Lessons Learned

In my accounting 255 course, electronic business management, I learned a variety of tools. Here is a list of the top 17 items that came to my mind.

1. creating a blog
2. creating a website
3. e-mail is the oldest, most powerful eMarketing tactic
4. advantages/disadvantages of online advertising
5. importance of using keywords
6. word-of-mouth cheapest form of viral marketing
7. creating traffic to webpage and blog
8. created products
9. setting up outbound links
10. publish pillar articles on website
11. promote bookstore products
12. adding counters for visitors on webpage
13. ezine/pillar articles
14. developed an eBook
15. monetization
16. developed a landing page for a product I created
17. four P's of marketing

The Spotlight

 Being in the spotlight comes with the territory of being an athlete no matter the sport. As a member of an instiution you are obligated to represent yourself in a positive light at all times. Being responsible and acting in an appropriate manner doesn't just mean playing the part when everyone is paying attention to what you do. The moments when you least expect someone to be observing your action are the most crucial moments because those are considered your moments of weakness.

I can recall my student-athlete days, as it hasn't been long since I have stopped competing (lol), when there was a period when a lot of our athletic programs were having discipline problems. It almost felt like every weekend someone would be dealing with the consequences of making bad choices. There were a few instances, on my team specifically, when coach had to kick a few teammates off the team for participating in underage drinking.

What we have to realize as athletes,correction, as student-athletes we have to remember that our actions affect not only ourselves but it causes a domino effect. We hurt ourselves, our team, and the instituiton we are attending. I remember a specific incident that happened around my sophmore or junior year. It involved a male athlete from the men's basketball team. He was arrested and charged with sexual assault (rape) of a minor. I don't know full details about whether he knew her true age or not but because of his actions and his lack of better judgment his whole team and program received a reputation of shame.

Know who you surround yourself with and what type of environment you are in or will be in. Make sure to make good decisions as they can have a detrimental impact on all of those involved in your program.

Make Smart Decisions

Making smart choices while competing is essential to one's success. It entails a variety of a lot of things such as planning, time management, what you eat, when you eat, deciding when to enjoy the social life and when not to, choosing the right friends. And the list goes on and on. As a student-athlete, the choices you make weigh more heavily than an average old student who is just attending the university for their academics. Not saying that their decision making does not mean anything but as a student-athlete you have a lot more to lose in the process if you choose not to make good decisions.

For example, lets say we have a female athlete on the track team who is on some type of scholarship through the athletic program. It is her third year in school, so she is a junior proceeding to be a senior the next year. Well. this particular season her coach notices that she isn't performing as well in the classroom or in competition and has been noticing a pattern throughout the whole year. Because she isn't performing so well coach had a talk with her about scholarship review......

From reading the above scenario you and I both know that this athlete clearly has some issues that is going on that needs to be confronted. But it's obvious that she has been having a difficult making good choices. As we all know, or have once heard before, that when one area of your life doesn't seem to be going well you usually are struggling in other areas also. Maybe she didnt make good choices about asking her resources for help or maybe she wasn't going to class. The choices she made are affected her success. So what we must remember is that our life is defined by the choices we make.

Weight Watchers

We have an obligation to keep our bodies within a certain weight limit as it may hinder our performance. As track and field athletes, maintaining a fit body weight will be a great factor to the ability of being able to perform at a high level. Track and field-as a performance sport-requires muscular strength and endurance, speed, agility, and power. Weight gain that is not beneficial may cause a slight change in performance and not always for the better.

There are many causes to weight gain in the world of track and field. I can remember that my problem was before I ever even participated in one practice at my institution of choice. It was the summer of my freshman year, so that meant I was fresh out of high school. So instead of working out all summer like I should have I decided not to do anything but enjoy the last few days (3months) of home. Why would I do a thing like that and not expect there to be some consequences lol.

