1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:03,040 Speaker 1: The second I think something negative, I change it to 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:07,200 Speaker 1: a positive. But then also I practice something that I 3 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:11,560 Speaker 1: call my ims and it literally just I'm beautiful, I'm smart, 4 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:16,560 Speaker 1: I'm powerful, I'm a champion. And some of those things 5 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:19,639 Speaker 1: are things that I may not even believe yet, but 6 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:21,799 Speaker 1: I'm going to keep saying it until I believe it. 7 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:38,920 Speaker 2: Hey, Hurdlers, Emily and Badi bringing you Episode one fourteen 8 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:42,560 Speaker 2: of Hurdle, a wellness focused podcast where I sit down 9 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:45,559 Speaker 2: with inspiring individuals to chout about everything up from their 10 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 2: big winds to how they've gotten through some of life's 11 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:52,520 Speaker 2: toughest moments. On the show, you can expect vulnerability, motivation, 12 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:56,680 Speaker 2: and candid discussions with everyone from top athletes to aspiring 13 00:00:56,800 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 2: entrepreneurs on what it really takes to follow your passions. 14 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:03,279 Speaker 2: My mission is simple to inspire you to be your 15 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:08,400 Speaker 2: best self, move with intention, and have some fun along 16 00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 2: the way. As I continue on my week of reposts, today, 17 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 2: I am bringing you the one, the Only, Natasha Hastings. 18 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 2: She's a sprinter, two time Olympic gold medalist and honestly 19 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:27,399 Speaker 2: just an awesome, awesome woman. For today's episode, from February 20 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:29,800 Speaker 2: of this year, I sat down with Natasha at the 21 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:34,440 Speaker 2: under Armored Human Performance Summit at their Baltimore headquarters, and 22 00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:37,039 Speaker 2: from the second she walked in the room, I was 23 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:40,679 Speaker 2: just in awe of her strength, of her passion, and 24 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:45,119 Speaker 2: her I can literally do anything attitude. Today, she talks 25 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:47,319 Speaker 2: to me about a few different hurdle moments in her 26 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:50,600 Speaker 2: career that made her realize she had to squash negative 27 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:54,640 Speaker 2: thoughts to truly reach her full potential, and we talk 28 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:57,560 Speaker 2: about how she did that. She also shares what it's 29 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:01,160 Speaker 2: like to stand on the podium at the Olympic Games, 30 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 2: as well as what it was like to hit the 31 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 2: track for the first time post baby. My favorite thing 32 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:09,800 Speaker 2: about this episode I reflect on it all the time, 33 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:13,960 Speaker 2: was that Liam, her little baby boy, actually sat in 34 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 2: on this recording and was the most well behaved child, 35 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 2: like literally ever. This one is full of so much 36 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 2: inspiration and I am so amped to bring it back 37 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:30,360 Speaker 2: to the feed as always at Hurdle Podcast at emily 38 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:47,600 Speaker 2: A Vadi. With that, let's get to hurdling today, I'm 39 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 2: sitting down with Natasha Hastings. Good morning, Good morning, how 40 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:53,120 Speaker 2: are you today? 41 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 1: Good? 42 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:57,120 Speaker 2: I'm excellent. I feel like we need to tell the 43 00:02:57,120 --> 00:03:00,880 Speaker 2: people at home about my extra special guests the podcast. 44 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 2: Liam probably not gonna say much. 45 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 1: Was she going to say anything? Good morning? 46 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:09,000 Speaker 2: Oh, we've got a deep breath coming from baby Liam. 47 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 2: How old is Liam now? 48 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 1: He's five months? 49 00:03:11,639 --> 00:03:13,480 Speaker 2: Five months? Yeah, he is a stud. 50 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:14,160 Speaker 1: Thank you. 51 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:17,680 Speaker 2: I saw him yesterday wearing the cutest little under armor polo. 52 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:21,680 Speaker 2: Now we are in a cable knit sweater. I also 53 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:24,360 Speaker 2: don't know if I've ever seen such a well bade baby. 54 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:28,120 Speaker 2: He's just staring at me right now. Good morning. Not 55 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:31,800 Speaker 2: going to say good morning, No, not today. It's cool. 56 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:35,120 Speaker 2: For those of you that don't know Natasha, she's a 57 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:38,160 Speaker 2: gold medalist both the two thousand and eight twenty sixteen 58 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 2: Olympics the four by four hundred meter relay. Were you 59 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:44,960 Speaker 2: always in to running fast? 60 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:49,840 Speaker 1: Yeah? So I feel like I've been running for my 61 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 1: entire life. I've been running as long as I can remember. 62 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:54,960 Speaker 1: Both of my parents ran track. They actually came to 63 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 1: the States on athletic scholarships, so it was just always 64 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 1: a round. I remember my father was a coach at 65 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 1: their Alma Mata, and I used to go to practice 66 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 1: with him and try to raise the guys. And I 67 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 1: was like five or six. So yeah, I've been running 68 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 1: in circles for a very long time. 69 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:17,279 Speaker 2: For a very long time. I mean five or six 70 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:20,360 Speaker 2: is a pretty young age to really kick it off. Yeah, 71 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:22,919 Speaker 2: so you were running, I mean through elementary school and 72 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:25,640 Speaker 2: then once you got to junior high it was like, 73 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:27,160 Speaker 2: I'm going to join the track team. 74 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:30,280 Speaker 1: So I actually joined the track team when I was nine, 75 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:34,279 Speaker 1: So it was like fourth or fifth grade. And the 76 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:36,560 Speaker 1: way that happened, my mom used to take me to 77 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 1: attract meet in New York called the Kogate Women's Games. 78 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:41,320 Speaker 1: It's a meat still going on. I think they just 79 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:45,880 Speaker 1: had their fiftieth anniversary. But my club coach basically discovered 80 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:50,680 Speaker 1: me there and I joined the team. It was probably 81 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 1: like a November or December, and he coached me straight 82 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:58,240 Speaker 1: through high school. So I officially joined a team when 83 00:04:58,279 --> 00:04:59,920 Speaker 1: I was nine, nine going on ten. 84 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:02,400 Speaker 2: And I mean when you're nine, your view of being 85 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:04,479 Speaker 2: part of a team is so much different than say 86 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:08,040 Speaker 2: when you're you know, in your teens and beyond that. Yeah, 87 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:11,719 Speaker 2: the competition aspect is the same. Obviously, you're moving fast, 88 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:14,800 Speaker 2: you're working for something. When you're nine, it's like it's 89 00:05:14,839 --> 00:05:16,600 Speaker 2: fun of games, right, Yeah. 90 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, it was definitely. I feel like I've been getting 91 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:23,360 Speaker 1: that question a lot this weekend about like when did 92 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:25,600 Speaker 1: I realize I was fast and this and that. When 93 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:27,599 Speaker 1: I was nine, it was just that, like, I was fast, 94 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:29,960 Speaker 1: I was winning, I was having fun. When I got 95 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:32,480 Speaker 1: to high school it became a little bit more serious, 96 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:34,400 Speaker 1: and then when I got to college, it got way 97 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:37,080 Speaker 1: more serious, and then yeah, really. 