The word of the year: Calm~

“The only way to maximize potential for performance is to be calm in the mind” 

There is no better feeling in the world than to be calm.  After a summer of living life and having fun every chance I could get, calm has come over my mind and body. Not much is going to take that feeling away either.

I have to give credit to my coach, Lance Deal. He told me, “I really hope that you are appreciating your life right now, you have it pretty good”…or something like that.   ;)   After his words sunk in, I said to myself, "I really do have it good". I can do whatever I want, whenever I want and not have to answer to anyone. Whenever I start to feel chaos creep into my life; I sit back, remember to be calm and remind myself that life is pretty amazing - and enjoy it!

I started back training on October 1^st. For the next four years, Lance will oversee all aspects of my training, with help from Art Venegas and Jamie Meyers. Art will be the eyes for Lance and reports back to him on my throwing. Jamie will be overseeing my lifting and making sure that I don’t try to kill myself in the weight room.

 

My first cycle of the year consisted of circuit training: 12 exercises, 3 times through, 3 times a week.  I started the cycle doing 3 reps each and each week I add a rep. until I get to 10 reps. Sounds like fun, right? 

Tumbling and high bar swings have also been added to my training to work on body awareness. Below is a video proof that I can go do them!  Last week, I did 10 front giants! Not by choice, I didn’t know how to stop and I just kept going until I slowed down.  No video evidence but I have plenty of witnesses!

 

Coming into the year my body just feels different. I wish I had the right words to explain it but I am pretty sure that it is connected to the whole calming feeling. This feeling has made my throws feel smoother and my overall confidence in the ring is noticeable. I finally feel that the hammer and I can now be one.   :)

I will try to do my best to blog about once a month with video for how my training is going. Just know that the best way to keep up with me is my Twitter account and/or my fan page on Facebook. 

Hope everyone is having a great Fall, and looking forward to my second favorite holiday, Thanksgiving…gobble, gobble!

Brit

Summer of fun!

The week proceeding the Olympic Trials I wrote down a list of activities that I wanted to do this summer. Everything from hanging out with my friends to paint balling. It is my chance to step fully away from my hammer, and focus on myself and having fun - since that is what my coach prescribed!

Over-the-Line is over the line

There was not better way to get my summer started than some OMBAC OTL.

For those of you outside Southern California, OTL stands for Over-the-Line. (Not many people have heard of OTL due to the names of the teams that participate. I would give examples, but I wouldn't want to hurt your virgin eyes ;)

To get a better understanding of the game, check out the OMBAC web-site at
http://www.ombac.org/over-the-line/otl-rules-of-the-game/.

Basically, one must hit a softball over the line, no base running, only wooden bats and teams soft-toss pitch to each other. I have been attending OTL since I was a little kid. I would partake in the festivities but cheering for my friends and family takes up most my time.

After I recovered from OTL, it was back to my list.

I wanted to give back to my body this summer,  I figured there was no better way than to kicks its' butt with some yoga. After the season was over, my back felt like it was petrified. Since yoga is just "fancy stretching", I figured I should give it a try. Ever since, my back is feeling looser, and I can rotate evenly on both sides! Some of you may laugh that yoga could kick your butt, but it does, and you should try it!

Paddle Boarding!!!

Top of Iron Mountain

I can also check off my list: hiking Iron Mountain, hiking Cowles Mountain, paddle boarding, running without an asthma attack, and biking (kinda).

My latest check mark would be my VACATION to Colorado to see my friends. I say vacation, because I can not remember the last time I went on a trip that did not include my hammer, or family. This trip was just about seeing my friends and having a great time.

Upon arriving in Colorado, I was off to the Linkin Park and Inubus concert with my buddies Adam and Courtney. This was only my 3rd concert in my life, and I would have to say it was the best.

The next day was filled with relaxing and a quick run. I ran down to Colorado State University to see Adam and the CSU throwers! It was great to meet them. They all had a blast kicking my butt in the sprints. Can't wait to see how they do this year!

