Im sitting here in Oslo typing up my blog, trying to come up with a theme, and Im looking out my window and noticing that the sun isnt quite down yet and its almost midnight (thanks jet-lag)! So how about this: This blog is about thankfulness, a.k.a gratitude. Thankful that back in San Diego, the sun sets in the evening, bringing a bit of closure to the day...thankful that back home oatmeal/raisins and 2 cups of coffee doesn't cost $50. Thankful for good friends who let me crash in places that I have no way of affording them! There is plenty more but for time sake Ill cap it at that.
Im in Europe for a quick 2.5 week trip to hit 2 maybe 3 meets, Im confirmed for Dessau, Germany, June 1 and Gothenburg Sweden, on June 11 and hopefully if the business end of the sport goes well I will get to sneak in the backdoor meet of the Oslo Diamond League on June 9....all sounds good huh, hold that thought. I took another synvisc injection in my knee the day before i was to come over and the night before I got on the plane my knee doubled in size and looked like a strawberry, red spots and all... I almost bailed on the trip but then decided to do it anyways, and it turned out to be the most interesting, challenging flight I have had in quite a while... Some good mental practice on meditation and pain management...."jedi mind tricks" as a super close friend would say. I'm learning some really cool stuff on how to deal with "feelings" and associations of certain feelings and how we react to them and it has made a big difference in some of my last performances... It is even more helpful in allowing me to focus on what lies ahead for me after my track career is done...those close to me know where I am headed, and in time you may too.
Last week I hit a meet in Tucson AZ and let one go out to the right side...still not connected with the jav as I would have liked to be, but given the fact that I have almost never broken 70m in training, I was comfortable...not happy...not mad...not satisfied....just comfortable with an 81.09m throw and 2 others over 80 and a 79.97m toss....all in all its just part of the process and makes no difference in anything else in life...its just the smoke that goes along with the mirrors...I hope to have more comfortable news from Europe this week...stand by
M++
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Tokyo / Kawasaki
no big news from my 1st meet of the season over here in Japan... 75m all over the place, lots of power and no control...not surprising though. Japan is amazing and the people are in great spirits here given what the have been through the last few months. In fact, I love it here, the people are amazing and extremely polite! Nice change of pace from so-cal... Home in 21 hours... bonzai! M++
Monday, April 25, 2011
"Fitting In or Standing Out"
This weekend I went to a collegiate track and field meet for the 1st time in several years. What stood out to me most was what seemed like the overwhelming and glaring need for most of the people there to be associated with some sort of group...in most cases a team, and in some of the unattached cases, some kind of affiliation with a shoe company. It brought back memories of my earlier years of competing on the circuit without sponsors and support and the need that I had to be associated with some sort of group or company.
I can remember trying to find out what the Nike/Adidas/Asics competition kits looked like and then I would go out and try to buy something as similar as I could to their kits. I also remember borrowing or trading for USATF National Team gear when I went to meets when I was in college. At that time, I thought it meant something...like you achieved something, if you had national team gear on...like "look at that guy, he has been on a team".
Its ironic how your view of what "successful is." I remember seeing guys who I watched on TV in the Olympics and World Championships, guys who had medals, money, sponsors ect... and I was always amazed at how little they cared to show off their accomplishments. I remember seeing a high school kid training at the Olympic Training Center last fall...the kid actually made the World Junior Team and actually did quite well. He came to the track about 3 times a week and every time he came, he wore his full national team gear, head to toe! Fully decked out... I can relate to him being proud of his accomplishments and wanting to "show" the athletes at the training center that he was legit and wanted to be accepted there.
I'm guessing he didn't realize that as you get older, its not the actual teams that you make that makes you value those National Team kits... Its all the teams that you sold your soul for that you didn't make. The years of living on couches, nursing injuries with no medical insurance and raking up debt...searching for the elusive secret or holy grail of your event. Putting all your eggs in one basket and watching them all crack one by one... but then having your 5 minutes of fame where you make that team, and you realize how special it is. I often think that the few lucky guys and girls who sign big sponsor deals and make World and Olympic Teams their 1st year out of school miss out on those times. Thats not a bad thing, it just makes me understand why they probably don't care that much for those Team USA kits, because it was just another team...