The first day I was so out of shape for practice. I had put on a little weight and I had knew it wasn't toned muscle weight. Well on top of gaining about ten pounds over the summer the second week of school I had to have an emergency surgery on my appendix. The surgery required that I sit out of practice for about two months with no cross training or no practicing of any sort. So what do you think happened in result of that? By the end of the season I had put on an extra 20 pounds. When I left to go home my coach made it very clear to me that I had to lose weight. So the overall message of this is to know what shape is fit for you. Do all that you can to stay around that number or else there may be differences in your performance.

The Do's and Don'tS of Track & Field

As with anything.....there is always a list of things that should and should not be done. As a track athlete there are things I would recommend others to do and there are things I would tell others to avoid as much as possible. So here they are:

THE DO'S

• always warm-up well and stretch
• be the first one to make it and the last one to leave
• always try to lead from the front
• carry a water-bottle and sip all day

It is so important to warm-up properly because that is going to be the deciding factor in how well you perform. When I was in high school DIDN'T take it seriously and always half did my warm-up drills and stretching and in the end it only hurt me. Because I took it for granted I ended up sustaining a very bad injury that I have yet to fully recover from.

THE DONT'S

• alcohol and drugs are NO NO's
• poor work ethic
• partying night before competitions
• fighting coaches or teammates

My biggest pet peeve was to be a teammate of athletes who participated in alcohol and drugs. Both hinders performance and most importantly, drug abuse is banned by the NCAA and if you are caught can become ineligible or removed from the team.

These things I listed above of just a few of each example there are lots more that could be added. These are just some of my top ideas. Use these as you please.

Having a Degree to Fall Back On

Sometimes we take our blessings for granted and do not really utilize what we are given. As student-athletes we need to do the best we possibly can. If given scholarships for our athletic abilities, we need not depend on that. When I first went to college I definitely was a part of the 80-90% of kids who just wanted to have fun and party my freshmen year. I took my scholarship for granted and because of that my grades suffered the most.

I watched a film about a guy who played football. This young man was in his senior year and was so dominant that he was definitely going to make it to the league. Now don't get me wrong, he was not the smartest of his kind but he could without a doubt play some football. But the worst thing that could have happened HAPPENED. After winning his team a game he ended up collapsing soon finding out that he had cancer. Because of all the surgeries and weight loss there was no way he would recover in time to make it back for the season. He ended up dropping out of college never to play football again.

You never know what hand life will deal you, but the more prepared you are to face adversity the better off you will been when rough times arrive. Being all you can be does not only apply to the athletic field but it applies to all other areas of your life as well. While you have the opportunity, take advantage of your situation and make sure you come out of school with a degree just in case athletics doesn't take you where you want to go.

Favorite Event

In the sport of track and field my favorite event to run is the 200 meter dash. I am a sprinter so I run all events from the 60 meter dash to the 400 meter dash. I like this race the best because it is not too long and not too short. Right in between is just how I like it.

Running After School Is Over

The Professional Track and Field Association is a track and field program  meant to enhance the sport of Professional Track and Field for Non-Elite Open and Master Divisions. Most of us wonder, what do I do after I am done with schooling and I would still like to compete but I am not good enough to run professionally? I think that many who aren't in the sport have a difficult time understanding how the professional advancement with track and field actually works. I can recall a time when one of my friends came to a track meet and a group of us were having a conversation. And the topic was brought about how there is really nothing track athletes can do after college.

Currently, no professional track and field program exists but the Professional Track and Field Association wants to start one in America. The USATF is the professional program that supports the talented athletes aspiring to have Olympian status, but the PTFA will be for any type of athlete that includes world class athletes, former professional athletes from other sports, retired athletes, beginners, and people who may have only competed in track and field while in school. This program provides the public with the opportunity to participate if they choose to do so.

Personally, as a track and field athlete, I have never really aspired to run track past my college days but I know for many who do they worry because they don't know how to go about that since there really aren't many alternatives. I think it would be very beneficial for this program to be established because it would open up a lot of doors of opportunities.

