Greetings from TrackMom Straight from Myrtle Beach,South Carolina .I know I haven’t been around for almost a week between traveling to Region 15 Championships then preparing and traveling for Youth Outdoors Championship .
It has been a very busy 2 weeks and we will be traveling until next week so there maybe just a few post between now and next week some time. Our travel wasn’t to bad getting here. Just a little difficulty with air turbulance that actually cause me to lose my breath for a moment…It was kinda funny but glad of course we landed ok. We were on the front end of the storm and no delay for us but unfortunatley many of our friends got stranded for over 6 hours because of the storm.
Day 1 Lauren was a little sluggish, a little out of her normal running character.Coach just chalked it up to travel drag. Her time was okay but she just looked a little flat. All and all not a bad day, 200m 24.89. The weather isn’t that comfortable but it is rarely is in the summer here in the south, so I try to ignore it (almost impossible ).
The Youth World Trials were also being held this week and that was very exciting to see what the Olympians here ,Quincy Watts and others shared with the new Youth World Team Members and the joy and excitment on their faces. The parents were very proud and beaming as well. I was proud of them myself, having met a few of them, it was a treat to see them with their Team USA shirts on. As usual on the road, I am having a bit of a problem with my computer and internet connection LOL I know, I know … Again,Yep Again . I have so much to catch up on but can’t just yet Sooooory .
Day 2 Today the 100m and 400m semi’s. Had a bit of re-focusing last night and a good evening with friends and Lauren was ready to run. Her 100m was again less exciting than previous efforts but I know I am being a little hard on her. The 400m was a very nice effort and her time although dad told her to just qualify, was great at 56.8. I promised her a day at the beach and a little pool time today.I know many will say “oh no not the pool it will drain her so much”. Well yes and no. Lauren only being 11 years old has a great desire for the “fun” of a National Championship. The ocean , the pool and lots of kids to play with . She has the abilty to be very focused but she needs an outlet also. We are in a resort city with the ocean not more than 100meters from the front door and tons of kids dressed in bathing suits everyday as we head out to the hot sticky track. All I can say is you have to give and take. She still is a kid and still wants traditional fun with other kids. We let her go play with friends in the ocean and the pool too for a couple of hours I just watch from afar and enjoy the sun and sand too. She had a wonderful time and because she was a little tired after such a full day she went right to sleep at 8:30 . Yeah! I know when she is older she will remember the great time she had in Myrtle Beach,the shells she collected, splashing in the waves eating popsicles on the sand and and fun with her friends. Oh yeah, and winning a few medals too!
Day 3 Lauren slept soundly but was ready for breakfast and her first Championship race of the week. Her spirits were great and she was very relaxed and at ease. With her favorite large pancake breakfast made by Coach Dad today ,( I was booking airfare to Kansas and New Orleans. Oh, the pain those seats were expensive but now it is done. Just need one more hotel reservation and we are set. She ran the 20om about 9:30am PST and again, while not her best a very solid sub 25 time (24.82). Sometimes spectators , including myself can get caught up in the time and not the effort it took that day. No one runs their best everyday but most run the best they can on that given day. So while not her best ever it was another best time for a midget girl this season. Sub 25. like Sub 12. is a large rite of passage for the sprinter girl ages 12 and up. So I am enjoying the journey of consistancy and knowing no matter what happens the rest of this year she has sprinted as good as many of our sports best age group icons, Angela ,Aaliyah ,Kendall, Hannnah to name a few . We watched her race and cousin Isaiah sounded the horn heard all the way around the track and lots of cheers from the crowd. She wins returns to the stand and I see a slight shy smile. She always is happy on the inside but shy to show it on the outside. That’s the 11 year old for you. Then we watched a few hurdle races and then headed over to the podium area for the awards ceremony. I haven’t asked her but I think that moment is her favorite of all standing on the top and finally showing us her joyful excitment. After the awards were given out many younger athletes girls and boys wanted to take pictures with her and they were all so wonderful. Lauren wouldn’t leave until everyone was in a picture that wanted to be in one. That was fun to watch. I even squeezed in for one myself. When we got back to the hotel it was ice bath and lunch time in that order. She squealed and squirmed but finally her ten (long) minutes were over and then she had a steak lunch. Usually it wouldn’t be quite so fancy for lunch but I wanted to use up all the food we purchased on Tuesday, so why not. Steak it was. Coach Henry was ready for a nap but Lauren had her sights on the Transformer movie. She won and so Tranformers were on. I had to wash the uniform and tights for tomorrow. It dried a little slow so I had to turn onthe heat yes,the heat to dry them.It worked and we all survived while drying. I am really enjoying the kitchen in the room.It is so much easier than going out all the time. It simply saves us time and we even get to sleep a little longer and stay up a little later because the food is right there. After dinner (Korean Barbeques Tacos) ,Lauren heads for the shower and shortly after bed. We follow and before I fall to sleep I thank God for Lauren’s healthy body and willingness to do what it has taken to get here. A lot of hard work and sacrifice,and to please keep her legs strong,no problems while running as she competes tomorow.
