“But I compare myself to my potential and will always continue to be better than I am.”
Hello all and hope you had a great new year’s. I was able to slip away from the life at the World Throws Center long enough to feel normal and see my good friends for a few days. It was even nice to trade in my sports bra for a push up and my tennis shoes for some mean looking heels for a day. Here is a quick photo of me at new year’s. My hair is getting so long from the great mullet cut disaster of ‘04.
No that isn't a shirt, it's my dress
However, now it is back to business and preparing for the indoor season.
So it’s been a while sense I’ve updated my blog. I’ve done a few video blogs that for some reason the sound doesn’t link up when I upload it and the free Internet I steal at home because I cannot afford Internet service is very hit and miss.
Training:
People want to know how training is going, so here is a run down.
I’m getting stronger and getting more fit. I’m pushing weight for reps that I have only done in the past for singles and there are lifts that I have returned to that I haven’t done in years. I’m looking forward to the next phase in lifting as my body is on the brink of exhaustion (it being that part of the phase) and I’m starting to get little tweaks. Just in time for the recovery week!
I admit that it is a little new going back to so much strength training after the bare minimum under Stewart, but contrary to what people think of me, I don’t hate being strong or lifting. Stewart never hated strength, he hated dumb muscle. He once told me I should be able to clean my body weight for five and I thought he was crazy. Now I could gain 30lbs and clean my body weight for 5. I like it when I can start to see muscles in my body or I lift a weight I’ve never done. Lifting is one of those things you almost see an immediate return on your effort investment. You lift, you get stronger. Throwing not so much.
However, the most important thing for me as a THROWER is throwing. I only want to be as strong as I can use in my throw, anything else it a waist of time and energy. If I get giant pecs and can’t put my arms together to grab the hammer, then that is stupid. If my shoulders get so chunky and strong that I cannot relax and elongate my arms, then that is stupid. If I spend so much energy and time and effort trying to max out in bench press that I cannot throw for three days, then that is stupid. I’m not against being strong, I’m against things that hinder my growth in the technique and throw.
Having strength isn’t bad. However, for women’s throwing, the implement is very light. It is a speed event. There is a certain finesse you should feel (I feel) when it goes from 66m to 70m and I am looking for it as I am trying to hit 74,18m (just a number I thought up and am fixed on). Adding power to the hammer can be very tricky and if I overpower the hammer or do sudden jerky motions, I lose the finesse. The reason I have preached against strength in the past because I feel most people fixate on strength rather than technique.
For some, it’s easier to just be weaker so as not to be inclined to do this (but you are limited). For some, it is easier to be strong as shit so you don’t think about technique and just rip it (but you are limited). I think I am at a place right now where I know the feeling I am looking for and I can add strength and power without losing sight of what I am doing in the throw. I feel like this year I will be a good balance of power, strength, speed, and technique. I’m not on either extreme.
So what am I doing in training?
Clean: 105k x 4, Push Press: 85k x 4, Snatch 70k x 4 (hurt shoulder so easy on these), Ft. Squat: 250lbs x 6, um… bench lol: 150lbs x 6. Plus I do a bunch of other stuff that is amazing! lol
The combine players (or football players who are here training for the draft) have told me how impressed they are with my strength and I tell them that I am waiting to be impressed by theirs…lol.
Throwing:
Throwing is getting better all the time. I have really been working on moving my energy across the circle. With Stewart, he ingrained the idea of 180 in my skull every waking moment of the day. However, I really didn’t understand it, what it meant. I would see it every time, however there were flaws in my technique. In an effort to exaggerate seeing 180, I had a pause in my turns, a weird glitch. I was also very rotational. My power turned with me instead of moving TO 180.
With Dave, I am really working on the elliptical and allowing the ball to move to 180 and not just through. However, there is still a lot of work to be done. When I was in Hungary this summer, the coach so I could throw 74 to 75m and while I wanted to believe, I didn’t see how. But now knowing how much speed and power I possess, how tight my technique can be, and now getting all of it into the throw. I will go that far.
Competitions:
My indoor season opener will be at NAU on January 30th. Just an easy throw, easing into the season. No expectations yet.
Life:
Uh, what life. I wake up thinking about track and then I practice, then I eat in my car on the way to lifting, then I lift, then I come home and eat dinner and usually babysit, and then I go to sleep thinking about track.
I have been reading a lot more inspirational writing and mental toughness books because I think it is not only important to be strong in technique, strong in body, but also strong in will and strong and mind.
Sometimes your heart gives up before your body. Sometimes you lose sight of what you are working for. Sometimes even the best of us lose a little hope.
It’s great to have good friends, training partners and coaches, but it is even more important to be able to rely on yourself.
