No Stoppin’ Now! | The Weblog of USA’s 2008 Paralympic Silver Medalist

Happy New Year! Where does time go these days? Just yesterday it was 1995 and I was in the fifth grade at Lacy Elementary School. Now, it’s 2010 and I’m out of college living in California, and doing nothing but running everyday. What a change. My mom always told me to have fun because the younger years wouldn’t last forever. I didn’t believe her though, I would be young forever. Think again, now I talk to elementary kids, and they ask how old I am, 25 I say, and they snicker and laugh saying I’m old. Yeah right, your day is coming just hold on, LOL.
I have a good feeling about 2010. Things are going to happen for me, I’m not sure what it may be, but don’t you ever just have good feelings? Something in your mind tells you that it’s going to be some great stuff going on, and you believe it. That’s how I feel. Each year is another journey, another set of 365 or 366 days to go out in the world and make things happen, to do the best you possibly can in whatever it may be. This year marks the beginning of a long road filled with numerous stops in different countries. March marks the beginning of the 2010 outdoor track and field season, June will be the national track and field trials for world championships, and in January of 2011 will be our world championships for track and field being held in New Zealand. I’ve never flown that far away from the states before. Beijing takes the cake in that category as of now, but New Zealand will be a little longer than that. I’ll make sure to have all of the electronics for that trip. There’s nothing like a long, drawn out, and boring flight, and if you can’t sleep on airplanes good luck, but I don’t have any issues with that.
So, after world championships in January of 2011, we have another world championships for our blind federation in the summer of 2011, not sure of the date or location. Then, we have the Panamerican games in October of 2011 held in Guadalajara, Mexico. Hey, that’s three countries in one year, I like it. That would bring my total to 13 different countries that I’ve traveled to. Following all of that action in 2011 will be 2012, and of course the biggest of all competitions is that year, the Paralympic games held in London in August. It seems like a long time from now, but believe me, it’ll be here before we know it.
I’ll make my way back to San Diego on Thursday and get ready to get back on the track and hit the weights. All of this North Carolina cooking has to come to an end. No fried chicken for a long time (frown face), but hey, when we’re in SD, we have to keep Chick Fillet in business right? I’m excited about what’s to come, this year is going to be a great one filled with numerous goals, and numerous accomplishments. I can feel it deep down inside.

Wow, it’s kind of hard to imagine San Diego cold and rainy for a full 24 hours, but yes, it happened today. It literally rained all day, matter of fact it started during the late hours last night. So today, was one of those lazy days where you just lay around and want to sleep. I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted, I actually was going to do an athlete spotlight on my team mate from Beijing, but supposedly it was given to me, but I never received it. It’s all good, I have another one that I will post up here soon. I hope your Thanksgiving was a great one. Mine was pretty good actually. I spent my Thanksgiving here in San Diego with some close friends/team mates. It’s funny because when you go to eat at others houses, sometimes you don’t eat as much as you would normally because you don’t want to seem like a pig, but on this day, Thanksgiving Thursday, I sat down at the table and consumed three plates. Yes, three full plates, but I had to, who knows the next time when I’ll get some greens, mac&cheese, corn bread, etc. The Olympic Training center doesn’t have this sort of food, so I had to cash in on the opportunity. The only bad part is practice resumes on Monday, and the past few days have consisted of me consuming large portions of food. It should be an interesting week. But on a more serious note, I love this time of year. Thanksgiving is truly amazing. You’re able to see and appreciate the things that you have, and to see someone who doesn’t have the things that you do makes you want to help them, and if it doesn’t, then you should do it anyway. We’re fortunate to have food, clothes, etc. This is the time of year where you must help someone so that they might have those same necesities. I know I’ll be finding someone to help for the holidays, and I urge you to do the same, it will make he/she feel great, but it’s always nice to know that you’ve helped someone in need. And even better, when you help someone, you will be blessed from above.

Arielle Verhaaren

There are two sports that I have no interest in trying to be apart of, one being UFC, you know Ultimate Fighter. There’s nothing like getting your head punched repeatedly, over and over again, until you’re knocked out, right? I’ll leave that to Kimbo Slice and Quinton Rampage Jackson. The other sport is BMX. BMX is extreme, hair raising, and it’s for those looking for an adrenaline rush like no other. Now that I think about it, some use those same words to describe blind long jumpers… I can remember my family coming out to visit the Olympic training center, and while their tour was going on, someone had asked why did we have a slide here at the center. At first, I didn’t know what they were talking about, but then once we got closer, the BMX track could be seen clearly. A slide? I can’t imagine riding a bike down something with that sort of angle and height. Arielle Verhaaren is another one of my friends, and she eats, sleeps, and breathes BMX, and probably bleeds it too. So here she is for this week’s Athlete Spotlight.

