This week during a period of continuous downtime I finally had the opportunity to address the hundreds of emails that awaited me from my website regarding the Olympic Games. It was very disturbing to find numerous emails from people who are very unhappy with me as that they feel I have insulted the Jamaican culture and am a sore loser. I just want those who misunderstood or were unsure by what I meant to accept this clarification directly from me. I am not sure where it was published or how it was actually written but what I said was not directed toward Jamaican people or toward any culture or religion for that matter. I am not aware of the voodoo doll I spoke of being a part of any Jamaican tradition or from where the word originates and I should not have used a word I am not perfectly sure about myself. I only meant the word to mean the same thing as “jinx” or “karma” and should have chosen my words more carefully.

The question I was asked was, how do I explain the misfortune of so many American favorites thus far? Knowing that I couldn’t answer on the behalf of these other “American favorites” I wanted to make a general statement explaining that the events were unexplainable from my point of view. It was not specific to my races so nor did it make any mention of anything regarding my Jamaican competitors so I was surprised to find so many feeling as if it were an act of poor sportsmanship to discredit my competitors. I am not envious or bitter toward any of my competitors and accept my place knowing that I put my best foot forward. When 8 people line up for a race each plans on winning however it is inevitable that 7 will not be winners and to be able to make it to this level you have to understand that. I Hope this has given those upset or uncertain a clearer representation of my thoughts and intentions.

I thought to myself as I descended down the cement path into the quiet of the tunnel that would lead me into the Birds Nest. I had never been into the Olympic Stadium before but I had run through this tunnel thousands of times in my minds eye during training. For the past decade, whenever I ran through a tunnel I would always picture myself running into the Olympic Stadium, of course, in my dream world I was always winning the marathon, not struggling n 10th place. Nevertheless, as I made my way into the stadium I decided I would enjoy the moment. My eyes circled around the stadium in amazement. This is what I pictured heaven to be like.

Coming down the homestretch I saw a sea of red shirts that made up a group of 15 or so of my family members wearing the Hall Believe t-shirts. I waved to them as a sign of appreciation for all they had supported me through. It was comforting to see my family. It had been a difficult two hours and twelve minutes of running and this final stage of my Olympic marathon would be somewhat of a consolation. As it turned out it was one of the most memorable moments of my life.

My watch read 3:13 am when I first opened my eyes on August 24th. I had set my alarm for 4:30 am to be ready in time for the 7:30 am start but this was the day I had been waiting for my whole life and I was glad to have the night passed over and the day at hand. About half an hour after I woke up I heard a loud booming noise outside. I looked out the window and saw the most freakish lightening storm I had ever seen.

In hindsight I speculate that the Chinese may have seeded the sky because it was a super intense storm with lightening flashing brightly across the dawn sky for about ten minutes then there was torrential rain for two minutes and then it just seemed to vanish out of no where. It seems too random that there would be a freak thunderstorm just three hours before the start of the Olympic marathon. Regardless, I was glad for the clear skies and somewhat cooler temperatures.

We headed out to Tieneman Square on a bus at 5:30 am. The atmosphere was buzzing. I jogged for seven minutes with Dathan and Brian. The mood was lighthearted as we circled around on the cobblestones near the starting line. The temperature was slowly starting to rise so we slapped on our ice vests in an attempt to keep our core temperature low.

Finally I was here. After years of struggle and wanting to throw in the towel I had made it to the start of the Olympic marathon. I took a minute to remember all the American guys back at home that hoped to be on the starting line. I wanted to do my best to represent them well. I fell to one knee and prayed, “Lord, I will do my very best for you no matter what happens out there.” A few minutes later the gun fired.

From the very first hundred meters Samuel Wanjiru, of Kenya, made it clear that he was feeling good. He sprinted straight to the front and asserted a fast pace. During those opening kilometers I was forced to make a tough decision: either go with the leaders and hope that I wasn’t committing suicide or try and win by out smarting the lead pack knowing that they had gone out too hard and wait for them to slow in the later stages.

I knew that above all I had to listen to my body, the pace felt fast and my breathing felt heavy, and when I finally saw the first 5k split (I never saw a mile or kilometer split before 5k) of just over 15 minutes I knew that I couldn’t go out any harder than I was running. I also knew that if I kept running three minutes per kilometer I would win the race, however, much to my surprise three minutes per kilometer would have only earned me the silver medal.

