Allyson Felix poses in front of Beijing's Olympic Stadium (© IAAF.org)
Winner of three gold medals at last year’s World Championships in Osaka, Allyson Felix updates her fans about her bowling performances, her brother Wes’ health problems and her photo shoot for Vogue Magazine.
As far as athletics is concerned, Felix tells us about her visit to Beijing looking forward to the Olympic Games and the athletes she will cheer for at the upcoming World Indoor Championships in Valencia.
“Hey guys
“Although I am not competing indoors, I’ll be following the results of my friends competing in the IAAF World Championships in Valencia this week.
“I’ll be rooting for David Neville in the 400m and Leroy Dixon in the 60m. They train on the same track as me at West L.A. College. I have to be supportive of the California people!
“I am very close to David. David also lives in the same city as me in Santa Clarita. David, his wife Arial, me and my boyfriend Kenneth Ferguson have been part of a weekly Friday night bowling team at Santa Clarita Lanes since January.
“I’m not very good at bowling. I’ve got a best of about 170 but it’s nowhere compared to those guys. David’s been missing from bowling a lot lately with how well he’s been running in competitions.
“I am also very proud of Angela Williams. I was very excited to see Angie win the 60m at the USATF Indoor Nationals. Angie went to the same college as me at USC. I have always been a fan of hers and I know she has had injuries over the last couple years so
it was great to see her back to her old self again.
“My first race will be at the Mt. San Antonio College Relays in April. I will probably run the 4x100m and 4x400m relays with my training partners Joanna Hayes, Michelle Perry, Ginnie Powell and Tianna Madison. But with coach Bobby (Kersee), anything is possible.
“It is nice to open up at home with the relays right in our backyard. I always love to compete at Mt. SAC so my family can see me compete.
“Training wise, I am still doing a lot of endurance and block work training with the 100m and 400m hurdlers. I’ll work out one day with the short hurdlers to work on my speed. Then the next day, I’ll be with the 400m hurdles to work on strength.
“They’re great workout partners and to work on each other’s needs. I have a lot better base this year and I’ll be ready to race.
“My older brother Wes started training with me and Bobby Kersee’s group last fall but he hasn’t been able to train regularly because of a liver problem.
“Doctors still aren't sure how to identify what is wrong with his liver. Originally, they thought it could be a severe virus. They are continuing testing to try to figure it out.
“Wes was the main reason I started running track because I wanted to be like him. This year was the first time we’ve been able to practice together. In high school, we went to separate schools.
“Last month, I visited Beijing for a promotional work for adidas. Even though, it was a busy trip, I went to the Great Wall and got to see the stadium and the outside of it and it looks amazing.
“Everything there seems to be coming along. It motivated me to be there to see the City and become more familiar with it.
“I also visited New York where I participated in the VISA Play Every Day program, which encourages kids to play 50 minutes a day.
“I was there with other VISA athletes like Bryan Clay, Michael Phelps and Keri Walsh. It was a team atmosphere. Everybody was really excited about the Olympics and how things are coming along.
“It's not often we get to spend time together so VISA took us all to a Broadway show. We also spent a lot of time talking with Bob Costas and Dick Ebersol about the coverage of the Olympics, which is going to include the most hours than any before with a lot of that being prime time coverage.
“I also did a photo shoot for Vogue with photographer Anne Lebowitz which will be out in the summer.
“On a lighter note I'm really into games so recently I've been addicted to “Guitar Hero” during my down time. I'm extremely competitive in this also so I'm always challenging people to play.
“My favorite song on there is “The Killers- When You Were Young.” It's so addicting.
“That’s it’s for now. Thanks for reading.”
Allyson
