Tag Archive | Gymnastics

My Favorite Mistake

Jan30

I walk up to the beam. I’ve got this,in the bag! I thought. I thought. “Kelly?” The judge announces as I have a grin on my face as I salute. I get through my easy-peasy mount. Of course you make this I assumed. You always do. I step up to the end- and I whip my head back and fly off the beam like I had never even begun to train the skill before. I instantly know what the outcome will be-

A fall.

I plop off the beam- instantly getting that what-have-I-done feeling. I finished the rest of my beam routine without that passion and grin I had at first. I complete my stuck-dismount and solute the judge and walk off.

I am speechless.

“It’s ok… You couldn’t have saved it.” My coach said, trying to comfort me. I just wish I could have I said, in my head. I sat down, not able to say anything. “Get rid of the face” my coach said- as the often says to me when I get that pouty-face. I just wanted to curl into a ball and disappear.

When it all first happened, I felt such regret and hatred for myself, but now I realize falling is just all a learning experience, and it motivated me even more in the gym. I now realize that everyone makes mistakes- and I am no exeption. Since my incident, I had also wanted to win beam even more than I already did after claiming the silver medal at my first meet. This is why this is my favorite mistake.

Conditioning

Sep27

Conditioning
One set after another
Until my muscles are sore
Fighting through my schedule

The pain of fun-runs
On a warm Thursday evening
The overwhelming burn in my legs
The same sprinting motion

Endless time of performing the push-up complex
Over and over again
Until my arms are numb

Saturday track
Lap after lap
Of continuos running
With little or no breaks
In the heat of the moist morning

The Vault

Sep5

I stare at the vault table. It’s intimidating grin doesn’t scare me anymore. I find my point on the tape measure, 70′, and I hold my left foot out, and place on the ground and push as hard as I can. I sprint all the way down the run way. Then I push as hard as I can off my left foot, propelling myself on the springboard, and diving on to my hands on the solid vault table. I spring off the table. I can’t see ground. I have to just trust myself that it’s there somewhere. Before I know it I hit the ground and my feet spread apart, I bend my knees and I look for the ground. I know i’ve landed just soon enough that I don’t move my feet at all, and I stick my vault. It feels so good to know I can do things that 99.9% of the world can’t do.