Again thank you all for the best wishes! It feels great to know that I have so many supporters back home! I've been told to add some captions and more info next to my photos, so I wll. Let me know if you want to know more about anything. (And if you have questions about the weird baby statue I'm posing with, I don't know)
So, the Olympic games have begun. As many of you know, the track team has set up a training camp here at the International Convention Center and Resort in Golden Pebble Beach, Dalian (the was a mouth full) located about an hour flight from Beijing. We are out here to stay away from the husle and busle (is that the real saying?) of the Olympic village so we can just completely focus on training. Train in complete comfort with everything and anything we need.
From our personal American chef Adam Sacks, to our trainers (massage therapist, chiropractors, medical Dr's etc.), to our very own training facilities, everything is for us to be as comfortable as possible. So, that has been what I've been doing since arriving on the 4th, training, eating, getting massages, reading, and sleeping! Oh the hard life of an Olympian.
The training camp has been great though. There was so much buzz and energy coming into the Olympics. We're treated like celebrities and heroes, and for some that can go to our heads and get in the way of what we're really trying to do: compete in the biggest meet, event, match, game of most of our lives. No big deal. So with that much pressure on us, USATF set up this nice training camp so we didn't have to worry about anything else but doing our best.
GETTING TO KNOW THE OTHER ATHLETES:
It's been really great getting to know many of the other Olympians, some are here to defend and/or win gold medals and some are here just happy for the chance to represent their country to the best of their abilites. I know for me, getting to know my fellow teammates has been a great experience. Some are already old friends, and some are you people I've seen from a far and never got the chance to say hello.
Amber Campbell, one of the other US women's hammer throwers, is my roommate on this little adventure. We're been rooming together the entire time in Dalian and also we will room together in Beijing. We have a lot of fun together and have recently discovered we both love reading vampirical romance literature (vampires that fall in love with each other!). She tries to be the more serious of our group sometimes, but I find ways of making her laugh. Most days, I wait until she is dressed and we are almost out the door to train or go eat and then I run and change into the exact same outfit because I think it's funny. That's not too hard because we have to wear only USA issused items. Yeah, I know I'm 25 but I don't care.
Sometimes you see these dominant athletes on tv and they become almost larger than life, but then you get to know them and the person they are, you see them first thing in the morning stumbling to breakfast, and you realize that we're all the same. We're all just athletes with the same concerns and fears, hopes and dreams, trying to do our best with our talent and abilities...
WE'RE IN SAFE HANDS:
I know from the media there has been some concern over our safety here, but I can assure you they are doing everything they can to make sure we are safe. We have 24hr survillence from several types of military and guards. We have these one guys that stand on boxes and don't move or make eye contact for hours and hours on end and I'm not sure what they do, but they must deter the bad guys because there haven't been any here. I actually took a picure as they were changing the guards. I was told later not to... but I snuck this one.
So besides China's verson of England's Buckingham Palace guards, there are other forms of security. I know this is gonna sound funny, but I think they researched Miami Vice on proper wear for undercover detectives... I mean, I know they are suppose to blen into the crowd, but shouldn't they all not wear the exact some vest and khaki pant combo?
But no really, for those who are concerned, especially with the tragedy involving the volleyball coach's mother, father, and tour guide, we are very secure. I mean they shut down the enitre driving route to our practice everyday and give us police and swat escorts! And yes, they look just like our police and swat uniforms.
As a side note, I'm very concerned about one gaurd in particular. We are always smiling and saying hello, he asked for my autograph and a picture and I gave him them. Then one day we were talking for almost five minutes, even though some of the other guards were giving him dirty looks. He told me he would never forget this experience for the rest of his life and said I was his little sister (he is 26 and I'm 25). And then I never saw him again. I saw him every day since I was here and now I haven't seen him in two days. I'm alittle worried, I hope he didn't get fired.