So you see kid...I see you with your USATF team jersey...the one that you probably bought on the USATF website, and its ok. Because I know given the opportunity to do so, you would probably sell your soul as I did to earn you own Team jersey.
I'm looking at a massive box of Beijing 2008 Olympic gear that got worn almost everyday for at least a year. That box hasn't been opened in at least 2 years now.
Until next time,
M++
I can remember trying to find out what the Nike/Adidas/Asics competition kits looked like and then I would go out and try to buy something as similar as I could to their kits. I also remember borrowing or trading for USATF National Team gear when I went to meets when I was in college. At that time, I thought it meant something...like you achieved something, if you had national team gear on...like "look at that guy, he has been on a team".
Its ironic how your view of what "successful is." I remember seeing guys who I watched on TV in the Olympics and World Championships, guys who had medals, money, sponsors ect... and I was always amazed at how little they cared to show off their accomplishments. I remember seeing a high school kid training at the Olympic Training Center last fall...the kid actually made the World Junior Team and actually did quite well. He came to the track about 3 times a week and every time he came, he wore his full national team gear, head to toe! Fully decked out... I can relate to him being proud of his accomplishments and wanting to "show" the athletes at the training center that he was legit and wanted to be accepted there.
I'm guessing he didn't realize that as you get older, its not the actual teams that you make that makes you value those National Team kits... Its all the teams that you sold your soul for that you didn't make. The years of living on couches, nursing injuries with no medical insurance and raking up debt...searching for the elusive secret or holy grail of your event. Putting all your eggs in one basket and watching them all crack one by one... but then having your 5 minutes of fame where you make that team, and you realize how special it is. I often think that the few lucky guys and girls who sign big sponsor deals and make World and Olympic Teams their 1st year out of school miss out on those times. Thats not a bad thing, it just makes me understand why they probably don't care that much for those Team USA kits, because it was just another team...
So you see kid...I see you with your USATF team jersey...the one that you probably bought on the USATF website, and its ok. Because I know given the opportunity to do so, you would probably sell your soul as I did to earn you own Team jersey.
I'm looking at a massive box of Beijing 2008 Olympic gear that got worn almost everyday for at least a year. That box hasn't been opened in at least 2 years now.
Until next time,
M++
Monday, April 11, 2011
Life After College ... "Pick up a Golf Club"
Last week I stumbled across an interview that my old roomate, Toby Stevenson, gave to Flotrack after a practice session at Stanford University (were he currently coaches.)
This interview is probably one of the greatest perspectives of life after college, by one of the greatest pole vaulters to ever live. And this is from an Olympic medalist, a guy who has reached the pinnacle of the sport. His advice to an aspiring NCAA "up and coming" athlete...someone who has the "potential" to make it in the professional ranks..."pick up a golf club and learn to play golf". This is the funniest, yet truest advice I have ever heard.
In Toby's interview, he talks about sacrifices and support. We all know "sacrifices sound cliche" but in professional track and field, especially the technical events where athletes don't reach the international level until their late 20's and 30's... sacrifice is an understatement.
I was speaking to the Olympic Training Centers sports psychologist last week about life after track, and what I can take away from my career when it is over. My opinion seems to be echoed by most retired and older athletes, most of whom are Olympians and even some Olympic medalists. I...we... believe that we have put in more than we will ever be able to get out of track and field. Even if I where to win an Olympic Gold medal, I believe that I will still feel as if I have dedicated half my life to an ideal that did not give back. I have had a pretty blessed career thus far, made an Olympic Team, World Championship Team, World Cup Team, won an International Medal, traveled the world 10 times over...but yet I feel that the sport has made me more cynical and bitter than thankful. I admit, that the majority of my animosity comes from the lack of support from our National Governing body, who ironically should be the number one place of support. Maybe one shinning light in hindsight was the support that I received from my family and a few close friends and organizations that put faith in my talent and ambition...amazing people and friends such as Amory Rowe and In the Arena, Jack Wickens and the USATF Foundation. Let me make that statement clear, that would be the USATF FOUNDATION, not our national governing body USATF...there is a BIG difference! Help from the United States Olympic Committee and guys like Tracy Lamb, for taking a gamble on me back in 2006. Support from amazing friends like these help ease the burden of trying to fight the sometimes impossible fight and for that I am forever thankful.
