Thursday, January 29, 2015

2015 ramblings: Part 1

Current Location: Chula Vista, CA, Dsquad Camp

I am writing to you from the warmth of my amazing homestay here in sunny California. I can't say that I am missing the East Coast right now with the several feet of snow and negative temperatures. I do miss my family though...always.

The past few months have been quite eventful. I put the not so exciting Tongyeong and Hong Kong experiences behind me, and traveled to Iten, Kenya to the High Altitude Training Center with a growth mindset and curiosity to explore unchartered territory. 



                 Overlooking the beautiful Rift Valley.
For those without Geography knowledge, this is where I was in Africa!




I love traveling and immersing myself in a new environment, taking on the challenge of adjusting to a different culture. I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous to arrive in Kenya, especially since I was there for two weeks before any of the other Dsquaders traveled over. Thankfully, I latched on to the group of British runners that arrived at the same time as me, and made some great new friends. Also, as soon as I started chatting with the local runners and people in Iten, I felt at home. Of all places I visited in 2014, Kenya had the most impact.



With Stevie Stockton, an amazing British runner and friend.


Some little girls asked me to take their photo when I went for a walk. Adorable!

After the initial adjustment phase, I could see why Darren wanted us to be there. Living amongst elite runners, watching them in their daily environments, observing some of their key sessions, and experiencing a way of life that is so drastically different from ours was transformational as an athlete... and a person. 



Sport is something a lot of us choose to do, because we have the incredible opportunity of deciding it is what we want to pursue. For the Kenyan runners, sport is more than just something they do- it is their way of life and potentially, their way to a better life. Living at the training center alongside some of the local runners was educational in itself- their days are simple: run, eat, sleep, eat, run, eat, run, sleep. The power goes out, the wifi gets disconnected, but you soon realize that it is these luxuries that we have in our daily lives that are actually just distractions. Life goes on without checking twitter and Facebook every four minutes. People communicate without technology through face to face conversations, which are more rich and meaningful. Kenya taught me a lot about seeking simplicity in life, and simplicity as an athlete.

My closest friend from the trip- Timo Limo.
I met some amazing people including the one and only, Timo Limo. He is a father of two adorable little girls (who I got to meet, along with his wife!), and an 800 meter runner for Adidas. He led some of the strength/pilates classes at the training center, and I spent quite a bit of time chatting with him at meals and during rest time between sessions. He shared some great stories from his life in Kenya and his experiences as a competitive runner. He talked about overcoming injury, the power of the mind and staying positive through obstacles, and how everything you do mindfully and with intention, whether it is 10 minutes or two hours, is contributing to becoming a better athlete. His perspective was admirable, and his personality beamed with radiant happiness and appreciation every time I saw him. Meeting him was a highlight of my trip.


With Paul and Ali- two runners at High Altitude Training Center.


Ironically, I traveled home from Kenya just in time for Thanksgiving, and was probably more thankful than I have ever been on the holiday...with a deep appreciation for the things that really matter in life: health, family and everyone who loves you, making a difference by giving back and helping others, doing what you love, being happy. The rest is just fluff.


Part 2 coming soon.