Kareem, Marion, coach Dan Pfaff and Tim during their training camp in the Cayman Islands (© Courtesy of KST)
Good morning everyone!
Most would think this drill would be getting old for me by now. But yet here I am again excited about embarking on yet another track season!
As I sit here in my hotel, I think back to the incredible training camp I had this fall. I can't help but smile.
Two months of hard training in Raleigh and one glorious month in my home country - truly this has been the most gratifying off-season I have ever had!
From my decision to go back to sprinting, to the move to Raleigh, to having the opportunity to train in my home country for the first time in my professional career - it feels like I have lived a dream already!
The highlight of the trip for me was the exhibition workout we put on for the Cayman public. It hit me once I got to the track that this would be anything but a typical Saturday morning workout.
I was filled with pride as I saw the people in the stands cheering for us. I knew it would be a good day for me. At the end of the workout, Dan told me it was one of the best workouts I have ever had!
After the workout, Tim, Marion and me addressed the crowd and thanked them for coming out. We then signed autographs afterwards and it seemed like the line of people would never end.
This exhibition left a burning question in my head however. If we could attract that many people for a simple WORKOUT, why not have a full fledged meet in Cayman?
This trip showed me that there are competent people in place that would be willing to work together to make it happen. The first order of business would be to re-surface the track. After that task is completed, I think it would be pretty easy to attract athletes from around the world.
It would surely be one of my proudest moments in my career if it actually gets done!
But all the fun and games aside, it is time to focus on the task at hand. I haven't trained for the sprints in almost 4 years, but yet I feel like I haven't missed anything!
I credit my coach (Dan Pfaff) with drilling me on the fundamentals of sprinting from back in 96-99 for my quick adjustment from the pit to the track.
I am really excited to get back into sprinting. I honestly don't know what to expect tonight, but I am going to give it my all.
Wish me luck! Ciao for now...
KST
