FUTURE NBA/WNBA SUPER STARS

Its amazing what a sport can do- This time around I had the privilege to spend some time with a group of children whose free time was dedicated to the great sport of Basketball. Please meet who can possibly be your future NBA/WNBA super stars.

AFTER SCHOOL

Ms. Meloff Class in a After School Reading Event
Boyd Elementary School

Ms. Malouff invited me to come and see her students read and play out a story to their parents and relatives. I had been to Ms, Malouff's class before, so this was a great opportunity to share some more time with all the kids. The highlight of the night was when one of the students asked me if she could introduced me to her parents. " Mom, Dad, this is my friend Zoila Gomez. She is the one that gave me the new T-Shirt." Her parents thanked me for the ITA t-shirt and told me they were very happy to meet me as their daughter had been sharing stories about me at home.

CULTURE DAY AT BOYD ELEMENTARY

Culture day with 3rd Graders
Boyd Elementary School





I was invited by Ms. Laura Malouff to come to her 3rd grade class and share some of my memories from when I lived in Mexico. Not much has changed in my family and hometown since I left Mexico (12 years ago), so I was able to show the kids the family pictures I took from my last trip to Mexico (October 2008). This was an opportunity to show the other side of the picture. A little bit of what is around my life as a person an not as the famous runner they see in me when I come to visit :) Also, this was not only a great bonding experience, but a learning one. THANK YOU so much to Ms. Malouff for allowing me into her class and to all the kids for trusting me and being my friends.

VIDEO: 3rd GRADE 2009 MILE FUN

Witness 3rd graders run their last Mile Fun Run for Boyd Elementary School. All of these kids will be graduating this year to move on into Evans. We will miss you. Keep up the GREAT work!

VIDEO: 2nd GRADE MILE FUN FINISH

Get inspired and watch over 150 2nd graders finish up a 1 mile run at 7544ft above sea level. All of them are amazingly tough!!!!

THE RACE

TEAM USA: Desiree Davila, Zoila Gomez, Tera Moody, Kara Goucher, and Paige Higgins.

My experience at the World Marathon championships in Berlin is going to be one to remember. Race day, I found myself excited and with good feelings. I was very confident this was going to be a great day not only for me , but for my team. Leading up to this marathon, training had gone excellent. Me and my coach Damon Martin were sure I could place in the top 20 and finished up with a personal best.


All was going as planned until 20km mark when I was hampered by blisters. Its hard to explain the mix of emotions I went through for the second half of the race. I was in disbelief, disappointed while part of me was happy I was still running. To make things worst, someone threw away my liquids on the most important station of all, the 30km mark. Crossing the finished line was a huge physical and emotional relief.
I was able to bounce back and give myself credit for finishing. I was and I am very proud of myself and happy to see all the good things that came out of it.



For sure I can say that, this is a marathon that allowed me to stay true to Roosevelt’s vision and In the Arena's founding principles.

“It’s not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again...who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”



I am proud to be "In the Arena". I am grateful for the whole World Championship experience- The training, all the kids I reached, my time in Berlin, the new people I met, and the race- Every single part of this journey was well worth it. Yet, I have failed to reach a goal I will remain IN THE ARENA, because I do believe there will be a time when I will write about what does it feel to succeed.

WHAT AM I SAYING?

Watch more video of Zoila Gomez on flynnsports.com

BERLIN OYMPIASTADION

Full name: Berlin Olympiastadion
Former names: Deutsches Stadion
Location: Berlin, Germany
Built: 1934 to 1936
Opened: 1936
Renovated: 1974 (Reconfiguration)
2006 (World Cup)
Surface: Grass
Construction cost: 42 million RM (1936)
€242 million (2004)
Capacity: 74,228 ( Approx. 6 X the pupulation of my hometown, Alamosa, CO)



Being at the Olympic stadium watching and cheering on some of my teammates was very inspiring. It allowed me to be on the other side of the game and realized how fortnate I am. At that very moment all I could think was "Running is the best thing that could happen in my life. Living, breathing and dreaming running is all well worth it" Enjoy some pictures from the Berlin Olympic Stadium.




Making my way to the Stadium..


¨Wow!! Can´t wait to get in!!!¨


A Berlin fan asked me if we could take a picture..