As for my social life. I have gotten some facebook messages from young male throwers who have told me they wished I was their girlfriend… I am super flattered. I never really think of myself of this hot chick. However, in real life I have went on a couple of online dates that have resulted in super losers. Sorry if you are reading this and realize I am talking to you (actually I’m sorry I went on a date with you).
One, if I have asked you to stop contacting me and you are a grown man, please stop emailing me and speaking of our future together. Don’t send me a video of your house telling me the only thing missing is me. Don’t talk about “our child” when I told you I don’t like you and will never have yours or anyone’s baby. Don’t text me at 5am. Don’t make a new facebook and try to befriend me. Stop quoting my blog to me. You are creepy and I think you want to kill me and wear my skin.
Two, if you went to prison and bragged about screwing over your boss and have no car because of trafficking drugs and are on probation and didn’t tell me until our date and I’ve stopped answering your messages, please stop sending them. I’m not judging you, just don’t want to date you or run you around my car.
Three, if you showed up to our date 1.5 hours late, took me to Fat Burger (where I had to pay because your card was rejected and I said no fast food please) and you ran me around in your car all day bragging about your mythical 50 sets of 50 lifting doing all while running your errands, no I don’t want a second date.
Okay, um…. that’s the end of that rant.
Loree’s Word’s of Wisdom:
So in conclusion, I am constantly humbled by the emails I receive of people who say I inspire them or love to watch me throw. I am humbled by my friends, family, and strangers who have donated to make my training possible. I am humbled by the opportunity I am given every day to train and go after such a prestigious goal.
To those out there who are training, remember it’s not how long the journey takes you, it’s not how hard to journey is. It is simply that the direction you are going will eventually take you to the place you want to be.
January 22nd, 2010
Hey all,
Hope every one’s training and life is going well. I’m still training, still healthy, getting stronger, eat every day, and still have a roof over my head so I can’t complain… I could but I won’t. lol
A lot has happened over the past two weeks so I will go ahead and separate them in headlines so you can skip to the stuff you want to read about. All of them have good stuff in there. Also don’t forget to check out my website at www.loreesmith.com and youtube page www.youtube.com/trkgal08 for other updates and photos!
Annual Meeting:
As many of you know, I try to stay active in my sport beyond that of the field. I feel if you don’t at least try to contribute to make it better then you have no place to complain about how things are run. I also enjoy giving back in areas where I am able. My contribution to this sport go beyond my athletic performance and I’d like to believe they will leave a longer lasting impression.
I serve as the women’s throw chair for the AAC, so if you are a female thrower and have questions, comments, or concerns just let me know. There are several exciting things happening in track and field right now surrounding Project 30 and Doug’s new position. We are really pushing to make USATF a bigger name and sport in the US. We are trying to raise more money and a lot of that will be going back to the athletes who need it.
There are some things with flaws, there are some things that are happening that are moving at the speed of slow, but there is a lot of good stuff too.
My next goal is to get involved in the local associations as I have yet to reach out before. We will see. I’ve email the Arizona and Long Island and waiting to hear a response…
Training:
Training here in Arizona is going well. I’m moving out of my base phase and into the strength phase, so I am enjoying the less repetitions and a little more rest. I’m seeing results of my training through my strength levels, fitness, and also (yeah I’m a girl) my appearance is changing.
Training is still hard, but we have a great supportive environment with Kevin, Abby, Trevor, Dan and newly added Vikas. We laugh a lot and joke around but when it’s time to work hard, we work hard. There is a difference between someone who is truly dedicated and someone who is just going through the motions. For myself and my training partners, good enough is not good enough and track is our first priority.
I think having to pay so much for your training through time commitment and financial it weeds out those who are partimers and slackers. Nothing worse than when you’re giving your all and you have a training partner who skips things or doesn’t push his or herself. We have a very good group in that respect.
Strength levels for those who are curious, my front squat is up to 235lbs for 6×6 reps with 1.5 min rest. I did 75k for 4×5 reps push jerk, 65k for 6×8 walking front lunges… uh, and lots of other stuff that is hard. Don’t make me flex on ya’ll. (Abby says ya’ll all the time, so now I say it more.)
Throwing is going well and I’m working on a lot of exciting things, some are very familiar feelings I had in college, technical things Stewart was working on, some things very similar to the Hungary Coach Nemeth was sharing with me, and working with Dave Dumble trying to discover the secrets of this stupid metal ball!!! I want that AR this year and I am fully committed to doing what ever I need to get where I know I can get.
