Track and Field Blogs - Yolanda Flamino

With our blogs recently changing location, I should probably introduce myself, but rather I think I’ll let my monthly blogs-for better or worse-slowly paint a Monet of myself.

Running-wise, the next thing up is the Women’s Marathon Olympic Trials in April, which specific training for will begin this upcoming week. Since I qualified for the Trials, I’ve thought a lot about my goals for that particular race, but this week I’m working on solidifying these goals...really hammering down on the specifics. Either way, I’m very excited to see how things pan out.

While thinking about these goals, I’m also reflecting on the goals I set for myself for the past handful of months. Sometimes even with the best intentions, a good deal of focus, boat loads of hard work, skilled coaching, and thorough planning goals aren’t always met. Seems unfair? Perhaps. But such is life, and things go on. In reflecting, I like to think not meeting some goals actually helps prepare us for future goals, just in a way we didn’t plan. That is, lessons learned from what seems like failure, may be critical players in future events. That’s not to say I like falling short of goals; instead I think all experiences can be useful.

Outside of time goals, two specific goals I had for this last training segment were to get my body healthy and be mentally and physically “fresh” for the upcoming marathon training. Previously, I suffered from some foot pain that eventually become enough trouble that I was compensating a lot and had to take some time off from training. This past week, I was able to wear racing flats for the first time in 5 ½ months and have no ill effects from doing so. I’m considering that a success. I still have a few more baby steps to get it 100%, but the fact that it doesn’t bother me running and is rarely an issue during the day, means I met my goal.

As for the other goal, I figured I would be plenty pumped to run and train in the Trials and that excitement alone would be sufficient, but I wanted to take it one step further. Anyone who has logged enough miles knows that at times we mentally (and physically) go through ebbs and flows, peaks and valleys—sometimes with no apparent reason. These are the days you’re not necessarily dreading putting on the running shoes, but part of you feels like you are going through the motions. This is contrasted with other days when, despite lousy weather, a crappy night of sleep, and a stomach ache you are still pumped to get out the door and the 12 miles seems like it went by too quickly and as soon as you finish you are anxious to get out the door for another run. That is, you are enjoying the act as much as the outcome. I don’t know that you can always plan this, but I decided to try and do whatever it would take to get me to that point. I think I was successful and met that goal, as I am looking forward to the training, not just with the hopes of what it will bring, but also for the simple act of training in and of itself.

As I finalize my goals for this upcoming segment, I wish you luck in achieving yours.