Christmas definitely is one of my most favorite times of year.  I absolutely love the holiday season.  There is nothing like celebrating the birth of Christ!  This year was no exception for me.  I enjoyed looking at Christmas lights, decorating the tree, and gift shopping.  It is so much fun for me to pick out gifts that I know my family and friends will enjoy.

My family tradition for Christmas day has always been to have breakfast at my parents house, read the Christmas story from the Bible and open gifts.  Later on that day I host dinner for my entire extended family. Everyone comes over and brings a dish and we have a big dinner, play games, open more gifts and enjoy the company.  This year was great and we had lots of fun as always.  I’m so grateful for the many blessings God bestowed on me in the year of 2009.  I’m excited for the new year and hoping it is a year of growth and continuing to strive to be the women that God has called me to be!  I hope you all had an amazing Christmas and will enjoy a Happy New Year!

I’m sure many of you know that my mom teaches 3rd grade.  I grew up helping her in her classroom and that is where I found my own love and passion for children.  I love to go to her classroom whenever I have the chance, and because my schedule can get really busy I don’t get too many opportunities.  I recently had the time so I decided to surprise my mom’s class and bring in Chloe.  The students loved playing with Chloe and asking questions about her.  Any chance I get to be in the classroom is always great for me and I love to see my mom at work, she is the most phenomenal teacher!

Even though October was my month away from the track there were still exciting things taking place. I attended the Women’s Sports Fourndation’s 30th Annual Salute to Women in Sports Dinner in New York.  It was an amazing event that was extremely inspiring.  The event honored Dick Ebersol for all of his contributions of promoting women in sports.  There were so many phenomenal women there that I felt completely honored to be among them.  I love the Women’s Sports Foundation because they seek to help young girls through sports and physical activity.

I also had the opportunity to go back to New York to ring the NASDAQ closing bell.  I’ve always seen this done on television but to actually take part of it was so much fun.  I gave a brief speech on behalf of USA Track and Field and the USATF Foundation expressing their shared goal in 2012 of 30 medals in the London Olympics.

Being away from the track hasn’t taken away from my competitive spirit.  For the first time I have joined a fantasy basketball league!  At first I was feeling like I had no idea what I was doing, but now I’m getting the hang of things and I’m loving it.  I’m constantly using the application on my iphone to change my team around and keep up with stats.

I always dress Chloe up for Halloween and this year she was a ladybug.  I’m pretty sure she hates it, but the kids who come by trick or treating love it and she sure is a cutie! Alright guys, that’s all for now but I’ll check back in soon!

I’m happy to say that I have finally completed my season. I finished up by running at World Athletic Finals in Greece and taking a trip to Asia running in China, Japan and Korea. This is the first time that I’ve actually finished a full season. Before, I have always had to rush back to classes or was just to drained to continue running after the major championship but this season I decided to tough it out and run until the end. I’m very happy that I did! I absolutely love going to Asia, the people are amazing and so friendly!!!

I’m now back in Los Angles and I have already started to enjoy my month break. I’m really looking forward to catching up with all my friends and family and doing some things that I love.  Again, I have to thank all of you for the wonderful support. I’ve gotten some messages that have been so uplifting and I’m so grateful. Also, I’m up for the Jesse Owens Award so please vote for me here, http://tiny.cc/UA8iL.

My race in Shanghai, China http://tiny.cc/BueBn

My race in Kawasaki, Japan http://tiny.cc/JKTFM

I just wanted to express my thankfulness to all of you for supporting me.  I have read each and every message and I’m going to try my absolute best to return them all, but I had to say thank you!  Your notes were such an encouragement on my journey to my 3^rd world title.

I had a great time in Berlin.  Running the 200m in the Olympic stadium where Jesse Owens had been so courageous before the world was extremely special to me.  I feel so blessed that at 23 years old I won my 3^rd consecutive 200m title and 6^th overall medal.  I know the best is still yet to come and that continues to drive me.  The most important thing in all of this is that I’m so thankful to God for my talent and that I’m able to be on a world stage for His glory.  I may not get to say everything I would like to say in front of the media, but I do hope someone might be able to notice something different about me and see that it’s because I am living my life for God!

Again, just wanted to say thanks for your notes and prayers they are very much appreciated.  I have just four more races left in my season.  Enjoy the pictures!