As for fat camp. I was down about 3lbs, but kinda of at a standstill right now as I am obviously adding more muscle and my composition is changing. I’m still dieting and I miss ice cream, meat balls, cookies, cake, alcohol (in moderation), and all the other things that weren’t whole wheat or grew out of the ground! I still ride the elliptical twice a week and so that’s not too bad. My six pack will help me throw farther or get me a sponsor.
And for those who are interested, I will be opening indoors at the end of Jan. beginning of Feb.
Life and Thoughts:
Something recently came up (more than my usual worries of how to pay for things in 4 months) and I realized how alone I feel out here. I needed a shoulder to cry on or someone to be there and make me feel that everything was going to be alright. Sure I called my friends and family. My mother listened helpless on the phone and at the end confessed she wished there was something she could do, but couldn’t help me.
I guess I’ve learned a few lessons. I’m becoming a stronger person in the sense I look to myself for strength and help. I’ve always been pretty independent, but I realize friends and family help emotional, physical whatever is a luxury and I need to be able to first and foremost be able to take care of myself.
I also realize that sometimes I am not strong enough to do everything on my own and do have to reach out for help and there are friends and family who are more than willing while there are those who are not. I need to be thankful and I am when I receive that help and not get discouraged nor be surprised when I don’t.
I still feel this sense of emptiness here. I train and while I train, I am Loree the hammer thrower, the athlete. At the end of the day, I go home, alone, and play on my computer and I become what?
I’ve tried to share what I am doing and why but sometimes it’s hard to explain why I sacrifice so much, give so much, and try so hard. My mother (she loves me) keeps offering for me to come home, but I don’t know how to explain why I can’t. Why giving in and giving up is the worst thing I could do. I’m trying to find something about myself through this sport. I want to know what I am made of, what I am capable, and it means that much more that I fight tooth and nail to get there. If it was just handed to me, I wouldn’t deserve nor respect what I accomplished. When it happens, when I find this self discovery, I will look back at all the hardship and be proud not in the destination I achieved, but the journey I traveled.
Unless you travel your own journey and try to discover something about yourself…. it’s just hard to understand why someone would rather wait and see what happens when the bank account runs out in 4 months or trains till you want to cry when they could go home and live rent free and get a home cooked meal from their mother.
December 10th, 2009
Hello All and Hope you are enjoying the holiday season. I am enjoying Thanksgiving this year with my new training group and coach in the nice warm weather of Phoenix (well Mesa at John’s house). It was a great dinner with moist turkey, all the side fixings thanks to John’s mother and her friend. John’s wife made some awesome pies which I really shouldn’t have eaten but regret nothing! My family was so scared I would spend today alone. Unlike my birthday, I was not alone.
I am almost at the end of week three of training at the World Throws Center and my first month in Phoenix. My life is becoming routine of training, eating, and sleeping. It’s good for me because I do well with routine and I am confident everything I am dong is bringing me one step closer to my goal. My training has taken on full structure and purpose, I have a supportive coaching system, and great training partners. So I am happy even though I feel like this is the hardest I’ve ever worked… ever.
Training:
So for those who want more info about my training. Here it is. John is really good about mapping out our entire year training, so we can see what we are doing and where we are going. But he is also great with allowing room for our voice in there too by monitoring how we are feeling, asking how we are doing, and addressing those issues with the training.
Right now I am finishing up my base training of 6 sets of 8 reps with one minute rest. It doesn’t sound that bad at first, but actually try it for yourself. It’s hard. The idea is to “fail at four” which means by the 4th set you should be at your maximum effort. Not hard considering how tired you get. It’s nice to have John’s encouragement, along with my teammates pushing me as well.
A weird thing happens when you push yourself to a certain level. I’m not sure if others experience this. When I’m lifting and working out hard, feeling tired, hurting from soreness, muscles burning something happens. I approach the weight and know that it’s going to make me feel worse, know that it’s going to hurt, know it’s gonna be hard and will take everything I have to give, but I pick it up anyway. During the lift, with each rep is gets harder and harder. I’m breathing heavier, but not pulling enough oxygen to help anyway. My muscles are burning to the point that I’m not sure I’m even pushing anymore and then, then it’s over. Right after putting down the weight, I get this feeling that sort of washes over me. To be frank, it’s the feeling of crying. I don’t cry (well, I haven’t yet), but the feeling is there. I’m not sure if it’s of relief that the lift is over or knowing that it’s not over and I have more sets, days, weeks, and months of the same.
Like I said we are in a base right now so it’s 6 sets of 8 reps with a minute rest. Monday is Front Squat, Kettle Swings, Bent over row, two more rows, abs, 10×60 yard strides, and keiser runs. Then stretch, roll, and ice.
Tuesday mornings are “fat camp” as I call it which consists of several full body circuits and then elliptical training. The afternoon lifting session is push jerks, bench, three shoulders, tricep and then stretch, roll and ice.
