Track and Field Blogs - CFred Joslyn

Being a professional athlete requires many sacrifices to gain success. On the Hansons team, we meet at 7:30 AM every day regardless of weather. Today for example, I woke up and checked the weather...It read -3 degrees F. Wait that can't be right... yep it was, and that was without the wind chill. But I knew the workout would still be on. So I bundled up in many layers of Brooks clothing and headed to Stoney Creek Metro Park for my 8 mile tempo run. Fortunately we had about a dozen guys doing this workout so I tucked in and just went along for the ride. During tough periods of training these days can take a toll mentally, but staying focused is much easier when you are surrounded by others who know what it is like to go out every day and work towards a goal of winning a championship, or qualifying for a World or Olympic team.

Sometimes its not only the athletes that have to make sacrifices in our quest of greatness. For example, this Valentine's day I will be boarding a plane for beautiful and warm San Diego to compete in the USA Cross Country Championships, while my finacee, Shelby, stays in Freezing Michigan by herself. Our loved ones often make sacrifices for us so that we can chase a dream.

It is amazing how much you can achieve when you chase your dreams. I never would have thought I'd be on a professional running team with goals of qualifing for world teams, but here I am. Every day I get up and work towards the goal of putting on a USA singlet and representing my country with everything I've got.

Many people have inspired me to chase my dreams including former teammates, coaches, and friends; Tom Carter, Jack Daniels, Shamus Nally, Andy "PD" Cloke, Foxy Sam, Deebs, all the C-Staters (Snowshoe <3) and many others

Send em, C