What does a day in your life look like?
I train 5 days a week. I lift weights Monday, Wednesday and Friday for about 2 hours. We do a lot of olympic lifts, and work mainly on building core and lower body strength. I am then on the track Monday to Friday for another 2 to 3 hours. There we work on everything from form, strength, and speed endurance.
We know that working with a sports psychologist has been hugely influential for you, can you tell us more about that process. My mother, like most moms, could see that something was missing when I was on the track. She noticed that I seemed unsure of myself against the rest of the women I was against. Working with a sports psychologist helped me to change my negative language into positive language. I learned there was so much power in the way we thought and spoke of ourselves, and I had to start believing I was just as good or even better than the rest of the field.
What do you eat? I try my best to eat clean, but I would be lying if I didn’t say I have my cheat days. What I try to do is eat as clean possible throughout the week. If I had a good week, I treat myself to a cheat meal or dessert on the weekend. During the week, I eats lots of protein, some carbs, and lots of veggies. I drink A LOT of water. Ideally, I can get about a gallon down in a day. I don’t drink any soda or juice. If I drink any juice, it’s freshly juiced with no added sugar. I also try to stay away from processed foods.
Do you ever have time off? I get 6 weeks out of the year completely off. When I’m in training I get the weekends off, but most of that is spent recovering for the following work week.
How do you incorporate beauty into your life as an athlete? I don’t wear makeup as often as people think I do. I really only wear it for special occasions and track meets. In between those times, I’m making sure I’m taking care of my skin. I believe in order for your makeup to look good, your skin underneath has to be in good shape. Keep your skin clean and moisturized, and drink lots of water. As an athlete, the most important thing to remember, is not to allow sweat to sit on your face for a long period of time. I keep face wipes in my gym bag, to give my face a swipe after a workout. I always make sure to wash my face as soon as I can post-workout.
How does beauty intersect with athleticism for you?
For me, a lot like my previous answer, I believe my beauty should shine through my athleticism. I don’t want to be viewed as just an athlete, but as someone who has persevered and never gave up. I believe beauty inspires others.
Who are your heroes?
My mom. I watched her sacrifice so much over the years for my brother and me. I still to this day don’t know how she does it, but even at my age she manages to save the day.
What interests you outside of sports?
I love fashion and beauty. I’m always looking out for the latest trends and ways to style my wardrobe. I also love quiet time with friends and family. I’d much rather spend the night in playing a game of taboo, rather than be out at a club.
Does beauty fuel your athletic prowess, or does your athleticism fuel your beauty?
I think they both feed each other. I think there is beauty in persevering and achieving your goals, but also feeling good about yourself allows you to perform well.
What does Beauty is Wellness mean to you?
Be your best you from the inside out. There’s not enough makeup or clothes in the world to cover up how you feel about yourself on the inside. I believe you must allow your inner soul to shine through in order to be a true beauty. I think that if you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, you perform good. I even believe the brighter the lipstick, the faster the race!