The Dark Side of Track

As a former athlete and a regular spectator of track and field I must admit that there are many dislikes that comes along with the territory. I was once told with all good things comes some form of bad and this falls into the category. There are several things I will bring up and discuss briefly. Some of the disadvantages include:

•  a physically demanding sport
• very long to watch as a spectator
• multiple events going on at once
• set vs. rolling schedule
• sometimes have to perform in horrible weather conditions.

Physically Demanding

This is a sport that athletes cannot just go through the motions. I feel like we do what other sports team do when they are being punished. RUN RUN RUN and RUN some more. After a while it tends to take its toll on one's body.

Long to Watch

I've been doing this sport pretty much my whole life and it is physically torture to sit through. This is a sport that literally takes hours. For viewers it gets aggravating when you come to see someone compete and have to wait and wait if the athlete is in multiple events. Also as a participant it may suck if you have to sit at a meet all day no matter how many events you are entered in.

Multiple Events

As a spectator it is kind of difficult if you are supporting two individuals who are competing at the same time but are competing in different events. Also as athletes its hard to watch and support your teammates when you are preparing and getting ready to perform yourself.

Set Vs. Rolling Schedule

Most viewers and competitors are fans of the rolling schedule because rolling schedules means the meet will be end sooner versus a set schedule. But in some instances we athletes do like set schedules because we have a good recovery time and you know exactly when your race is going to take place and will be able to warm-up appropriately.

Weather Conditions

I absolutely hate how we have to perform in all forms of weather. I think some conditions should not be allowable. It's torture and unsafe and I believe it can be a cause of avoidable injuries.



Team Cheering

Cheering on your teammates is critical. Why? Because when you are participating in an event, whether it be running, jumping, or throwing, it always helps to hear energy from your crowd of support. It's almost as if you get a boost of energy when you feel you can't go on or complete whatever the task ahead of you may be. So how can you show support in the world of track and field?

Well there are many ways to show support. Make sure when you see one of your teammates performing you actively participate. You can participate by letting your voice be heard, making posters, or visibly just being around watching if that specific individual gets thrown off by too much noise. Support comes in many shapes and forms and it is very important that all athletes in your sport feel like they have the support of the group.

Being a team playing and supporting others comes along with the territory of goods sportsmanship. Good sportsmanship is when teammates, opponents, coaches, and officials treat each other with respect. Team cheering doesn't only have to fall into the category of your own specific team. Most of the time you witness athletes ,with good sportsmanship, cheering on competitors of opposing teams. Being able to cheer on others, even when you yourself don't perform as well as you like is a very great quality to have. It helps the overall quality of the team to know that you can still cheer on others.

Elite Woman

"Now you understand just why my head's not bowed, I don't shout or jump about or have to talk real loud. When you see me passing it ought to make you proud, I say. It's in the click of my heels, the bend of my hair, the palm of my hand, the need of my care cause I'm a woman phenomally. Phenomal woman that is me." Maya Angelou

Florence Griffith-Joyner, also known as Flo-Jo, was an American track and field athlete. She is considered the "fastest woman of all time" based on the fact that she still holds the world records for both the 100 meter and 200 meter dashes both set back in 1988 and has never really been challenged since. Unfortunately Flo-Jo died at the age of 38 in 1998 of epilepsy.

Aside from whether her 1988 Olympic trial was wind-aided, Griffith-Joyner was dogged by many rumors of drug use. She was tested during competition and never once did she fail any drug tests. During the late 1980s she became a popular figure in international track and field because of her record-setting performances and her flashy personal style. Her style consisted of her flashy, form-fitting bodysuits and her glittering six inch fingernails. She was unlike no other.

Florence unexpected death was a blow to the world of track and field. While her legend lives on many girls all around the world look up to her and have aspirations of being on elite athlete on her level. Through athletics she touched the lives of many. She was truly a phenomenal woman.