98 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:40,920 Speaker 2: Really serious when we're traveling the world for the Olympics. 99 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:43,719 Speaker 2: So talk to me about what it was like growing 100 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:46,640 Speaker 2: up with sports being such an integrated part of your 101 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 2: every day, being on the track team, also balancing school. 102 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 2: Were you into school? 103 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:57,200 Speaker 1: So oddly enough, track was the thing that taught me 104 00:05:57,240 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 1: discipline and got me on the straight and narrow. Before track, 105 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:04,640 Speaker 1: I was sort of an average student. And my mom 106 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:07,960 Speaker 1: when I joined the team and she realized, like, okay, 107 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:10,440 Speaker 1: you enjoy this, then it was like, okay, then you 108 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:12,200 Speaker 1: need to make sure that your grades are up. And 109 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:14,320 Speaker 1: so it was a thing where I actually took my 110 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 1: competitive edge from the track into the classroom. So joining 111 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:22,680 Speaker 1: the track team is actually what made me become a 112 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:25,320 Speaker 1: straight A student. Up until then, I was just kind 113 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:31,240 Speaker 1: of like just doing enough to get by student. I remember, 114 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:35,760 Speaker 1: even I was kind of I was a Catholic schoolgirl brat. 115 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 2: Oh what's that even mean? 116 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:42,720 Speaker 1: And I was just I was I was active, and 117 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 1: my track coaches were They were like disciplinarians, and it 118 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:51,719 Speaker 1: was so I do remember very vividly that like track 119 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:55,200 Speaker 1: was the thing that kind of like I gained some focus. 120 00:06:55,560 --> 00:06:58,400 Speaker 2: What is life like outside of track for you then, 121 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:01,279 Speaker 2: because obviously that's given you like discipline, and you're focused 122 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:03,880 Speaker 2: in school and you're getting these a's, But are you 123 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:06,240 Speaker 2: having much of a social life growing up? Are you 124 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:07,680 Speaker 2: enjoying yourself? What's that like? 125 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 1: I mean, I had friends, and most of my friends 126 00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:14,800 Speaker 1: were from the track team, but I wasn't really getting 127 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 1: into what the average fifteen and sixteen year old was doing. 128 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:22,120 Speaker 1: I can't say that. Like not that I didn't go 129 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:24,320 Speaker 1: to the movies or I didn't go to the mall, 130 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:27,240 Speaker 1: but it wasn't Track was definitely my focus. I mean 131 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 1: I remember my senior prom. Everyone was going to the 132 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 1: after party and I went home because I had city 133 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:35,360 Speaker 1: champs the next day. Don't feel sorry for me. I 134 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 1: don't feel like I missed out on anything. Yeah, because 135 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 1: while I wasn't doing some of those things, by the 136 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:44,840 Speaker 1: time I graduated high school, I'd already been to Italy 137 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 1: for World Juniors. 138 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:51,080 Speaker 2: Totally different experience. Yeah, and did you know that you 139 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:54,200 Speaker 2: wanted to go to USC or how did that kind. 140 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:58,480 Speaker 1: Of came now? So I USC South Carolina, let's be clear, 141 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:02,840 Speaker 1: the original us SEE established eighteen oh one. And my 142 00:08:03,520 --> 00:08:05,800 Speaker 1: college coach, he hates to hear this sometimes because I 143 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 1: played hard to get and he had to recruit me 144 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:12,000 Speaker 1: like every other school did. But I think I knew 145 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:13,680 Speaker 1: I wanted to go to South Carolina as early as 146 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:16,080 Speaker 1: my freshman or sophomore year of high school. A lot 147 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 1: because of my event being a quarter miler, South Carolina 148 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 1: was just like a quarter mileert powerhouse, and a lot 149 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 1: of great quarter milers went to South Carolina. So yeah, 150 00:08:28,920 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 1: I knew pretty early on that I wanted to go 151 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:33,040 Speaker 1: to Carolina. 152 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:35,720 Speaker 2: So what's your quarter mile pr? 153 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:37,760 Speaker 1: Forty nine eighty four. 154 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:40,880 Speaker 2: Forty nine eighty four, and how long in your career 155 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:42,959 Speaker 2: did it take for you to get to that point? 156 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:46,319 Speaker 1: So I actually ran out my junior year of college, 157 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:51,720 Speaker 1: so I was twenty one, twenty two, twenty one, and 158 00:08:51,760 --> 00:08:54,120 Speaker 1: then I've equaled it a few times throughout my career. 159 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:58,680 Speaker 2: Equal that, like right on the money, equal that isn't 160 00:08:58,679 --> 00:09:00,760 Speaker 2: that kind of a crazy thing insane? 161 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:03,640 Speaker 1: I'm like, can I just can I do eighty three something? 162 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:05,360 Speaker 1: But can I do something exact same thing? 163 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:06,800 Speaker 2: All right? So then talk to me a little bit 164 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:10,080 Speaker 2: about what life's like in college with all the I mean, 165 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 2: being a college athlete is a hurdle within itself. 166 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 1: I actually had a lot of fun income Yeah, but 167 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:21,160 Speaker 1: it's the thing that I tell people, like especially when 168 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:23,280 Speaker 1: I talk to young girls, that I think I had 169 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:25,640 Speaker 1: a lot of fun because I was also in the 170 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:30,080 Speaker 1: honors college at South Carolina. But I got great grades 171 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:32,800 Speaker 1: in school as well, So I you know, you hear 172 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:36,120 Speaker 1: them talk about time management and almost shove it down 173 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:38,400 Speaker 1: your throat, you know, your senior year of high school, 174 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:41,560 Speaker 1: freshman year, I made sure that my work was done. 175 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:44,719 Speaker 1: I trained hard, and then I was able to have 176 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:47,200 Speaker 1: a blast after that, and then just knowing that I 177 00:09:47,240 --> 00:09:50,080 Speaker 1: had done my work, I was able to have even 178 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:54,040 Speaker 1: more fun. So I was at all the parties. I 179 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:54,840 Speaker 1: was that girl. 180 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:56,719 Speaker 2: But you never felt like any of that kind of 181 00:09:56,720 --> 00:09:57,520 Speaker 2: got in the way. 182 00:09:57,880 --> 00:10:01,079 Speaker 1: No, because like I said, it was after Like I mean, 183 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:03,440 Speaker 1: I remember coming back from track meets, and we got 184 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:07,800 Speaker 1: back early enough that we could go to the party. Yeah, So, 185 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:10,080 Speaker 1: I mean it was after the track meet, it was 186 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:12,160 Speaker 1: you know, but yeah, I just made sure that my 187 00:10:12,240 --> 00:10:16,480 Speaker 1: work was done. Training was you know, like I mean, 188 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:20,000 Speaker 1: there was no way around training, and I was able 189 00:10:20,040 --> 00:10:23,120 Speaker 1: to maximize that social life in college. 