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How America's fastest race walkers found zen on the road to Tokyo

How America's fastest race walkers found zen on the road to Tokyo
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Updated: 1:56 PM CDT Jun 10, 2021
Deirdre Fitzpatrick
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Updated: 1:56 PM CDT Jun 10, 2021
Deirdre Fitzpatrick
Anchor/Reporter
Chances are you took a lot of walks during the pandemic.But, we'll bet you didn't walk with the same purpose Nick Christie and Robyn Stevens did. They're America's top race walkers and they're speeding toward spots to represent Team USA this summer at the Tokyo Olympics.They're also a couple in real life and they've spent virtually every minute of the pandemic living and training with each other. Nick and Robyn avoided all contact with the outside world in fear that catching COVID-19 would ruin their athletic careers. As endurance athletes, they worried the long-term effects would negatively impact their respiratory systems. So, they moved to the middle of nowhere. The Mohave Desert, to be exact.They committed to coaching each other and emerged from quarantine for their first race in February and won their respective U.S. Championships. Our sister station KCRA spoke with Christie and Stevens on its "Dying to Ask" podcast. Listen below: Other places to listen:CLICK HERE to listen on iTunesCLICK HERE to listen on Stitcher

Tokyo , Japan , United-states , America , Nick-christie , Robyn-stevens , Team-united-states , Christie , Tokyo-olympics-they-re , Mohave-desert , 2020-summer-oympics , Eirdre-fitzpatrick

2 racers with Solano connections hoof it toward Olympics

FAIRFIELD-SUISUN, CALIFORNIA
Robyn Stevens, 38, of Vacaville, and Nick Christie, 29, a Fairfield native from San Diego, take time away from their race walking training to participate in an Earth Day cleanup event. (Courtesy photo)
2 racers with Solano connections hoof it toward Olympics
FAIRFIELD — Robyn Stevens has an eclectic list of idols, though two of them she must count herself among the millions who admire their talents and charisma.
Stevens, 38, of Vacaville, was only 6 years old when she first saw Nadia Comăneci dazzle the world as a 14-year-old gymnast from Romania; and while teetering on dreams of being an athlete or a dancer, it was Mikhail Baryshnikov who captured Stevens’ devotion.

Japan , Solano-county , California , United-states , Tehachapi , Travis-air-force-base , Vacaville , Cuyamaca , Stanford-university , San-diego , London , City-of

WorkWell Toolkit hits 10,000 Users

Date Time
WorkWell Toolkit hits 10,000 Users
The WorkWell Toolkit provides a step-by-step approach to help workplace leaders promote positive mental health and prevent mental injury by using tools and information tailored to their individual business.
Launched in July 2018, the Toolkit has now reached the 10,000th user milestone after the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre signed up, joining workplaces of all sizes across 18 industries already taking part.
Once registered, employers can access customised, practical resources such as case studies, policy examples, videos, tip sheets and templates covering the work-related factors that impact mental health.
WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety Julie Nielsen said it was fantastic to see so many employers taking up the challenge of improving the mental health of their workers.

Australia , Julie-nielsen , Robyn-stevens , Asylum-seeker-resource-centre , Asylum-seeker-resource-centre-is-australia , Workwell-toolkit , Safe-executive-director , Safety-julie-nielsen , Resources-director-robyn-stevens , Worksafe-victoria , Ictoria , Ealth-and-safety

