Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Family and Friends – Reconnecting

Ga and I on the porch enjoying some cake at my aunt's home
This past week, I hopped back on the training bandwagon, visited family, and continued to put the puzzle pieces together for my next chapter. I think the more I grow up and enter the “real” world, the more I appreciate the importance of the people in my life.  Whether it’s a solid training run or an expertly crafted froyo creation, it’s always better shared with company. 

I spent my Saturday evening in the Bay Area (that’s the San Francisco Bay for all of you non-NorCalifornians) at my aunt’s home.  I visited with family from Boulder, Colorado and heard the story of how my grandfather wooed my grandmother nearly sixty years ago.  He had some game: on the first date, he perfectly timed the walk to end as the sun set off the Golden Gate Bridge.  
 
Tuesday was my first workout back after taking some down time from running.  I was excited about the opportunity to run with local Sacramento State runners and alumna.  The workout portion was slightly daunting, as I wasn’t sure how my fitness was going to be after couch-potato-ing for a solid 10 days.  The plan was to meet at 7:00 am and run a 7-mile tempo along the American River, one of my favorite places to run in Sacramento.  Fortunately, my legs found themselves and the three of us completed the tempo with smiles, dead legs, and slightly upset tummies. 
Tree pose and tree pose admiring

This week also marked my first time going to yoga with my brother!  As a rock-climbing and slack-lining aficionado, my brother, Colin, is new to the yoga world.  I am no yogi myself, but I wasn’t sure how he would feel about the coordinated breathing, downward dog, or the ohm chanting.  Sure enough, I had no need to worry.  This guy can plank until the cows come home and do more push-ups than Jackie Chan (I'm sure Jackie Chan can do a whole lot).  After 70 minutes, my brother, mom, and I completed our Shala Series A class (focuses on backbends and hip opening lunges) at Shala Yoga at Arden taught by the blonde and bubbly Biffy!  Although it’s often hard for me to get myself to go to a yoga class, I always feel happy to have gone.

Lindsey Drake, Brittni Hutton, Sheree Shea and I in front
of the Washington Monument at the 2014 RunPro conference
Finally, I finalized my housing in Lake Oswego, OR.  I will be living with my teammate, Lindsey Drake, who I had the pleasure of meeting at the RunPro conference in Arlington, VA.  In our first encounter in the hotel gym, Lindsey offered me her foam roller.  If that’s not a sign of love, then I’m not sure what is!  I am looking forward to the Pacific Northwest scenery, sampling a variety of coffee shops, and of course, training with the Bowerman Track Club.         



  

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Greetings!

My name is Olivia Mickle. I am 23 years old, starting my career as a professional distance runner.  I recently graduated from Brown University with a BS in Biochemical Engineering and spent this past year at the University of Texas, working toward a Masters degree.  My love of running has led me to put my education and science career on hold as I pursue my dream to be an Olympian.  Although the practical course of action—and one my parents would likely appreciate!--would be to take a position in immunology or pharmaceutical research, I need to follow my passion.  I need to run.

Unlike most, I didn’t start running seriously until I was out of my teens.  I’d spent many years racing up and down the field as a competitive soccer player; however, it wasn’t until senior year of high school that I was bitten by the running bug.  Initially, it was a “nibble.”  I enjoyed running and it was good conditioning for soccer.  However, I quickly found myself enamored of the sport and made the decision to fully commit, leaving my soccer days behind.   

Having twice competed at the NCAA finals in the 10k, I believe my future ultimately lies in the marathon.  To continue to build strength and to progress as an elite distance runner, I will be moving to Portland, Oregon to join the Bowerman Track Club, under the direction of Chris Cook and Jonathan Marcus. 
  

As a relative newcomer to running, I have yet to post times that place me among the sport’s elite; nonetheless, I firmly believe I have the potential to be among the nation’s best runners.  I welcome any support or guidance as I embark on this journey.  For now, I encourage you to follow my foodie adventures, running escapades, and growth in the professional running world via twitter (omicklepickle) and this newly developed blog! :) 
Going for it!