I figured the best plan was to run similarly to how I raced the World Road Running Championships in 2006 when I went out way slower than the leaders and worked my way up to a top ten finish. I saw my coach at 10k and he affirmed that the leaders went out too hard. He was right, the leaders did go out at a pace that they couldn’t hold to the finish, but unfortunately for me, even before I hit the half way point I felt my legs tiring and tightening. I just wasn’t as fluid or strong as I had been in previous marathons.

By 30k I pretty much knew, by the sight of the helicopter in the distance following the leaders that I was slowing down more than the leaders. There would be no medals for me this time around. I set my mind on the only thing I could still accomplish in the race: giving 100% of all that I had on the day. I may not have my “A” game but I was determined to give all of whatever game I brought on the day.

In hindsight I wish that I had gone out with the leaders and just hung as long as possible. I think the way I ran was smarter and probably did yield a higher finish than if I had gone out two minutes harder for the opening half, but part of me also wonders if I would have been more excited being with the leaders and been able to rally with some supernatural strength and pull off a medal.

Although, if I would have blown up I know I would have been telling myself that if I would have just went out slower I could have held the pace all the way to the line. In the end, I wasn’t physically on top of my game. I had put in a lot of hard work but for whatever reason my training hadn’t been nearly as quality as in my previous marathons. I was running my tempo runs 10-15 seconds slower than my typical. As an athlete this can be hard to swallow. When the big day arrives I want to have my very best, so naturally it is disappointing to only have my B, or C, game.

After the race the disappointment was setting in, especially when I saw how fast Sammy ran. I couldn’t believe that 2:06 was possible in those conditions. He clearly owned the day. It was also disappointing because I knew I had run with those guys before and had been able to hang till late, yet today I was six minutes back and six minutes back from my personal best.

It is going to take some time to figure out why my preparations weren’t as good as typical. Was it the pressure and anticipation of my first Olympics? Was it living apart from Sara? Am I just not as good as others in the heat and humidity? Was I trying too hard in practice or not trying hard enough? Did I not take enough time off after London? Should I have run London? The hard part about running is there are so many variables that come into play. Trying to identify the ones that really impacted your performance on the day can make your head spin.

A little less than twelve hours after I ran into the Olympic stadium I hobbled back in to take part in the closing ceremonies. I stood just feet away from the three marathon medalist as they were presented their medals to kick off the closing ceremonies. At first I was bitter, I had worked so hard, sacrificed so much, and wanted so badly to be up there, but by the time the Kenyan national anthem had finished its last note my bitterness had melted into inspiration. I could see myself up on that podium. I know that it is possible with God, but even if it is not God’s will for my life I will still praise Him and make the most of the gifts He has given me. What the Olympics has taught me is that I need to live a life surrendered to the will of God. It is my prayer that I will be able to have the same heart as Christ before He was nailed to the cross, “not my will, but Your will be done.”

Although things didn’t go as planned I still had a wonderful experience in Beijing! It was an amazing city and they did a fantastic job hosting the Olympics. The village was the nicest I’d ever seen, the transportation was on time and clean, the volunteers were always very friendly and helpful, and not to mention the BIRD’S NEST!!! It was unreal. The most beautiful track and field structure I have ever seen. The intricate design, the attention to detail, the lights…….everything was breathtaking! I was disappointed, but to leave Beijing with two medals is actually a dream come true. So many of my peers came and left with nothing. It’s funny in 2004 I would have gave my right arm for a bronze medal and this year I was displeased. I know I was physically prepared for gold, but sometimes it takes time for our mental to catch up to our physical. I was overwhelmed! I let everything get to me. My lane draw, the meaning of the meet, the weight of my country…everything! If it had been a normal meet and I felt a cramp in my leg, I would have completed the race and told my coach about it after, but this time was different! I made it get the best of me and I panicked! I knew what was on the line and for about 13 seconds I allowed it to get me out of my game.