Arielle Martin-Verhaaren — USA BMX

Arielle on her bike

BMX is such a high-risk event in terms of getting injured, what inspires you to keep competing knowing that you could crash at any moment?

I guess the reward is worth the risk, what keeps me competing is the fact that I haven’t yet reached my full potential and I want to see how far I can go. There is nothing like flying through the air at 30mph over a 40ft jump, total adrenaline rush. Crashing is worth that.

Name a few things about a BMX bike that have to be perfect in order to be successful in a competition.

Tire pressure should be rock hard and everything needs to be locked down tight (like chain and stem bolts).

Approximately, how much does a top-notch bike cost?

BMX bikes are pretty cheap, you can get an entry level one for $200-300, the kind that we ride ranges from $1,000-$2,000 but thats the exception, not the rule.

What’s the one thing you hate to forget when packing for a long trip?

iPod, without it I wouldn’t survive the long flights.

BMX and a few events of track and field are similar in the sense that you put in numerous hours of training for a competition that lasts under sixty seconds, how do you prepare physically and mentally for a high level competition?

BMX is a power based sport but also requires a high level of skill. For Power training we do a lot of gym work (Squats, Cleans, Plyos) and for skills we ride the track daily. Mental prep is just like any other explosive sport, we have to be amped and ready to go but not too anxious.

Do you make your bed every morning?

First thing I do when I get out of bed, I can’t handle a messy looking bed.

Do BMX’ers have to follow a diet of any sort to be successful?

Funny question, some don’t, but like any sport you need to eat healthy to survive training and hard competitions. Nutrition is a very important part of any sport and I take it pretty serious, but some guys don’t and still do ok. To each his own I suppose…

A man has to get a fox, a chicken, and a sack of corn across a river. He has a rowboat, and it can only carry him and one other thing. If the fox and the chicken are left together, the fox will eat the chicken. If the chicken and the corn is left together, the chicken will eat the corn. How does the man do it?

Takes the chicken and leaves the fox with the Corn? I don’t think foxes really like corn… Why does he need a fox anyway?

(Close, man gets fox, man leaves fox and gets chicken, man leaves chicken and gets corn, man leaves fox and corn to get chicken, man gets chicken.)

What was your favorite cartoon to watch growing up?

I really liked Heman, I thought he was hot.

Success is not always measured by being number 1, or by winning a gold medal. In your eyes, what is success?

Becoming a better person both physically, mentally, and emotionally. Pushing yourself to a new level that you can recognize came from hard work. Winning a medal doesn’t hurt either.

Arielle launching a sweet jump

The one thing I admire about Arielle is the fact that she pushes herself to the limit. For instance, this past September at the BMX Supercross World Cup event held at the Olympic training center, she competed with a broken hand. Her fight and determination to be out there competing won her a third place finish. I’ll take that especially if my hand were broken. It’s not like track and field where your hands have a minor role, it’s extreme bicycle riding where you must grip the handle bars.

Mrs. Verhaaren is also a 2008 UCI SX World Champion (Union Cycliste International Supercross World Champion). Next stop for Arielle is France, where they are having an event this weekend.

Good luck and happy riding to Arielle and all of USA’s BMX’ers attending the event.

Akiba McKinney

The countdown is on, just a couple more days and training will be in full effect. I’m actually excited about the upcoming season. I say that now, but once we start doing body building circuits, I will probably go back on everything I just said. But hey, no pain no game, I think that’s how it goes.

Before I tell you about the woman for my athlete spotlight, get this! I was in Tahoe, California this past weekend, one of my friends got married there on Saturday evening. By the way, beautiful wedding, and congratulations again Jonathan and Vanessa Lyens. But uhh, yeah, I’ve never been here before and the most intriguing thing that I’ve experienced was a chicken sandwich, yes, two slices of bread filled with chicken, bacon, cheese, lettuce, and tomato. What was so odd was the fact that when I went to the counter to order, the guy told me my total was $9.89. What the heck did I order? I had a little sandwich and a Gatorade. I’m not a cheap person, but wow! Chick Fillet doesn’t even bang you over the head that hard, but whatever, I was that hungry. Now, let’s begin…

When training in Chula Vista at the Olympic training center, you come to know and enjoy so many people. There’s not too many dull moments, and if you were to come in to the dining hall at lunchtime during the month of February, you would have the opportunity to listen in on so many wild and crazy conversations. One person that I have come to know and enjoy is an athlete named Akiba McKinney. She is a long jumper as well, and we train in the same training group. One word, BEAST baby! I’ll explain later, but let’s get it rolling for now.

