Joanna Hayes: Happiness and Gratitude on her Road to an Olympic Comeback

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So, I wrote this blog on Sunday evening after my race but I have decided to rewrite it because it was full of me complaining and being frustrated with myself, as the entire day just did not go remotely close to how I had planned!

That is not the kind of blog that I want to put out because that is not how I should be living and training.  I should not be worried about the things that go wrong; I should be happy and grateful for the things that go right!  

So, I want to say that no I did not run the time that I wanted and no, I did not execute my race as I wanted, BUT I did win, which I have not done in quite a while. I also know what I did wrong, so I have something to take into practice as well as my next races to work on.  

This is a work in progress; I am a work in progress and have to always remember that as much as I want to be successful throughout the entire season, there is only one race that really matters, the Olympic Trials FINAL!  Granted the 2 rounds leading up to it are important because you "gotta be in it to win it" so I certainly must execute to make it to the final.  But, a person can run a world record in the semi-final and not be top 3 in the final, which would mean no Olympic team!! So again, I have set my sights on the Olympic Trials Final so everything I do is with that race in mind.  

I really found myself being frustrated the past couple of days because it really feels like I am starting all over and technically, I suppose I am.  But, it's very hard to go from Olympic Champion to just another athlete in a race.  To go from making money from a contract and being paid to run in races to no contract and paying to run in races!  It is a very humbling experience and it is one that I must not be deterred by because I feel like I am setting an example and I am motivating people to work hard and always believe in themselves no matter what.  

So, I had to check myself because yes, the odds may be against me but I have beaten the odds before!  I have beaten the odds just by running as well as I am running!  I don't think anyone really expected it, including myself.  My story is long from over and this is just the beginning of a new chapter and I vow to make it fun and exciting!  I promise to be thankful for where I am each day and to never lose sight of where I plan to go!  In this sport there are technically more "losers" than "winners" because only one person can win in a race with 8-9 athletes.  BUT, the only time I ever believe that I lose is if I give up and allow it to happen!  

We all get beat that's just part of the game but I will never lose because I will keep working and keep believing that I can be the best and at the end of the day that is all that matters because I am teaching my daughter how to believe in herself and I hope I am teaching young kids how to believe in themselves and maybe even teaching or reminding the adults who have forgotten that no matter how long it's been since you got up and exercise, that it's never to late to be healthy.  And that if I can come back and not only get in shape but regain my status as an elite athlete that they can get up and get moving.  That's what I want; I want this experience to be shared by everyone.  I want people to be inspired by me and live healthy productive lifestyles!  

Those of us with the opportunity to run, to work out, to be fit need to take advantage of it because there are people are not able to run in the streets in their country because there is a war going on and may be killed gun cross fire or by bombs, women who are not ALLOWED to run in public.  People who have no shoes, no homes, no clothes!  Those who are incapable because they have no limbs or are sick with disease!! What is YOUR excuse? Is it one of the aforementioned?  If not then please remind yourself that you only have one body, one chance to be healthy and strong.  If that's not enough then do it for the people who cannot!  Run for them! I run for THEM everyday! I run for ME because I want to live a long life with my daughter, family, and friends I want to be healthy and happy I hope you do to!

Until next time...

XO

Joanna 

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