It’s over now and Christine and Shericka are the gold and silver medalists. I am thrilled for them because I know like me, they worked hard and prayed for this moment as well. Four years only seems far away now but I remember how quickly the last four passed and I just can’t wait, God willing, to have the opportunity again. I know there are a lot of meets and Championships in the interim and I hope to have success there as well. However right now I’m just counting my blessings and they far outweigh any negative I could think of!

Until next time……

Well this is it! It is race day. I have made it thru the first day without any real drama now it is time to leave it ALL on the track. I am full of nervousness!! I race at 7:45pm. It is 3:11pm and my heart is racing like I have already completed the warm-up. It is hard but I am trying to keep things in perspective. I cannot tell the future and as much as I like to be able to there is no need because we will all know the result in a few hours.These things I do know….

That for one to be the winner there has to be 7 other losers so one persons joy will inevitably result in many others pain. Life is about both joy and pain and when things don’t go the way you would like them to how you choose to deal with that is what becomes the most important next move. No one likes a sore loser and if takes far more character to hold your head up and conduct yourself in a manner that respectful of others despite how much pain you are in than to celebrate (I don’t know anyone who isn’t good at celebrating).

A loser is going to wonder why it seems they have done everything right and still come up short. They may even begin to believe that they are being punished for somehow not having done enough. This is a crucial moment when you either decide to wallow in self pity or keep on living because life is far from over.

My theme for this games is living. I am dedicating this performance to those who don’t have that privilege anymore mainly my God mother Dr. Sophie Womack who passed earlier this year suddenly. She crammed so much into her time here and I have her example to remind me that no matter how much you think you’re doing or hard you think your working there is always room for more. You only live once so don’t waste time pouting, complaining, whining or making excuses take advantage of each moment and focus on all things wonderful, pleasant and positive.

Tonight I am getting on that track knowing that I am capable of winning. But win lose or draw I am already at peace with myself. I know how far I have come. I know I am going to run my heart out so no matter what happens when I cross that line there is no reason to think the world is going to end. I may not be the happiest person in the stadium but I choose not to be the saddest either.

I have accepted that God has a plan for me and if getting across the finish line first is in it I will be overjoyed. If not, I will hold my head high be grateful for the experience of being here not once but twice in the same lifetime. If you are a fan of mine surely it isn’t just because I run fast. You know that I have some many other hopes dreams and desires that I am capable of great things. I am dedicated to education and helping others. I have far from reached my full potential in any area of life and will continue to grow with the help of those around me.

I know I have told you before but if you see me please don’t wish me luck. Luck is for those who have not prepared their going to need luck to be more successful than me I have worked too hard to depend on luck. I depend on GOD. Hard work and GOD is all I need so when it is time for my races make sure you say a prayer for me and I will be just fine.

It has been an exciting week. I was glad to make the move from Dalian into Beijing so that I could move around freely. I didn’t waste any time either, arriving Sunday afternoon and heading straight to Beijing Normal University (BNU) to check out the training accommodations and food that everyone has been raving about. BNU is set up for Team USA to have a place to train privately. You know me I LOVE to eat and was glad that the food held up to the hype. With an all American staff flown in the USOC outdid themselves. There are smoothies, a pasta station, salad bar and a buffet with a well balanced meal complete with nutrition information. Then there is a grill menu that you can always order from if nothing suits you and if all else fails you can ask for what you want and they will try their hardest to accommodate you. This is also where personal coaches, team alternates along with other stragglers associated directly with team USA but not on staff reside. The 24hr Fitness they have set up for us over here is better than anyone I have ever been into in the states. They definitely did great in finding out what athletes need and making sure that is was all here. It was all brand new and personalized with Olympic rings and USA. I was thoroughly impressed.

The hardest thing I had to deal with thus far in China is getting around. It takes at least 30ming to get everywhere though a cab is very cheap and there is a good chance you’re not going to end up where up want to go. ..