A Day as a Student-Athlete

As student-athletes we all have responsibilities. It doesn't really matter what sport an individual belongs to because our lives pretty much consist of the same daily routines. It is critically important that all athletes have a balance with being a student first and then an athlete second. Time management is a necessity and while I cannot speak for all athletes I think that most athletes can come to the consensus that things can become quite overwhelming if one doesn't take care of everything in a timely, well-planned manner. When competing at such an intense level physically and then also having to exceed average expectations in the classroom a student-athlete needs to familiarize him or herself with a daily routine until this habit becomes beneficial to success.

Here I will explain how an average day as a student-athlete played out for me. Usually my day began very early in the morning. It would begin with an early morning practice or an early morning weight training session which usually was around 6:30am. Directly after that I would head to the training room where I would do some type of physical therapy or rehab because of injury or minor aches and pains. By 9am I would be returning home to shower, eat breakftast, and preparing for my classes. Classes usually lasted all day until it was time to return to practice which be around 330pm. Practice lasted a good 2 hours everyday. Directly at the end of practice I would return back to the training room for more treatment. After practice and treatment was complete I would return home, shower, eat and then head to the study center because as 'student'-athletes we are required to clock in so many hours every week. My day usually ended around 1030-11pm and the next day the cycle would repeat itself all over again!

My main message here is that you have to be prepared for long, full days. Being a student-athlete means making sacrifices that normal students don't have to make. Time management is key.

HAVE FUN



At the college level, most track and field athletes that I have come into contact with consider the sport to be of a job rather than the fun sport it once seemed to be in high school. Track is a sport that will either make you or break you. It isn't a sport where an athlete can just go through the motions day-in and day-out. It is physically and mentally demanding and it requires you to love, like, or feel some type of passion for or it will become a burden. What you must remember is that there needs to be a balance of enjoyment (fun) and being serious and putting in the required work. In every sport there will be up and down days but if you find yourself having more down days versus up days it is probably because you do not enjoy the sport as you once did for whatever the case may be.

Many times I heard my former coach telling his athletes that he should be able to visibly see that his athletes want to be there and now that I am helping assist, looking from the outside in, I can honestly say I understand exactly what he means by that statement. Just by watching and observing the body language and comparing energy levels of the athletes you can see who wants to be there and who does not want to be there.

Having fun is a necessity when competing at such an intense level. It should not be serious all the time. By working hard most of the time it should allow you to feel free to have some fun along the way.

Injuries & Knowing When Is Enough

Knowing your body requires you being in tune with yourself. Paying close attention to all your aches and pains can sometimes be overlooked because of your competitive nature. But as an athlete you must have a limit to when enough is enough before it becomes too late. Usually before a serious injury occurs there are signals that your body gives off telling you that something isn't quite right. Take precautions at all times. Even though we are told to push through the hurt with mental toughness we have to have some type of boundary. 

Although injuries are accidents the causes are sometimes preventative. Causes such as poor training practices or the use of improper or inappropriate gear and equipment, to name a couple are causes that can be avoided. But what athletes must remember is that not all injuries can be pushed through. At some point you have to learn to stop and get the medical attention that it needs for you to be as successful as you would like to be.

I can remember from experience how my injury came about and it was all because I was too ignorant to know when to stop because I didn't want to disappoint my teammates and my coach, but ultimately by not stopping I only made things worst for myself because I ended up tearing my hamstring. I knew my body wasn't able to complete the task that was before me but I went against the grain and had to suffer the consequences.

Athletes know your body and know when to stop.

Your Body is A Temple

As everyone already knows, the body and mind works together. Without each other, we as human beings, cannnot function correctly nor properly. Our bodies need a good support system and that is why it is essential for athletes to treat their bodies like a temple but not only athletes even those individuals who aren't. If you take good care of your body you will have the privilege of doing whatever you like to do when you like to do it with power, strength, energy, and vitality.

