|
|
This recap focuses on the Athletes Associacion meetings and is written by
Jon Drummond
Chair, Athletes Advisory Committee, USA Track & Field
Liaison, Track and Field Athletes Association
When Kate and I first arrived in Alabama both my training partner Aretha Thurmond and my coach explained that it would take about 1 year of training to form new habits and change my technique. I believed them but thought…..”They must not know me. I’ll have this down in a couple months.” 11 months later I am beginning to see the changes I started working on in January. Although my first competition is not until March, my training confidence is at an all time high. I can’t wait for this season!
Five Cool Things that Happened in November:
1. Thanksgiving with our extended family and Kevin McCarthy in Florida
2. The 2010 Rick & Bubba Turkey Toss
3. A weekend with our friends Ryan and Amy
4. The fitness class I teach has been re-named “Will’s Insanity” due to my extreme workouts J
5. Throwing has been going better than ever
THANKSGIVING: Kate, Ryan and I drove 1,000 miles round trip to spend Thanksgiving with our Aunt, Uncle and cousins on our Mom’s side…and a guest appearance by Kevin McCarthy, my lifelong friend. We feasted and played Pictionary while giving thanks to God for all that he has done in our lives this year.
TURKEY TOSS 2010: Hundreds of people show up at 6am outside of Academy Sports in Montgomery, Alabama to see who will be crowned the 2010 Turkey Toss champion. Kate, Ryan and I did our best but only one of us was victorious. Ryan and I placed just out of the prize positions, but Kate WON the women’s division, with a throw of 72 feet! The 1st place prize was a $700 gift card to Academy Sports so send us your Christmas list J.
INVESTMENT: This month was a huge success. 3 people joined our team and decided to contribute $25/month! 9 people to go!!! Thank you for your continued support. Your financial support is always a blessing. Because of your gift I am able to continue training toward London 2012!!!
October 2010 Update
Training is going better than ever. I have been putting the time and effort into each workout and the results are very apparent. Outdoor track and field season doesn’t start until April but each day I’m excited to spend time in the ring refining my technique for what I believe will be my best season to date. Remember to save the last week in June 2011 on your calendar. The top 24 competitors in each event will be competing in Eugene, Oregon for the US Championships and a chance to place top 3 and represent the USA in Deagu, Korea at the 2011 World Championships.
This month’s recap
1. Ryan, Kate and I formed and LLC called Conwell Sports Leagues
2. Kate’s mom came to visit us for a week
3. We spent a day in Lochapoka “syrup sopping” – watching mules
press sugar cane into syrup
4. We went to the Atlanta aquarium
5. Ryan and I dressed as Wayne and Garth and drove around in the
1982 Chevy Chevette for Halloween while playing Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”
The weather is slowly changing but we still enjoyed training in the high 70’s. I checked the weather in Seattle each day and was reminded how wonderful it is to be in the south, in the sunshine.
Yes! I am still fundraising. We are getting closer each month. Currently 28 family and friends have chosen to join the team and are giving $1200 a month. With only $300 a month left to raise I am looking for 12 of you to join my team and contribute $25/month! You can join by sending a check to the Evergreen Athletic Fund (Non-Profit, tax-deductable) or by clicking the donate tab on my website www.willconwell.com. The financial support of those who contribute monthly, as well as future gifts of any amount and frequency are always a blessing.
One month closer,
William Conwell
1515 Fitzpatrick Ave #104 Opelika, Alabama 36801
September 2010 Update
The biggest news of September happened on the 12th. I turned 28! As I understand it, some people are embarrassed of their age, some are disappointed, and others can’t wait to grow up. As for me and 28…..It’s perfect. Read on and I will explain. Although it is not everything I care about, my time is primarily focused on making the 2012 Olympic team. I just turned 28 which seems old as far as athletics go (football primarily) but male throwers have to handle weighted implements which takes time to develop specific strength. Here’s the kicker, statistically we peak between 28 and 32 years old. Timing couldn’t be better. I will be 29 when I compete in Eugene, Oregon at the 2012 Olympic Trials.
Seven Cool things that happened this month.
Practices are now back in full swing and coach Clayton managed to figure out a way to make this pre-season harder than ever. We are throwing heavy weighted implements, balancing, jumping, lifting weights, and of course focusing on perfect technique in everything we do. I’m sore everyday and I can’t wait for our next workout but you would never know it because I complain and whine every time I look at my workout sheet.