Wednesday is the recovery day of kettle snatch, biceps, abs then stretch, roll and ice bath.
Thursday is fat camp in the morning with the circuit training and elliptical. The afternoon is back to legs with walking lunges, one arm bent over row, two more backs, and tricep 10x 60 yard strides, keisers runners again 10 x 15 secs on/ 30 secs off. Then stretch, roll, and ice bath.
Friday is kettle bell swings, bench, alt. military, two more shoulders then tricep and abs. Oh yeah and then stretch, roll, and ice bath.
Throwing:
Training with Dave is going very well. We throw Monday, Wednesday,and Saturday right now and I am looking forward to Sarah joining me so I can have some company. There are somethings really starting to feel good right now. I think a lot of it are ideas that Stewart had always wanted me to do, but I was unable. Dave’s approach has worked well for me in that sense because he lets me find the right positions. I know it sounds weird, but with Stewart he knew the right places I should be, but when I tried to force it, I was segmented, robotic while with Dave, my body finds it with balance. It’s very similar t the tings I was doing when I first learned the hammer with coach Bedard at CSU.
Dave is very supportive and encouraging and we have some great talks about the hammer. I don’t want to brag but… I really think this hammer is gonna fly this out door.
Life:
So how am I adjusting to being in a new area so far from friends and family? Well, it’s nice to have a great training group. Abby and I have turned out to be good friends with similar humors and are able to talk about our experiences and feelings in training. Sometimes it’s hard to talk to people about what I am doing, why, and how it feels because they just don’t understand. So that’s nice. The others in the training group, Kevin, Dan, Trevor, even Paul are great because we have a fun, friendly, but hard working environment. John is great because he really pushes me hard. Even when I don’t think I can, he lets me know that he believes I can, so I do it.
It gets lonely though. All I do is workout, throw, and come home to recover. My roommate and I get a long well her son is so cute. I’ve met a few of Heather’s friends and family and they have all been kind to me.
We have an awesome chiropractor, Dr. Laurie Trapp, who is also a former thrower while at LSU. I’m looking forward our girls night out.
Love life… don’t ask. I’ve already accepted there is something wrong with me and I will spend the rest of my life alone.
I feel tired all the time and cranky because I’m tired. I feel lonely a lot. I worry about a lot of things, mostly money. I watch my dwindling bank account and calculate how much longer with full-time training can last. I entertain the idea of working and then try to figure out what job will fit around training and will not tax me so much to the point that training will not be affected. Already I go to bed near 9 because I’m so exhausted and don’t get home until 5 on most nights!
I worry because I lack a safety net. Once the bank account is empty, that’s it. My family doesn’t have any money for me to borrow, even if it’s just a month’s rent. I don’t have a big sponsorship paying these bills. My friends and family have been more than gracious in helping raise some money. I have had people I haven’even had the chance to meet or thank in person who have been generous. But the truth is, I need something bigger if it is going to work. The cost of my training and coaching alone is 700 a month. That puts a lot of pressure on this season for success. I need to throw far and I need to pick up some sort of sponsorship to help make a dent.
I am a very frugal person by nature. I steal wireless Internet from across the street. I use coupons. I don’t go out to eat, don’t go to movies, don’t buy stuff. I don’t even fly home for the holidays because I can’t afford it. And even if I did have the extra $400, I would spend it on rent or bills.
Anyway, training is going well. I feel like I am finally becoming the athlete I always thought I could be and should be. Every practice has purpose and is making me better. I know I am going to throw not only further than I ever have but fighting for that American Record.
Anyway, it’s late and I’m full from an awesome dinner with great friends. I don’t feel bad about eating either, because John and I worked out this morning! Hope all of you have a great Thanksgving and thank you for reading. Oh and thank you, thank you to all who have donated and supported me. You make this possible.
Night
November 27th, 2009
It occured to me, I never shared my awesome adventure traveling 20 + hours across the west cost and three states alone. I stayed in one Rapemurder Hotel, drank around four redbulls and five venti coffees, and filled up my own gas tank for the first time in almost three years… weird!
So my trip started with trying to fit in all the good-byes to all my friends while also trying to work up to the last minute because I knew I was gonna be hurting financially as soon as I came out here. It turned out not to be a great idea and the last two weeks were very stressful and busy. I also don’t know if I’ve shared this much, but I don’t do well with emotions. It’s easier for me to go to anger than it is to admit saddness. So needless to say, I was angry and busy most of my last few days.