190 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:25,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I feel like something that's interesting about being 191 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:28,040 Speaker 2: a college athlete and definitely something you'll be able to 192 00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:30,720 Speaker 2: speak to is at this point in your life, a 193 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:33,200 Speaker 2: lot of women are coming into their own you know, 194 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 2: you're learning about like your wants and your needs and 195 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:39,400 Speaker 2: gaining an appreciation for your body. Right at this time, 196 00:10:39,480 --> 00:10:41,439 Speaker 2: like what is your self image? 197 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:46,040 Speaker 1: Like, I think my self image was pretty it was 198 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:49,680 Speaker 1: good at that point. So I studied exercise science in college. 199 00:10:50,080 --> 00:10:53,240 Speaker 1: It was a way for me to sort of study 200 00:10:53,240 --> 00:10:56,680 Speaker 1: what I love obviously, training and learning about the body 201 00:10:56,720 --> 00:10:59,040 Speaker 1: and this and that. But it was also at the 202 00:10:59,080 --> 00:11:01,560 Speaker 1: same time in college and we're hearing a lot of 203 00:11:01,559 --> 00:11:04,920 Speaker 1: this conversation. Now, there were conversations on the team about 204 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:07,720 Speaker 1: our weight and you know, the things that we were eating. 205 00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:14,319 Speaker 1: And I think having the exercise science background and understanding 206 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:18,080 Speaker 1: how the female's body, the female body should function and 207 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 1: we shouldn't be less than a certain body fat percentage 208 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:26,200 Speaker 1: and that sort of thing. It helped because I did 209 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:30,680 Speaker 1: see teammates kind of do some extreme things to lose 210 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:34,200 Speaker 1: weight or be fit was the word that our coaches 211 00:11:34,240 --> 00:11:38,520 Speaker 1: would use sometimes, but I always had my studies to 212 00:11:38,559 --> 00:11:41,880 Speaker 1: fall back on. That was kind of like, you're crazy, 213 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:44,680 Speaker 1: like you want me to lose ten pounds where how 214 00:11:45,160 --> 00:11:49,040 Speaker 1: So I think I was able to manage that and 215 00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 1: kind of put it in perspective. Interestingly enough, though, when 216 00:11:52,679 --> 00:11:56,080 Speaker 1: I left college and became a pro, and it was 217 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:59,480 Speaker 1: obviously a lot more pressure at that point, things kind 218 00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:02,560 Speaker 1: of changed a little bit, But through college I was 219 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:04,760 Speaker 1: able to manage it fairly well. 220 00:12:04,920 --> 00:12:08,319 Speaker 2: So let's talk about then the transition to pro because 221 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:11,960 Speaker 2: obviously you're excelling at this crazy level in college. You 222 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 2: are amazing. What would you say was one of your 223 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:20,640 Speaker 2: biggest accomplishments while you were in your college years? 224 00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:24,280 Speaker 1: Uh, definitely setting the collegiate records. I did the collegiate 225 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:27,679 Speaker 1: record in the four hundred in indoors and outdoors, so 226 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:30,520 Speaker 1: and then of course I won nationals as well, So 227 00:12:30,679 --> 00:12:32,119 Speaker 1: those two things would. 228 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:34,960 Speaker 2: Top the lest. Yeah, all right, so we win nationals 229 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:37,800 Speaker 2: and we're set up for like we're set up, You're 230 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:40,600 Speaker 2: doing it at this point, where does life take you 231 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:42,319 Speaker 2: then from when you're graduating USA. 232 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:46,680 Speaker 1: So I actually turned professional after my junior year of college. 233 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:51,160 Speaker 1: So I actually I did graduate, but I went back 234 00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:55,439 Speaker 1: to graduate after the two thousand and eight Actually I 235 00:12:55,520 --> 00:12:58,000 Speaker 1: went back after the two thousand and nine World Championships. Yeah, 236 00:12:58,040 --> 00:13:01,680 Speaker 1: I started my professional career after junior year. The Olympic 237 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:04,520 Speaker 1: season two thousand and eight was my first professional season. 238 00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:09,640 Speaker 2: When you realize that you're going to the Olympics, describe 239 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:10,640 Speaker 2: that feeling. 240 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:15,200 Speaker 1: To me, It's actually bittersweet. Why is that? Because so 241 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:18,280 Speaker 1: I made it in the relay, I placed sixth at 242 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:21,360 Speaker 1: the trials. Top three goes in the individual four hundred 243 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:25,080 Speaker 1: and in track, everyone wants to make the individual. So 244 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:27,240 Speaker 1: it was cool. I was twenty two and I made 245 00:13:27,280 --> 00:13:30,240 Speaker 1: my first Olympic team. How many twenty two year olds 246 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:33,120 Speaker 1: are on the Olympic team? How many people period are 247 00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:35,040 Speaker 1: on the Olympic team. But then there was also that 248 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:37,840 Speaker 1: disappointment of not making it in the individual. 249 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:41,559 Speaker 2: Great perspective twenty two going to the Olympics. You know, 250 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:44,640 Speaker 2: all of the women that you're running with. Are you 251 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:47,679 Speaker 2: excited about the people that you're running with? Are you nervous? 252 00:13:47,720 --> 00:13:49,839 Speaker 2: Does it make you, I don't know, I feel. 253 00:13:49,559 --> 00:13:53,800 Speaker 1: Like definitely nervous, and especially at that point, I didn't 254 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:57,840 Speaker 1: have a grasp on Number one. That transitioned from collegiate 255 00:13:57,880 --> 00:14:00,360 Speaker 1: to pro was one that I just was not prepared 256 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:04,760 Speaker 1: for in any sense. And I would say more mentally 257 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:09,720 Speaker 1: physically my physical abilities. Definitely I was ready to be there. 258 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:15,000 Speaker 1: But it's a whole nother ballgame competing professionally than it 259 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:19,720 Speaker 1: is collegiately, and there's no there's no manual. You just 260 00:14:19,800 --> 00:14:24,400 Speaker 1: kinda have to figure it out. So that took some 261 00:14:24,640 --> 00:14:27,640 Speaker 1: years actually to come into my own and it took 262 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:31,680 Speaker 1: some years before you know, I started, I would say 263 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:36,080 Speaker 1: successfully making the transition. I had some tough growing years 264 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:39,600 Speaker 1: my first few years as a pro making that transition, 265 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:45,040 Speaker 1: and you know, understanding the differences in competing as a 266 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:46,840 Speaker 1: pro versus a collegiate. 267 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:48,960 Speaker 2: Talk to me a little bit about that mental side. 268 00:14:49,920 --> 00:14:51,480 Speaker 1: So a lot of it was in how I was 269 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:54,440 Speaker 1: speaking to myself, and you know, I was I was 270 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:56,520 Speaker 1: doing the work. I was always a hard worker, but 271 00:14:57,320 --> 00:15:00,480 Speaker 1: I was sort of beating myself before the gun even 272 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:04,560 Speaker 1: went off, Like it was a lot of negative thoughts 273 00:15:04,680 --> 00:15:08,520 Speaker 1: and you know how painful the four hundred is and man, 274 00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:11,440 Speaker 1: it's gonna hurt and I'm gonna die coming home. Just 275 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:16,280 Speaker 1: just terrible thoughts. And then also the pressure of having 276 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:19,640 Speaker 1: left college, you know, collegiate record holder. I was like 277 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:23,000 Speaker 1: number two or three in the world, and so there's 278 00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:25,880 Speaker 1: this expectation of now being a great quarter miler and 279 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:27,800 Speaker 1: I wasn't living up to that. So there was like 280 00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:30,960 Speaker 1: all of these things, all of this pressure on my shoulders. 