When competing we must understand the toll that track and field can take on the body. By not properly inputting the right nutrition you are only being a hindrance to your own success. My whole life I wasn't truly taught the importance of treating my body like a temple, and because of that my body suffered the consequences which directly affected my mental state as well. If I could go back and change anything about my athletic career I would change my eating habits. I choose that specifically because I believe that played a crucial role in my ability to perform at my highest peak and I also believe I could have prevented some of the injuries I experienced because I wasn't doing all I could do to be the best I could be.

Your body is a temple, so why not treat it like one?

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Mental Toughness

Mental toughness is a necessity in the world of athletics. As a former member of track and field I must say just about every day was a challenge physically as well as mentally. Even though I know longer compete I help assist the track and field team I was use to be a part of. Just the other day I was helping time one of the tougher workouts and it took me back to when I use to be the one on the track putting in work. And what I realized is that it is so much easier to watch it being done than to be on the other side of the doing. With track and field I think it is overlooked how physically demanding this sport truly is. When you think about the amount of time that a real race takes to finish, especially the sprint events, it seems almost absurd the amount of time we have to put in preparing for it. To compete in this sport it is a must that you have some degree of mental toughness because without it you will not last very long. Every day I had to fight to finish the workouts. I had to give all I had. For some it is easier than others, given one's fitness level, endurance, and strength. As an athlete, a true athlete, mental toughness becomes a part of who you are. There are so many obstacles we have to overcome that it is applied to all aspects of life not just athletically.

Team Chemistry

With the track and field sport, team chemistry can be a quite difficult task because of its individuality among competing. The average track and field team consist of a huge amount of individuals. Within the program I competed in the team was composed of almost one hundred members. Of those one hundred members they were divided up among the different events (throwers, jumpers, and runners). Even within those specific events they were divided up even more. In track and field you can throw, jump, run, or even a combination of the three but within that specific category you have a specific area which you focus on. Within the throwing events you can throw discus, javelin, shot, or hammer. In the jumping events you can compete in the high jump, long jump, or triple jump. And with the running events you can either be a short sprinter, long sprinter, or a distant runner. With all these taking into consideration you have to wonder how do teammates and coaches find a way to connect with one another as a whole if groups are so divided? Well the answer is not so simple. Seeing that many of the individuals on the team only deal with those who are specifically in their same events the coaches and athletes have to find things to do as a team collectively. Every now and again the coaches would make sure they took the time out to do team building exercises where all the athletes of different events would interact with others outside of their specific events to learn more about each other. We also would attend team dinners and we would sometimes be paired up with different team members when traveling and staying overnight in hotels. For overall successful team chemistry every one needs to work cross-functionally together. The team cannot succeed if everyone a part of the mission does not have the same common goal.

Track Traveling Team

Being a part of an athletic team requires great time management and dedication to your sport as well as to your studies. As a former member of the track and field program there was a lot of traveling which meant that many classes may have been missed due to competition. Most of the time, professors were very understanding but every once in a while you would have those few individual instructors who showed no leniency towards athletes after a certain amount of class periods were missed, whether they were excused by competition involvement or not. Being an athlete you have to learn to adapt and stay ahead when it comes to managing your studies. The instructor needs to be informed of competition days just in case you need to do an assignment earlier or if there needs to be a date scheduled for make-up exams etc.  Missing classes to compete is not a good enough excuse for one to not be successful in the classroom. Athletes are expected to exude excellency not only in their physical abilities but also within the world of academics.

I can remember the long bus rides, the sleepless nights in hotel rooms, and the traditional continental breakfast that was served at just about every hotel we committed to. After a while though, traveling every weekend can get a little old, and sooner than later it starts to become and undesirable reoccurring event. My advice to all who have yet to know the feeling is to be prepared and know before anything should come studying. Any spare time you have, whether it be on the bus ride to the destination or downtime in the hotel, make sure you find the time to get some work done. Utilizing your time appropriately will be very wise and beneficial to your success in the classroom.

