Tuesday, June 5, 2012

The Best Indoor Meet Ever......

This indoor season has been one to remember. I was able to finish the season with an indoor personal best and a World Indoor bronze medal.

This season was very short,sweet, and the most consistent series of meets I have ever had.

I had been working hard and was nervous. I didn't want the hard work to not show up. Each meet I focused on what I have been working on in practice. It's still early in the season I had to just work with what I knew I had worked for and let my competitiveness show up...and it did!

Enough about that...

Let's talk about what an amazing USA team we had! I enjoyed every single moment and every single person on the team. Though now, I'm considered a "veteran" I really enjoyed the "rookies". Everyone was so positive. Whether they had good or bad performances, they were able to be there for and support the team.

We were able to go to the city and had a blast! We became the the best Indoor team USA has ever seen. Breaking the record of number of medal ever achieved that the championships. We also have broken the number of gold medals ever achieved.

This meet showed me where I am and what else I need to do to continue to reach my goal of getting the gold medal at the Olympic Games in London.

Right now London is all I can see. This is my road to London! It has been a short four years! Can't believe it's that time! I am ready to enjoy this roller coaster ride to the podium!

Thats all folks!
Until next time,
Michelle

London Fever

I got chills! They're multiplying and I'm losing control. 'Cause the power you're supplying...it's eletricfying! You're the one that I want!

I know some of you know where those lyrics come from. They come from the movie 'Grease' when Sandy and Danny finally confess their love to each other.

That's how I feel about the 2012 Olympics. Every time I see NBC commercials I get chills all over my body. I get this feeling from deep within that is so powerful it causes tears to form in my eyes. I can't shake it!

My first Olympic team my mindset was "let's see what I can do". This time I am going for it, the one thing that every athlete dreams of, I'm going for GOLD! There can't be a greater feeling than standing on top of the podium with the gold medal around your neck and the national anthem playing in the background! Being a track and field athlete, what greater honor is there?

In everything I do I hold that picture in my mind. I have my eyes fixed on the prize. For some people it may be hard to see. They may even ask if it's a tangible goal. Yes it is! If you shoot for the moon the least you will do is land amongst the stars, right? Plus, I know with all of my heart I can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13) !

Faith, patience, hard work, and consistency can take you far. Whatever you want to do, like good old Nike says, "JUST DO IT"!

Yours truly,
Michelle Carter

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Indoor is here!

I woke up 6:00am with a loud knock at my door. When I heard the sound I already knew who it was. USADA! For those who don't know USADA is The United States of America Doping Agency. They do random drug tests for those athletes who compete in the USA. So, today was my day for them to come and collect my urine.

Since I was wide awake, I was flipping through my DVR and realized that the US Open Indoor Track meet at Madison Square Garden was recorded so I had to watch it. Wake up, Drug test, watch track meet, and go to practice. That's how you start your day!

I have eleven days until my first indoor track meet. I am super excited! Usually, I am never excited about indoor but this year is different. I open up at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas on Feb 11th. Then I will be competing At the US Nationals in Albuquerque, New Mexico in anticipation of competing for the United States at the Indoor World Championship in Istanbul, Turkey. That's the end of my indoor season. Short and sweet! Just like this post! LOL!

Until next time

Michelle Carter

2012 Nuff Said!

2012 is here. I can't believe how fast 2011 has came and gone!

2011 was a learning year for me. I have learned so much through the great teacher "experience" and his twin brothers "trial and error". 2011 was a great year and I threw a personal best of 19.87m = 65ft 2in. I finished second in the USA and ninth in the world rankings. I was able to see what hard work can get you!

My expectations for 2012 are high as well! I am so excited for the new year and have a new outlook on life! I have a God that provides for me and has given me special gifts and talents. I have the best coaches and friends that that have always been supportive in their own way!

What more can I ask for.

Truly Grateful,

Michelle

Something you don't know about me...

I went to my sisters school for a ground breaking ceremony for the new athletic complex they are building and it made me reflect.