281 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:34,880 Speaker 1: It took getting some help from a sports psychologist for 282 00:15:34,920 --> 00:15:38,480 Speaker 1: me to really kind of, I guess, get a grasp. 283 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:41,000 Speaker 1: That took a while, and it wasn't until after not 284 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:46,560 Speaker 1: making the twenty twelve team that I actually was like, Okay, 285 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:48,400 Speaker 1: maybe I need some help in this area. 286 00:15:49,280 --> 00:15:52,840 Speaker 2: Do you remember any specific takeaways from the like your 287 00:15:52,880 --> 00:15:55,360 Speaker 2: first interactions with someone to talk about how you were 288 00:15:55,360 --> 00:15:58,480 Speaker 2: feeling in that inner dialogue that maybe now you share 289 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:01,960 Speaker 2: with others, especially, I mean, you talk two young women 290 00:16:02,040 --> 00:16:02,520 Speaker 2: all the time. 291 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:05,440 Speaker 1: So I'll say it started with a conversation that I 292 00:16:05,480 --> 00:16:08,880 Speaker 1: had with my mom after the twenty twelve trials. She 293 00:16:09,160 --> 00:16:11,000 Speaker 1: basically said, you know, I look at you out there 294 00:16:11,040 --> 00:16:13,560 Speaker 1: on the track, and it's like I can see you know, 295 00:16:13,640 --> 00:16:17,000 Speaker 1: your mom can see things that no one else can see. 296 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:19,040 Speaker 1: She said it flat out, like I can see that 297 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:22,680 Speaker 1: you don't even believe that you belong where you are, 298 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:25,440 Speaker 1: and I want you to know that you do. She 299 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:28,360 Speaker 1: happened to be sitting next to a gentleman at the 300 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:30,520 Speaker 1: trials who turned out to be a sports psychologist, and 301 00:16:30,560 --> 00:16:31,760 Speaker 1: he offered to work with me. 302 00:16:32,280 --> 00:16:34,800 Speaker 2: Wow, I just got chills, Like that's like such a 303 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:35,600 Speaker 2: fait moment. 304 00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:39,480 Speaker 1: And so he and I started working together shortly after 305 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:43,360 Speaker 1: the twenty twelve trials, and it started simply with that, 306 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:45,600 Speaker 1: you know, what are your thoughts when you're standing on 307 00:16:45,640 --> 00:16:48,440 Speaker 1: the line. And I told him, like, these are the 308 00:16:48,480 --> 00:16:50,880 Speaker 1: things that I'm thinking about, and he was like floored, 309 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:54,960 Speaker 1: Like every single thing out of my mouth was negative. 310 00:16:55,400 --> 00:16:59,560 Speaker 1: And so it was literally just taking those negative thoughts 311 00:16:59,640 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 1: and change them into positive thoughts. And you know, sometimes 312 00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:05,840 Speaker 1: I always say this quote, and by now I should 313 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:08,159 Speaker 1: know who said the quote, but I don't know. Be 314 00:17:08,320 --> 00:17:11,200 Speaker 1: careful how you speak to yourself, because you might be listening. 315 00:17:12,160 --> 00:17:14,959 Speaker 1: If I took anything away from that relationship, with that 316 00:17:15,040 --> 00:17:18,199 Speaker 1: working relationship with my sports psych it was that that 317 00:17:18,359 --> 00:17:22,480 Speaker 1: like you have to speak positive things over yourself and 318 00:17:22,520 --> 00:17:23,240 Speaker 1: over your life. 319 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:25,639 Speaker 2: It's true because every single day, like we are the 320 00:17:25,640 --> 00:17:28,520 Speaker 2: person that talks to ourselves the most during any given day, 321 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:31,960 Speaker 2: which it sounds silly because they're just thoughts, but those 322 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:35,440 Speaker 2: thoughts determine so powerful everything that you do with everyone 323 00:17:35,560 --> 00:17:37,960 Speaker 2: around you. Talk to me about twenty twelve. 324 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:42,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, twenty twelve was definitely a year of shift from everything. 325 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:47,360 Speaker 1: Twenty twelve was the year that I moved to Texas. 326 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:51,320 Speaker 1: So actually, the day after Christmas twenty eleven, I left 327 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 1: South Carolina and moved to Texas. And I made the 328 00:17:56,960 --> 00:18:00,439 Speaker 1: move as sort of an all or nothing move. Was 329 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:04,320 Speaker 1: after college. I had actually went to Florida for a year. 330 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:06,959 Speaker 1: I left Florida, went to California for a year, then 331 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:08,960 Speaker 1: I went back to South Carolina to finish my degree. 332 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:12,360 Speaker 1: I ended up staying there for a couple of years. Obviously, 333 00:18:12,359 --> 00:18:17,040 Speaker 1: none of those coaching situations worked, and so Texas came 334 00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:19,840 Speaker 1: about and it was like, Okay, if I move here, 335 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:25,040 Speaker 1: this has to work. If not, I'm done done with track. 336 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:28,159 Speaker 1: That is. The twenty twelve trials were that summer, of course, 337 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:31,399 Speaker 1: and I placed seventh, so I was just one spot 338 00:18:31,480 --> 00:18:36,080 Speaker 1: out of even making the relay. And so this time around, 339 00:18:36,240 --> 00:18:40,639 Speaker 1: you know it wasn't I didn't make the team altogether, 340 00:18:40,920 --> 00:18:43,119 Speaker 1: you know, it wasn't. Oh, I didn't make the individual, 341 00:18:43,160 --> 00:18:44,800 Speaker 1: but I'm on the relay. I wasn't even on the 342 00:18:44,840 --> 00:18:49,239 Speaker 1: relay this time. So this was like rock bottom. So 343 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:54,240 Speaker 1: I remember walking not speaking to anyone. I was livid, 344 00:18:54,880 --> 00:18:58,320 Speaker 1: and I literally walked from the stadium back to my hotel, 345 00:18:58,520 --> 00:19:03,399 Speaker 1: probably a couple miles away, and I took probably close 346 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:06,760 Speaker 1: to a week to kind of process things, and like 347 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:10,560 Speaker 1: I had it made up in my mind that I 348 00:19:10,600 --> 00:19:12,200 Speaker 1: think I'm done with track. I think I'm going to 349 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:15,159 Speaker 1: go back to school. Between my coaches and my family, 350 00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:17,199 Speaker 1: they all kind of slowly won by one were like, 351 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:20,600 Speaker 1: you know, I think you should rethink this. You're still young, 352 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:23,080 Speaker 1: you have some left in the tank. And then that 353 00:19:23,160 --> 00:19:25,040 Speaker 1: was when I had that conversation with my mom and 354 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:29,280 Speaker 1: started working with the sports psyche. So it was a 355 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:34,159 Speaker 1: year of disappointment, a year of hitting rock bottom. But 356 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:38,239 Speaker 1: I think it was also a year that kind of 357 00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:41,480 Speaker 1: forced me to, I guess, get to know myself and 358 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:52,800 Speaker 1: readjust some things that I believe the changes definitely enhanced 359 00:19:52,880 --> 00:19:57,000 Speaker 1: my performance, but it also enhanced my personal life because 360 00:19:57,000 --> 00:20:00,159 Speaker 1: it opened my eyes to how I was viewing myself 361 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:04,840 Speaker 1: and the things that I was even believing I was 362 00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:05,320 Speaker 1: worthy of. 363 00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:09,679 Speaker 2: So during this time when you're struggling with your relationship, 364 00:20:09,760 --> 00:20:12,640 Speaker 2: both with yourself and also with the sport of running, 365 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:16,120 Speaker 2: do you lean into running or do you kind of 366 00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:19,520 Speaker 2: find other things as an outlet to help you cope 367 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:21,960 Speaker 2: with all of these feelings and these emotions that you're 368 00:20:21,960 --> 00:20:22,640 Speaker 2: struggling with. 369 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:27,080 Speaker 1: I think at that point I started leaning somewhat into 370 00:20:27,119 --> 00:20:31,240 Speaker 1: other things, other things being my friends, being more intentional about, 371 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:35,560 Speaker 1: you know, having meaningful relationships. I mean, I think for 372 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:39,080 Speaker 1: as long as I can remember, I surround myself with 373 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 1: like minded or like goal people. Spending time with people 374 00:20:43,160 --> 00:20:46,920 Speaker 1: that were headed in a positive direction in their life 375 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:50,560 Speaker 1: or working on positive things. I think was definitely important. 