Athlete/Coach Relationship

School athletics can be very helpful beyond just keeping you fit and offering you something to put on resumes and applications. Having a good relationship with your coach helps you get the most out of your sport. Many of the individuals that are in coaching positions have completed courses in athletics themselves and can offer advice through their own experiences. Being that they have already been down the path that you are now on, or will soon enter onto, they will be able to guide you along the way. Coaches have insight on techniques, formations, and solutions that will work and those that don't seeing that they have dealt with lots of players and seen situations already played out before.

The relationship with your coach can be different from relationships you have with your parents or teachers. A coach is usually closer to your level, working equally with you toward a common goal. You might feel more comfortable opening up to a coach about different sorts of things, from problems at home to difficulties in school. Ideally, a relationship between a coach and an athlete is based on mutual respect and trust. Communication is crucial so both athlete and coach knows what the other wants to achieve.

As an athlete I made sure I chose a school that had a coach who I felt comfortable talking with and being around seeing that I would be spending a tremendous amount of time with on a daily basis. I made sure we shared some of the same values. I spent four years at this college and my coach became like a father away from home to me (elvis forde). So when choosing an institution make sure you have a coach who you will be willing to build a great relationship with because in the long run it benefits you, the coach, as well as the team.

Giving Back to Track

Growing up as a young kid to an adult, I have learned along the way, that it is very important to give back to the community and those who have helped you get to where you are today. I believe as athletes, we are looked up to by many individuals who aspire to be something of greatness whether in athletics, or life in general, and by being a role model we are obliged to carry ourselves in a way that exudes excellence and greatness.

I come from a low-income neighborhood where the statistics of a kid making it through high school and on to college is very low. But I beat the odds. I was blessed and fortunate enough to have individuals and mentors who have been down my path and they were successful in inspiring me to want more out of my life and because of that I feel that it is my duty and responsibility to do the same thing for someone who has yet to begin the journey.

So how can you give back while being an athlete or even after your athletic career is over? There are a variety of ways to give back while in high school or in college. Here are a few; JustRead, Recess Buddies, Panel Discussions (Questions and Answers Session), Volunteer Camps etc. Once you are done competing you could always give donations as an alumni or just by simply supporting the sport community by attending games and meets.

Giving back is a vital part of a full and rewarding life. By donating money or your time is beneficial to all parties involved. By giving you help others and yourself by making the world a better and more friendly place.

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The Mindset of a Sprinter

Does all runners run with the same strategy and mindset?
And the answer is NO. Runners have one common goal which is to win but when it comes to competing within different categories, such as sprints, middle distance, and long distance, the strategy of the race becomes a little different respectively. From experience with being a versatile sprinter I can honestly say that every race for me is ran different as far as my approach to competing. When it comes to the mindsets of all runners no matter the event, every athlete has a certain strategy they operate by to finish the race. For example, I competed in the 60 meter dash, the 100 meter dash, the 200 meter dash, and the 400 meter dash and all of them I focused on different techniques that were more important and essential for me to succeed in that specific event. In the 60 meter dash the main focus is on your block start. It was essential to push, drive, and be explosive out of the blocks because the race is over so fast. The 400 meter dash, on the other hand, takes on a whole different approach. Running is almost all mental and a small portion physical.

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Interesting Facts

In every aspect of life that has its own category it holds its own interesting facts. In the world of track and competing there are many interesting facts so I will post a few of them.

1) The 100 meter dash used to be called the 100 yard dash. All the races used to be measured in yards in the United States. So the same applies for the 200 meter dash it was 220 yard dash and the 400 meter dash was the 440 yard dash and so on.

2) The 400 meters used to be a middle distance but runner got so good and ran it so fast that it is now considered a sprint and the same for the 800 meter dash.

3) It takes thirteen seconds for oxygen to get to your muscles so technically a sprinter can hold their breath for the whole duration of the 60 meter dash, and the 100 meter dashes.

4) Twenty years ago runners footwear did not use to be spike equipped.