Ready to Ride!

The last full day in Colorado was Tour De Fat. Again, if no one has heard of this event check out the web-site: http://www.newbelgium.com/events/tour-de-fat.aspx.

My buddies and I dressed up in costumes, rode our bikes down the main street in a "parade", and ended the ride with some delicious brews from New Belgium Brewery. It was great to see everyone dressed up, and I got some great ideas for Halloween.

Before I flew home and back to reality, I stopped off in Heaven... I mean the Coors Brewery. I can not tell you how happy I was to visit this magical place. The smell of malt, the taste of the Rocky Mountain fresh and the awesome vintage shirt was enough to send me home with permanent grin.

Heaven aka. Coors Brewery

All and all my summer has been great. I have one more month left before I lace my shoes back up and start spinning again.

I have a few more check marks to get before the months end, and I can't wait to do them.

Hope everyone is having a great summer and is as excited as I am for football season! Go Ducks, Geaux Tigers and Bolt Up Chargers!


Brit

“Remember this feeling”

"This feeling is going to motivate you for the next four years”. Lance Deal

As I walked away from the hammer area at the Olympic Trials, I was numb. I didn't know what to think, what to feel, or even what to say. All I knew was that it hurt, really bad. Essentially, I broke my own heart.

 

Even after a month and a half after the event, I still tear up when I think about that day. 

Why didn't I make it?

Couldn't tell ya. There are a few factors I believed played a roll in my performance, but I can't look back on those. Looking back can only cause road blocks in the future.

In the grand scheme of things, I just had one of my most successful seasons of my career. Two, almost three meets over 70 meters, and my highest finish at an Olympic Trials. I can try to be disappointed in myself, but I have worked so hard this past year on being positive and not getting in my own way, that being disappointed will only cause my mind to slip back down the hill. I know what I am capable of, so does my coach. That is all that matters, and that is what is going to push me through these next few years.

So, what am I going to do now?

I am going to have a lot of fun, that's what!  :) (coach prescribed)  For the next two months I will be “resting” - code for doing all the things that I have held off from this past year. I have what you could call a Bucket List of activities that I want to do. I plan to blog about them, so stay tuned!

Around October, I will lace up my throwing shoes and get back into the ring. After only one week away from my hammer, I miss it. and can't wait to get back to spinning.

I can't thank everyone enough for all the cheers of support you have all given me this past year. Please know that I read all the messages and take to heart all the positive words of encouragement you all have given me.

For my family and friends, you all mean the world to me, and I will forever be indebted to you for all the love you have given and showed me. But strap your boots up, you guys got a few more years of watching me spin in circles!    :)

Hope everyone is enjoying the Olympics so far! Finally, Track and Field is on:)

Brit

Travel, travel and some more travel~

I will try to keep this post as short and sweet as I can, but I have a lots to tell you guys!

Photo by Graham Smith @ Mt. SAC

My hammer and I have finally come together as one.  :)

I started off the season with a toss of 70.78m at the Oregon Preview, my best opener ever, and I did it in the snow.

Next up was the Mt. SAC Relays, where I threw 70.18m and placed 4th to a great field of throwers.

Two weeks later I was back in Eugene for the Oregon Twilight meet, where I fell ill to either, food poisoning, or the 24 hour flu. Not sure which one, but I was not feeling it on meet day and mustered up a throw of 66.35m.

The Tucson Elite Classic was my last series of meets, and they went pretty well. Day one, I threw 68.54m. Day two, I threw 69.97m. Every meet I am getting closer and closer to hitting a big throw.

My next meet will be the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon. I will be heading up to Eugene a few days early to see my coach, and get used to the cottonwood floating through the air. My allergies LOOOVVVEEE the cottonwood trees!

Looking from the Lincoln Memorial

WW2 Memorial

As if my meet schedule didn't keep me busy enough, I flew out to Mclean, Virgina for an event with Hilton Worldwide.