September 12^th- World Athletic Finals, Greece 200m

September 20^th- Shanghai, China 100m

September 23^rd- Kawasaki, Japan 100m

September 25^th- Daegu, Korea 100m

Well, the time is finally here.  I’ve arrived in Berlin.  Relay camp went really well and we participated in a meet in Cottbus, Germany where we ran 41.58!  That was really exciting for us because the world record is 41.37 and we have lots of room for improvement.  Here is the link to our realy in Cottbus http://bit.ly/dLRsO.

I’m feeling really prepared for my race and I’m excited to get started.  I’ve had some great practices and I feel like everything is coming together at the right time.  My family has also made it to Berlin and it has made me feel so much better.  I have been spending lots of time with them and they always make it seem like I have a piece of home with me.  Well, my 200m rounds begin August 19^th and I run all the way to the 23^rd.   Below is the TV schedule so you can watch and support me!

August 15: 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. NBC

August 16: 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. NBC

August 17: 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Versus

August 18: 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Versus

August 19: 1:30 - 4:00 p.m. Versus

August 20: 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Versus

August 21: 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Versus

August 22: 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. NBC

August 23: 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. NBC

After Stockholm our training group headed back to Paris for some very intense training.  This time is crucial in preparation for World Championships.  While in Paris I continued to work on my mechanics of the 200m.  I feel like I am progressing nicely.  I have spent a lot of time working on running a very strong curve and I can see that hard work paying off.  I also did speed endurance workouts, which are always challenging but extremely beneficial.

During a training period like this it is very rare that we get free time to do much, and most of the time we’re exhausted from working out but I did get out a little.  Paris is one of my favorite places to go so I definitely had to visit Les Champs-Elysées.  At the end of our time at boot camp my teammate Eunice Barber, who lives in Paris invited our team over for a Barbeque.  We had such a great time!  Being away from home for such a long time it was so nice to actually be at someone’s home and have a home cooked meal.  Now it’s off to Berlin!

This is the 5^th year that I have competed in Stockholm, Sweden at the DN Galan.  I always enjoy coming to this meet because it’s a lot of fun.  The fans are all packed into the stadium and it feels like you could reach out and touch them.  They play music and it’s just a great atmosphere to run in.  I’d been waiting for this meet ever since I came overseas because, I knew it was my last 200 to run before Worlds.  It was getting difficult to be patient, as I had to run the 100 and 400, both events that are not my best but are crucial to me being successful in the 200.  My coach did a great job at reassuring me in our training plan and that things would come together when it was time.

I arrived in Stockholm early and was able to get some great practices in.  I was really focusing on running a good curve.  Things went well and I ran my second fastest time ever, 21.88.  I even got another diamond for breaking the stadium record! (I got my first in 2007 when I broke the stadium record in the 400m).  The day after the meet I got to speak at the opening ceremonies for the DN Galan Youth meet.  I always love seeing kids enjoying themselves as they compete in track and field.  Now, it’s back to Paris to train until the 6^th when I head to Berlin for relay camp.

Crete is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. I’ve been coming to this island since 2004 when I trained here before the Athens Olympics.  I was extremely happy to arrive here, because I was feeling a bit frustrated after my first two races.  It was refreshing to just see God’s beautiful creation.  I got to sit out on my porch and read and relax.

I ran another 100, because we have been working on getting my speed where it needs to be in order to run a great 200 at the world championships.  I got 2^nd, running 11.08.  My legs feel like they are definitely coming around, although there is lots of work to be done.  I’m thankful that I have some time to get things together.  Next stop….London for a 100 and 4×1!

Paris is absolutely one of my favorite places to go.  There is something very special about it.  The first world championships that I competed in also took place here and I have a lot of unforgettable memories.

I got a lot of great training in while I was in Paris.  We arrived early so that we could devote several days to working out.  We were able to do two-a-day workouts, which are always tough but definitely beneficial.  I had another difficult race, which was frustrating but I know that my legs will come around eventually.   It is difficult not running my specialty race every meet, but I’m continuing to trust in my training plan.

The fun part of Paris was getting to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower.  I had an amazing view from my hotel room!  I even got to show my mom, brother and boyfriend the Eiffel Tower out of my window while we were on the webcam.  When I actually got to the top, the view was spectacular!  I love when I get to go to a track meet and also see a little bit of the city!  On to Crete…