On Monday Monday morning, after saying my last good-byes, the previous night saying good-bye to the children of the house I lived in (my White family as my mother called them, though all my family is white… um). Oh we got waffles at Off the Waffle. So anyway, everything I owned was in the back of my Matrix with just enough room in the passenger seat to hold my goodie bag, Christina made for me complete with home-made meatballs.
Just shoes how little I've accumulated in my 27 years of life.
Shortly after leaving at 4am, I realized what a stupid idea that was. I did make it about 3 hours of driving in the dark, before I pulled the car over at a rest stop and allowed myself to close my eyes for about twenty minutes. It only took me falling asleep three times and the last time waking up from a car horn to realize I needed to lie down.
After my rest (and two venti coffees and two redbulls later) I was doing a lot better. I pulled into my hotel, the RapeMurder Inn $29 special and realized that I may not survive the night. I walked in the room, pulled off the comforter and pillows, double locked the door where I could still make out the light around the edges, and could hear people walking in the hall, coughing next door, and the cars driving on the highway. It was a classy place and the mint on my pillow was probably rat poop.
I awoke the next day to discovered not only had I not been raped, I had not been murdered either. I ran out to my car to make sure that nothing was stolen, because really, that was all I owned. Everything was there including my bikes. I stopped by the contenintal breakfast that included warm, old coffee and some powderd doughnuts and then headed back on the road to AZ and my new life.
Once getting there, I was forced to crash on Abby’s couch because I didn’t own a bed, a towel, you know the neccisities one needs to survive. But the sun was shinning, and I would start taining soon so it wasn’t too bad.
I met Heather my new roommate and her son, Brayden. Our place is just off the freeway and right hear Athlete’s Performance and not too far from ASU either. It’s a pretty good set up.
I bought a towel, a hand cloth, a shower curtan, and a bed. My room is a little like a college dorm in the sense everything is just kinda thrown together and hand me down. I don’t mind, but I’m sure at 27 I should have accomplished more in my life and accumulated a few more things than a backseat full of hammers.
I dunno. This post is starting to depress me.
November 23rd, 2009
First week of training with John Godina at Athlete’s Performance and Dave Dumble at ASU
Continue Reading November 13th, 2009
So last week was my last week in Eugene and it was absolutely crazy. Not only did my computer crash once again and Geek Squad (who sucks and doesn’t fix things the third time and can’t stick to a return date) were not able to return it, so it was shipped to Phoenix. I also worked all the last week I was here. I needed the money and I wanted to make sure all my clients were taken care of before I left.
It was also a stuffing of last minute good byes. I was able to get a meal or a night out with a couple of friends, not all that I would like to see, but the ones I did it was very nice. I said good bye to my little dog Koji and the family I have been living with the last year nd a half. I even had a going away party at work and cried two tears! lol
I would first like to thank all the people who have wished me well, welcomed me while I was in Eugene, and/or donated to my fresh start. I am so nervous and excited for what is to come. It is hard never really feeling like you have a real home, just moving place to place, and staying somewhere shortly before moving on to the next… It’s been over a year since I have visited my biological family!
But I’m on the road. I did the 12 hour drive yesterday from Eugene to Buttonwillow. I left at 4am and my roommate woke up to make me coffee and see me off. Even after stopping for more coffee and having a red bull, I still almost fell asleep several times. It’s boring, long and hot!!! I finally stopped off at a very inexpensive hotel. $30 bucks. I am trying to save money, but there were three bugs in the bed (I pulled off off the covers and pillows and slept in the sheets with my own), the water in the shower has no pressure just a small warm trickle, so it could have been someone peeing on the other side of the wall, the windows and walls are so thin it shakes when people walk by and I can hear everything, and the room has a funny smell that is making my nose run. But I woke up alive and thankfully no one stole all my earthly possessions that fit into the back of my Matrix.
So I am up and about to get some breakfast. I just have just under 8 hours to Phoenix where I will be crashing with Abby tonight and then meeting my roommate tomorrow morning. I am super excited and I will keep everyone posted.
As soon as I get my computer back I can update my actually website and get all the stuff from my harddrive!
Thank you again to all those who have donated, it is much appreciated and goes directly to my training and making this crazy idea happen and also thank you all to those who have made Eugene my home the last three years! It is great to have such awesome family and friends when mine are so far away!
I start my intense training on Monday and it will be awesome. I will start putting specific updates and progress reports too!
Everything I own fits in this car!
November 3rd, 2009
Hi All,
So much has happened since my last post. One, my computer died on me and I had to take it back to Best Buy. I’m not unconvinced the problem was not caused from them “fixing” it about two month prior. Anyway, I took it in to Best Buy and they said 3 weeks. After 3 weeks and hearing nothing, I called. I found out not only was my computer not ready, but they had yet to ship it and the wait time was an additional 4-8 weeks. Not cool.
