The Big Dogs and the Rain

In May, I had the chance to "run with the big dogs," and then I ran in the rain.  Here is what happened: 

The third weekend in May, I competed at Fast Cow which was held on University of Illinois campus at Urbana–Champaign.  The competitors at this race were some of the fastest and most experienced in the US.  Going in, I knew that I would be one of the slowest competitors.  Even though I was the slowest in my events, I decided that I would still give my everything in each race.  My times were not my fastest but still fairly decent.  I wished that I could be faster, but I was not too disappointed in my performance. 

In the same weekend I went up to Lake Forest, Illinois for the Great Lakes Games put on by the Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association (GLASA).  When I had looked at the weather for the weekend, I noticed that it was going to rain, however, I did not notice the temperature.  The entire track meet it was raining, windy, and in the forties. All of my times were very s-l-o-w.  All of us out there were very cold.  Few athletes had realized that the temperature would be so low and had dressed appropriately.  I had not packed for it to be cold.  We were all soaked to the bone and shivering.  The track meet did not stop, nor did the athletes go home; we all stayed out there enduring the weather that we could not control, and we finished what we had come for.

The Apostle Paul, when speaking of knowing Christ said "But I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.  But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12-14)  In both of my events that weekend I had a chance to give up, but by God's grace I endured to the end.  I want to remember in my spiritual journey that I can't just give up.  Just as I hold on and push through when it is hard in racing, I need to hold on and push through in my relationship with Jesus.

Endeavor Games

Dear Blog Followers,

I know that you have not heard form me recently.  I have been in a training season, which gives me very little to write about. This spring there has been a little more going on.  Dad and I helped coordinate an Adaptive Sports and Recreation Expo at our local library.  We had seven different sports that people could try: Adaptive Equine, Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Tennis, Sled Hockey, Boccia, Fencing, and, of course, Wheelchair Racing.  Each of the sports (with the exception of Boccia) had a local opportunity that those interested could participate in.  Groups that were represented included Easter Seals Cardinal Hill, Lexington Parks and Recreation, Central Kentucky Riding for Hope, Asbury University Equine Program, and All Abilities Drama Camp.  It was a huge success!  One hundred thirty people came to the event.  Beyond the great turnout, we have one new athlete that is participating as a result of the Expo.  His name is Trenton, and he has joined the Wheels of Fire racing team!

Dad at the clinic

My first track meet of the season was in Fort Wayne, Indiana, at the Turnstone Endeavor Games.  This meet is great for those who have little experience with adaptive sports.  This year there were seven different sports offered.  The day before competition, clinics were offered so that those who have never tried the sport could learn how to play.  If you have no experience, this would be a great meet to learn and compete.  We brought Trenton with us to the Endeavor Games.  He had a blast.  He glowed the entire weekend.  Dad got a chance to volunteer at the track clinic and be an official.  I have been really proud to see how much dad's skills as a coach have improved.  My times were not my best, but since it was my first track meet, it can only get better.

Many thanks to Howard for the pictures!

Desert Challenge and US Nationals

ASU Track and Field Stadium, Arizona

In May of this year I was in Phoenix, Arizona for the Desert Challenge Games.  It is the only World Para Athletics Grand Prix in the United States, which makes it one of the best places to qualify for other events.  I achieved some of my best times of the season there, so all of the training in California and changes to my seat paid off.  I qualified for US Nationals!  It also gave me the chance to touch base with the athletes that I met in California, most of whom were there.

While in Arizona, we thoroughly enjoyed spending time with our cousins who hosted us for the week.  Besides the competition, we also took the time to see the Grand Canyon.

Drake Stadium, UCLA

The first weekend of June, Dad and I traveled to Los Angeles, California for US Nationals, the highest level of athletic competition I had been in so far.  Athletes were competing for a chance to go to either the London World Championships or the Junior World Championships in Switzerland. US Nationals was run as a time trials. I was not able to make either team.  Although I'm disappointed, I think it was okay. I knew that there were three girls I had to beat if I wanted to make the team. Those three girls went to Switzerland because they were just flat-out faster than me.  There was no “Oh, had I just pushed a little harder,” or “If this hadn't gone wrong, I would have passed them.”

Lizzy Becker and me

Visiting Los Angeles, California was pretty cool. Dad and I got a chance to drive down Sunset Boulevard and Rodeo Drive and see the Hollywood sign. We enjoyed experiencing a track meet with just the two of us.  Although it was okay, I missed having everyone else with me. I met up with athletes I had met along the way and made new friends. One of these friends was Lizzy Becker, a friend from summer camp.  It was encouraging to talk with her and her family about the ministry side of wheelchair racing as well as the sport side.