376 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:55,199 Speaker 1: Because I talk about sport being in a place of 377 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:59,560 Speaker 1: outlet for me, but there is also a fine line 378 00:20:59,600 --> 00:21:03,680 Speaker 1: of sports is actually work too, so sometimes I actually 379 00:21:03,680 --> 00:21:08,320 Speaker 1: need an outlet from it as well. So I think 380 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:11,439 Speaker 1: that's where a lot of the four hundred meter diva 381 00:21:11,480 --> 00:21:14,320 Speaker 1: thing comes into play. And like me doing my hair 382 00:21:14,359 --> 00:21:17,840 Speaker 1: and makeup, particularly for my competitions, I call it a 383 00:21:17,880 --> 00:21:21,080 Speaker 1: positive distraction. It's something that I do leading up to 384 00:21:21,520 --> 00:21:23,960 Speaker 1: I mean, I don't just wear makeup to compete, but 385 00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:28,320 Speaker 1: in those moments, it's a you know, a few minutes 386 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:31,720 Speaker 1: away from this big thing that I'm getting ready to do, 387 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:34,000 Speaker 1: gives me something to do with my hands and just 388 00:21:34,080 --> 00:21:36,600 Speaker 1: kind of something that makes me feel good. 389 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:39,200 Speaker 2: Talk to me about the four hundred meter diva thing. 390 00:21:40,760 --> 00:21:45,560 Speaker 1: So that kind of started with my freshman year of 391 00:21:45,640 --> 00:21:50,080 Speaker 1: high school of college. Sorry. We were going to pen relays, 392 00:21:50,280 --> 00:21:54,840 Speaker 1: and being from New York, I've run pen relays all 393 00:21:54,840 --> 00:21:58,800 Speaker 1: through high school. And then so my coach asked me 394 00:21:58,840 --> 00:22:02,560 Speaker 1: to do an interview. There's media going into certain track meets. 395 00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:08,320 Speaker 1: So the journalist asked me what made me choose South Carolina, 396 00:22:08,359 --> 00:22:10,720 Speaker 1: and so I talked about the history of corner Milers, 397 00:22:10,720 --> 00:22:12,439 Speaker 1: and then I also said, and you know, the girls, 398 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:15,040 Speaker 1: they're really pretty, and I mean, I guess, for lack 399 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:17,840 Speaker 1: of a better word, they're just divas. So when we 400 00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:21,080 Speaker 1: went to Philly for penn relays, the headline of the 401 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:26,120 Speaker 1: story was the Gamecock divas return to pen Relays. He 402 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:28,920 Speaker 1: our coach, coach Fried took it and ran with it 403 00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:32,080 Speaker 1: like he had outfits made up with Gamecock divas on them. 404 00:22:32,760 --> 00:22:35,080 Speaker 1: And they may still to this day call themselves the 405 00:22:35,119 --> 00:22:38,200 Speaker 1: gamecock divas, all right, And so from there four hundredma 406 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:39,040 Speaker 1: Diva came out of that. 407 00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:42,640 Speaker 2: I love it so and it seems like, I mean, 408 00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:45,880 Speaker 2: you like to embody it now. It's also helps amp 409 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:47,920 Speaker 2: you up for what you're about to take on. Yeah, 410 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:49,320 Speaker 2: would you say it? Would you agree? 411 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:52,320 Speaker 1: For sure? I mean, And while it amps me up, 412 00:22:52,359 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 1: I also I tell people, because you know, I went 413 00:22:56,080 --> 00:22:59,760 Speaker 1: through the well you're not if you would spend less 414 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:02,440 Speaker 1: time and focusing on hair and makeup, then you would 415 00:23:02,440 --> 00:23:05,360 Speaker 1: perform better. And I was like, oh, well, if fifteen 416 00:23:05,359 --> 00:23:09,919 Speaker 1: minutes is the reason why you know I had a 417 00:23:09,960 --> 00:23:12,640 Speaker 1: bad race versus all the hours that I've put in, 418 00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:16,919 Speaker 1: then you know I have a lot bigger issue than that. Also, 419 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:19,840 Speaker 1: I just feel like if I were working at nine 420 00:23:19,840 --> 00:23:23,359 Speaker 1: to five, you know, there's a part to play. There 421 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:25,960 Speaker 1: is a dress code for you know, going to work 422 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:28,560 Speaker 1: every day. My job requires me to be on TV. 423 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:31,720 Speaker 1: So if I want to look good, what is wrong 424 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:34,439 Speaker 1: with me dressing the part and looking appropriate? And it's 425 00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:36,679 Speaker 1: it's you know, it's really your damned if you do, 426 00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:39,280 Speaker 1: damned if you don't. Because I look at you know 427 00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:43,760 Speaker 1: how Gabby Douglas was treated in the Olympics, and it 428 00:23:43,840 --> 00:23:49,440 Speaker 1: was like there she was focused on her craft and 429 00:23:49,480 --> 00:23:51,679 Speaker 1: focused on going there and winning these medals. And she 430 00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:55,560 Speaker 1: went there and performed amazingly, and people were talking more 431 00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:58,719 Speaker 1: about her hair than about her performance. So it's one 432 00:23:58,760 --> 00:24:01,520 Speaker 1: of those things that people just want to talk and 433 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:03,320 Speaker 1: you know, at the end of the day, you just 434 00:24:03,320 --> 00:24:06,280 Speaker 1: have to do what makes you happy and screw the haters. 435 00:24:06,359 --> 00:24:08,800 Speaker 2: Screw the haters. Talk to me a little bit more 436 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:12,639 Speaker 2: about the challenges that go hand in hand with being pro. 437 00:24:12,760 --> 00:24:15,360 Speaker 2: I mean, you dealt with and over came twenty twelve, 438 00:24:15,560 --> 00:24:18,000 Speaker 2: But then as you're getting back into the swing of things, 439 00:24:18,080 --> 00:24:21,720 Speaker 2: are you feeling more pressure than ever to perform after 440 00:24:21,800 --> 00:24:23,120 Speaker 2: having a difficult year. 441 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:25,520 Speaker 1: At that point, I had gotten to a point where 442 00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:28,159 Speaker 1: I was like, well, everyone's counting me out anyway, So 443 00:24:29,640 --> 00:24:33,720 Speaker 1: it was like there's no way I can get any 444 00:24:33,720 --> 00:24:36,520 Speaker 1: worse as well, you know, so it was just like, 445 00:24:37,560 --> 00:24:40,480 Speaker 1: just focus on you. But then there's also I think 446 00:24:40,560 --> 00:24:44,159 Speaker 1: a level of emotional maturity too, where I have to 447 00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:46,240 Speaker 1: focus on the things that I have control over. You 448 00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:48,800 Speaker 1: know what I don't have control over. It just is 449 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:54,640 Speaker 1: I was about twenty six, twenty seven, so at that point, 450 00:24:54,880 --> 00:24:57,840 Speaker 1: i'd kind of brush that off. But I think as 451 00:24:57,880 --> 00:25:01,119 Speaker 1: I worked through my self where and the way that 452 00:25:01,119 --> 00:25:03,760 Speaker 1: I viewed myself in the way that I talk to myself, 453 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:08,480 Speaker 1: it became more important how I feel about myself and 454 00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:11,719 Speaker 1: not so much what the expectation of the world is. 455 00:25:12,480 --> 00:25:16,080 Speaker 2: What are some examples of the types of things you 456 00:25:16,119 --> 00:25:19,720 Speaker 2: start to say to yourself versus where you came from 457 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:22,680 Speaker 2: with such such a negative space, How is that dialogue 458 00:25:22,760 --> 00:25:24,280 Speaker 2: changing for you at this point? 459 00:25:24,560 --> 00:25:28,880 Speaker 1: So it's first like the second I think something negative, 460 00:25:28,920 --> 00:25:32,679 Speaker 1: I'd change it to a positive. But then also I 461 00:25:32,720 --> 00:25:35,920 Speaker 1: practice something that I call my ims, and it literally 462 00:25:36,040 --> 00:25:40,720 Speaker 1: just I'm beautiful, I'm smart, I'm powerful, I'm a champion. 463 00:25:41,440 --> 00:25:44,520 Speaker 1: And some of those things are things that I may 464 00:25:44,560 --> 00:25:47,440 Speaker 1: not even believe yet, but I'm going to keep saying 465 00:25:47,480 --> 00:25:49,800 Speaker 1: it until I believe it. There are times that I've 466 00:25:49,800 --> 00:25:52,080 Speaker 1: had them written on my mirror. I'd say them in 467 00:25:52,119 --> 00:25:54,560 Speaker 1: the morning when I wake up. I say them sometimes 468 00:25:54,560 --> 00:25:57,719 Speaker 1: that if I'm having trouble falling asleep, I say them 469 00:25:57,800 --> 00:26:00,520 Speaker 1: until I fall asleep. I may even do it while 470 00:26:00,520 --> 00:26:03,199 Speaker 1: I'm getting a massage. It's just I guess it's a 471 00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:07,679 Speaker 1: form of meditation, affirming myself, you know, training myself to 472 00:26:08,840 --> 00:26:11,480 Speaker 1: think and speak positively over myself. 