as many of these as possible.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
The Tough Times
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| Huckleberry, one of Drake's most beautiful bulldogs! |
Throughout this recovery process, I'm proud to report that I've been really strong! Yes, there have been times when I've had to choose my positive attitude, but it has been way easier than I expected to stay that way. I generally am just excited to do new things and get stronger physically every day, and that has been really fun to experience. Once I can do something again (box jumps, blocking drills, etc.), I just consider that new exercise to be part of my repertoire and move forward. It's awesome.
Thankfully, I've only gotten really upset about four times in the past seven months, but when I get discouraged, it hits me kind of hard. I'd like to say it comes out of nowhere, but emotions are completely normal! There have also been warning signs, but it's not like I could have avoided releasing those emotions. I think everyone who has gone through major injury can understand that emotions sneak up on you in your quest to stay positive through a recovery that is bound to have its ups and downs. Traveling to Drake kind of did that for me.
Upon arrival last week in Des Moines, I told Russ,
"I hope I don't freak out since I'm not competing and everyone else is."I wouldn't call what I did "freaking out," but I broke down at a bit of an inopportune moment. I obviously knew I was feeling kind of weird about entering the early months of Track and Field season not knowing what it will bring, or I wouldn't have mentioned anything to Russ. Good thing I have a fabulous support system to help me through, and I spent the rest of the week with some of the most positive people that I know. I also got to spend all day Sunday with my Grandpa!
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| Stacey and me :) |
What do you do to get yourself back on track? Don't let a few moments of being emotional (for good reason) derail you; talk it through, choose a happy thought, and move forward! I'm excited.
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