Yes! I am still fundraising. We are getting closer but the run is now coming to a crawl. I am in need of $400 a month. Currently 27 family and friends have chosen to join the team and are giving $1100 a month. With only $400 a month to raise I am looking for 12 of you to join my $25/month team! You can join by sending a check to the Evergreen Athletic Fund (Non-Profit, tax-deductable) or by clicking the donate tab at the top of the page.
One month closer.
The 2010 USA Track and Field National Championships in Des Moines, Iowa are about to start! The top 18 to 24 athletes are invited to compete and the winner of each event will be the US National Champion.
The meet will be on TV at these times.
ESPN, June 25 8:00-10:00 pm
ESPN, June 26 1:00-2:30 pm
NBC, June 26 3:00-4:00 pm
ESPN, June 27 1:00-2:30 pm
NBC, June 27 3:00-4:00 pm
I will be throwing the Discus at 4pm on Friday the 25th of July. I come into the meet ranked 9th but I plan on winning it all 
.
Make sure to check out the highlights from the 2010 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships today (2/28/10). ESPN2 from 8 to 10pm EST. Here is the link if you are interested in the full results page.
http://www.usatf.org/events/2010/USAIndoorTFChampionships/schedule.asp
Since arriving in Alabama I have had a completely different focus while throwing and lifting. Now, more than ever we focus on technique. It is still important that the weight is difficult but only if the technique is maintained can we increase in weight. The concept is “work smart….and hard” instead of the more common “work harder” method. Here is a little clip of us in the weight room having a good time while we finished up our lift on Tuesday.
And here is a video of Aretha working her cleans from a box.
My 2010 competition schedule is now up (click the competition link at the top of Willconwell.com). As many of you know, Kate and I recently moved from Seattle to Opelika, Alabama. I do not know the local meets around this area yet so my schedule is likely to change as I get closer to the season. I will start the 2010 Outdoor Track and Field season on April 3rd in Auburn, Alabama at Auburn University. Thank you everyone for your support and encouragement!
They weather people though it would snow today….but I had serious doubts. I left for work at 3:45am (Starbucks) on my motorcycle and everything seemed fine. Yes, it was cold but it is February. The morning was going just fine. I was heating up spinach wraps, marking cups, taking orders, brewing Verona Coffee….when suddenly the snow began. At 9am a few flakes began to fall. By 9:45 the snow was pretty heavy and I was getting a little nervous. I got off work at 10am and decided to make a run for it. Good thing the ground was still warm and the snow wasn’t sticking yet. I had to wipe my visor off ever 5 seconds but I made it home alive!
Our road trip to Alabama was an amazing experience. Kate and I left early on January, 11th with a UHAUL trailer and SUV loaded, and our new home in mind. Our trip was filled with great memories and many good pictures. We visited the Red Wood Forest, National Bridges State Park (where the Monarch butterflies migrate in the winter), the Grand Canyon, and the Oklahoma City Memorial. You can view all our pictures by clicking here or clicking the “pictures” link. Along the way we were also lucky enough to only pay for a hotel one night. We stayed with friends of friends, Kate’s sister Mica in West Hollywood, our good friends Wiley and Monica King in Flagstaff, Arizona, and with one of my favorite high school teachers, Michelle Fyfe and her husband Warren in Fayetteville, Arkansas. We were also treated to several delicious meals. Thanks to everyone who made this trip so memorable and fun!
We finally arrived in Opelika on January 18th around 8pm. Aretha Thurmond, her brother John and his wife Rebecca, and two of the Auburn University throwers, Eric and Stephen, were all here to greet us. The group unloaded our trailer in about 10 minutes! Now that is Southern hospitality.
I jumped right into practice the first day we were here. Four hours a day, six days a week, I am training alongside of 3-time Olympian Aretha Thurmond, and under the guidance of throws coach Jerry Clayton. After only two weeks of practice I am already having strength gains and big improvements in my throwing technique. I am very excited for the next several track seasons, and I am very confident in our decision to make this big move.
When I’m not at practice, I’m working part-time at Starbucks, while Kate is actively working to grow her personal training business at two training studios. We are doing our best to work hard, make enough money to live, and serve God with our actions. 12 people or families have joined our monthly support team thus far and I believe if we can increase that number to 60 I can give everything I have to making the 2012 Olympic team. Lets go for it!
