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Personal Notes - April 2003 |
Happy Spring to everyone! I think this is my favorite time of year because the weather in Florida is just right--not to hot and not to cold. Also, everything always feels so fresh and new. Let me start off by urging everyone to continue to keep the men and women, who are fighting this war in Iraq, in your prayers. I pray that they return to their families quickly and safely and I pray for a quick and peaceful resolution. In light of events going on around us these days as a result of the war, my competition in New York on March 29th seems very insignificant, but here are a few details from that weekend. As some of you may remember, I was born in New York and spent 13 years of my life growing up there. It was strange to be going to New York since I had not been back since we moved 20 years ago. I had a sense of nostalgia as we drove from the airport to the hotel in Manhattan. I saw street signs for roads I remembered traveling on several times in my parent's car. Some good memories and some not so good. The competition itself was a little hectic. They had the amateur fitness girls do their routines first. Then the 1 piece round followed by the 2 piece round. Although it made sense to do routines before the bodybuilders got the stage oily, it was very odd doing a show with the rounds being in that order. My routine round in the morning didn't go quite so well because they didn't start my music right. They started it 2 - 3 seconds into my music which gave me no time to set up for my first tumbling pass. So, I felt as if I was playing catch up the entire time and as I was trying to think quickly on my feet and figure out what I could throw out to get back on time, I left out a whole 4 counts of my dance sequence, which really threw me off. I was very disappointed in myself because I knew I could have performed my routine much better. I can't even blame it on nervousness because I wasn't nervous. I was relaxed and confident, which is not customary for me before the routine round. I'm usually a total wreck before going on to do my routine. When I did the my routine again for the evening show, they still messed up my music by starting it too late, even though I had it queued for them just like I did in the morning. However, this time I nailed my routine dead on. I felt so much better because I proved to myself that I could do it. In the end I placed 3rd, which qualifes me to compete on the National Level. Therefore, my next show will be Jr. USA's in Charleston, SC on April 12th. I would like to congratulate a fellow Fitness Factory competitor and my friend, Kirsten Nicewarner, for winning the overall in Fitness Division and for winning the Tall Class in the Figure Division. Way to go Kirsten! I would also like to congratulate Adela Freidmansky for placing 1st and Julie Palmer for placing 3rd in the IFBB Pro Fitness competition. By placing 3rd Julie qualifies to compete in this years' Olympia. You go girl! Many other IFBB Pro Fitness Factory competitors competed in the Pro Division: April Carpenter, Lori Kimes, Claire Morris, Peggy Sue Crawford, and Tracy Trasko. Everyone looked great and April blew me away with the awesome shape she was in after having a baby only 5 short months ago. See ladies! It can be done. It just takes hard work and dedication. |