Watching the final of the women,s 10,000m


Yes, the crowds were amazing..



The VIP Area- I attempted to get in a couple of times an failed.. Then as I was leaving the stadium I found myself in the VIP room by pure accident :) Glad no one noticed, otherwise I would not be typing this now..


My new friend Hardy.. He was volunteer for the medical staff. We met at the Stadium..


Here is my other good friend, Pascal.. Also a volunteer who also was part of the medical staff. At the end of the games we all exchanged t-shirts and met at the party.

MEMORIES FROM THE ESTREL HOTEL

Me and "In The Arena" teammate Javelin thrower, Mike Hazle.

Answering an anti-doping survey.

Reception Area: It was the place to interact with other athletes. Here you would find athetes from different nationalities playing foosball, ping pong, and the wii.





The day USAIN BOLT broke the 100m record many of us gatherd in different places at the hotel to watch the most anticipated race of the games.





The Dinning room This is the place where we ate, watched our teammates compete and also connected with new and old friends.


My good friend,Adrienne HERZOG,1500m specialist from the Netherlands. We have not seen eachother since we met back in 2003. Cool ah?


Here is where I witnessed USAIN BOLT break the 100m World Record.



The reactions during and after the race at the Cafeteria :)

THE VIDEO


A NEW WORLD RECORD!

GREETIGS FROM BERLIN!

Life is full of surprises and wonderful experiences. I remember many years ago talking to my sisters before going to bed about one day going to Europe. We traveled along our favorite actors to Europe through the tv shows and we often wondered if one day we would ever make it there in real life. After many years, here I am. I am in Berlin for the 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics. I am getting adjusted for what will be the biggest race of the year, the World Marathon Championships next Sunday, August 23rd at 11:15a.m Berlin time.

For the second time, I will have the honor to don on the USA uniform. Being able to represent my adopted country for the second time is a true blessing and my only goal is to represent it to the best of my abilities. I am aware there are thousands of athletes back home who would die to be in my shoes and I will not take this opportunity lightly. Being around the best athletes in the world has me inspired and very motivated. Also, being here proves me once again that hard work, patience, determination, and endless persistence can take you far. As far as the continent I only dreamed to visit one day.

Thank you so much to all the people that have inspired and helped me get here and know that without you and your endless support I would not be writing this blog tonight.

I will leave you with some pictures from the place we all athletes meet every day- Enjoy!

Welcome to the Cafeteria at ESTREL Hotel


At the Hotel 'ESTREL' Looking at the cafeteria from 2nd Floor.




Take a look at what the best athletes in the World are eating now days :)




Some ham anyone? You will find it during breakfast and lunch :)



Yes, we have fresh fruit all day long..



Dry fruit and cereals for a great start!



Salads, all day long.



Different types of bread and what about some yogurt??



More pictures coming up- stay tune!

OLYMPIC TRAINING CENTER

On June 14th, 2009 most of the USA marathon athletes and their coaches that will compete at the World Championships Marathon in Berlin this coming Agust 22nd and 23rd were invited for a two day Marathon summit at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. The whole experience was incredible. We did not only learned from the best sports nutritionist Dr. Dan Benardot and exercise physiologis Dr, Dave Marin, but we had the chance to learn from ourselves and the other athletes that made it to the summit.

Dr.Dave Martin going over the World Championships Marathon Course. Dr. Martin made a total of three trips to Berlin to gather as much information as possible to share it with all of us :)

Coach Martin and I left Alamosa Sunday afternoon and on the way there I was able to learn more about his journey. How he ended up at Adams and what it has been like for him to make it this far. After I heard some of his personal stories I felt very fortunate and more than ever I am so proud and happy to have a Coach like him.


Meet the best Coach in the World, my Coach, Damon Martin :)

Also, I am so glad to be able to share this jourey with you and to all the people that have been very supportive. To all of you, THANK YOU! The following are some pictures from our two days trip at the Olympic Trainig Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.. Enjoy!


This is what being IN THE ARENA is all about!


For now on, I will keep this in mind and very close to my heart.

At the end of the day all of us went downtown to get some Ice Cream..


One of my most favorite quotes. This one I learned it from Coach my very first year at Adams. 8 years later I find it at the Olympic Training Center :)

Berlin is just around the corner!!!