Watch KCRA 3's Ozone: Countdown to Tokyo

Watch KCRA 3's Ozone: Countdown to Tokyo
We’re spotlighting local Olympic athletes who shared what their training and lives have been like over the last year, and what they expect in July.
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Updated: 8:32 PM PDT Apr 14, 2021
KCRA Staff
Watch KCRA 3's Ozone: Countdown to Tokyo
We’re spotlighting local Olympic athletes who shared what their training and lives have been like over the last year, and what they expect in July.
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Updated: 8:32 PM PDT Apr 14, 2021
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THE HARDEST MOMENT PROBABLY IS JUST LEARNING THAT THE GAMES WOULD BE POSTPONED A YEAR OF UNCERTAINTY. THE JOURNEY TO THE OLYMPICS HAS BEEN CRAZY AND UNFORESEEN CHALLENGES. I JUST WAS REALLY WAITING FOR THE OLYMPICS TO GET CANCELED. THE BIGGEST SHIFT FOR ME WAS DECIDING TO STOP ENGAGING WITH THE FEELINGS OF UNCERTAINTY. NOW THIS SUMMER GAMES JUST 100 DAYS AWAY. AFTER A YEAR OF CANCELLATIONS SHUTDOWNS AND CLOSURES. THE ATHLETES ARE BACK. WE ARE ALL JUST SO HAPPY THAT THE GAMES ARE EVEN HAPPENING. IT’S FINALLY HERE. BUT LIKE WHOA, IS IT REALLY COMING? BUT LIKE EVERYTHING THIS LAST YEAR THE OLYMPICS WILL BE DIFFERENT. WE WILL HAVE MENTAL HEALTH OFFICERS AVAILABLE FIRST TIME EVER. HOWEVER ON THE FIELD IN THE POOL EVERYWHERE THE MINDSET REMAINS THE SAME WHATEVER YOUR GOALS ARE EACH DAY YOU WAKE UP. THAT’S YOUR DAY TO DO IT TONIGHT A KC FREE OLYMPIC ZONE SPECIAL COUNTDOWN TO TOKYO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT ON KCRA AND ON KSBW ON THE CENTRAL COAST. I’M DEIRDRE FITZPATRICK AND I’M BRIAN HEAP DEIRDRE. WE’RE 100 DAYS OUT FROM THE OLYMPIC GAMES IN TOKYO, AND IT’S A MOMENT THAT THE ATHLETES NEVER REACHED A YEAR AGO. THE GAMES WERE POSTPONED BACK ON MARCH 24TH OF LAST YEAR NOW FAST FORWARD A YEAR LATER AND THE COMPETITORS TRAINERS. STAFF ARE READY TO GET THINGS GOING. NOW BRIAN, THE FOCUS IS ALWAYS ON BRINGING HOME METALS, BUT MAJOR CHANGES TO SOCIETY OVER THE LAST YEAR HAVE PUT SOME NEW THINGS INTO FOCUS FOR TEAM USA. HERE’S JARRED HILL KICKING OFF OUR COVERAGE TONIGHT. SO YOU DO THAT THE JOURNEY TO OLYMPICS HAS BEEN CRAZY. I THINK EVERYBODY CAN AGREE TO THAT NEARLY 100 DAYS BEFORE THE GAME’S LAST YEAR THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE PULLED THE PLUG ON THE WORLD’S BIGGEST SPORTING EVENT AS COVID-19 BECAME THE GLOBES BIGGEST HEALTH CRISIS TO HAVE THAT SAME ENERGY FOR A WHOLE ANOTHER YEAR, YOU KNOW, IT WAS REALLY CHALLENGING NOW WITH THE GAMES OFFICIALLY 100 DAYS AWAY. IT’S TIME TO GET BACK TO WORK. I’M READY TO COMPETE WHEN YOU WATCH THIS SUMMER. THERE ARE A FEW CHANGES TO LOOK OUT FOR SKATEBOARD KARATE SPORT CLIMBING AND SURFING ARE ALL MAKING THEIR OLYMPIC DEBUT. SOFTBALL AND BASEBALL ARE MAKING A RETURN AND THREE ON THREE BASKETBALL IS BRINGING A NEW LEVEL OF EXCITEMENT. THE PANDEMIC MEANWHILE IS BRINGING MAJOR HEALTH AND SAFETY CHANGES. THE IOC HAS BANNED FOREIGN FANS IN TOKYO. WE HAVE TO OPERATE IN SOMETHING OF A BUBBLE AND I THINK THAT IS THE PLAN. GOING TO BE REALLY REALLY WEIRD, BUT WE’RE GOING TO HAVE SO MUCH SUPPORT. THERE IN SPIRIT IN THE YEARS SINCE THE ORIGINAL 