Focus Learning Academy is a school that focuses on kids that have learning disabilities. At Focus, kids get a chance to make it through school without getting labled or told that they can not make it because they learn differently. Kids with ADD, ADHD, Autism, and Dyslexia are capable of learning. They just see things differently and it may take a little longer.

I was one of those kids growing up. I was diagnosed at a young age with ADHD and Dyslexia. They told my mom that I would not be able to make it through school without medication. My mom refused to believe that to be true. She knew how smart I was. I scored very high on my IQ test. My mom spent countless hours going over things with me figuring out how I learned best.

In 3rd-6th grade I left school to go to tutoring 2 hours per day, 4 days a week. I didn't know that I was different than everyone else. My mom always told me that I can do it. I just need to focus and work hard.

I made it through elementary and now it was time for Jr High. I didn't go to tutoring anymore. School wasn't hard and I made good grades. I made it through High School easily took AP English in the 11th and 12th grade. After I signed to go to Texas and they said I didn't need to have the class so I dropped it. I graduated High school with no problems!

As I prepared for college they told me that I had to be tested again. Once you have been tested and it is on your transcript and they have to do it again before you enter college so they can know where you are. I got tested again and it went well. My IQ score was high but they were really confused on how I was able to make it through high school without medication.

They told me that there was no way that I would make it through college without medication. The doctor gave me a prescription and told me to think about it and encouraged me try it for a week and see if it makes things easier for me.

I went home and thought about it. I told my mom I would give it an honest effort. I took the medicine and the next thing I knew, I was cleaning my whole bathroom with with a tooth brush. I spent about 5-6 hours scrubbing. My mom came and checked on me a few times. The last time she came in and checked on me she told me to just stop, the bathroom was clean enough and I need to go to bed. We realized that the medication was not for me.

I felt like I was not myself I was so focused on that bathroom I don't even think I stopped to eat or drink. I felt like I was in a trance. That is not me at all. I never took those meds again. When I struggled in college they suggested that I should take something. I was too determined to show them that I can do it without help. I was just ready to be done with school. Between the demands of trying to graduate and the demands from track and field, I was overwhelmed. I just wanted to be finished. I continued to press forward and I made it! I graduated college without medication!

I wish that people would take a little more time to find out why these kids struggle the way they do. Some of the kids at Focus learning academy have some extreme situations at home that makes things at school hard. They may be hungry or their parents are sick. They may be raising themselves because their parents work so hard that they hardly see them. Why shouldn't these kids have a chance to improve their lives with a quality education. A chance to have someone that cares enough to tell them they can do it that they are not dumb or incapable. Someone to tell them that they can go to college and that they should go to college. As well as someone that will give them a chance to dream and provide an opportunity for them to be successful.

Never underestimate a child that learns differently. You never know what they may become or what they are capable of doing. Great athletes, singers, musicians, writers, scientists, artists, and inventors have struggled with learning disabilities but they did not let it stop them from being successful.

What I would tell a kid that struggles with anything in life is, when you put your mind to it you can do anything. It may not be easy but you can do it. It may take a long time but you can do it. Learning disabilities do not go away, you learn how to adapt. To figure out what works best for you. Find out how you learn... Work with it and work it out!

If you believe you can achieve

Keep pushing

Michelle

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Off-Season Training



It's off-season training time! Most of the time I dread this part of the year. This year I am excited to set the tone for the season. The picture shows my "Im not in the mood to play" face. Lol! Thats going to be my new look to all of my distractions! I am not in the mood. Not today! Leave me alone! Rolling of the eyes! Yada yada yada!

Big goals require a plan. A plan requires a goal. To reach you goals you have to have work hard! Lets get it!

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Blogging

I'm not so good at this blogging thing... I'm not consistent :( ..... But I do enjoy it :D.... I have so much to talk about that has happened this year.... I will have plenty of stories to tell about this coming year... It's going to be My Olympic Journey to London 2012.... I have big goals and dreams this year. I want to be able to let you in on my journey! Sooooo! I will try my hardest to keep up with my blogs and keep you informed.... I will be talking not just about track but about all the things that I enjoy... If there is anything you want to ask or something you want to talk about send me your ideas... Ill see what I can do!

Until Next Time

Michelle