But now I have it back and am back to my solitary life of looking up stuff on craigslist and seeing if anyone finds my status updates on facebook slightly entertaining.
Oh and I have begun my pre-season training.
It’s hard to stop training in the fall because you’re so used to a routine, but it’s even harder to get back into the routine of early mornings. I’m trying not to tread on any toes while in my last few weeks at U of O so I am trying to get out of there by 930am so I don’t face the shame of being kicked out.
Right now, just doing a lot of drills and things for the hammer. I’m trying not to get too burnt out as I have in years past, so I feel taking some extra time working on drills and not throws is more important for my season. I have so many great ideas I really want to implement, I can’t wait for season to show them off!
I am really working on fitness right now. As many of you know, I am trying out the Crossfit for my pre-season training. I got tired of the same old curcuit and doing it by myself. Crossfit has a variety of training (very functional, very athletic) and it’s super competitive so I am pushing myself. The Eugene Crossfit group has been super cool in letting me join them and I am getting really fit. It’s pushing me out of my comfit zone and I’m actually starting to lean up and add some muscles. hehe
I’m getting closer and closer to the big move date and going through a rollercoaster of emotions surrounding that. The biggest feeling is fear. It’s hard to get up and move somewhere new, not knowing anyone and not being near family or close friends. It’s starting all over again. There is also the fear of how in the world am I going to pay for everything. That is a huge one. So far, I have enough money saved up to get me through January as long as I don’t buy anything but the bare essentials and nothing big happens like needed to do anything to my car, get sick, etc. After that, we will see. I don’t have a set situation for living yet. I would like to focus on training and not work, but I know that having something lined up would help ease my fears. Starting over with new coaches is always scaring, too.
My fundraising has not been as successful as some people’s and that is a fear as well as a little sad. Though I have had some awesome people come through and help, which I didn’t expect and really appreciate, I keep looking at the future and wondering what it will hold. My work allowed me to hold a fundraiser in the aerobics room, but I ended up eating most of my cookies and drinks myself as it was largely unattended. I was more than happy for those who visited and I know people were busy with their own things. I’m not be whiny, just stating how I felt. I go through periods of excitement of another idea and this is just crazy enough to work and then the reality of it all when it doesn’t.
Coming back financially broke and emotionally… well, you know… from Beijing my family was super supportive in the sense they kept asking me when I was going to get a real job and stop throwing. Sometimes I ask myself the same thing. But I don’t throw to be rich, so who cares.
So on top of fear there are other things like excitement. I have a new energy and focus for my training that I have not had in years. I think this could be the big year. As the cold air is coming into Eugene, I look forward to the year round sunshine of Phoenix.
Nov 2 is the move date and I’m still trying to figure out how I will section off the two day trip. I’m tying up all the lose ends in Eugene. There are a few friends I will leave behind, but I really don’t leave that much behind. I never really felt included as being a Eugenian. My marks were never mentioned in the paper, I felt more like a parasite at the school and town with trying to use the facilities, and never really found my niche of this is where I belong as this is a college town and I’m not in college, not married, and I don’t live in a bus by the river. Once Stewart retired, there were very few reasons to stay.
Overall, I think the move is good for me and if not, all my stuff fits in the back of my car and I can always drive somewhere.
Imagine me, the nomad of the throwing world!
October 10th, 2009
Hello all in the track and field world. Sorry you haven’t heard from me in a while but I have been super busy. Also, MY COMPUTER BROKE AGAIN!!! I won’t be able to update my webpage until I get my computer back, but I can update my blog. So here goes!
What the Off-season of a Professional Athlete Looks Like:
One, you are never truly off. Always doing something.
For one, I have been enjoying my off season. Kicking back, breathing, but not picking up a hammer. I have joined the Eugene Crossfit group to stay fit. I really enjoy the competitive attitude towards training, everyone working out as hard as they can and the competitiveness pulls just a little more from you. I like to use it as crosstraining because we are doing so many different types of athletic movements, it never gets stale or old. Jeremy is absolutely awesome for allowing me to training there with his group.
If you are looking for a way to keep competitive and spice up your fitness with athletic, functional fitness check out his crossfit website at www.ecrossfit.com . We also post our times and weights on the website. Check out mine as I compete with the guys on the weights and try to keep down breakfast on the running!
Today I did the crossfit total. So 1 rep max of back squat, shoulder press, and deadlift. I haven’t back squated in years as we do the fronts, nor have I ever deadlifted, just RDL. So for my offeason training I got 770lbs, 275 back squat too easy, 125 shoulder press I suck at arms, and 370lbs dead lift after never doing them before. Not too shabby.
