05.08.2010

Athlete diary: One big month for Jody Henry

Jody Henry today provides the first sequel to the Commonwealth Games athlete diaries, the 25-year-old Western Australian elaborating on what has been a big month.

Continuing to chase an individual berth in New Delhi, Jody will this weekend compete over 400m on the Gold Coast and we wish her the best of  luck.

ENJOY!

Entry 11: Jody Henry

Since my last blog a couple of pretty exciting things have happened in my world!

Firstly, Sam Maxwell is now my manager - I just giggled ridiculously over that! I cannot believe that I have a manager!! And in his managerial duties has just scored me a ‘dum dum dummm’ shoe sponsor!!

To some athletes who move up the ladder swiftly and without too many glitches, this may seem the normal way of doing things. Unfortunately, I am not such an athlete! These things do not happen to me.

Managers and sponsors... this stuff happens to those other athletes, the ones I stare at admirably, longingly wishing that I too could be in that kind of category.

To be clear, I still don’t believe I quite belong in that category but hey, they said okay to shoes, so I’ll grab them with both hands (feet!) and say thank you very much! I’m really looking forward to working with them over the coming months and doing as much as I can to repay their faith in me.

Okay so down to the more serious stuff... the actual running.

It’s going well.

That’s my answer to everyone that asks and I’m sure the same generic answer every athlete gives whether you’ve just had a stellar training block or you’re freaking out because you’re under-prepared.

TRUTH: The last two months have been the hardest of my training life. I have done everything I could have in each session and I truly do not believe I could have given any more than I did.

This weekend on the Gold Coast brings an opportunity for me; a chance at that A-qualifying time in the 400m.

This time, I’m ready.

Not because I’ve willed myself to be or wished myself to be, but because I have worked myself to be.

Whatever happens I know I have given my best and as my Mum always says “that’s all you can ever ask of yourself.”

As the August 16th deadline fast approaches, I wish all of you athletes and coaches going for qualifiers all the luck in the world. However, I know luck in itself won’t be enough, so I hope for all of you that your hard work pays off!

♥ Jody

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