Monday I got to watch the US play Cuba in Volleyball well the third game anyway because my coaches cab brought her to the wrong place so by the time we met up it was almost over. I didn’t get discouraged though as I knew I had time to catch many more events before all was said and done. After a great training session in the afternoon, I grabbed a quick dinner at BNU and headed to women’s basketball. We made it reasonably close to the start of the game but were held up in security because I had a bar of soap and a tennis ball in my bag… (I had showered at BNU and come straight from there with my practice bag in tow.) Apparently I could have thrown those items at the athletes although my bad had all sorts of other contraptions that were could have just as easily gone airborne. Once inside the stadium we head to our seats only the seat on our tickets was in an area that was blocked off. I could see the area where the other athletes were seated and so tried to go sit with them only to be stopped by someone who told me this wasn’t where my seat was. Long story short it was half time before I was able to sit down. I was glad to have seen some of the game and the girls beat china by about 30 points. I thought it was nice to see men’s basket ball out and Dwayne Wade was even mingling with some other countries. So Tuesday I was at it again. Johnson and Johnson scored me some tickets to Gymnastics men’s team final so I departed the village at 9am to meet up with someone who had the tickets at 930. The gymnastics venue is about 15 minutes from the village…. I arrived at 1045!!!! The driver took me to the wrong place and by the time I realized it and we turned around we had to sit in traffic. I did however still manage to catch 4 of the 6 rotations and watch USA capture bronze. In the afternoon I went to the actual track that I would warm up on to get a feel for my surroundings and it officially set off my nervousness. Still not having got enough of attempting to support my fellow members of team USA I rushed to the village showered and ran to the bus for the Boxing competition only there was miscommunication on where we were going and we ended up Workers stadium instead of workers gymnasium!!!! Luckily we were walking distance from where we needed to b. Now late, we sprinted over hoping that we hadn’t missed it. Of course security and finding our seat was no easy feat. We sat down just to see Rau’Shee warren the American world champion who we had come to see exiting the Gym!!!! I was sooo hurt to have tried so hard and just missed him and so that ended my quest to venture out and support other members of team USA until after I have finished competing. With competition just 3 days away it was time for me to wind down anyway so Wednesday I went over and saw my mother who had just arrived Tuesday evening and we headed over to Johnson and Johnson Hospitality which is so nice that I left my mother to go and take care of my body with some much needed massage and when I checked in with her later in the evening she was still there!!

Thursday was my rest day I just milled around the village got so much needed rest and relaxation. I read decorated my room with pictures surfed the web and watched some of the sports on the television.

I am really looking forward to getting on the track and getting this show on the road the last few days leading into a big one are always very hard on me. Well until later….

It doesn’t get much better than this. I am currently in Dalian, about an hour away from Beijing by plane, and it is incredible to say the least! I am so fortunate to be part of a federation that would go to these lengths to help give all their athletes a clean, safe, and relaxing environment to prepare for the start of the Games.

I have been here since the 2nd and I have been able to enjoy all the amenities of this beautiful facility. There are three different tracks for us to train on, one for sprinters and jumpers, one designed specifically for the throwers, and a horse-shoe track for the distance runners. All these facilities were built within the last six months just for us.

Although that is unbelievable what is even more incredible is the 2000 security men and women looking after us. We never make a move without someone there. It is unreal how extensive the security is, almost like a human fence set up to keep us safe. As we drive back and forth from the track, there is a man or women, some uniformed others not, standing almost every 100 meters along the road side. Along with the physical protection, we are escorted by police, as they shut down the roads while we travel from each point.

There are also armed men set up on building tops at the track and around the hotel at all times. It is a major operation! A lot of people, especially the residence of the city, have made tons of sacrifices to have us here and we all greatly appreciate it.

Other amenities include a bowling alley in our hotel, a 60-seat movie room, ping-pong tables, pool tables, an athlete lounge area, a sauna, salon, and more. All these things really give us a chance to bond and feel like a family.

It’s always so much fun to be a part of the USA Team! You meet amazing new people, you cheer for each other in practice, and you become invested in everyone’s journey to success. I think it’s one of the best parts of track and field and I am honored to be an Olympian!

My training has been going really well and I am so eager to get started. As I write this entry, it is already August 7th here in China, just one more day until Opening Ceremonies. I opted not to go to the Opening Ceremonies this year, after participating in 2004. It is one of the most incredible experiences I’ve ever had but it just makes more sense for me to stay here and continue to train and head over to Beijing only one time, on the 11th, a few days before my preliminary round.

Stay tuned……

Our team processing in San Jose last week was an all day event, but everything was easy and breezy. And all in all, it was a good start to what will hopefully turn out to be a great Olympic experience.