4 Championship Sunday This morning starts like most competition days except we are up a little earlier than the other days. Lauren is a little quiet.but does speak up when she asks”whats for breakfast?” Dad makes breakfast again and again it is her favorite Pancakes,chicken spinach sauage and scrabbles eggs with cheese. Championship day in our family is usually a pretty quiet time.Each of us seems to be in thought and we don’t talk alot but nothing is wrong our spirits are high just a little introspective. We arrive at the track about 7:45am Henry lets us out and parks the car. Lauren goes over to the warm up area. I go to the stands and sit for a while. Then I walk over to see what is going on with Lauren’s warm up. She is complaining about some tightness in her left hamstring. Okay, all season feeling great now on finals day tightness. Henry has her do some more warm up activities and I do a few things to her and then simply ask her do you want to run? Do you feel good enough to do it. She knows she always has a choice. We though she could. We wanted her to determine this based on what she felt not what we said. She said she was feeling better after the warm up and she was going to run. Henry told her ok and after the 100m we would talk about the 400m and how she was feeling then. I hug her and tell her to “Go Meet Your Destiny” and returned to the stadium seating. As the time approaches 9am I begin to feel that “feeling” I get almost every race she runs the worst nerves are always during the relays. No relay today but nerves are present for sure.
As I watch the younger athletes I begin to take a couple of deep breathes and then lauren moves toward the blocks. In 12.66 seconds it is over she wins and I begin to feel momma pressure lift. I began to talk to a few friends after the race and before I knew it it was time for theawards ceremony. The parents in the audience were so great clapping for all the athletes lauren included. I took a few pictures, she flashed her “I did it mom smile” and then I took the medal and got it engraved and said to myself okay one more and it’s over. We asked her again how did her hamstring feel,she said not perfect but not terrible I want to run. Henry told her just do enough don’t run hard. And so the 400m as the 100m and 200m went off with out a hitch and lauren becomes the 2011 triple event Champion. One year ago she told Henry she wanted to go to Youth Nationals because she had never been. He said okay and from that time we prepared to travel to Myrtle Beach. I am glad we had this expereince.I always wanted to visit South Carolina so we accomplished to goals in one trip.coach Henry’s girls were both very happy.
And so our family journey to the JO’s continues…To be continued very soon
Congrats to Lauren, Coach Henry & Track Mom on Lauren accomplishments in South Carolina and for the entire track season. Lorraine tweeted this comment after Lauren had won her 3rd event: “The excitment for Lauren is settled now. 3 National titles 1,2&4 in 4 busy days of track.Nicely run meet. Next Stop JO’s Witchita,KS.”
I read Lorraine’s comments and thought to myself, no surprise in Lauren winning all 3 events at this event, or any other event that she enters this year. She’s that dominant, but after you read Lorraine’s diary, I’m reminded that one should never take anything for granted, especially when you’re dealing with the human psyche and the human body. Human beings are not machines. Lauren is not one and she’s lucky to have a mom who is a Doctor of Chiropractic and a dad who is a wise coach and counselor. Injuries are as much a part of athletics as winning and losing. Lauren has been trained to be a champion both on and off the track and she has also been trained to listen to her body. There is no greater gift that you can give an athlete than to have an understanding of their body and their psyche. Well done – “IT TAKES A FAMILY” and a lot of God given ability to reach the heights that Lauren has achieved in 12 years.
On my blog “Do No Harm – The weekend story of a child track prodigy – Lauren ‘Rain’ Williams” http://t.co/FkSNKXV I updated her weekend exploits in South Carolina.
Lauren won and dominated the three sprint events (100M, 200M, 400M) in the Midget Female category at the meet. Her best times in 100M & 200M finals were superior to the boys in the Midget Division and her qualifying 400M time was better than any boy ran in the finals or in the qualification round. National event and she blew her competition away. Two more national meets to go and she should face tougher competition in these meets. Lauren’s Track Mom, Lorraine, gives you her account of the family’s week in Myrtle Beach – TrackMom Diaries.
RESULTS:
100M: 12.59 – Wind Indicator (-1.2) Qualified: 12.66 Best Competitor Time – Female: 13.58 Male: 12.96
200M: 24.82 – Wind Indicator (.9) Qualified: 24.89 Best Competitor Time – Female: 26.94 Male: 25.85
400M: 57.88 Qualified: 56.92 Best Competitor Time – Female: 1:00.76 Male: 57.02
* Lauren is not competing against males, but I listed the best male times at the event to show one how dominant a sprinter she is in her age group, whether you’re comparing her against male or female athletes. Congrats to Lauren on another stellar performance. She’s done a lot of high performance running in a 9 day period (2 Meets – 11 races) for a young athlete. On Sunday she won the 100M & 400M dashes with a tight left hamstring. Henry, Lauren’s dad & coach, told her to take it easy. How many 11/12 year old kids can take it easy and run a 57.88 400M. Great competitor who is nearly always at her best when her best is needed. Get some much needed rest Lauren, stay healthy and I look forward to hearing about your exploits in Late July and early August.
Thanks for the very kind comments.
Even though DJ strained his hammy (but still managed 2nd in his heat..he jogged to 7th in the final for his medal)…we still think it was a great experience for DJ to see how it goes in the bigger meets..He had a good time with his Cheetah teammates and even though it was so hot and sticky, I enjoyed myself as well! It was great seeing your daughter run in person! I think I saw you on Sunday morning as our kids are just a few heats apart (he’s youth)…See ya at Nationals in KS!