Blogs : Destiny Woodbury

Don't Quit!

So we arrived in Charlotte at 2:30pm on Friday. I was so excited to get to the track because I haven't had the opportunity to see it yet. We went to the hotel and changed into our practice clothes for pre-meet. We get on the bus and all I can think about is running a great 400 in nice weather on a beautiful track.

We get there and I run to the track. I was so excited because it had long curves. I love running on curves. To me, mentally, it makes the 400 shorter. So, my team warmed up and all I can think about it how nice the 400 is going to feel. We stretched, we did drills, and then I did baton passes with the 4x100 relay team. They all went well and we were all excited. After that, I did block starts. So while my team was winding down and was about to leave, I decided to take a walk around the track and visualized my race. Thinking of my start, how fast I should be going at a certain part, where my arms should be, telling myself to stay relaxed and to run my race. I felt really good.

Then, we went back to the hotel, had a full team meeting, showered, and went to the Macaroni Grill. Probably the worse choice I made because the next morning my stomach was a mess. I just prayed to God and just hoped and wish I felt better by the start of the meet. We arrived to the meet and my stomach still didn't feel too well. We warmed up for the 4x100 and I began to feel a lil dizzy because I was dehydrated and there was nothing in me. I mean I ate breakfast, but ya know, it was gone already. So, we ran the 4x100 and I'm 3rd leg. My team did ok. We ran 47.14. My leg was good. I caught up and had us in 1st or 2nd. Then, I think we got 5th or 6th, overall. After that race, my body was done. I was light-headed, my body was weak, I couldn't go to the bathroom anymore. I was so upset because I had the opportunity to run a great race and be pushed by Shareese Woods (who ran a great race), but my body was dead. I tried to get pumped up and act like I wasn't feeling well, but it didn't work at all. I was in the seeded heat and in lane 2. When the official said on you marks, all I can think was God just let me get through this race. I didn't care how I ran anymore and I knew that I could possibly not finish the race because my body was so dehydrated from the sun. I jogged the whole race and ran a 57.4, which is no where near my best time. I was very upset, but I knew I was sick and there wasn't really anything that could change that. It was my fault I ate what I ate last night and it was my fault I didn't hydrate well. These are all lessons I learned from and won't forget when I race at A10s in Charotte in May. The 200, I ran 25.3, which was eh considering I was still sick and dehydrated. The 4x400 was just the icing on the cake. We were last in our heat. My teammate dropped the baton before she handed it off to me. I wasn't upset at all. I mean things happened and I told her that I wasn't mad at her. I gave her a big hug, told her I loved her and told her to smile. It's just something that I'm happy that happened now and not later. I told our 4x400 team that we will run much better. We were all tired and our bodies were pushed to the limit. We just have to re-focus and do the little things so we can do big things at the rest of our meets. I end up splitting 56. The meet was over. I officially got my worse meet of the year out of the way.

After the meet, I was so disappointed in myself. Yea, I had a valid excuse, but still. That Monday after the meet, I was really bummed out. I wanted to cry, my eyes were watering, but I couldn't let those tears fall down my face. I just felt like I sat out for a year and I come back to run my 1st 400 in 2 years and I was sick. I'm always so hard on myself and I was really hard on myself after this past weekend. I know that I can't change what happened this weekend. I know that I can run faster, but I just have to do the little things first. That means eating well before a meet and hydrating myself much better. I feel like I have so much pressure to run four events perfectly every single week just because I'm one of the captain's and I'm a senior.  I feel like I have to be strong all the time and lead this team. Sometimes I feel that even though I have these roles, I need someone to talk to me and make me feel good just like I do when my teammates don't perform well. I just feel like everyone just expects that I don't need words of encouragement because I've been running since I was nine years old. But the truth is, I need words of encouragement just like everyone else. This week at practice, I really tried to re-focus and think of my goals for the year. Many of my teammates were proud of how I ran this weekend, but I wasn't. I was so embarrassed and just... I can't even explain. BUT, that's all over with and now I have to prepare for my four races tomorrow at UCONN. Here is the entry list: http://www.plattsys.com/results/res2007/conn47.htm It's suppose to be 43 degrees and it may snow. That doesn't matter to me at all. I'm ready to go out there and just run with my heart. I ran my best time on this track in the pouring rain in 40 degree weather before. I know that the weather isn't the issue. Everyone is going to be complaining about the cold, but the person who focuses is going to win and run a good time.

Other than the track, this week has been a mess! I worked everyday, I volunteered some hours at a local middle school to tutor and mentor 7th and 8th graders. Those students always brighten up my day : ) I've been working on stuff for Texas such as getting my jeep shipped, storage space, reading books that Teach For America sent me, studying for the teacher certification exam, looking at apartments, getting a coach (YAY) so I could continue competing after college : ) , getting graduation stuff finished... just so much to do in so lil time. I graduate in 44 days : ) I also been dealing with a lot of team issues. Just trying to get my team motivated and focused. I feel like I need a vacation.. HAHA. Despite all of these things I'm currently going through, I always keep a smile on my face. I'm just happy to live another day.

On Easter Sunday, I'm going to volunteer some time at a homeless shelter. I'm so excited. I love giving back to the community in any way I can. After I volunteer, I'm going to spend some time with my family. I'm leaving them soon so I want to spend as much time as I can. My lil sister wants to come up and stay a couple of days with me during her spring break. I'm so happy. This is the first time in 5 years she has ever come up to stay with me. YAY!

I just wanted to thank everyone for the e-mails you have sent me. I loved reading every single one of them. Keep sending them : ) Thanks to everyone that is willing to help me out when I move to Texas. I'm so blessed and grateful to have many people wanting to help me out. I can't thank yall enough.

I hope everyone has a GREAT Friday and I hope yall are S M I L I N G. Good Luck to everyone competing this weekend. Til next time...

-Des

***Quote of the week***

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,

When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high,

And you want smile but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest if you must but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns, as every one us sometimes learns,

And many a failure turns about, when you might have won had you stuck it out.

Don’t give up, though the pace seems slow­­­…You may succeed with another blow.

Success is failure turned inside out…the silver tint of the clouds of doubt.

And you never can tell how close you are; it may be near when it seems so far.

So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit…It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.

perspective

1:59 AM, April 7, 2007 .. Posted by Anonymous

Considering the state of you stomach before the race a 57-56 was just about a-blazin'. You must be stonger than you yhink. u gotta realize that. Ur stomach is obviously not satisfied with performing on low octane type foods. E'erbody's got a ceiling. U got to take urself as seriously as u say. Quality carbs are fruits and vegetables. If you have the courage to go for youe best, you will eat the best. Talk is cheap. Action speaks louder. lol

kudos

2:05 AM, April 7, 2007 .. Posted by Anonymous

I'm impressed at how well you did with your problems all hitting you like that. Its so cool that you hang in there. I think you should know that you are destined to do more than just hang in there, though. You have the stuff of greatness in you. You got to expect that to come out. Relax, and let that light shine in... and out.

encouragement

2:07 AM, April 7, 2007 .. Posted by Anonymous

hugs and kisses, darling. hang in there... really. you can do it. be confident... or whatever works for you. i'm counting on you.