Team processing was designed for all members of Team USA to get their necessities before heading to China. After we arrived at San Francisco Airport, we were escorted to a bus and driven to San Jose State University. Once we were there, we were given our keys and meal tickets for our stay on campus as well as a gift bag from Kleenex and Hilton hotels. Dorm rooms were set up as a suite with two bedrooms. Chefs were flown in from the Olympic training center in Colorado Springs to get an idea of what we wanted to eat. There was a variety of food for those of us with nutritional limitations.

Processing began 2 p.m. Each of us received a checklist to help us make sure we went to every station and completed everything. In one room, for example, we were fitted for our leather Olympic jackets and received our per diem expenses on a Visa card. In another room, we were able to pick out our Olympic rings. (Everyone gets a standard ring for free, but you have the option of making your ring even more bedazzling for an extra charge.) Then, we went to another room to confirm with a doctor that our medical information was correct and up-to-date or tell him if any new issues had occurred since we filled out our medical forms.

There was an area where we signed posters for corporate sponsors and others. We also received an information pamphlet on the Bank of America’s Hometown Hopefuls program. (To elaborate on that for just a little, Bank of America has set up a hospitality center in Beijing that is open to all members of Team USA and up to four of their family members. At the center, we can relax, enjoy food, get on the Internet and watch meets during the Games. The BofA will also give tickets to events. All we have to do as a member of Team USA is sign up! I think it is such a great way to show their support for us.)

OK, back to processing. Our last stop was an enormous room full of clothes we can wear while at the Games. Each of us got Ralph Lauren outfits for the opening and closing ceremonies as well as lots of extra Ralph Lauren stuff as gifts. The cool thing about our outfits for the opening ceremonies is that each one was individually tailored to fit perfectly. With something like 500 athletes, this was no easy task. But I appreciated that the company thought enough of us to tailor each outfit. Nike is the official sponsor of the USOC this Olympiad, so the company provided us with uniforms if we win medals at the Games and tons of other apparel to wear while we’re in China. In addition, each team member gets a bag with the proper uniform for his or her event.

I also received two new big rolling bags and a duffle in addition to the big rolling bag, small rolling bag and backpack I brought with me. You can imagine my dismay at the thought of lugging around all this stuff. Luckily, we were allowed to mail one bag home and I managed to fit one bag inside of another. This means I ended up with two large rolling bags and a backpack. I was very worried about toting around all this luggage, because the airlines have so many new rules and charges, but since we were traveling as a group that was all taken care of.

After we finished processing at about 5:30 p.m., we went to a meeting at 6 p.m. After dinner, we packed our bags, so the ones we were taking to Beijing could be loaded on our buses and taken to the airport, and our extra ones could be shipped home. By then, most of us were pooped, especially those of us who had flown in from the East Coast. The next morning, we had a 7:15 a.m. departure. It was our responsibility to make sure we got up, ate breakfast and turned in our keys on time. Our travel group included male and female judo fighters, female gymnasts and various track people. Upon our arrival at SFO airport, we were escorted to a private entrance and taken to a gate area, where snacks and drinks were set out for us. Now that is what I call the life! Finally, at 11:06 a.m. Thursday, we departed.

Twelve hours later, we arrived in Beijing at 2 p.m. Friday!!!! China is 12 hours ahead for East Coast time. On our arrival, we were met at the gate and were directed to a passport control lane reserved for Olympic travelers, which I thought was neat. After we got our bags, we headed for the buses. From the moment we got off the plane to the moment we got on our bus, people were taking photos of us. It was as though we were really famous. We even had to form a human barricade around the gymnast Shawn Johnson. The crowd and photographers were going crazy for her. I had the opportunity to have a few short conversations with her. She is really a genuinely nice girl, who is taking it all in. I think she’s going to LOVE her Olympic experience. I wish her the best.

Once we reached the Olympic Village at about 5 p.m., everyone went his or her separate ways. After the track team members got settled in our rooms, we had a 7 p.m. orientation meeting for our stay in the village. (I have to say that the village is beautiful; our hosts put a great deal of effort into the landscaping and the ambiance. It almost makes me want to be on vacation here with a significant other.) The next morning at 8:15, we were going to travel to our training camp in Dalian. With some many adventures still ahead of me, I finally went to bed.