473 00:26:12,080 --> 00:26:14,800 Speaker 2: So we're in a more positive state of mind and 474 00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:18,320 Speaker 2: things are starting to go well because we're gearing up 475 00:26:18,359 --> 00:26:21,000 Speaker 2: for twenty sixteen. Talk to me about the road to 476 00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:24,040 Speaker 2: twenty sixteen because the conversation points must be working a 477 00:26:24,040 --> 00:26:24,959 Speaker 2: little bit. Yeah. 478 00:26:25,520 --> 00:26:29,040 Speaker 1: So, I mean from twelve to sixteen was like a 479 00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:32,720 Speaker 1: slow grind back. I won't say to the top, but 480 00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:35,680 Speaker 1: to performing well. I guess to the top. 481 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:38,199 Speaker 2: I was gonna say, don't give yourself a little bit 482 00:26:38,200 --> 00:26:38,560 Speaker 2: about it. 483 00:26:38,640 --> 00:26:42,080 Speaker 1: Yet it was just a slow, steady grind of improvement 484 00:26:42,240 --> 00:26:45,960 Speaker 1: over the years. I went from twenty twelve not making 485 00:26:45,960 --> 00:26:50,560 Speaker 1: the team. Twenty thirteen I was national champ, went to 486 00:26:50,600 --> 00:26:56,280 Speaker 1: the World Champs in Moscow. Fifteen was another World championship year, 487 00:26:56,440 --> 00:27:00,360 Speaker 1: not so great. I placed second at nationals, I didn't 488 00:27:00,359 --> 00:27:03,240 Speaker 1: make the finals at World Champs. Sixteen was like, okay, 489 00:27:03,280 --> 00:27:06,280 Speaker 1: we're back here at the trials. I'm thirty years old again. 490 00:27:06,320 --> 00:27:08,920 Speaker 1: People are counting me out because I'm now thirty years old. 491 00:27:10,160 --> 00:27:10,960 Speaker 2: Isn't that insane? 492 00:27:11,119 --> 00:27:15,000 Speaker 1: Yeah? But and it's even more insane because it's a 493 00:27:15,040 --> 00:27:19,600 Speaker 1: conversation that has had about women, but not for men, 494 00:27:20,760 --> 00:27:23,679 Speaker 1: and you know, we start getting that question about retirement, 495 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:26,720 Speaker 1: and I'm like, but my counterparts over there is thirty five, 496 00:27:26,760 --> 00:27:30,280 Speaker 1: and you're not asking him when he's retiring. Twenty sixteen 497 00:27:30,400 --> 00:27:34,159 Speaker 1: was another like it was just a challenging year in 498 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:36,200 Speaker 1: the sense that I went into the year thinking it 499 00:27:36,280 --> 00:27:39,920 Speaker 1: was it was my year of redemption in the sense of, 500 00:27:40,119 --> 00:27:42,479 Speaker 1: you know, obviously not having made it in twenty twelve, 501 00:27:42,920 --> 00:27:46,480 Speaker 1: twenty fifteen was an okay year. And then about a 502 00:27:46,560 --> 00:27:49,359 Speaker 1: month before the trials, I get a tweak in my hamstring, 503 00:27:50,880 --> 00:27:57,000 Speaker 1: so then it becomes okay, let's maintain and not make 504 00:27:57,080 --> 00:28:00,359 Speaker 1: this injury any worse. And then it was literally like 505 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:02,800 Speaker 1: I get to the trials and it's like round by round. 506 00:28:02,840 --> 00:28:06,520 Speaker 1: The first round, I could still feel my hamstring, and 507 00:28:06,520 --> 00:28:09,800 Speaker 1: I'm like, man, I'm unsure. But you know, at this point, 508 00:28:09,840 --> 00:28:13,440 Speaker 1: I'm working with my therapist and we're still working on, 509 00:28:13,520 --> 00:28:16,360 Speaker 1: you know, the positive affirmations, focusing on the things that 510 00:28:17,040 --> 00:28:20,159 Speaker 1: I have control over. It was a literal round by 511 00:28:20,280 --> 00:28:22,399 Speaker 1: round and I get to the final and I just 512 00:28:22,440 --> 00:28:26,000 Speaker 1: decide there's no point in taking anything home. I gotta 513 00:28:26,080 --> 00:28:29,400 Speaker 1: leave it all here. So I don't remember anything about 514 00:28:29,400 --> 00:28:30,879 Speaker 1: the race. I just remember hitting. 515 00:28:31,960 --> 00:28:35,040 Speaker 2: I'm really getting him now, all right. 516 00:28:35,680 --> 00:28:38,600 Speaker 1: I just remember hitting the ground after the race, because 517 00:28:38,640 --> 00:28:42,560 Speaker 1: I had literally run until the wheels fell off, Like 518 00:28:42,960 --> 00:28:44,720 Speaker 1: I ran to the point where my legs were like 519 00:28:44,760 --> 00:28:49,160 Speaker 1: I have nothing left, and I literally fell to the ground. 520 00:28:49,760 --> 00:28:54,600 Speaker 3: I wish this third idio podcast. I know, Hi, I 521 00:28:54,600 --> 00:28:57,160 Speaker 3: can't wait till you speak real words. Were my youngest 522 00:28:57,200 --> 00:29:01,720 Speaker 3: guests ever. Oh my god, he's like a nammord. 523 00:29:03,480 --> 00:29:07,520 Speaker 1: I remember I was working with I told Bolden at 524 00:29:07,560 --> 00:29:09,600 Speaker 1: the time, and he said to me after the race, 525 00:29:09,640 --> 00:29:11,760 Speaker 1: he said, why did you dive for the finish line? 526 00:29:11,800 --> 00:29:14,040 Speaker 1: You were on the team and I said, I did 527 00:29:14,080 --> 00:29:18,360 Speaker 1: not dive for anything like that was literally my legs 528 00:29:18,360 --> 00:29:21,200 Speaker 1: that were like we have nothing left were done and 529 00:29:21,240 --> 00:29:25,120 Speaker 1: I fell to the ground and everyone else knew I 530 00:29:25,160 --> 00:29:27,080 Speaker 1: made the team. And I remember laying there on the 531 00:29:27,120 --> 00:29:29,720 Speaker 1: ground waiting looking up at the scoreboard, waiting for my 532 00:29:29,800 --> 00:29:32,800 Speaker 1: name to pop up because I literally blacked out. I 533 00:29:32,840 --> 00:29:36,920 Speaker 1: didn't know what happened in the race where I was nothing. 534 00:29:36,960 --> 00:29:39,040 Speaker 1: So when the three popped up next to my name, 535 00:29:39,640 --> 00:29:45,600 Speaker 1: it was like, I think, I remember yelling like because 536 00:29:45,640 --> 00:29:48,040 Speaker 1: it was just like all of this pent up emotion 537 00:29:48,240 --> 00:29:51,000 Speaker 1: that finally it was like I'd been through all of 538 00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:54,680 Speaker 1: this to get here to this moment and finally and 539 00:29:54,800 --> 00:29:59,840 Speaker 1: but there's that feeling, But then there's also the feeling 540 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:02,120 Speaker 1: if it's not over, like I still had to go 541 00:30:02,400 --> 00:30:07,200 Speaker 1: to Rio, all of these exciting emotions, but also knowing 542 00:30:07,280 --> 00:30:09,320 Speaker 1: that the road was still long. 543 00:30:09,480 --> 00:30:09,960 Speaker 3: Yeah. 544 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:12,720 Speaker 2: It's interesting because it's like it's you work so hard 545 00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:16,560 Speaker 2: to get to this moment where you are going to 546 00:30:16,600 --> 00:30:19,720 Speaker 2: the Olympics, and for that to kind of be like 547 00:30:19,800 --> 00:30:22,640 Speaker 2: your first thought, like did you feel like you took 548 00:30:22,800 --> 00:30:27,080 Speaker 2: enough time to celebrate even the accomplishment, which was getting 549 00:30:27,160 --> 00:30:30,440 Speaker 2: back into getting back to where you had wanted to be. 550 00:30:30,880 --> 00:30:34,240 Speaker 1: No, and we never do. Even after winning the Olympics, 551 00:30:34,240 --> 00:30:36,920 Speaker 1: it's like onto the next So it does become like, 552 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:38,800 Speaker 1: you know, you have your media tour and you're doing 553 00:30:38,840 --> 00:30:40,840 Speaker 1: all of this stuff, but then you've got coach, like, 554 00:30:40,880 --> 00:30:44,240 Speaker 1: all right, training starts in six weeks. There's no time 555 00:30:45,040 --> 00:30:47,800 Speaker 1: to kind of take it in. 556 00:30:48,120 --> 00:30:50,960 Speaker 2: When you reflect on that period or like other similar 557 00:30:51,080 --> 00:30:54,280 Speaker 2: occasions in your life where like really big exciting things happen, 558 00:30:55,040 --> 00:30:57,760 Speaker 2: do you find a theme in that that you don't 559 00:30:57,800 --> 00:30:59,720 Speaker 2: take the time to celebrate like this. 560 00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:04,040 Speaker 1: Thing absolutely all the time and actually I don't know 561 00:31:04,080 --> 00:31:07,200 Speaker 1: if I can bring this up or how much you've shared. 562 00:31:07,240 --> 00:31:10,840 Speaker 1: But when we did the panel yesterday with Teddy and 563 00:31:10,880 --> 00:31:14,080 Speaker 1: I was listening to him and I was like, you know, 564 00:31:14,160 --> 00:31:18,760 Speaker 1: he's this the winningest judo fighter, but he's like, man, 565 00:31:18,800 --> 00:31:21,080 Speaker 1: I just want one more gold medal. I just want 566 00:31:21,080 --> 00:31:23,560 Speaker 1: one more And I heard it in his voice where 567 00:31:23,560 --> 00:31:26,280 Speaker 1: it's like and it's not a bad thing, but it's 568 00:31:26,280 --> 00:31:29,080 Speaker 1: a thing where you know, we always say if I 569 00:31:29,160 --> 00:31:31,840 Speaker 1: just get this one thing, when I just achieved this 570 00:31:31,880 --> 00:31:33,880 Speaker 1: one thing, when I just do this thing, then I'll 571 00:31:33,920 --> 00:31:36,200 Speaker 1: be happy no cause you're going to get there and 572 00:31:36,240 --> 00:31:37,520 Speaker 1: then it's going to be like, Okay, I did it, 573 00:31:37,640 --> 00:31:41,160 Speaker 1: Now on to the next. And it's this thing that 574 00:31:41,240 --> 00:31:45,040 Speaker 1: as athletes, I think especially we kind of we fall 575 00:31:45,080 --> 00:31:48,080 Speaker 1: into that where it's like, Okay, yeah, I need to 576 00:31:48,080 --> 00:31:49,640 Speaker 1: get this medal, I need to get on this team. 577 00:31:49,680 --> 00:31:51,400 Speaker 1: But as soon as you do that, then it's like, Okay, 578 00:31:51,440 --> 00:31:53,040 Speaker 1: now that I have that, I have to go on 579 00:31:53,120 --> 00:31:53,720 Speaker 1: to doing this. 580 00:31:54,240 --> 00:31:58,840 Speaker 2: What feels like the most critical aspect of your training 581 00:31:59,000 --> 00:32:01,320 Speaker 2: is it the physical? Is it the mental? Like where 582 00:32:01,360 --> 00:32:02,680 Speaker 2: are you at during this cycle? 