Akiba McKinney — USA Long Jumper

What made you want to pursue a career in the long jump?

It chose me! My personality would not allow me to run the 100, there is no fun in running 100 meters for me. I have to be more active, entertained, and complex. I have no desire to run in a straight line, it’s boring.

Let’s say you’re in competition at this very moment, the athlete before you takes off and lands a jump of 22 feet, 9 inches. You are physically prepared, but mentally, what do you do to keep yourself in the competition knowing that this athlete’s mark is exceptionally far?

That would excite me even more to perform, so because she performed well, my level of adrenaline has increased, causing me to perform well also!

Who has been your biggest inspiration/motivation in sports and in life?

Gail Devers has been the biggest inspiration in my life because she’s always had to overcome setbacks and injuries, or some other obstacle.

Also, Jackie Joyner Kersee, she’s the best to have ever done it and continues to be active and available to those who seek.

Stephanie Durst, because of her fight. She sticks to her guns and morals, she accepts her gift and will not conform, and she’s a pure honest talent. We share the same unwilliness to compromise.

And Elexis Gillette, read his story and you will understand why!!!

(I promise I didn’t insert that last part)

What’s the one thing you hate to forget when packing for a long trip?

Forgetting chap stick, lipgloss is worse than forgetting your toothbrush, especially on long flights because it is the absolute worse feeling to have chapped lips. Also, a brush because they don’t sell “our type” of brush in most countries, ohhhh and lotion, sooo picky with lotion!

What has been the most intriguing country you have competed in and why?

I love the brutal history and transformation of Germany, such a beautiful place. I love the Netherlands too.

When traveling overseas, what do you like to do on airplanes?

Read, write in my journal, listen to music, and sleep, though I don’t sleep well on planes because I don’t sit too well, and I need an isle seat so I can get up when I want. I have issues with being trapped between two people especially on long flights.

You are walking through a field, and you find something to eat. It doesn’t have bones, and it doesn’t have meat. You pick it up and put it into your pocket. You take it home and put it on a shelf, but 3 days later it walks away. What is it?

An egg! Come harder Lex!

(She probably Googled that answer, LOL J/K)

What do you love to do the most when you are not competing?

Ride my motorcycle, hang with family, go to movies, and lay in bed and heal.

What is the one thing you would like to accomplish before you retire?

A new movement.

When I created my web site, I didn’t just want to call it ElexisGillette.com, that’s so typical to me. I wanted another name, one with an underlined meaning for all who visited it, so I called it NoStoppinNow.com. After visiting the site, in your own words, tell me what NoStoppinNow means to you not only in athletics, but also in life.

Just because you have obstacles, in which we all do, keep pushing on, let it be.

In 2007, Akiba had an unfortunate situation occur while in Brazil at the Panamerican Games. Somebody didn’t do their job correctly for the long jump pitt. The sand was not raked properly, and when she jumped, she landed in an unraked portion of the pitt, meaning that it was an extremely hard surface, when in actuality, you’re supposed to jump in to a soft surface because of the nature of the event. Akiba landed and broke her leg. For the average person, this would mean retirement starts immediately, for Akiba, it means life has its challenges, so take them as they come, and overcome whatever is at hand.

I was on the internet trying to find the most dirt possible on her, didn’t succeed with that task, but what I did find was encouraging and applies to all of us as people. On a previous posting on twitter.com, Akiba writes, “Your DESIRE, not your IQ or DNA, determines your destiny. Only when U want something badly enough will U pay the price to achieve it. GO HARD!” Those are the types of words that push us all. If you have the desire, that’s all you need. If you want it badly enough, you will get out there and make it happen, no matter how difficult it may be.

In turn, Akiba is still training, still competing, still inspiring others, and still being a consistently good long jumper. Why? because she has the desire to.

By the way, follow her on Twitter. You have to keep up with one of USA’s best!