After a quick departure in the morning, we headed to the airport again. The officials suggested that we get there three hours before our scheduled departure. To kill some time, we were escorted to a VIP lounge with free wireless!!! I was so shocked to have even more VIP treatment. They have already succeeded in spoiling us. When it was time for our departure, we were escorted to the plane and boarded before the other passengers! The star treatment was amazing.

When we arrived in Dalian, our bags were first out at the baggage claim area. Then, we were shown to our bus. During our trip, we had a police escort that seemed to be the equivalent to what they might provide for a head of state! All other traffic was cleared from the roads we were traveling on. In a short time, we arrived at our temporary digs. We will return to the Olympic Village a few days before we set out to win medals in our events. Well, you’re now up to speed on the four days from 7:45 a.m. Wednesday in Miami ending at 3 p.m. Saturday in Dalian, China.

It is now six days later, and I have three more days to go in Dalian. It has been a good stay with first class treatment from all the people here. USATF has a whole hotel for just us in a secluded area with police escorts to and from practice. It has been a good place for focus and reflection as we get ready to head into the commotion of the village, competition, media and friends and family over in Beijing. I have adjusted to the time difference, had 5 solid workouts, and some solid relay practices as well. I am glad to have had the time to unwind from the travel and the building anxiety leading into the games although it is inevitable that it will start to build again soon. Hopefully it will be just enough instead of becoming overwhelming. Life is mostly training and hanging around the hotel but we did venture out once for a day on the town to shop and enjoy our surroundings.

However, Travis Padgett and Abdi Abdirahman, along with a few others weren’t too concerned with the shopping but more with the relaxing as we found some top of the line massage chairs that we spent about 45mins in. Travis and I tried on an eye massager that was pretty neat. I was nervous at first but it only massages the area of your face right around your eyes and was actually quite refreshing.

Not much else to report we eat, train, eat, shower, get treatment, then hang out in the athlete lounge playing cards, ping pong or board games and occasionally venture to the bowling alley or movie theatre which are both here in the hotel. I am a reader and am making my way leisurely thru a book called Delirium right now. As my nervousness mounts I get lost in books and start to plow through them in 2 or 3 days. I am anxious to get this show on the road and just know how things have turned out. I am sure the night before I begin the rounds I will be begging for time to stop. It is just one of those things that come with the territory. Well, that is all for now.

Although it is only July 30th, still nine days before the start of the Olympics and seventeen days before the start of the women’s 400m, at 4:30am this morning my Olympic journey began. Today I travel to San Jose for team processing, stay there for the night, then travel to Beijing on the 31st. I’ll only be in Beijing for a night before flying to Dalian for our training camp!

I could never truly explain to anyone how exciting a time like this is in my life! After 2004, if felt like 2008 would never come, but not only is it here, the Olympics are right around the corner and I am qualified in my main event, the 400m!

After my last few meets in Europe I was only in Austin for six days…six days that Coach Hart, Bruce Johnson, my strength coach, and Wendy LeBlanc-Arbuckle, my Pilates Instructor, squeezed in as much as they could possibly have me do. It wasn’t hard though, as I had more motivation than ever. What could pull me to the finish line quicker, allow me to throw the bar up faster, or do more Pilates hundreds, than knowing the Olympics are my next meet. No more waiting, no more anticipating…The journey has begun.

I’m overwhelmed with different emotions excitement, anticipation, nerves, disbelief, but most importantly I’m HUNGRY! I’m so happy to have this opportunity in a year when I’m healthy and prepared. I am the American record holder, a two-time Golden League Jackpot winner, an Olympic and World Championship gold medal relayist, but still not an individual gold medalist! ?I know if I execute my race this could be my year and I’m thrilled!

I’ll be giving updates from China as often as I can, but if not my race days are Aug 16, 17, with the FINALS on the 19th…Don’t miss it!!!

Til’ next time San

It’s a good thing Monday’s come only once a week

I could write a whole book on the lessons I have learned from marathon training. I feel like every time I build up for a marathon I get a whole life’s worth of wisdom from just three grueling months of training. These past couple of weeks have been filled with ups and downs. One day I will be doing a 13-mile tempo run feeling strong and filled with energy. The very next day I will be doing close to two hours of running (split between two runs) and feel like I couldn’t take on a recreational jogger. Deena has routinely been dropping me on my easy runs, but its ok, I can take it, she is a bronze medalist after all.