New and Exciting Training Situation for Loree!:
But I have also been busy trying to raise funds for my next 2010 season.
For one, I need to double time with my fundraising because I have decided my throwing career needs a face lift. I have felt like I have going through the motions, working hard, yes, but not really realizing my full potentinial. I moved to Eugene almost three years ago to work with Stewart Together. While he is one of the best technical coaches in the world, his style has not been the most nurishing to my confidence or ego. Not that I think I’m all that, but the “you’re never going to amount to anything” and “you are not a good competitor” and even the “you are not good enough” speeches hasn’t really let me grow as an athlete.
Anyone who knows me can see the difference in my competition. I am a better technician, but my total athleticism is not there, and the way I compete is different. I no longer compete to win, I compete not to lose and to not mess up. Not the answer for success. So while Lance was able to win a silver, I will take the technique that I have learned and need to add a nourishing environment that challenges me physically.
So, I have decided to move to Phoenix, AZ and train at John Godina’s World Class Throws Center. The training center is absolutely breath taking. I just returned from a visit. It is the same facilities used by the top professional athletes to prepare for the their season and also used for the athletes entering the football combine. The weather in AZ is idle for an outdoor athlete staying sunny and beautiful all year long. My training partners are other track and field athletes who no longer want to get by with amateur borrowing time and space from NCAA facilities when it is a violation to even train at the same time as the collegiates.
I need a change, my throwing needs a change. I was throwing 70m in college when my compeitors were still going 67m. I even through 72m in training! Now fast forward to 2009 and I am just getting over 70.5m while the top thrower is at 72m. Does this mean I’m washed up? No, other have succeeded because of their better training situation, more constant, better funding so they can focus. All I need is a good training environment with upbeat, positive people and I will break the us record this year.
What Being Professional Costs Money: Fund raising for 2010 through 2012
So now the down fall. I have to pay for all of this myself and try not to work because I need the recovery and focus my energy on training. I’ve figured the cost for the year for coaching fees, facility use, room and board, health care, travel and competition expenses to be around $30,000 for the year. It sounds scary and it is considering I don’t have $30,000 but the more people who help the better.
If I could get just 250 people to give $10 a month it is possible. If I could get 100 people to give $25 dollars a month it is possible. If I could get 25 people to give $100 month is is possible. So though $30,000 looks like a huge number, especially for me who is taking a gamble and moving across the country where I do not know anyone to start all over with little money, it is possible.
How you can help out: Easy web donations Paypal or Activegiving.com
I have a few websites taking donations to help. Please, please, please, give if you are able, even if it’s only $5 a month. Share it with your friends, family, neighbors, workmates. The more people who give the more possible this dream is. I will be there for a full year and hopelfully through 2012, so give as frequent as you like (once a month, week, year, etc).
Check out my website at www.loreesmith.com for more info or Paypal donations or donate at www.active.com/donate/loree2012
September 21st, 2009
Okay, So I am back in town, back in the country and I discovered the same thing I learned after returning from the Olympics in China… apparently my monthly credit card payments keep coming out, my car payment keeps coming out, all that stuff I bought over seas with “fake” foreign money actually came out in real money in my bank account back home, oh, and apparently if you don’t go to work they will not pay you… So once again I will start my season in the RED. lol.
I was really hoping this time would be different.
Just wanting to apologize to everyone who was keeping up and looking for more photos. My camera died about halfway through so I was unable to get photos myself, but I’m hoping other athletes will have some to put up on my website. Also thank you to everyone that sent me letters and emails. I am trying to get all caught up back home right now, but I am trying to get back into routine and fulfil the requests of autographs, photos, etc.
Worlds Champs: Congrats to Amber and Jessica for making finals. First time two US hammer women made finals and congrats to Jessica for the huge PR! Also congrats to all the other throwers, runners, jumpers, friends and people I know at Worlds. The US did a great job and lots of records were broken.
Ok, now that I’m caught up on that my latest rant:
What do I feel the role of the athlete is
Why am I talking about this? Well with recent events like Michael Vick coming back to the NFL, World Records being shattered at World championships bringing up things like drugs/cheating in the sport, as well as other topics that generally surround athletes and sports in the country.
For those who read my blogs, you already know that me as a “professional” athlete deal with many of the same stresses as everyone else and that I readily admit to making mistakes and being…gulp… human. So, having read my previous stuff, you may have an easier time understanding this when I say ALL athletes are human (despite some being harder to tell than others if it is man or woman).