583 00:32:02,880 --> 00:32:06,880 Speaker 1: Definitely the mental preparation was one that I was very 584 00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:10,600 Speaker 1: keen on in from several aspects of you know, going 585 00:32:10,640 --> 00:32:13,400 Speaker 1: back to you know, staying on the things that I 586 00:32:13,480 --> 00:32:18,040 Speaker 1: had control over, but also being aware of where I 587 00:32:18,240 --> 00:32:20,520 Speaker 1: was and what I was there to do. I was 588 00:32:20,560 --> 00:32:24,400 Speaker 1: there on a mission. I was there to win some 589 00:32:24,480 --> 00:32:28,560 Speaker 1: more medals, get on the podium, but also having the 590 00:32:28,600 --> 00:32:32,080 Speaker 1: wherewithal that like I'm at the Olympics, I'm here with 591 00:32:32,200 --> 00:32:37,600 Speaker 1: special friends, special training partners. My family was there, so 592 00:32:38,280 --> 00:32:41,480 Speaker 1: you know, even taking the time to be intentional about 593 00:32:41,520 --> 00:32:44,720 Speaker 1: having those moments was another thing that was important for 594 00:32:44,760 --> 00:32:49,040 Speaker 1: me because I got to about twenty six, twenty seven 595 00:32:49,120 --> 00:32:52,160 Speaker 1: years old, and I took a look at my passport 596 00:32:52,320 --> 00:32:55,080 Speaker 1: and saw all these great places that I've been to, 597 00:32:55,680 --> 00:32:58,320 Speaker 1: and that's the memory that I have of the places 598 00:32:58,320 --> 00:33:00,760 Speaker 1: that i'd been to, was that simply I've been there. 599 00:33:00,800 --> 00:33:04,320 Speaker 1: I have the stamps in my passport, So you know, 600 00:33:04,400 --> 00:33:07,440 Speaker 1: I wanted to be intentional about being in Rio, being 601 00:33:07,520 --> 00:33:11,600 Speaker 1: with loved ones, while also being there for one of 602 00:33:11,640 --> 00:33:14,640 Speaker 1: the greatest things in my life, to compete in the Olympics. 603 00:33:14,960 --> 00:33:18,960 Speaker 1: So it was more and that is a comparison that 604 00:33:19,000 --> 00:33:25,040 Speaker 1: I like to make between sixteen and eight was I 605 00:33:25,040 --> 00:33:28,600 Speaker 1: guess that lends to my emotional maturity in terms of, 606 00:33:28,960 --> 00:33:35,280 Speaker 1: you know, what I was there for, and understanding the 607 00:33:35,400 --> 00:33:39,480 Speaker 1: level of how many people go to the Olympics, you know, 608 00:33:39,640 --> 00:33:42,800 Speaker 1: and just being in gratitude in that sense. 609 00:33:43,240 --> 00:33:48,080 Speaker 2: I mean it worked. Yeah, yeah, the gratitude strategy seemed 610 00:33:48,120 --> 00:33:50,640 Speaker 2: to work a lot more than the self defeatist strategy, 611 00:33:50,720 --> 00:33:55,440 Speaker 2: right exactly, getting gold, being on the podium, I love 612 00:33:55,560 --> 00:33:57,880 Speaker 2: like that. It's like an instant smile on your face. 613 00:33:58,120 --> 00:34:01,160 Speaker 2: Yeah yeah, I mean it's something obviously no one will 614 00:34:01,200 --> 00:34:03,280 Speaker 2: ever like. You'll never forget that, never. 615 00:34:03,680 --> 00:34:07,920 Speaker 1: And it's again comparing the two experiences. In two thousand 616 00:34:07,920 --> 00:34:09,600 Speaker 1: and eight, I only ran the preliminary around of the 617 00:34:09,600 --> 00:34:11,719 Speaker 1: four by four, so I was not on the podium. 618 00:34:12,320 --> 00:34:15,200 Speaker 1: So I'm Olympic gold medalist two thousand and eight, but 619 00:34:15,360 --> 00:34:20,240 Speaker 1: the experience was a lot different. And so being able 620 00:34:20,239 --> 00:34:23,160 Speaker 1: to stand on the podium hearing the national anthem in 621 00:34:23,200 --> 00:34:26,799 Speaker 1: my honor, or, in myself and my teammates honor, being 622 00:34:26,800 --> 00:34:28,400 Speaker 1: able to look out in the stands and see my 623 00:34:28,440 --> 00:34:30,880 Speaker 1: mom and my grandparents and my brother and seeing how 624 00:34:30,960 --> 00:34:35,920 Speaker 1: excited and proud they were of me. No, that's a 625 00:34:36,000 --> 00:34:40,960 Speaker 1: moment that yeah, I'm getting goosebumps thinking about it. Hopefully 626 00:34:41,000 --> 00:34:42,360 Speaker 1: I lived out again this summer. 627 00:34:42,640 --> 00:34:46,640 Speaker 2: Do you take the time to celebrate that moment? 628 00:34:48,080 --> 00:34:51,239 Speaker 1: I wish I did. I wish I did. While I 629 00:34:51,360 --> 00:34:54,879 Speaker 1: talk about, you know, having been in the moment there, 630 00:34:55,600 --> 00:34:58,839 Speaker 1: things just went into I mean, the season wasn't over. 631 00:34:58,920 --> 00:35:02,520 Speaker 1: I still had meets after the Olympics, and then once 632 00:35:02,560 --> 00:35:05,000 Speaker 1: the meats were over, then there was you know, this 633 00:35:05,160 --> 00:35:09,240 Speaker 1: appearance and that appearance, and to no, that didn't really. 634 00:35:10,120 --> 00:35:12,120 Speaker 2: Do you think you'll learn come twenty twenty? 635 00:35:12,800 --> 00:35:15,359 Speaker 1: I think so. I hope so, And especially now with 636 00:35:15,440 --> 00:35:18,880 Speaker 1: my son, there are moments that I especially want to 637 00:35:18,880 --> 00:35:22,080 Speaker 1: have with him. I'm hoping that I'll slow down and 638 00:35:22,840 --> 00:35:24,000 Speaker 1: have those moments with him. 639 00:35:24,080 --> 00:35:26,880 Speaker 2: All right, let's talk about your son for a beat then, Okay, 640 00:35:27,000 --> 00:35:30,720 Speaker 2: five months old. It was, as you've spoken out about, 641 00:35:30,719 --> 00:35:33,280 Speaker 2: like something that you weren't really ready for just yet. 642 00:35:34,360 --> 00:35:37,719 Speaker 2: How do you feel now that you have him? And 643 00:35:38,680 --> 00:35:43,719 Speaker 2: do you believe that it happened for a reason this way? 644 00:35:44,520 --> 00:35:48,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, I was saying this morning, I was telling someone 645 00:35:48,920 --> 00:35:53,160 Speaker 1: that I went through all of these emotions like why 646 00:35:53,239 --> 00:35:56,759 Speaker 1: now I really want to be a mom, but just 647 00:35:56,840 --> 00:35:59,280 Speaker 1: not right now? What does this mean for my training? 648 00:35:59,400 --> 00:36:02,920 Speaker 1: I hated pregnancy. I was so tired. I had morning sickness. 649 00:36:03,480 --> 00:36:07,880 Speaker 1: But when my son came, I'm thirty three, and I 650 00:36:07,920 --> 00:36:09,399 Speaker 1: looked at him and I was like, man, why did 651 00:36:09,400 --> 00:36:12,720 Speaker 1: I wait this long to have you? And even through 652 00:36:12,960 --> 00:36:15,799 Speaker 1: like the hard days of him, like crying a lot, 653 00:36:15,920 --> 00:36:20,040 Speaker 1: and I think he was a little bit collicky in 654 00:36:20,080 --> 00:36:24,120 Speaker 1: his first month. I can't wait to have another one. 655 00:36:24,360 --> 00:36:31,560 Speaker 1: So yeah, it's definitely done something to me, and I 656 00:36:31,600 --> 00:36:35,600 Speaker 1: can attest to I was that girl that was like, yeah, 657 00:36:35,640 --> 00:36:37,920 Speaker 1: I'm gonna have kids, but my kids aren't going to 658 00:36:38,000 --> 00:36:39,600 Speaker 1: run my life. I'm not going to be that mom. 659 00:36:40,920 --> 00:36:42,839 Speaker 1: My kid's not going to watch TV. He's five months 660 00:36:42,920 --> 00:36:46,080 Speaker 1: already watching TV. It keeps you quiet, all right, go ahead. 661 00:36:46,120 --> 00:36:49,120 Speaker 1: When women say motherhood does something to you, it really does. 662 00:36:49,320 --> 00:36:51,640 Speaker 2: It really does. Talk to me about the hurdle of 663 00:36:51,680 --> 00:36:54,439 Speaker 2: getting back into training. I mean, obviously five months old, 664 00:36:54,440 --> 00:36:57,479 Speaker 2: it hasn't been that long and you have a big 665 00:36:57,560 --> 00:36:58,279 Speaker 2: year coming up. 666 00:36:58,360 --> 00:37:02,960 Speaker 1: Yea, yeah, it's something I'm still going through, so talk 667 00:37:02,960 --> 00:37:05,280 Speaker 1: about just the only way is through. 668 00:37:05,640 --> 00:37:05,879 Speaker 2: Yeah. 669 00:37:05,920 --> 00:37:09,440 Speaker 1: It was humbling. I mean he was born a month early, 670 00:37:09,760 --> 00:37:13,760 Speaker 1: and I found myself on the delivery table like, okay, 671 00:37:13,840 --> 00:37:15,480 Speaker 1: he's here a month early. That means I get to 672 00:37:15,520 --> 00:37:16,400 Speaker 1: start a month early. 673 00:37:17,600 --> 00:37:19,839 Speaker 2: Isn't that crazy? That's where your head's at at time. 674 00:37:19,880 --> 00:37:23,520 Speaker 1: Where my head went like and it all happened so fast. 675 00:37:23,560 --> 00:37:25,640 Speaker 1: I wish we had time to talk about my birth story. 676 00:37:25,760 --> 00:37:28,520 Speaker 1: Like I almost had him on the couch. I didn't 677 00:37:28,520 --> 00:37:30,920 Speaker 1: even know I was in labor. Yeah. I was just like, 678 00:37:31,520 --> 00:37:33,440 Speaker 1: can't wait to get back on the track. My doctor 679 00:37:33,560 --> 00:37:36,080 Speaker 1: was like, you know, you were fit before your pregnancy, 680 00:37:36,120 --> 00:37:38,560 Speaker 1: you were fit through your pregnancy, so I think you 681 00:37:38,600 --> 00:37:41,600 Speaker 1: can start as soon as three weeks afterwards. I was 682 00:37:41,640 --> 00:37:45,120 Speaker 1: ready to go. My coaches were like, uh no, you 683 00:37:45,239 --> 00:37:48,400 Speaker 1: have to heal. And then so I started out walking 684 00:37:48,520 --> 00:37:51,080 Speaker 1: and then I started jogging. And then when I finally 685 00:37:51,160 --> 00:37:53,440 Speaker 1: got back to the track with my teammates, then it 686 00:37:53,560 --> 00:37:57,000 Speaker 1: was humbling because it was like I was excited to walk, 687 00:37:57,040 --> 00:37:59,680 Speaker 1: I was excited to jog. I could feel the difference. 