Seating Position

I had a crazy summer.  It is hard to keep you updated while I am on the road.  Moving into conditioning season, I have more time to bring you up to speed with my summer.  Check back for more updates soon!

After my training in California, I headed home to finish a project that we had started in the fall.  My position in the racing chair is different than most because of my body make up.   Most wheelchair racers sit on their knees.  They then lean over on their knees.  The key is to keep the athlete's shoulder in line with the section between the hand rim and the front tire.  I cannot sit on my knees or lean over as far as others.  My torso is short enough that it is hard to keep my shoulder in alignment and lean over enough.  The problem with my old position was that I was not aerodynamic enough.  In order to cut down on wind resistance, we had to get me flatter.

Seat Mold

Dad working on aligning the custom seat.

Dad and I have gone round and round about this problem.  We had already approached Sterling Tool and Die and Clear Creek Designs to help us make a custom seat. The idea was to create a seat that fit me exactly so that we could put me anywhere without worrying about any pressure sores.  The team at Sterling created the hardware for the seat and Tim Vetters at Clear Creek created the core and foam of the seat.  Although we did not end up using the end product, it was foundational to finding the best position we could.  We would have never found the current placement that we have without their work.  Part of the reason that I was able to have the times I had this season was because of my positioning.  I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped me with the seating position.

After final welds!

Cut into pieces

Another part of getting my seating position correct was also cutting my chair and decreasing the cage size.  Once I was in the right position, we found that the chair was wide enough that it interfered with my arms.  We found a very brave welder who was willing to cut my racing chair.   Many thanks to Rob Mitchell for his work!

Training in California

I was shocked to I receive an invitation to train at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center (formerly the Olympic Training Center).  I was able to clear my scheduled and I flew out on April 5.  It was a blast.  I felt so honored to be around so many Paralympians.  My roommate was Alexa Halko, who won three medals in Rio.  Others who were there included Paralympians Cheri Madsen, Erik Hightower, Gianfranco Iannotta, Rachel Morrison, David Brown, Markeith Price, Mikey Brannigan, Ayden Jent, Femita Ayanbeku among others.  It was normal there to sit down at lunch with world record holders.  It was fun introducing myself all week long.  We trained twice a day almost every day.  There were reminders all over the campus that this was where the Olympic and Paralympic team trained.  After the intense training, we headed to the Mt. SAC Relays.  It was nice to race the same people that I had been training next to all week long.

Mountains

More Mountains

The Track

The Beach in LA

Proof that I was there

Surgery, Recovery, and Beyond

Dear Blog Followers,

In my last blog I very briefly mentioned that I had surgery in August.  I was forced to take three months out of my racing chair to mend up.  At the time, I was very disheartened and very ready to get back to racing.  I went from getting five golds and a silver at Junior Nationals in July to not being able to pick things up off the floor the day after surgery.  Although I knew that recovery takes time, I missed my freedom and mobility in daily living.  

At first, being back in my racing chair was hard because I had to fight to get back to the level of athleticism that I had previously achieved.  I am now making times similar to those I made this time last year.  In fact, I just finished up the Louisville Triple Crown of running (5k,10k, and 10-miler spaced two weeks apart).  Yesterday, I surpassed my time that I made last year at the Papa John’s 10-miler by six minutes!.  I am looking forward to what all the Lord has for me in this next season.  

I am a high school senior this year and am looking to head off to college next year.  This simple fact means I am very busy,  and I have been struggling to find time to write blog posts.  I want to keep in touch, though, and I needed to share with you about an amazing email I received last week:  I have been invited to the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center for a track and field camp.  I leave Wednesday, April 5, and will return Sunday, April 16.  I will let you know about it when I get back!

Aerelle

Fun Mail

Over the summer, there was a lot that happened.  However, I am behind in updating you on those events.  One of the bigest things is that on August 19 I had a neck fusion.  Because I have been recovering from surgery, I have been out of my racing chair for the past three months.  I am now to the point in recovery where I am very ready to get back into racing.  While I have been out of my chair, we have been making modifications in my seating position.  A huge thanks to local artist Tim Vetters and also Sterling Tool and Die for their big part in that.  As I am nearing the end of my long break, the Lord has blessed me with some encouragement.

When I saw the return address, I knew it was going to be fun:

I was NOT expecting what was enclosed.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:5-6)

Thanks be to the Lord! I am very blessed to receive this award.  He gave this to me.  I pushed myself on the track for His glory, and He has let me know that He is proud of me. 

See the link below for more information on the award.

http://www.teamusa.org/US-Paralympics/Features/2016/October/19/2016-US-Paralympics-Track-and-Field-High-School-All-Americans-Announced