In a side note, how fun would professional sports in the USA be if they followed the track and field, golf and tennis model. What if... NFL/NHL/MLB/NBA players didn't get paid, unless they won their game? How hard would these guys fight every game to secure their multi-million dollar salaries, some of who receive millions of dollars and dont even play? How fun would that be? Maybe we would see a little "extra effort" or a few ground balls?
Here is Toby's interview, watch it, save it, hopefully you get an idea of what life is all about in the life of a professional track athlete and maybe get a laugh as well.
The interview can be seen here:
http://www.flotrack.org/speaker/7406-Toby-Stevenson/video/482077-Toby-Stevenson-Life-After-Track?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook
This interview is probably one of the greatest perspectives of life after college, by one of the greatest pole vaulters to ever live. And this is from an Olympic medalist, a guy who has reached the pinnacle of the sport. His advice to an aspiring NCAA "up and coming" athlete...someone who has the "potential" to make it in the professional ranks..."pick up a golf club and learn to play golf". This is the funniest, yet truest advice I have ever heard.
In Toby's interview, he talks about sacrifices and support. We all know "sacrifices sound cliche" but in professional track and field, especially the technical events where athletes don't reach the international level until their late 20's and 30's... sacrifice is an understatement.
I was speaking to the Olympic Training Centers sports psychologist last week about life after track, and what I can take away from my career when it is over. My opinion seems to be echoed by most retired and older athletes, most of whom are Olympians and even some Olympic medalists. I...we... believe that we have put in more than we will ever be able to get out of track and field. Even if I where to win an Olympic Gold medal, I believe that I will still feel as if I have dedicated half my life to an ideal that did not give back. I have had a pretty blessed career thus far, made an Olympic Team, World Championship Team, World Cup Team, won an International Medal, traveled the world 10 times over...but yet I feel that the sport has made me more cynical and bitter than thankful. I admit, that the majority of my animosity comes from the lack of support from our National Governing body, who ironically should be the number one place of support. Maybe one shinning light in hindsight was the support that I received from my family and a few close friends and organizations that put faith in my talent and ambition...amazing people and friends such as Amory Rowe and In the Arena, Jack Wickens and the USATF Foundation. Let me make that statement clear, that would be the USATF FOUNDATION, not our national governing body USATF...there is a BIG difference! Help from the United States Olympic Committee and guys like Tracy Lamb, for taking a gamble on me back in 2006. Support from amazing friends like these help ease the burden of trying to fight the sometimes impossible fight and for that I am forever thankful.
In a side note, how fun would professional sports in the USA be if they followed the track and field, golf and tennis model. What if... NFL/NHL/MLB/NBA players didn't get paid, unless they won their game? How hard would these guys fight every game to secure their multi-million dollar salaries, some of who receive millions of dollars and dont even play? How fun would that be? Maybe we would see a little "extra effort" or a few ground balls?
Here is Toby's interview, watch it, save it, hopefully you get an idea of what life is all about in the life of a professional track athlete and maybe get a laugh as well.
The interview can be seen here:
http://www.flotrack.org/speaker/7406-Toby-Stevenson/video/482077-Toby-Stevenson-Life-After-Track?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook
Sunday, March 13, 2011
March Training
March is almost halfway over and its flying by fast and furious. The weather has been great, surprise right. Can't say the same for whats happening in Japan right now. Watching all the tsunami stuff on TV reminds me of when I went through similar evacuations about a year ago in Hawaii, see below:
http://in-the-arena-mike.blogspot.com/2010_02_01_archive.html
I packed our condo all through the night and waited for the evacuation sirens to go off at 06:00am...