688 00:37:59,719 --> 00:38:01,440 Speaker 1: I could feel that like I had a long way 689 00:38:01,480 --> 00:38:03,520 Speaker 1: to go. But getting back out there with my training 690 00:38:03,560 --> 00:38:06,480 Speaker 1: partners was like, oh, you have a long way to go. 691 00:38:07,400 --> 00:38:11,360 Speaker 1: And then there was the day that we had repeat 692 00:38:11,400 --> 00:38:14,799 Speaker 1: five hundreds and I get to about four hundred and 693 00:38:14,840 --> 00:38:17,920 Speaker 1: I start feeling this trickling feeling and I'm like, what 694 00:38:17,960 --> 00:38:20,480 Speaker 1: the heck is this pushed through and then finally I 695 00:38:20,560 --> 00:38:22,600 Speaker 1: was like, no, I'm grown as hell. I'm not about 696 00:38:22,640 --> 00:38:28,520 Speaker 1: to pee myself. And I was peeing myself. So there 697 00:38:28,520 --> 00:38:31,600 Speaker 1: were all of these things that like, there's so many 698 00:38:31,640 --> 00:38:33,640 Speaker 1: things that moms tell you, but there are so many 699 00:38:33,640 --> 00:38:34,920 Speaker 1: things that they don't tell you. 700 00:38:36,200 --> 00:38:40,080 Speaker 2: I see a tell all books like in Your Future Man. 701 00:38:40,320 --> 00:38:43,480 Speaker 1: So I mean, it's been a humbling journey, and I 702 00:38:43,520 --> 00:38:47,400 Speaker 1: think being able to maintain a level of sense of 703 00:38:47,640 --> 00:38:52,160 Speaker 1: humor about it too has been helpful because it's like, yeah, 704 00:38:52,160 --> 00:38:55,160 Speaker 1: I'm a thirty three year old, grown ass woman peeing myself. Yeah, 705 00:38:55,160 --> 00:38:59,520 Speaker 1: and I have no control over it, Like okay, But 706 00:39:00,320 --> 00:39:03,880 Speaker 1: it's been a slow, steady grind there, you know, just 707 00:39:03,920 --> 00:39:06,560 Speaker 1: as recently as last week, I had a workout where 708 00:39:06,600 --> 00:39:10,480 Speaker 1: I'm like, Okay, she's in there, she's coming there. There 709 00:39:10,560 --> 00:39:13,439 Speaker 1: was definitely, though, probably about a month and a half, 710 00:39:13,480 --> 00:39:16,000 Speaker 1: where I was like, oooh, I don't know what we 711 00:39:16,080 --> 00:39:18,840 Speaker 1: signed up for, Like I knew it was gonna be hard, 712 00:39:19,000 --> 00:39:20,759 Speaker 1: but man, oh man. 713 00:39:20,800 --> 00:39:23,880 Speaker 2: Would you say that being a mom has the potential 714 00:39:23,960 --> 00:39:25,200 Speaker 2: to make you a better athlete? 715 00:39:25,760 --> 00:39:28,480 Speaker 1: I think so, And I see it in the sense 716 00:39:28,520 --> 00:39:32,880 Speaker 1: that it's already forced me to be way more intentional 717 00:39:32,880 --> 00:39:39,120 Speaker 1: about my time. And you know, it's everything from it's 718 00:39:39,200 --> 00:39:40,880 Speaker 1: great to get up in the morning and go to 719 00:39:40,920 --> 00:39:44,600 Speaker 1: work because it's a space for me to be Natasha. 720 00:39:44,680 --> 00:39:48,760 Speaker 1: It's a space for me to be you know, not mom. Yeah, 721 00:39:49,120 --> 00:39:54,000 Speaker 1: but I have to be incredibly intentional about that time 722 00:39:54,239 --> 00:39:57,040 Speaker 1: in terms of getting the job done in that time, 723 00:39:57,080 --> 00:39:59,600 Speaker 1: because when that time is over, I'm like, all right, guys, 724 00:39:59,640 --> 00:40:00,719 Speaker 1: I gotta go. Oh I got to get home to 725 00:40:00,760 --> 00:40:02,600 Speaker 1: my kid, and I can't wait to get home to him. 726 00:40:02,760 --> 00:40:08,080 Speaker 1: So it's made me focus in a way that time 727 00:40:08,200 --> 00:40:12,920 Speaker 1: is definitely I mean, I live by the clock, but 728 00:40:13,160 --> 00:40:16,239 Speaker 1: now it's like, you know, now I really have to 729 00:40:16,280 --> 00:40:18,759 Speaker 1: get the job done within a certain time. And then 730 00:40:18,840 --> 00:40:24,879 Speaker 1: also the way that I focus on my training, where 731 00:40:24,920 --> 00:40:26,680 Speaker 1: once upon a time I could just go out there 732 00:40:26,680 --> 00:40:29,359 Speaker 1: and just Okay, this is what we're doing, go do it. 733 00:40:29,480 --> 00:40:31,799 Speaker 1: That'd be that. Now it's kind of like, oh, I 734 00:40:31,840 --> 00:40:35,240 Speaker 1: got to focus on this keegel and this smaller muscle 735 00:40:35,280 --> 00:40:37,439 Speaker 1: that I didn't even know that I had that I've 736 00:40:37,480 --> 00:40:40,200 Speaker 1: now lost to strengthen because I pushed a baby out. 737 00:40:41,640 --> 00:40:46,680 Speaker 1: You know, I've found myself refocusing in those smaller areas 738 00:40:46,719 --> 00:40:48,600 Speaker 1: that once upon a time I took advantage of. 739 00:40:48,960 --> 00:40:50,560 Speaker 2: And I mean, I feel like it's got to be 740 00:40:50,680 --> 00:40:54,400 Speaker 2: interesting now after having a baby. You talked about the 741 00:40:54,440 --> 00:40:57,640 Speaker 2: pressures that go hand in hand with being a professional athlete, 742 00:40:57,880 --> 00:41:02,359 Speaker 2: and I can't imagine that you can even allow them 743 00:41:02,480 --> 00:41:04,879 Speaker 2: to come into your space the same way now because 744 00:41:04,880 --> 00:41:06,879 Speaker 2: you're a different person than you were before you had 745 00:41:06,880 --> 00:41:07,239 Speaker 2: a kid. 746 00:41:07,640 --> 00:41:11,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, and you know, the it's this journey now is 747 00:41:11,600 --> 00:41:14,319 Speaker 1: an interesting one because it's a very personal one in 748 00:41:14,360 --> 00:41:19,200 Speaker 1: the sense that I want to prove to myself what 749 00:41:19,280 --> 00:41:22,440 Speaker 1: I'm made of and prove to myself that, you know, 750 00:41:22,520 --> 00:41:27,319 Speaker 1: I didn't let a circumstance just end things for me. 751 00:41:27,400 --> 00:41:30,000 Speaker 1: I didn't let becoming a mom be the reason why 752 00:41:30,040 --> 00:41:33,680 Speaker 1: I'd be like, Okay, I'm done. And I as much 753 00:41:33,719 --> 00:41:36,440 Speaker 1: as it's a personal one for me, I hope that 754 00:41:37,280 --> 00:41:41,000 Speaker 1: no matter the outcome, it's an example for other moms 755 00:41:41,040 --> 00:41:44,040 Speaker 1: out there that regardless of what your walk of life is, 756 00:41:44,200 --> 00:41:47,399 Speaker 1: regardless of what your career is, there's a. 757 00:41:47,360 --> 00:41:50,400 Speaker 2: Way a lot of people they come to your Instagram page, 758 00:41:50,480 --> 00:41:55,600 Speaker 2: they see a fabulous diva mom that is ready to 759 00:41:55,960 --> 00:41:57,879 Speaker 2: you know, take on a big ol big year here. 760 00:41:58,760 --> 00:42:01,719 Speaker 2: When you look in the what is it that you 761 00:42:01,800 --> 00:42:03,120 Speaker 2: see looking back at you? 762 00:42:03,719 --> 00:42:09,000 Speaker 1: I see someone that wants to be vulnerable. Because when 763 00:42:09,040 --> 00:42:14,239 Speaker 1: you say all of those things about my Instagram, that 764 00:42:14,440 --> 00:42:17,839 Speaker 1: is something that I feel like. There's strength and vulnerability, 765 00:42:18,400 --> 00:42:23,680 Speaker 1: and I try my best to be honest. That's why 766 00:42:23,719 --> 00:42:27,680 Speaker 1: I'm sharing that I peed myself. I haven't peed myself lately, 767 00:42:28,480 --> 00:42:30,439 Speaker 1: but you know, I want people to know that it's 768 00:42:30,440 --> 00:42:33,680 Speaker 1: not easy. And while I may put some makeup on 769 00:42:33,840 --> 00:42:38,640 Speaker 1: and I may make it look easy, there is a 770 00:42:38,680 --> 00:42:42,400 Speaker 1: struggle there. There. There are bad days. There are days 771 00:42:42,400 --> 00:42:45,280 Speaker 1: that I question myself. There are days that I'm unsure 772 00:42:45,760 --> 00:42:48,520 Speaker 1: I'm no different than any other woman, and you know, 773 00:42:49,080 --> 00:42:52,839 Speaker 1: just going after your goals and your dreams. So I 774 00:42:52,880 --> 00:42:56,279 Speaker 1: see a vulnerable woman that is getting through her shit. 775 00:42:57,680 --> 00:42:59,720 Speaker 2: What excites you right now? 776 00:43:01,960 --> 00:43:04,000 Speaker 1: It excites me and scares me at the same time 777 00:43:04,040 --> 00:43:07,840 Speaker 1: as the unknown. You know, the unknown is scary. But 778 00:43:09,080 --> 00:43:13,839 Speaker 1: I'm just thinking about where my life is going and 779 00:43:13,920 --> 00:43:17,640 Speaker 1: where my son's life is going at this point, and 780 00:43:17,800 --> 00:43:22,000 Speaker 1: just being able to see him grow into a respectable 781 00:43:22,640 --> 00:43:26,600 Speaker 1: young man that respects women. Yeah, the unknown, the unknown. 782 00:43:27,080 --> 00:43:30,040 Speaker 2: I also find that we can't close out this podcast 783 00:43:30,080 --> 00:43:33,000 Speaker 2: without at least touching on your makeup line. 784 00:43:33,160 --> 00:43:36,960 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, yeah four Jermina Diva dot Com, thank you 785 00:43:37,000 --> 00:43:37,520 Speaker 1: for the plug. 786 00:43:37,600 --> 00:43:38,200 Speaker 2: You're welcome. 787 00:43:39,239 --> 00:43:44,000 Speaker 1: Yeah. We specialize right now in Matt lipsticks and eyelashes, 788 00:43:44,280 --> 00:43:47,720 Speaker 1: but we are looking to expand, but for now, those 789 00:43:47,760 --> 00:43:50,960 Speaker 1: are our special items. We got Mink lashes that you 790 00:43:50,960 --> 00:43:54,000 Speaker 1: can wear up to twenty five times, and our Matt 791 00:43:54,520 --> 00:43:57,839 Speaker 1: lipsticks last through all your coffee and your water all day. 792 00:43:58,600 --> 00:44:01,279 Speaker 2: I love that uh stick that your go to for 793 00:44:01,440 --> 00:44:05,400 Speaker 2: track is called war paint. Yep, It's perfect. Yep, it's perfect. 794 00:44:05,400 --> 00:44:05,760 Speaker 1: Perfect. 795 00:44:06,280 --> 00:44:11,960 Speaker 2: Final question, You have an opportunity right now to offer 796 00:44:12,120 --> 00:44:16,680 Speaker 2: the Natasha in twenty twelve, who is like doubting everything, 797 00:44:17,520 --> 00:44:20,600 Speaker 2: one piece of advice going through that hurdle moment. What 798 00:44:21,040 --> 00:44:23,120 Speaker 2: is it that you tell her right now? 799 00:44:25,320 --> 00:44:29,080 Speaker 1: Be careful how you're speaking to yourself. You have to 800 00:44:29,120 --> 00:44:33,720 Speaker 1: love yourself before anyone else can love you. And that's 801 00:44:34,760 --> 00:44:38,200 Speaker 1: that's not even about track, that's just life, it's just yourself. 802 00:44:38,560 --> 00:44:39,080 Speaker 1: I love it. 803 00:44:39,320 --> 00:44:40,799 Speaker 2: Thanks so much for sitting down with me. 804 00:44:41,120 --> 00:44:42,360 Speaker 1: Thank you for having me. 805 00:44:42,640 --> 00:44:44,879 Speaker 2: Please take a moment and leave a quick review by 806 00:44:44,880 --> 00:44:47,000 Speaker 2: clicking the link with the description of this episode. We 807 00:44:47,080 --> 00:44:49,400 Speaker 2: all face multiple hurdles in life. I want to hear 808 00:44:49,400 --> 00:44:51,680 Speaker 2: about yours. Reach Out to me at Emily at hurdle 809 00:44:51,719 --> 00:44:55,480 Speaker 2: dot us. Connect with the podcast Instagram, Twitter at Hurdle 810 00:44:55,520 --> 00:44:57,920 Speaker 2: Podcast Natasha. Where do they find you? How do they 811 00:44:58,040 --> 00:44:59,960 Speaker 2: keep up with you? If they can even try? 812 00:45:00,880 --> 00:45:06,920 Speaker 1: Everything is Natasha Hastings Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. 813 00:45:06,239 --> 00:45:09,280 Speaker 2: There we go. That's the rundown. I am at Emily 814 00:45:09,320 --> 00:45:12,680 Speaker 2: a body, another hurdle conquered. Catch you guys next time