Hyleas Fountain

The 2010 track and field season is approaching very quickly, and next thing you know it, everyone here at the Olympic training center will be seen working out, and you’ll probably even catch a few hunched over gasping for air, and others will have their water bottles glued to their hand in hopes of staying hydrated. Fall training starts at the beginning of October, so there is only about a week and a half left. This year, I wanted to do something different on my blog. I have had the opportunity to come across some really remarkable people, people who I feel represent my site, NoStoppinNow. So I decided to start an Athlete Spotlight section in the blog, and it starts this week with one of my friends named Hyleas Fountain. I first met her after the Beijing games when we all went to the White House for the post-games celebration. Miss Fountain competes in the heptathlon and is quite spectacular in it. Heptathlon comes from the Greek, hepta meaning seven, and athlon meaning contest (just a bit of knowledge for your brain). The seven events are competed in over a two day span, four on the first day (100 m hurdles, high jump, shot put, and 200 m), and the other three on the second (long jump, javelin throw, and 800 m). As you can imagine, you have to be extremely strong physically and mentally in order to put yourself through an event of this magnitude. It takes a highly dedicated athlete to be great in this event, and Hyleas is just that.

My athlete spotlight is comprised of ten questions from me, a few of them are on the athlete’s event/sport, and the other questions are completely random. So if you skim across an odd or silly question, and can’t believe your eyes, believe it because I’ll ask it, LOL. Before we get started, I didn’t mention that Hyleas is only the second American since Jackie Joyner-Kersee to medal in the heptathlon at the Olympic Games. That’s some pretty nice company to be with, right? So let’s get this show on the road…

Hyleas Fountain — USA Heptathlete

As a heptathlete, how do you handle the physical and mental stress of competing in seven events over a two-day span?

I think sometimes it takes a little experience to go from event to event. With me, my coach only gives me either 5 minutes of praise or 5 minutes to boo hoo, and then its time to move on.

What has been the most intriguing country you have competed in and why?

I love going to Gotzis, Austria. The people are so nice, and the competition is outstanding. The food is awesome. This might be the only European country that I have been to and have liked all the food.

What’s the one thing you hate to forget when packing for a long trip?

My pillow. Just makes me feel like home.

At what point did you decide that you wanted to pursue a career in athletics?

I always wanted to pursue a career in athletics since I was a little girl. Didn’t realize that I could really make it happen until my junior year of college.

What do you love to do the most when you are not competing?

I like to take my dog on long walks, and of course I love to shop. I don’t know any woman that doesn’t.

12x – 9 = 39; x = ?

Man I don’t know that stuff anymore. That’s for the birds. I only know how to do math when I go shopping and that’s to see how much I am getting off of something. lol

(womp! womp! womp! x = 4)

What do you consider your biggest accomplishment so far in your career?

My biggest accomplishment was getting the silver medal in last years Olympic games.

Do you sleep with a stuffed animal, if so, what is his/her name?

No I don’t sleep with a stuffed animal, but I do share my bed with my dog named Febe. lol

Success is not always measured by being number 1, or by winning a gold medal. In your eyes, what is success?

Success to me is setting goals and working hard to achieve them and not letting anyone get in the way.

It is a privilage and honor to be able to represent the United States of America on the Olympic platform, how does it make you feel to be able to wear USA across your chest knowing that all eyes are on you?

It’s a big honor to be able to wear USA proudly across my chest. When it was time for me to stand on the podium I cried like a baby. You know I have been on many World Championship teams and have don’t nothing. This time around I finally got on the podium and I don’t even have words to say how greatful I was to have been able to have my country’s Flag raised for something I have worked so hard for.

See how painless that was? This is only the beginning though. But seriously, Hyleas is an outstanding athlete and person. She falls into everything that I feel my site represents. This year at the U.S. trials for the IAAF World Championships, she had an unfortunate injury that caused her to miss out on making the team. If she would not have gotten injured, she would have been in Berlin at the world championships, being that after the first day of the heptathlon, at the trials, she had a significant lead on the field. I called to check on her after the excitement from the trials had died down, and it was definitely painful to not be apart of the team, but her spirits were high, and she didn’t let the injury overwhelm her. I guess some things just happen like that, but you can either fold up, or take it as an experience, something to get stronger from. Hyleas has chosen the latter of the two, now training and competing again. That’s what I call No Stoppin’ Now, Yeah!

Please leave comments, not for me but for her. It’s always good to have motivation, give props, do whatever. My plan is to have an athlete spotlight for each week, so I have to get the ball rolling, and find more people. It’s not just for track and field athletes, but any athlete who is out there making the best of the opportunities given to them, no matter the obstacles that arise. Comment if you know anybody, and until the next time. I’m out of here…