I haven't gotten confirmation if any of the problems in Japan will effect the May 8 competition in Kawasaki, which is supposed to be my 2nd meet of the season...I'm crossing my fingers. Not much news to blog about this time of year. The High Tech High Bruins have resumed practice at the Olympic Training Center and although I havent been able to spend as much time coaching them, it has been fun catching up with old friends and seeing some new faces.
Here is a random video I made from some of the past few days training, I plan to make several more, but am going to collect some more footage first...
http://in-the-arena-mike.blogspot.com/2010_02_01_archive.html
I packed our condo all through the night and waited for the evacuation sirens to go off at 06:00am...
I haven't gotten confirmation if any of the problems in Japan will effect the May 8 competition in Kawasaki, which is supposed to be my 2nd meet of the season...I'm crossing my fingers. Not much news to blog about this time of year. The High Tech High Bruins have resumed practice at the Olympic Training Center and although I havent been able to spend as much time coaching them, it has been fun catching up with old friends and seeing some new faces.
Here is a random video I made from some of the past few days training, I plan to make several more, but am going to collect some more footage first...
Monday, February 28, 2011
All things New...
New training block, new haircut ;) new javelin spikes, new music... The new training block starts, in about 5 hours (I'm a little bit sleep deprived) so if this blog comes off a bit random, it reflects how I'm currently feeling...but after this first round of coffee, things may clear up a bit near the end of this entry (but it may be too late by then)... By the way, if you have the ear for some amazing tech house/progressive EXCLUSIVE music, check out my new sponsor friskyradio.com...like NOW!
http://www.friskyradio.com/
ok, now that the rambling is out of the way... New 4 week training block starts today, which includes a bit more fast pace throwing, not too much, just a bit....and some of my favorite lifts...Here's a clip of my coach and I about 10 days out from Beijing in 08. Cool thing is I'm up about 30k since then...moving on
By the way, here is my coach giving an awesome interview at USA Indoors this weekend:
http://www.runnerspace.com/video.php?do=view&video_id=37546
Lets see, other updates, I cut my hair for the 1st time since September 2010. Nike is "rumored" to be working on a new javelin spike, which would be great, given that the current one is probably the...well never mind, lets just say its not ideal. Here is a cool pics of the current boot "melting" upon ground contact.
And here is one of Chris Hill's toe after one session...you get the idea
My DJ website if finally up and running, big thanks to sponsors Frisky Radio
http://www.friskyradio.com/
and Undastreet Music Enhancement:
http://www.undastreet.com/
http://djmisha.us/
I got approved for a guest mix on friskyradio last month, which is HUGE for me because Friskyradio is worldwide and reaches ears on all corners of the globe, anywhere there is internet and a love for music, my mix will be there. My last mix was all set to air but I messed up and put a link to it on facebook which violated the agreement with Frisky because all their mixes are EXSCLUSIVE! Thats how they make their money and what makes the special, you wont hear those sets anywhere else in the world. Anyways, since I made the last mix public, here is the link:
files.me.com/mikehazle/2lpzgo.mp3
I have dialed down my community service quite a bit the last month because I have been spending a HUGE amount of time doing therapy and rehab, and so far it working well. I still have a few bumps and bruises for the most part, but again that's to be expected for this time of the year. I will be in touch with the High Tech High gang this season but in a far less role than last year. Although being with HTH guys is buckets of fun and I really enjoy just hanging with the team, it does do a huge number on my ability to recover from training. Things are going so well right now that I would rather not change anything. "If it aint broke, don't fix it".
To wrap it all up, I read a pretty amazing quote last night... I'll leave you with where I read it and the amazingness that follows: you are welcome ;)
"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing."
