Unfortunately, a 100-metre hurdles competition doesn't work like those Choose Your Own Adventure books I used to read as a girl. There's nothing simple or cozy about competing against the best hurdlers in the world.
In my Saturday semifinal heat at the world championships, I'll be sandwiched between the Olympic champion, Dawn Harper, and the Olympic silver medalist, Sally Pearson. That's a challenge, but I won't back down and I'll feel excited about the potential of the race.
Friends turn foes at worlds
- August 25, 2011 12:39 PM
- By Perdita Felicien
I'm in South Korea, an hour outside of Daegu in a city called Changwon,
which is base camp for Team Canada as we prepare for the world track and
field championships.
Mere days away from the start of a major competition, an athlete's mind can become full of stuff. Racing, orbiting, random swarms of stuff inside our heads, like: Did I prepare well enough? I want some Tang. Am I ready? Hamstrings are stupid. Dear Jesus, where is Waldo?
The truth is that the athletes who can extinguish the thoughts that don't count, and pacify the raging ones that do, are the ones who can be their most successful.
Mere days away from the start of a major competition, an athlete's mind can become full of stuff. Racing, orbiting, random swarms of stuff inside our heads, like: Did I prepare well enough? I want some Tang. Am I ready? Hamstrings are stupid. Dear Jesus, where is Waldo?
The truth is that the athletes who can extinguish the thoughts that don't count, and pacify the raging ones that do, are the ones who can be their most successful.
| Continue reading this post » |
Bad hammy won't stop me at worlds
- August 19, 2011 1:40 PM
- By Perdita Felicien
Just a few weeks before the world track and field championships, I picked up a hamstring niggle. Ugh, the timing stunk and really bummed
me out. The setback meant I had to stop sprinting and hurdling
But things are finally looking up. Yes, I'll be putting the finishing touches on my race form in a much tighter time frame, but I have this event ingrained in my body, mind and heart.
But things are finally looking up. Yes, I'll be putting the finishing touches on my race form in a much tighter time frame, but I have this event ingrained in my body, mind and heart.
| Continue reading this post » |
Chasing a 10th Canadian title
- June 22, 2011 12:07 PM
- By Perdita Felicien
This Saturday in Calgary I have the chance to win my 10th Canadian championship in the hurdles.
In a sport where the landscape changes seasonally, to have been around at an elite level for a decade makes me chuckle with gratitude. In an event where timing, spatial awareness and millimeters can spell disaster and drive many to the brink of insanity, I'm happy to say I'm still standing, still enthused.
In a sport where the landscape changes seasonally, to have been around at an elite level for a decade makes me chuckle with gratitude. In an event where timing, spatial awareness and millimeters can spell disaster and drive many to the brink of insanity, I'm happy to say I'm still standing, still enthused.
| Continue reading this post » |
Fake tears and fine print
- June 2, 2011 11:13 AM
- By Perdita Felicien
After nearly getting thrown off a train on the way to her first Diamond League track meet of the season, I learned my lesson: always read the fine print, even if it's in German.
| Continue reading this post » |
Rome, here I come
- May 17, 2011 10:37 AM
- By Perdita Felicien
I'm pretty good at nagging (yes, I grew up in a house full of women). So
when it comes to pestering my agent, Renaldo Nehemiah, about getting me
races, I'm a world champion at that too.
After four weeks of texting, emailing, telepathy and Blackberry messaging him at 3 a.m. (the best way to ensure you get someone's attention, by the way) I finally got the good news: I am now confirmed for the Rome Diamond League meet on May 26.
After four weeks of texting, emailing, telepathy and Blackberry messaging him at 3 a.m. (the best way to ensure you get someone's attention, by the way) I finally got the good news: I am now confirmed for the Rome Diamond League meet on May 26.
| Continue reading this post » |
My job is just like yours (kind of)
- May 3, 2011 12:41 PM
- By Perdita Felicien
I'm all too excited to start blogging about life as a professional track athlete representing Canada around the world.
So, stick around. You may find that a professional hurdler has more in common with you than you may think.
So, stick around. You may find that a professional hurdler has more in common with you than you may think.
| Continue reading this post » |
About the Authors
- Perdita Felicien Perdita Felicien, 30, is one of the most successful hurdlers in Canadian history. The Pickering, Ont., native won her first of two world championships in 2003 in the 100-metre hurdles, and added an indoor world title in 2004 in the 60m hurdles. Felicien was among the favourites for gold at the 2004 Olympics in Athens before falling in the final, but she rebounded to claim silver medals at the 2007 indoor and outdoor worlds, and collected another indoor silver in 2010. Visit her website at www.perditafelicien.com
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Recent Entries
- Choose my own adventure
- Unfortunately, a 100-metre hurdles competition doesn't work like those Choose Your Own Adventure books I used to read as a girl. There's nothing simple or cozy about competing against the best hurdlers in the world.In my Saturday semifinal heat at... Continue reading this post
- Friends turn foes at worlds
- I'm in South Korea, an hour outside of Daegu in a city called Changwon, which is base camp for Team Canada as we prepare for the world track and field championships. Mere days away from the start of a major... Continue reading this post
- Bad hammy won't stop me at worlds
- Just a few weeks before the world track and field championships, I picked up a hamstring niggle. Ugh, the timing stunk and really bummed me out. The setback meant I had to stop sprinting and hurdlingBut things are finally looking... Continue reading this post