Paris Diamond League Meeting

  We arrived in Paris on Bastille day and our hotel is right next to the Eiffel Tower.  So we had prime seating for the Fireworks show that night.  It was really cool especially for me because I was out of the country for the 4th of July and I missed the fireworks this year, so joining in with the French wasn’t a bad consolation.  I had some pretty good training sessions this week and I felt really good going into the meet.  As usual we had a loaded field of discus throwers.  I opened up with 60.77 and then 60.83 meters and pretty much stayed consistent over 60 meters.  I liked the consistency but I know I have longer throws in me.  They will come, I have done a lot of work this season to set me up for the next 2 years and I just have to be patient.  Looks like I have 1 more meet coming up in Africa!!!! For Paris ResultsSuper excited because this is one continent I am yet to visit.Paris Results 

Aretha Pre meet in Lausanne

Brasschaat, Belgium

I’ve been in the Netherlands for a few days since my meet in Lausanne and it is hot over here, it’s been in the 90’s and no A/C.  I guess this is unusual heat for this part of the country. But I have been enjoying it.  There is a group of American distance runners training here at the same track and they were headed to a meet today in Belgium so I jumped in the van.  It was a throwing day today anyways, so why not get some measured.  Brasschatt here we come!… I have to tell you the hour and half drive with no A/C was awesome!  I had a great sweat going. When we got there I ran into several other American athletes and it was great to see lots of people I hadn’t seen in a while.  I had a lot of fun cheering for everyone in there events and the best part, another American discus thrower.  Becky finished 1st and I took 2nd we had a tough circle to throw from.  It was super rough, which means slow, and a little warped, so all things considering we did really well.  We both used this as a working meet making adjustments for the next meeting in Paris.  For our effort we got Belgium fries and Belgium beer after meet. I uploaded a few pictures here and on my home page….

Anybody Know What Sport This Is?

Here in Madrid, Spain still training until my meet in Lausanne on July 8th.  We’ve had a great couple of days, I’m here with 3 other athletes from my agents group and one of his assistants to look out for us.  We have nice accommodations and were about a 25min walk from the training facility.  Our hotel serves great coffee so you know I am okay.  See the picture I took this morning…. The track has everything we need and of course the best part is there is a discus cage.  I got a pool workout in today to help with my recovery.  tomorrow is a throwing and lifting day.  I am looking forward to it, the weather has been great since the meet.  On our way back to the track today we passed some sporting facilities that I didn’t recognize.  Look at the photos andybody recognize this sport????

IWC Madrid, Spain

  Today’s meet was interesting to say the least.  The women’s discus got started about 30 min late because the men’s hammer went long.  But we got about 15 min of warm up and there was a dark cloud moving our way.  We thought we might be able to finish before the rain came, but that didn’t happen.  By round 2 the thunder and lighting were on us.  We ran for cover there were about 50 of us cramped in a little holding cell.  Here is a picture of the room empty,  Imagine it full…After standing in this room for about 30 min or more they took us out to the track and resumed the meet, with no warm ups.  After the 3rd round was finished I asked can we stop until the lighting stops re-warmup maybe 2 throws and then finish with the final 3 attempts.  But the head referee didn’t want to make any accommodations for the weather and we threw in a lighting storm.  I don’t know about you?  But I have a problem throwing metal objects in lighting…  Anyways it was hard to find the rhythm after all that.  I did manage to throw a long throw in the 5th round about 63 meters and it was inches out of left sector.  Check the video in the side bar and notice all the water in the ring. I finished 7th with a throw of 55.47 meters, pretty much a career low today… Up next Lausanne, Switzerland July 8th. For full results click here or in english here A few pictures from the meet

Aretha Throwing in Madrid

On the Road in Madrid

  I just arrived in Madrid, Spain yesterday and I compete tonight at 7:15pm.  I was pretty sleepy all day yesterday and had to fight to make myself stay awake to get adjusted to the time change quicker.  I felt like a walking zombie, my eyes were half open, but I had a great night’s sleep last night and I am starting to feel normal.  Our hotel is really nice, the rooms are spacious, which is rare overseas because the beds are always right next to each other.  But our room is big enough to spread them out.  The food is awesome fresh and full of flavor.  Lots of options too.  My favorite is the fresh squeezed orange juice!!! Well we have a good field of throwers here at this meet and I am looking forward to a rebound after USA’s.  My trip to Des Moines was not successful and I am looking for some redemption.  Here is a link to the meet IWC Spain.