-Helen Keller
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bJmVJZbmIk
http://www.friskyradio.com/
ok, now that the rambling is out of the way... New 4 week training block starts today, which includes a bit more fast pace throwing, not too much, just a bit....and some of my favorite lifts...Here's a clip of my coach and I about 10 days out from Beijing in 08. Cool thing is I'm up about 30k since then...moving on
By the way, here is my coach giving an awesome interview at USA Indoors this weekend:
http://www.runnerspace.com/video.php?do=view&video_id=37546
Lets see, other updates, I cut my hair for the 1st time since September 2010. Nike is "rumored" to be working on a new javelin spike, which would be great, given that the current one is probably the...well never mind, lets just say its not ideal. Here is a cool pics of the current boot "melting" upon ground contact.
And here is one of Chris Hill's toe after one session...you get the idea
My DJ website if finally up and running, big thanks to sponsors Frisky Radio
http://www.friskyradio.com/
and Undastreet Music Enhancement:
http://www.undastreet.com/
http://djmisha.us/
I got approved for a guest mix on friskyradio last month, which is HUGE for me because Friskyradio is worldwide and reaches ears on all corners of the globe, anywhere there is internet and a love for music, my mix will be there. My last mix was all set to air but I messed up and put a link to it on facebook which violated the agreement with Frisky because all their mixes are EXSCLUSIVE! Thats how they make their money and what makes the special, you wont hear those sets anywhere else in the world. Anyways, since I made the last mix public, here is the link:
files.me.com/mikehazle/2lpzgo.mp3
I have dialed down my community service quite a bit the last month because I have been spending a HUGE amount of time doing therapy and rehab, and so far it working well. I still have a few bumps and bruises for the most part, but again that's to be expected for this time of the year. I will be in touch with the High Tech High gang this season but in a far less role than last year. Although being with HTH guys is buckets of fun and I really enjoy just hanging with the team, it does do a huge number on my ability to recover from training. Things are going so well right now that I would rather not change anything. "If it aint broke, don't fix it".
To wrap it all up, I read a pretty amazing quote last night... I'll leave you with where I read it and the amazingness that follows: you are welcome ;)
"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing."
-Helen Keller
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bJmVJZbmIk
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Freedom...
Its usually this time of year that I get a kick out of cruising the mall on the weekend and looking at all the stressed out guys... You can always tell the ones who are desperate to get that last second gift that has to be just right, not too much and definitely not too little. Sometimes I can even tell by looking which guys have been in the doghouse. I know these thing, because I used to be in their shoes... and now, I am as excited as ever to celebrate tomorrow's holiday! My holiday is a bit different however, I celebrate, what some call "Singles Awareness Day" but I just refer to it as the celebration of... FREEDOM!
If I may present...a great gathering of happy men, celebrating their FREEDOM! ;)
Training is going uber fantashtic! I'm going on the 3rd week of a 4 week training block and this is the week that I usually feel the worst, but so far so good. My coach and I are looking at upcoming meets and getting workouts ready for the season that should start the end of April. My training partner Kara Patterson is looking scary good and I'm having to do everything I can to keep up with her. She is a totally different athlete from last year, and I honestly have no idea how far she may throw this year. I'm trying to negotiate a "training partner" bonus clause in her contract ;)
In the community service arena, I have dialed down a bit of my services in order to devote more time to my training and recovery, but will be in touch with my High Tech High crew throughout the Spring and will do what I can to get them ready for more school records. Until next time, have a great "Freedom" day.
If I may present...a great gathering of happy men, celebrating their FREEDOM! ;)
Training is going uber fantashtic! I'm going on the 3rd week of a 4 week training block and this is the week that I usually feel the worst, but so far so good. My coach and I are looking at upcoming meets and getting workouts ready for the season that should start the end of April. My training partner Kara Patterson is looking scary good and I'm having to do everything I can to keep up with her. She is a totally different athlete from last year, and I honestly have no idea how far she may throw this year. I'm trying to negotiate a "training partner" bonus clause in her contract ;)
In the community service arena, I have dialed down a bit of my services in order to devote more time to my training and recovery, but will be in touch with my High Tech High crew throughout the Spring and will do what I can to get them ready for more school records. Until next time, have a great "Freedom" day.
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