Nick Symmonds: The Last Bales of Hay
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #9)
Posted March 24th, 2008 at 6:15 PM by Nick Symmonds
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics, Elite Athlete Blogs, Nick Symmonds
Welcome to the official blog of elite American middle-distance runner Nick Symmonds. Make sure to check every other Monday at http://nicksymmonds.thefinalsprint.com/ for Nick’s latest entry! For more information about Nick, also please visit: www.nicksymmonds.com
If you have ever raced competitively and trained to peak for a specific race then you have heard the phrase “the hay is in the barn.” This, of course, refers to the months and years of training you have logged in preparation for that race. The race I am preparing for is the Olympic Trials and I have been accumulating hay for this one for about 10 years now. It’s amazing to think that in three months I will finally have my chance to realize this dream. However, a lot can happen in three months.
After taking five days off in Spain and just being your standard American tourist (i.e. not running a step and eating WAY too much) I returned to Eugene five pounds heavier and as mentally fresh as I’ve ever been. This is exactly where I want to be. I find that a few extra pounds help me stay healthy during the months of intense training and after an intense indoor season I needed that five day break from living the life of a professional athlete.
I now have five beautiful, uninterrupted weeks in front of me before I start racing again. These five weeks of training, along with the spring race season, will make up the most important phase of my preparation. During these next five weeks I have a very challenging task: to push the limit of what I’m physically capable of doing and to get in the best shape I’ve ever been in….without getting injured.
Obviously I’m extremely excited to train hard and have never been hesitant to put in the work. this time around, however, the damage that an injury could do would be immeasurable. I try to keep this thought out of my mind as much as possible; otherwise, I would not be able to train as hard as necessary. But, at the same time I make sure I never forget how important this season is. Each day I try to calculate my risks. As much as I’d love to go spring-skiing right now or get my whitewater kayak out and run some big spring flows, these are (as my college coach would say) “unnecessary risks.” I find myself taking my easier days easier and trying to really focus on the workout days. Stretching, icing, and massages have taken on new meaning.
When I start to get caught up in the preparation and stress of this coming season I just remind myself that the Olympic Trials is just another meet and that the Olympic final is a race in which I belong. I have had a lot of pressure on me in the past to perform well at big races and I find that I’m usually able to rise to the occasion. The finals of the Olympic Trials will be a new challenge. I’m excited to test the limits of what I’m physically, but more importantly, mentally capable of doing once again. Until then I just have to be patient, and keep this large bag of frozen peas close by!
-Nick
To comment on this entry and to send feedback & questions to Nick, please click here.
***Note: We encourage EVERYONE to see a doctor before altering their diet, taking a supplement and/or performing athletic, fitness or other strenuous physical activity. It is your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness and usefulness of any information, instruction, opinion or advice contained in the content. Please also see our complete disclaimer.***
Tags: 800 meter run, 800 meters, 800m, elite athlete blog, elite athlete blog series, elite athlete nutrition, eugene or, hay is in the barn, indoor track & field, middle distance, Nick Symmonds, olympic games, olympic hopeful, Olympic Trials, professional running blog, race prep, thefinalsprint.com elite athlete blog series, track and field, training, World Indoor Championships
Like what you see? Subscribe to our feed!
The Final Sprint
Nick,
March 25th, 2008 at 7:41 amI was fortunate enough to be in Valencia to see you compete in the Worlds.
As a Senior Coach in middle-distances here in the UK/Ireland, I would like to ask you is how you managed to get in shape to run 1:46 indoors coming from a climate such as Oregon.
Listening to your interview on The Final Sprint recently you were still in the throes of winter training.
You could not possibly have run so fast just on strength? Or do you have some key sessions you use to re-activate your FT fibres?
I was also impressed that during your semi-final that Khadevis Robinson was really willing you on into the final.
I would not have expected this between two such close rivals.
Good luck with your preparations and I hope to see you in that final in Beijing.
Malcolm McCausland
Derry
Northern Ireland