NCAA's

NCAA Championships for Track and Field are in Fayetteville Arkansas this
week. Started yesterday actually.  It is down to the wire and there was
no way Coach Deem was leaving me in Miami un-supervised 2 weeks before
US nationals. It has been our ritual since I have become a professional
to join her and the team at nationals and it isn't isn't broke don't fix
it right? I think it keeps me grounded while motivating me by being able
to watch the competition knowing how intense it is and remember myself
there just a few years ago. It is so exciting to get wrapped up in the
spirit if the sport while enjoying life as a spectator! Just one thing
though....

Who is in charge of this schedule???? Last night there was a rain delay
which cause the meet to finish up around 1am. With three days of
competition remaining was there no better alternative? Couldn't they
have come up with a schedule that wouldn't  have required the athletes
to wait, stay loose and remain focused for 3 or 4 hrs before having to
warmup and compete again? Why is the competition on a evening schedule
anyway? The two possible reasons I came up with are it is hot during the
day and spectators are working until 5pm on a weekday.

Spectators are very important and of course I am all about rebuilding
the interest in our sport. I was excited when I heard that more people
stayed to watch the remainder of the track meet last night than did to
the delayed baseball game in Cincinnati but how much is too much when it
comes to being able to compete to the best of your ability?  Should you
inconvenience the athletes in the interest of the fans or should you do
what makes sense and run the meet earlier in the day! I train at 12 noon
everyday in Miami so surely the athletes could properly hydrate
themselves to handle it for just a few days but what do I know afterall,
I am just a spectator. :-)

Competition stars at 5pm again this evening...here's hoping there
weather cooperates and the athletes are able to perform to their full
potential.