Track and Field Blogs - Diana Pickler

Well the last time I wrote a blog was a couple days out from competition. I competed on the 25th and 26th. My competition did not go so well, I was disappointed with the outcome of my performance. I did alright in the first event the 100mH, but from there it kindof snowballed! While the competition was going on I could not understand why I was not competiting to the standard that I expected of my self, because I felt prepared. After the competition I learned more than I could have ever imagined. Me and my coach walked around the practice track and talked about the whole experience and what I learned from it. I realized of all the things I need to work on this next year to prepare for '08, and what it takes to be at the top. Also being in that environment around so many amazing athletes, I was not totally my self out there on the track. I was not doing the things I do to get my self amped up because I guess I felt a little insecure being on that stage for the first time. So after this meet, I realized regardless of how big the meet is you have to be the athlete you are and do what you do to make your self successful and not change that because of the surroundings.
Besides not performing up to my expectations, competiting at the World Championships was one of the coolest experiences I have ever had. The second day durning the long jump and javelin the Heptathlon was the only thing going on at that time. The stadium had thousands of people in the stands cheering and rhythmic clapping for the Heps. Being a Heptathlete from the US, I'm use to about 10 people in the stands( half being my family, haha)!! This entire experience will be a driving force for me ever day I train for this up coming year.
Until next time.....