So why am I saying this? I feel that while athletes do extraordinary things and can accomplish extraordinary feats, this does not mean they are perfect people. I feel while athletes can (note the word can) be role models, they don’t have to be nor should be expected to be. I also feel that athletes work for a company (say NFL, NBA, USATF, even NCAA) and they must adhere to rules within that company including performance and other contractual obligations. That being said while players should be expected to adhere to certain rules, they should be policed by the police and not the company. Once they pay their debt to society (either jail time or fines) that is the extent of their punishment. What if you got your license suspended for drunk driving and then your job said, “you must pay a $$$ fine to us and you can’t work for two months.” It would feel in excess to what you’ve already paid to society, right? Not saying what you did is okay, but there has to be a limited to how long you must keeping paying.
Why do I feel this way? Because athletes like you are human. Just because someone can run 9.58 in the 100m doesn’t mean they can teach you how to make good decisions in your life and certainly not be a spokesman for your child. While an athlete can use this stage for positive messages (as I do and many others like me), it doesn’t mean all will or half to. Some just want to pick up a paycheck at the end of the day. If the guy who sits down the hall from you at your work can type more words a minute than anyone in the state, are you going to trust him to instill good moral values in your child? No, then why leave that job to the guy who can throw a perfect spiral pass?
I think parents should explain to their children that while an athlete does these amazing things, their negative actions are not something to admire or duplicate. Children should be pointed to positive role models like, I dunno, the PARENTS, community leaders, family. I’m just saying parents really shouldn’t complain that Michael Vick is doing a bad job raising good moral values in their children. He is just showing them what the human body is capable of on the football field.
Next want to talk about drugs and cheating. Oh god, don’t do that. Why not? We can be as naive as we want to about sports, but as long as someone wants to win at all odds, then their will be those desperate enough to cheat. I think instead of turning a blind eye, we need to recognize that this is something that will happen. Do we need a witch hunt? No. Should we assume anyone who does well is on drugs? No, there are still successful athletes doing it right. But I also think we as adults should recognize that it exists and not hide it from our kids.
I think ignoring that there are those who do drugs and cheat can keep drugs in the sport. If a kid thinks that he sucks and can’t compete clean, he may be tempted to do drugs or find a way to cheat. But if we show them, while yes there are some that do drugs/ cheat and it’s okay not to be able to compete with them and winning isn’t the most important thing, maybe they will be more likely to compete for their bests and not to be THE best.
I dunno just some thoughts to think about. It’s a imperfect world, and we are imperfect people. Let’s just recognize this fact, you know?
Keep it real in the streets. good night. lol!!!
August 27th, 2009
Over the last week, week and a half, I have learned a few things. One I learned I need to read over my blogs because I appear somewhat illiterate with all the missing words, misspellings, and misuse of words. lol. But what I have learned with all the traveling, missing meals, eating weird stuff, going to bed late, waking up early, going from country and country to compete is how to compete again. I know it sounds funny, but I have been in some of the crappiest situations for success and am still managing to throw better and more consistent than I have all year!
So far this year, I’ve flown in to the other side of the world to wake up the next day in compete, I’ve driven for four hours to arrive to a competition 30mins before the start, I’ve driven to one country to compete then flew to another the next day to compete to fly back to the original country to drive to a competition and compete once again. Even with all the traveling, competing, I am still throwing further than what I was doing in the US.
Does it bother me that marks I’ve thrown with little sleep and a sore body were good enough to get me 4th place at USA and one even good enough to have gotten me second… yes. But, I guess I am looking more at the lessons I’ve learned and what I’ve learned about my body and throw more than with regret and shoulda’s/ woulda’s.
I was way too uptight in competitions before thinking everything had to be perfect. I didn’t want to tire myself out too much, I didn’t want to travel too much, the throw had to feel perfect for me to be aggressive, if I didn’t have the optimum amount of energy I would freak out, or if anything in the competition was off I would worry. Now I realize how little all that matters. You just got to stick to your game plan and just throw. If you’re tired, if things sucks, if you’re throw is off, just throw.
Competitions have been going well with this new found attitude and I can’t help but think about how well they will go next year too.
I have competed in a few meets thus far. My first meet in Reims, I placed 9th with a 64.61m throw. In Slovenia, I won with a 66.50m throw breaking the meet record after driving for hours and arriving in the hotel at like 1am. In Austria I placed 1st with a 66.93m throw after driving 4 hours and arriving at 3 when the comp started at 330. In Greece, I placed 2nd with a throw 69.53 after arriving the day before and competing just two days earlier. Yesterday in Hungary I placed 2nd with a throw of 67.03m after just competing in Greece and traveling (and celebrating) just two days before.
So things are looking good. I’ve seen how people compete and I’ve also gotten some good information about things that can help me throw even further next year.
I’m a little tired right now as I only have about another week before I get home.
Hope every one’s training is going well, throw far!
July 27th, 2009
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