Can't Stop My Music!

This morning the training group took off on what our trainer considered a "brisk" jog in the neighborhood surrounding our training facility. As I was running alongside my trainer, I had a hunch that there would be an added twist to today's workout.

About 3/4 mile into the run, my trainer cut through an abandoned lot, jumped down a muddy embankment, trotted around the fringes of a homeless basecamp and began running on the train tracks. I must say it was a first for many, including myself.

Did you know all of those railroad planks have a million rocks packed in between? I certainly did not, and this fact required lots of adjustment during our mile run up the tracks. Keeping pace while avoiding ankle turning rocks and wooden planks is not for the faint of heart.

Fortunately, everyone was saved by a train creeping up the tracks on our return route. Our trainer wove his way back to the streets and into the gym.

Once inside, he made the announcement, "No music for one month. You must learn to motivate yourselves on your own. Can't take the music with you to tryouts!"

The room was silent, of course. No music and no talkback equals silence.

Silence for everyone else, but not for me. I always have music--its' just playing in my head.

How else would I make it through these strenuous training sessions? Amazing Grace, Beyonce, Young Jeezy, This Little Light of Mine, Madonna...I have my karoake machine on high, and my inner voice is always on point.

Well, I hope the other guys can make the transition. It can be a long row to hoe when you have nothing to divert you from the pain of a 30 second resistence cord drill.

As for me, I am ready to go. Put in Shawty Lo cause you can't stop my music!

Winning Qiana's Heart 101: Up 4 A Game?

Now, I want to make it clear. There are basic attributes that I feel my male suitors must possess before they even come to the table. However, I believe that we all have a quality or two that we seek in a potential partner that if not found can be a deal breaker. Let me give you a quick glimpse into one of mine.

At a very young age, my uncle taught me to have disdain for the Dallas Cowboys, favor the Washington Redskins, throw a pigskin and shoot a basketball. I was the resident quarterback in the 1 on 1 coverage games for my brother and uncle for a very long time. As a result, I began betting on college games and point spreads long before I was legally able to do so. Fast forward to college and it was common to hear my roommate (ironically a Dallas diehard) and I screaming at the television when guys missed the tackle, didn't protect the QB and caused unneccessary penalties.

Football is in my heart. Basketball is in my blood, and most other sports are found in my remaining appendages. I have an infinite affinity for watching athletic competition. The mere thought of my intriguing conversations on arts, letters and current events not including casual athletic discourse is uncomfortable for me to imagine.

Who sits mute and unaffected by the highs and lows of the opening exchanges in a boxing match? Who falls asleep during the Superbowl? Who watches a weekly sitcom when the Final Four Championship is being broadcast? I can appreciate this person as a friend, but not as a potential 'anythingfurther.'

Dare to feign your love of sports, and I deem you disrespectful. Believe me, some have tried and fallen to their deaths (figuratively NOT literally).

Gents-if you cross paths with me and you don't know what to say, strike up a conversation on say the upcoming NFL season, Champions League or NBA playoffs. You will get some face time!

The Rain

I have busy dealing with a lot of rain. I was absolutely amazed when it mysteriously and unexpectedly appeared. However, just when the storm came to a halt, the clouds began gathering again. Another shower is beginning but it is one that I have been working and waiting for--Stay posted

Certified F. Chaser

Today, my trainer added a few new pieces of training equipment to our track/field workout. I am always curious when he introduces new apparatus to us (which is often) because you just never know how he is going to use it.

Therefore, you can imagine the look on my face when he ushered me to the field with a set of yellow frisbees. He sent one out into the field and told me to chase it. The frisbee caught air and went immediately into several different directions. The drill had several goals. One of these was to keep developing my change of direction response time.

I love fun drills, and the frisbees definitely hit the mark. I hope I get the opportunity to chase them more often John (hint, hint)..

Me Against Pollen

I have been MIA for the last month as you can see. I have been attacked from all sides by a greenish, yellow powder--affectionately known as pollen. As a result, I couldn't think of anything outside of tissue.

I am now at a point where I have the upper hand. However, I can't miss a beat when it comes to the allergy medicine.

What is a girl to do in a city that is located in the middle of forest? Perhaps, I will purchase one of those Michael Jackson facemasks.

The Pack

Last week, I went to a high school combine. It was entertaining to hear the trainers, parents and other spectators size up the guys in the check-in line and on the field.

One particular guy was standing in the line, and immediately my trainer pegged him as the guy to watch. As predicted, this guy received recognition for his outstanding performance at the event.

How can one guy in line stand out before he even performs?

My trainer described it this morning after our water workout as “something that makes you take notice.” Sometimes it’s that person’s appearance of being in the zone. Other times it’s an athlete’s eagerness to be at the head of the line or to stand out front during the drills. Perhaps, it is the small act of staying engaged in the group conversation with the coach or trainer who is imparting some important advice.

I thought for a long time this morning about that conversation. Although we repeat the proverb “don’t judge a book by its cover, name one person who has the ability to ignore the book jacket. It is right in front of us, and we make initial evaluations of books (and people) based upon them.

Whether its sports, business or relationships, we have the ability to conduct ourselves in a way that pushes us ahead of or further into the pack. These small choices begin to color our book jackets.

Are you satisfied with your book jacket? If not, make sure you are moving forward and doing all of the small things that it takes to stand out.

Even a height-challenged Zacchaeus posted up in a tree to get recognized by Jesus…Sometimes out-of-the box, tree climbing solutions are just the trick!

You Can’t Stop Jadakiss-At Least That’s What He Said

When I am handling the “administrative” portion of my life, it is pretty much a given that I am completing my duties with background music. Chubbie Baby’s Superstar Status, Jeezy’s Circulate, DJ Khaled’s Go Hard and Playaz Circle’s Look What I Got can give me motivation to get pretty much anything done.

After hearing a song 500 times, you always want to put something new in the rotation, and today I am proud to bring a new single into my play list. Let’s give a hand for Jadakiss and Can’t Stop Me.

It has all the beat and refrain to lead you to move mountains. Or, in my case, get over the hurdles at the track with correct speed, timing, ease and form.

Yeah, it all goes back to soccer, club kids.

My only point of contention is that the song is too short. If anyone comes across Kiss, let him know its hard to get through a high rep set before the song is over-add another verse!