Part of the deal in participating in the  Team USA Career Program  is to appear at events that promote the Olympics.

While I was in Virgina, the Road to London Tour made a stop at the Hilton Worldwide Headquarters. I was pleased to meet a ton of Hilton Worldwide employees, and show off my hammer.

The next morning, before my flight took off, I made a quick trip to Washington DC to see the sights. I have to say, walking around DC made me feel very patriotic. I still get goosebumps when I think of the WW2 memorial and walking through Arlington National Cemetery. 

Other than flying around the country, life has been pretty routine; sleep, train, work and sleep some more.

I hope everyone had an amazing and safe Memorial Day weekend.

Brit

Got Skin in the Game?

Have you all every stood in the face lotion asle and wondered, which one should I pick? Think no more! If you are like me and out in the sun all day, then Skin Care for Athletes is your product.

I was first turned onto to the product from a friend who fell in love with the face lotion.  All of Skin Care of Athletes products are all natural and organic.

My go-to product is the Tri-Face Serum. After a long day in the San Diego sun, the serum makes my skin feel refreshed and smooth.

I also loved washing with the Tri-Body wash. After a hard workout, the Tri-body wash refreshes my skin and muscles.

Check out their web-site and give the products a try. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.

100 Days until the 2012 London Olympics!

WOW , I cannot believe that the Olympics are only 100 days away! That means that the Olympic Trials for the hammer throw is only 63 days away! Now, I know what your next question will be," Are you on the team?" Well, let me explain:

To make the Olympic Team in the hammer throw, there are 2 requirements that I must meet:

1. My hammer must fly over the 71.50 meter mark anytime from now until my last throw at the Olympic Trials.

2. I must place in the Top 3 at Hammer Time/Olympic Trials on June 21st.

Now, the next question I am sure you all ask, "The meets leading up unitl the Olympic Trials count for what?"

The reason I compete is because I love it. There is not much else in this world that bring a bigger smile to my face than seeing my hammer fly.

Competitions also give me a chance to throw the Olympic "A" Standard and build my confidence in the ring.

At the beginning of the competition season my body is not in full gear to throw far. I am still backing off heavy weights and heavy hammers and it takes a bit for my body to get used to being fast and explosive. This is also why I have a few meets before the big one.  :)

I hope this answers a few of your questions. If you have any more. please feel free to ask away:)

Brit

Oregon Preview Recap with Video

Alright, apologizes again for being away from my blog for the last month. I have plenty to tell y’all but I just have not found the time to do so! I do a much better job with updating my Twitter and Facebook account, so please follow and like those pages. Y’all will be update to date with what I am doing and where I am at.

So where should I begin...lets start with the Oregon Twilight!

I now know that I can throw in all weather conditions. Snow, sleet, rain, wind and sun all poured down on me during the meet. I have to admit it was pretty fun. Now I am not saying that I would want to do it all the time but it was cool to switch up the weather conditions.

Despite all the fun I was having in the snow and rain, I was having even more fun in the hammer ring. It felt good to finally let one go and get it measured. On my 3rd throw the hammer flew 70.78meters…second best throw of my life! To add to the excitement it was the first time that Lance got to see me throw over 70 meters!!!

After the meet I flew home and was back to my daily rountine; train, work, eat and sleep. Other then that, life has been pretty easy. Hangout out with the fam, sleeping in on the weekends, playing with my doggie and the best of all, enjoy any down time that I have.

My next meet will be the Mt. SAC Relays in Ontario, CA. This meet is going to be a great one to throw in. I believe we have 5 ladies who have thrown over 70 meters. I am super excited to see how far my hammer will fly under sunny conditions, but over all I just want to improve on my 70.78 throw and have fun with all the ladies. Just like any Olympic year, everyone is ready to throw on any given meet day.

Like I said before, the best way to keep up with what is going on in my world is to follow me on Twitter and like my Facebook page. I am always posting pictures or some funny event that is going on in my life :)

Hope everyone is as excited as I am for the outdoor season!

Britney