Here's What I Have Been Up to in 2018

​Hi! I haven’t been able to do much writing this year so here is an update of what I have been up to in 2018. It’s been a very busy year, as always.

Career
On the career side of things I officially became a Certified Massage Therapist with the State of California earlier this year. This is the standard most massage therapists strive for when deciding to work in this field. If you have not yet had a chance to experience how much massage therapy can help injuries, contact me to set up a time to see how I can help you.
 
A Life Event
I got engaged this Summer to my long time girlfriend Jessica and we are rushing to get married this October! So I’m extra busy getting ready for the big day. We are both super excited to finally get married with our friends and family present! I have been doing lots of yardwork in preparation, so lots of extra workouts!
 
Track and Field
As for competing in Track and Field, I am now officially a decathlete! I completed my first decathlon this June at the Pacific Association Championships. A decathlon is normally done throughout two days in a specific order with planned rest and preparation times scheduled between events. I did a one-day, out of order, and very rushed decathlon. Nonetheless, I finished. My marks were less than desired, but I am proud to finally complete one. This had been a goal of mine since I was 9 years old, after watching the ’92 Olympics.
 
I’m also proud of doing a total of 12 track meets this year with each one competing in 2-4 events. I had personal bests in all events other that shot put as compared to last year. Some were first time events like pole vault, javelin, high jump, and the 110m hurdles (which I fell, but finished). Here’s my results this year:
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60m: 7.99
100m: 12.43 FAT, 12.1 “hand” timed.
200m: 25.38
400m: 57.45
1500m: 5:35
110mH: 24.52
Long jump: 17’ 5.25” (5.31m)
High Jump: 1.40m (4’ 7”)
Pole Vault: 2.3m (7’ 6”)
Shot Put: 34’ 7” (10.54m). PB in 2017 36’ 4”.
Discus: 110’ 10” (33.78m)
Javelin: 23.29m (76’ 5”)
Decathlon: 2793
 
I am especially happy with a few events this year. I’ve had trouble breaking 60 seconds in the 400 for the longest time. It was during a couple practices when I figured out what I needed to improve on. I applied these techniques in one of the last meets and ran a 57 which was 3 seconds faster than my previous best. Oh, and I must add that I beat some professional athletes in this race. The 400 was obviously not their sport, but still! Posture and strategy are huge. I was proud to finish my only hurdle race, even though I fell hard and left with a bruised heel. The hurdles are what kept me from ever trying to train for a decathlon when I was younger. So literally and figuratively cleared a major hurdle in my life. Pole vault was also another accomplishment in that I cleared two heights in competition. Although they were not very high (even for a beginner), it was my 8th event that day, in windy conditions, and with a hurt foot. Luckily I had a great coach and people supporting me, which I never thought I would have found unless I had joined an actual college team.
 
I still can’t believe that I am able to do all these things and some of them well by my standards. Some of my goals next year are to compete in more decathlons with good scores, break 12 seconds in the 100m, improve my deficient events to a reasonable level, and have some big throws.