Welcome to my Blog!!

Hello! Wow, I can't believe it has been 3 days since arriving here in Sweden! I thought I'd have plenty of time to recover from my travel and post messages, especially since I'm not busy doing my BAWSI duties at our programs, but I've been on the go since getting here! As you may know, I'm getting ready to race in Cheboksary, Russia next Sunday, May 11, and in doing so, I getting a head start on my travels. Traveling internationally can take its toll on a person, especially athletes who need to perform at optimum level. I am staying with my friend and old training partner from the Olympic Training Center, Andreas Gustavson, who is also competing in the World Cup and trying to make the Olympic Team in the 50km racewalk. He and his wife have a beautiful 2nd level flat in downtown Gothenburg and they've also opened their home to other Swedish athletes that are members of Andreas' racewalking club. They happen to be hosting a conference this week. So I'm rooming with Monica, who happens to be the world-record holder in the women's 50km. I am the American record-holder at that distance, but she happened to walk 4:10:55, just about 30 minutes faster than my 4:39:39!!! Amazing!

Anyway, so much to talk about, but I have to get ready to head out with the Swedes to a race in Copenhagen. Will post more later today...