5) Listening to many marathoners speak about their experiences most of them state they have urinated while running.

I have been involved in the world of track for about fifteen plus years and there is so much that can be learned, interesting as well as informational. The things I stated above are only a few stats talked about. I feel like when individuals have more than average knowledge about certain fields they should want to share it with others.

History of Track & Field

Track and field is one of the few sports that is categorized as an individual sport with athletes challenging each other to decide a single champion. The sport consist of running, jumping, and throwing. Within the running events there are sprints, middle and long-distance events, relays, and hurdling. Regular jumping events include long jump, triple jump, high jump and pole vault and for throwing events there is the shot put, javelin, discus and hammer. Athletes who compete in a combination all of these events are called heptathlon and decathlon (six and ten events respectively).

Track and field events are among the oldest of all sporting competitions because the events are natural and universal forms of human physical expression. Athletic contests were often held in conjunction with religious festivals, as with the Olympic Games of ancient Greece. The first recorded Olympic Games occured in 776 BC in Olympia, Greece. For centuries after it was a sport for men only. The sport didn't begin to flourish until the 1860s and back then athletes received no financial compensation. In 1913 the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) was formed by representatives from sixteen countries. Its responsibility was establishing standard rules for the sport, approving world records, and ensuring that the amateur code was being followed; which it continues to carry out to this very day.

The participation of women in track and field is a relatively recent development. In 1921 representatives from six countries formed an athletic federation for women, which merged with the IAAF in 1936. Participation by women has grown rapidly in many countries in recent years, particularly in the United States, where many schools have added women's track and field to their athletic programs.

I chose to write about the history of track and field because I honestly believe that "one can''t know where they are going unless they know where they have been."

Finding Your Perfect Fit

                                          
Finding the  right college for you, academically and athletically, takes a lot of time and the right investigation. As a young adult this will be one of the biggest decisions of your lifetime and it is critical that the institution you choose fits all of your specific criteria as it will be the place you will be investing in for the next four to five years of your life. Does it meet your standards and expectations? Do you meet theirs? Is this school close enough to home or is it not as far away as you want it to be? Can you afford to be a full-time student there? All of these questions (plus more) are important and essential to know while you are going along your recruitment process. As a prospect student-athlete you should make sure you allow yourself to be able to visit as many schools as possible. Have a variety of schools because you never know exactly what you are looking for unless you can eliminate the things, or school attributes, that you don't like.

As this may be a bit overwhelming for those who are not quite ready to leave home, or branch off onto another leaf, remember to stay calm and know that there are plenty of others who have been where you are. So whatever you do, do not forget to ask questions. The more you know the more you become aware of things that may help you decide where it is that you would like to go. I can remember my whole process. It was scary and exciting at the same time. I ultimately chose a school that was the perfect fit for me. When I went to visit the school of my choice, it was my last college visit. I remember walking on the school's quad, and minutes into the walk I knew this is where I would build memories for the next four years. So it is essential that you get the whole experience of the school before you commit. Word of mouth isn't good enough because everyone likes different things.

Adrenaline on Competition Day

As I am called to my blocks I can hear my heart pounding. I feel anxious, nervous, and ready all at the same time. I try my hardest to control my breathing. I tell myself over and over and over again...."This is what you do. When the gun goes off.....push, pump, drive, accelerate. Nothing or No one else matters at this point. FOCUS, FIGHT, FINISH....WIN!" As an athlete adrenaline is a source we must use when we compete because if not our competitors has somewhat of an advantage.

Any individual can and probably have experienced the feeling of an adrenaline rush. It is a naturally produced hormone that is produced by the body. As an athlete I experience adrenaline rush all the time but I must say I believe you can't be a true competitor without knowing the feeling. Adrenaline effectively counters high-stress and physical situations. It enables us to process information, while at the same time, utilizing actions at a rapid rate. Every time I have competed on or off the track adrenaline increased my physical performance. As an athlete, you pray to get adrenaline on big competition days. It always seems to push your body's physical parameters when you yourself alone can't seem to do it. And it allows you to perform incredible feats of strength, facilitates numerous emergencies and calls to action. Whether you are an athlete or not adrenaline is a great thing to have and always comes in handy when needed in certain situations.


