Joanna Hayes on stepping on to the track for her first 100m hurdles since September 2008

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So, it's been forever since I wrote a blog! Well, that's not actually true, it's been forever since I posted a blog. Seems like I am always writing them and just not posting them. I just get so busy and caught up! My days are so jammed packed I don't even know how I'm doing it.

A typical day includes my practice, weights, coaching my elite athlete, coaching Harvard Westlake High School, and either coaching club practice or a track meet with my high school, and all the while taking care of and entertaining Zoe; my most important job. Truth is Zoe is a full time job but the hardest part of my day is being on my feet for hours after I work out.

After practice it would be so nice to go home and get some rest and relaxation. But, at least the coaching is rewarding! I really enjoy it, I enjoy being part of others' success. I love seeing them smile and celebrate victories, records, and personal bests. So, yes I'm pretty busy but also quite happy with my life!

So, even with the chaos of my life, I do enjoy training again, it is not easy, that's for sure, but I think the reward - whatever it ends up being - will be well worth the work I am putting in to be back in competition.

I am really enjoying training with my training group (The BK Rydaz) again. We spent last week in Santa Barbara for training camp. We really had a nice time and got in some quality training. Although I felt that I could've done better, I believe it was productive and well worth it. It was the first time I have ever left Zoe over night and it was pretty hard for me. I left Sunday night and did see her until Wednesday mid morning when she came up to visit. I was so happy to see her and I enjoyed spending the day with her. Honestly it was not as bad as I thought it would be but maybe that is because I had already gotten my crying session out of the way a few nights before when I imagined leaving her for the first time.

But, now I am back home and back to real life and I wouldn't have it any other way. I missed Zoe and I missed my kids at Harvard Westlake. I am used to seeing them almost everyday of the week. I did come back in time to make it to Arcadia Invitational Friday and Saturday night where my girls and boys team did extremely well on the sprint and distance medley relays. I am very proud of them all and looking forward to the rest of the season.

Speaking of season, my season officially begins tomorrow April 14th at UCLA where I will compete at the Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational! I am so nervous because this will be my first 100 hurdles competition since September 13th 2008! That is a really long time for those of you who are not too good at math!

It's funny, sometimes I question, why I am I out here again? What am I doing? Is it worth it?

Those thoughts normally comes when I have those days at practice when I feel like there is no way I can go fast and be good again. I honestly just recently felt that way and then I had two great days at practice this week and my confidence came back just that quickly. It's so hard to go from such a long layoff of doing absolutely no training-to-training full time and believing that I can compete with women who have been doing this consistently for years. I tell myself to take my own advice that I give to my athletes and take it one day and one race at a time. I need to remember that I am on a different schedule than everyone else and that it will take time to get back to my previous form, and that I just need to enjoy myself because that's the reason I returned to training and competition in the first place.

So, tomorrow I will go out there and focus on doing what I do in practice and not worry about the competition only on my performance knowing that it is the first step to the rest of my season. No matter what the results are tomorrow I will know that I gave it 100% and that is all I can ask of myself.

I am excited to be performing again on UCLA’s track where I spent my college years. I have not competed in the hurdles there since 1999 and this will more than likely be the last time I hurdle in competition there. So, it would be nice to give a good show for my family, friends, and supporters. All and all I am very happy to be competing tomorrow and the best part of it all so far is that I am in great shape again! I feel so healthy and strong now that I am running and lifting again. I am proof that it is never to late to get up and get moving no matter what level you do it at.

Until next time…be healthy and happy : )

~Jo

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