This past weekend was a big for me. I ran a 13-mile tempo run (hard run) on Friday and then came back on Sunday with a grueling 2-½ hour long run. My long runs are usually very hard, but this one topped them all. I was working hard from the beginning, visualizing myself running in Beijing. It was easy to see myself there running in conditions similar to the 80-degree temperature we started in and 90-degree temperature we finished in. It was great to have my wife Sara along on the bike for the last hour of the run. I always visualize her riding next to me when I am racing. It calms my spirit. When I finished I told Sara that I really hope the marathon doesn’t take 2 ½ hours in Beijing. But it was a great run for me to practice running hard for that duration. I feel very prepared for Beijing.

On Monday I was tired. After enjoying a casual run, and I do mean casual, I couldn’t keep my eyes upon till lunch. I crashed out for an hour nap before lunch and then tacked on an extra two-hour snooze that afternoon. Recovery is a huge part of marathon training and it isn’t all napping, either. There is stretching, icing, massage, and proper nutrition that all go into proper recovery.

Monday’s are the hardest days of the week for me; I just try and keep my sanity. After all that napping I did feel better on my afternoon run but once we hit the gym my energy was once again lagging. Sara just laughs at me in the gym on such days when I am pretty much useless. On Monday’s I just tell myself to make it through the day.

One thing that keeps me going even on the Mondays is the thought of the lives in Africa that I hope to change through my efforts. I am reading a book right now called The End of Poverty, and it has really opened my eyes to the underlying causes and possible solutions to some of the injustices in the world today. I have decided to commit my race in Beijing to the World Vision projects in Africa, and we’ve even made a new website, www.ryanhall.org, that tells how you can get involved. Having this as a goal gets me out the door even on the most tiring Mondays.

I am always surprised when Tuesday rolls around and we head up to Lake Mary at 9,000 feet to do an interval session and I feel good. I closed my last 800 meter repeat in 2:10, which I like to think of being worth at least 1:50 at sea level (I wish). Regardless, it was good to get some snap back in my legs and set myself up well for the remainder of the week. My energy level feels much better today, Wednesday, and I feel ready to finish off the last really hard week of training before Beijing. Next week I travel to China so I will have to make some adjustments in my training. Then there will only be two weeks to go and the taper will begin.

I can’t wait to get over there, not only because of the excitement of competing in the Olympics but also so I can run in shorts and no shirt again. For the past couple of weeks I have been running in black running pants and long sleeve shirts. Knowing that I am going to have to bundle up for the 80 degree afternoon sessions don’t not exactly make me feel like heading out the door but I know that it is really working to help prepare me for the heat and humidity in Beijing.

I can already feel a notable difference when I am doing some hot weather running. I know that a lot of being successful in Beijing will have to do with my body’s ability to handle the conditions so I know that bundling up will be just as important as hitting those big workouts that we have scheduled week after week. It is going to be a battle out there in Beijing, not just against the competition but against the elements as well. Thankfully, the race isn’t on a Monday!

Well with the first half of the professional season out of the way I decided to head back to the states for 65hrs to regroup before beginning my Journey to Beijing and hence my 2nd Olympic experience. I landed at 2pm Sunday rushed home to shower quickly before my guest started to arrive. My mom spent the day between the kitchen and the grill preparing for a coming home/going away BBQ for my inner circle of supporters and friends so I could say goodbye to everyone at once instead of various quick meetings over the period over the short time that I was home. By 430 I was in a pool full of kids surrounded by all my favorite adults and of course my dog and it was all worth the trip no matter how short. It was a much break before heading over. Over the next two days I got in two solid practices on the track that I am most comfortable, got my hair done, a manicure and pedicure and reloaded on food and clothes. I also enjoyed the luxury of using my cell phone freely to chat with everyone who isn’t nearby before I head out. So today Wednesday July 30, 2008 at 7:45 my journey began. As I write I am on a plane to San Francisco for team processing in San Jose, tomorrow I will head 2 Beijing!!! I will keep you posted!!!