Sometimes adrenaline can work against you. Watch this video of the world's fastest man False Start

ACADEMICS VS. ATHLETICS

So which is a better attribute? Academics or Athleticism? Are they equally important or does one rank above the other? As a student-athlete I would say both of them are worthy of great investment if you can excel in both areas. I believe that all athletes should be more than just what the physcial body exudes. The mind of any living being or creature is the most important thing that exists. So why not use what we have to enhance our circumstances. Academics or athleticism is a great thing when it comes to a college education because by being good at either one, more than likely it can help pay one's way through many years of learning. If you combine a good student with a great athlete you ultimately end the equation with a free (paid for) education and if not free a partially free education. I grew up in a low-income neighborhood where I was surrounded by many poor schooling systems, lots of minorities, and lots of violence. Nobody ever really stressed the importance of education to me and how being a great student could have a huge pivotal impact on my life. Often I heard, over and over again, that I should use my athleticism as a way out of my bad environment but I was never told to incorporate the two (academics & athletics). To anyone out there who aspires to be an athlete on any level I would encourage you to know both worlds because it exposes you to a whole new life.

Having the Slight Edge

 

 As a student-athlete I remember at the beginning of every school year, at Illinois State University, our athletic director would schedule a mandatory team meeting for every single athlete from every official sport to attend. Throughout this pep talk he would challenge us to be better than we were the previous year. By the end of this speech he would give us a book that he would recommend for us to read. These common goals discussed in this book could be applied to every aspect of your life whether it was for sports, education, social life, or whatever it specifically may be. So why am I mentioning a life book for a topic that is evolved around the world of track & field? I believe that track & field is only a small portion of what will make us who we are and to understand and get a head start on life we must be prepared to face the many obstacles that life will have lined up for us. The Slight Edge simply shows you how to create powerful results from the simple daily activities of your life, by using tools that are already within you. So this is connected to my previous blog. Elite athletes go above and beyond the average. They create powerful results from the simple daily activities in their lives. Simple things such as; eating healthy, getting enough sleep, making positive decisions, being prepared and doing whatever it takes to stay ahead of the pack, just to name a few. Reading this book and taking the concepts and applying them to your life before you go to college will give you the slight edge over others. You will be prepared where others lack.

WHAT MAKES A TRACK & FIELD ATHLETE ELITE?

In the world of track & field how do we determine what makes an athlete elite? What qualifies an individual to stand above all the others in their specific field of competition? Do these questions have a simple answer? Of course they do. The word elite in itself is defined as a group of people, or an individual, considered to be the best in a particular society or category because of their power, talent, or wealth. Now for those of us who have competed in sports, no matter the type, you know that being considered elite is simply excelling over your competition. In this instance we specifically call those elite athletes those who rank at the top of the field of competition by measuring who ran the fastest times, jumped the farthest or highest lengths, or threw the longest distance in feet. At Illinois State University an athlete can be considered elite in the Missouri Valley Conference but does that make him or her elite on all levels, a level such as the Worlds Championships? Of course cannot because all levels are considered to be different and on a more different level than the next. Being an elite athlete is being a great athlete and being a great athlete is more than just your physical attributes. Bringing something above and beyond the average is what makes you memorable and legendary. Question? Does a controversial scandal make an athlete not elite? For example, for those of you who follow track and field, what is your opinion on the whole Marion Jones issue. In 2007 Marion Jones acknowledged using steroids as she prepared for the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney. She had won five medals at that Olympics and was unhesitatingly considered to be the greatest female athlete in the world at that time. So I leave you with this.....would you still consider her as ELITE?

Confession of Steroid Use