DON'T DRINK THE WATER:
I was warned not to drink the water because we aren't used to certain bacteria that can be found in foreign water that doesn't agree with our bodies. I said I was warned, I didn't say I heeded this advice. I didn't drink the water, but I didn't use bottled water to brush my teeth, nor did I remember not to gargle shower water. So, at one point during my fantastic trip I spent the majority of the time trying to keep dinner from coming out...of either ends. Ha! sucky!
If you are wondering, this is one of the toilets found at the Chinese training center (sort of like a toilet in the ground) and no, I didn't use this one. I have an American style toilet in my hotel and that is where I chose to spend that time rather than hovering over this hole and praying I don't miss. YIKES! But I thought it would be funny none the less to show a picture of one. Enjoy!
DIFFERENT CONTINENT- SAME TRAINING:
We have been very fortunate to be allowed to use the facilities at the Chinese training camp. They have been very accomidating allowing us full use and even letting us use their equipment too. While there, it's training as usual, throwing, lifting, running just as we would do home in the US. The only difference is me melting into puddles because it is so hot and that I'm surrounded by Chinese people which most don't speak English or very much.
We train at the same time as many of the aspiring members to the Chinese national team. Mostly we make polite greetings, we try to say "Ni Hao" (hello) and they manage a "hi" or "good morning", we exchange friendly smiles. In fact, I think I exchanged too many friendly smiles with one Chinese discus thrower because he kept finding excuses to walk by me and smile, and walk by and say hello, and show boat during his practice.
The facilities has everything we need (besides fan and AC). And it's been a great experience trying to communicate without words with people from the other side of the world where our only commonality would seem to be our love for throwing metal objects.
ENJOYING THE FREE TIME WHILE I CAN:
So other than training and getting ready for the games, I've been hanging out trying to relax. Our resort is right on I believe the yellow sea, though that could have just been sarcasm and a joke like yellow snow. I should have really looked that up before putting here... Oh well. But anyway, we have been advised not to go in it (and now I'm taking advice after learning the hard way about brushing my teeth with the local water). I also wouldn't go swimming in it because of all the jelly fish there are just swimming around.
I don't know if you've ever seen a jelly fish, but it's crazy and unreal, creepy. I will share a secret, I only like things with fur. NO FEATHERS, SCALES, OR SLIMY EXTERIORS!
The beach is peaceful and there are many places to walk around. I would love to say I walk around a lot and enjoy the view, but I mostly sit in my room or terrorize my roommate. What can I say? I'm a boring person and being in another country hasn't changed that.
I am looking forward once I am done, getting the chance to walk around and be a tourist. Job one is be ready to compete and until I finish with that, everything else is second.
READY TO GO- LET'S GET BACK TO THE VILLAGE
So tomorrow I head back to the village for just a little tuning up and then I get to compete in front of the world. I'm ready to go though. It's been a great experience here, just what I needed, but now I'm ready to go. Watching the opening ceremonies was fun. I know some people really wanted me to walk, some people included me, but I also knew what standing for seven hours could do to a body and wanted to be here to train. On the plus side, I got to watch the whole parade and not just wait in some crowded room until they called our country.
Those of us who stayed behind at the training camp, opened some bottles of sparkling Chinese fruit wine. I gues you can't call it champange, but who cares. We toasted the opening of the games and laughed and had a glass. My heart fluttered with the knowledge that soon it would be my turn to walk out in that stadium for the world.
Over the last few days, we have been watching the Olympics unfold on the tv, seeing others' triumphs and dissapointments. I've seen athletes cry on tv before either from extreme happiness or not, but it had never meant that much to me until now. Once you sacrificed so much, really sacrificed and given everything you can, all of you, only then can you be open to that level of happiness, really know that feeling of release.
I'm tired of watching it on television. I don't want to watch. It's my turn now. I'm ready to go compete, I'm ready to throw. I am an Olympian and I'm ready to take the world stage. Let the games begin!