2020 GAMES. THERE’S BEEN ALSO A RENEWED FOCUS ON SOCIAL JUSTICE. UNLIKE IN THE PAST THIS YEAR ATHLETES WILL BE ALLOWED TO PEACEFULLY DEMONSTRATE FOR CAUS BELIEVE IN I DO TRY TO LOOK AT IT AS AN AVENUE FOR KNOWING THAT I AM MUCH MORE THAN AN ATHLETE THAT I DO STAND FOR MORE THAN BEING JUST AN ATHLETE DESPITE AN UNCERTAIN ROAD AHEAD WITH COVID-19 TEAM USA IS PUSHING THROUGH ALL THE WAY TO THE FINISH. WE STILL BELIEVE THAT THIS CAN BE RESPONSIBLY AND SAFELY ACCOMPLISHED ON THE ROAD TO TOKYO JARRED HILL. SO JUST GETTING TO THE OLYMPIC GAMES IS TOUGH ENOUGH, EVEN FOR THE ATHLETES WHO’VE QUALIFIED BEFORE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC PRESENTS AN ENTIRELY NEW SET OF CHALLENGES AND FOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTANCE RUNNER KIM CONLEY. IT’S MEANT FIGHTING TO PROTECT YOUR HEALTH WHILE FIGHTING TO PROTECT YOUR OLYMPIC CAREER ON THE ROAD TO TOKYO. IN A YEAR WHERE THE WORLD TOOK A TIME OUT. KIM CONLEY KEPT ON GOING YOU WERE FORTUNATE WITH YOUR SPORT AND THAT LITERALLY DO IT ANYWHERE. THAT’S TRUE. THERE WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW SOME ISSUES WITH TRACK ACCESS, BUT IN TERMS OF JUST LIKE GENERAL FITNESS AND RUNNING. YES, YOU CAN DO IT ANYWHERE. AND YEAH, SO THAT THAT MADE IT REPRESENTING TEAM USA IN THE 5,000 METERS KIM CONNELLY FROM NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. HOW’S YOUR OLYMPIC EXPERIENCE SO FAR? IT’S BEEN GREAT SO FAR. I’M HAVING A GREAT TIME STAYING IN THE VILLAGE ONLY RAN THE 5,000 METERS FOR TEAM USA BOTH THE LONDON AND REAL OLYMPICS AFTER COMPETING COLLEGIALLY FOR U. DAVIS SHE QUALIFIED FOR HER THIRD US OLYMPIC TRIALS WITH AN OLYMPIC QUALIFYING TIME IN 2019. THEN CAME A YEAR DELAY, BUT WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED IN THE LAST YEAR ABOUT RESILIENCE AND OLYMPIC MINDSET AND GETTING THROUGH A REALLY HARD TIME, YOU KNOW IN TERMS OF RESILIENCE, THE THE BIGGEST SHIFT FOR ME WA LIKE DECIDING TO STOP ENGAGING WITH THE FEELINGS OF UNCERTAINTY. I SHOULD STOP. AND SAY LIKE, YOU KNOW IN TOKYO THEY HAVE NEVER EVEN LIKE HINTED THAT THEY INTEND TO CANCEL AND IF I’M GONNA MAKE THIS OLYMPIC TEAM, I CAN’T SPEND THE ENTIRE YEAR LIKE DOUBTING THAT THE OLYMPICS ARE GONNA HAPPEN. SO I JUST HAD TO DECIDE TO TO STOP LETTING THOSE FEARS NAG AT ME AND JUST GET UP EVERY DAY AND ACT AS IF THEY’RE HAPPENING AND BE READY TO GO IN JUNE AT THE OLYMPIC TRIALS AND FOR KIM THAT MEANT FOR THE HILLS PERMANENTLY. SHE AND HER HUSBAND AND COACH DREW WHARTONBURG MOVED FROM NORTHERN, CALIFORNIA TO FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA. I CAME FOR AN ALTITUDE. CAMP LAST MARCH SO OVER A YEAR AGO NOW AND AND THEN THAT’S RIGHT WHEN EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN SO THAT ONE MONTH CAMP TURNED INTO FOUR MONTHS. AND I WAS JUST SO HAPPY TO BE HERE BECAUSE THERE IS NOT CROWDED YOU CAN JUST GET FAR OUT IN THE FOREST AND RUN FOR MILES WITHOUT SEEING ANOTHER PERSON WHICH YOU KNOW WAS WHAT WE IN THAT MOMENT CATCHING COVID HAS BEEN ESPECIALLY WORRISOME FOR ENDURANCE ATHLETES LIKE KIM BECAUSE OF THE EFFECT THAT THE DISEASE HAS AMONG FUNCTION AND THE UNCERTAINTY OVER HOW LONG SYMPTOMS MIGHT LAST LIKE I THINK FOR YOUNG PEOPLE THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF AN ATTITUDE OF LIKE SMILED. UM, IT’S LIKE A FLU AND IT’S LIKE NO IF YOU’RE, YOU KNOW SPECIAL IF YOU’RE LATE ATHLETE TRYING TO YOU KNOW BE ABLE TO PERFORM AT A PEAK LEVEL IN JUNE. I THINK IF I THINK IF I GOT WOULD HAVE BEEN CAREER ENDING FOR ME INSTEAD HER CAREER AND COMPETITIONS ARE GETTING BACK ON TRACK AND A TOKYO FINISH. LINE IS BACK IN SIGHT. WELL THE US WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM IS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH ON THE WORLD STAGE. THE TEAM’S TAKING HOME GOLD FOR THE PAST SIX OLYMPIC GAMES DEIRDRE AND THEY ARE THE FAVORITES IN TOKYO AS WELL SONIC AT DANGAY CAUGHT UP WITH THE VETERANS ON THIS TEAM AND THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING TO MAKE THEIR FIRST OLYMPIC GAMES. IT’S ALWAYS FUN TO BE HERE. YOU KNOW, YOU GET TO PUT USA ON YOUR CHEST 25 YEAR OLD BREAKOUT STAR DIAMOND TO SHIELDS HAS BEEN PLAYING FOR US BASKETBALL SINCE 2010 AND IS HOPING THIS YEAR IS HER YEAR. THE TOKYO OLYMPIC TEAM WILL BE CHOSEN FROM THE POOL OF NATIONAL TEAM PLAYERS A DISTINCT HONORED AND JOIN A TEAM WITH 66 AND THREE ALL-TIME OLYMPIC RECORD CURRENTLY BOASTING A 49 GAME-WINNING STREAK THAT DATES BACK TO 1992. YOU WANT TO GO AS LONG AS YOU CAN BUT ALSO TO CHALLENGE WITHIN ITSELF THREE-TIME GOLD MEDAL IS SYLVIA FOWLES IS NO STRANGER TO THE OLYMPIC STAGE THOUGH. SHE ADMITS. THE TOKYO GAMES WILL BE LIKE NOTHING THEY’VE EXPERIENCED BEFORE. PERHAPS SOME OF THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE FACES ON THE TEAM SUE BIRD AND DIANA TAURASI SAY THEY’RE ALSO PREPARING FOR VERY DIFFERENT OLYMPIC EXPERIENCE AS THEY BOTH PURSUE THEIR FIFTH GOLD MEDAL THE BIG DIFFERENCE FOR THIS IS THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS PART. SO THAT’S WHERE IN OUR OLYMPIC EXPERIENCES WE’RE VERY LUCKY WE GET TO SHARE THAT WITH OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. DIRECTLY THEY’RE EITHER STAYING WITH US, YOU KNOW IN THE HOTELS WE’RE IN OR YOU KNOW IN RIO THEY WERE LITERALLY ON THE BOAT RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO ROSSI SAYS TOKYO WILL ALSO BE UNIQUE FOR ANOTHER REASON AS WELL IT ALL BE HER LAST OLYMPICS. THEY’RE ALWAYS COMES A TIME WHERE I THINK YOU REALLY HAVE TO LOOK AT THE SITUATION, YOU KNOW FOR YOURSELF AND FOR USA BASKETBALL AND YOU KNOW, IF ALL GOES WELL IN TOKYO, I’LL BE HAPPY. ON THE ROAD TO THE TOKYO OLYMPIC GAMES. I’M SONIC ADANGE. AS FOR THE US MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM 57 PLAYERS ARE COMPETING FOR A SPOT ON THE TEAM INCLUDING SACRAMENTO KINGS STAR HARRISON BARNES. THAT’S RIGHT. IT WOULD BE A REPEAT PERFORMANCE FOR HIM BARNES. HELP TEAM USA COMPILE A PERFECT AIN’T NO RECORD ON THEIR WAY TO A BATTLE IN THE 2016 RIO GAMES. HE AVERAGED 4.3 POINTS AND 1.3 REBOUNDS PER GAME IN HIS FOUR APPEARANCES IN RIO THE OFFICIAL 12-MEMBER TEAM ROSTER WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. OKAY. I’M EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEXT ONE BRIAN. WE’VE GOT BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL COMING BACK TO THE GAMES FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2008 AND WE HAVE TWO LOCAL ATHLETES WHO ARE ALREADY ON THE SOFTBALL TEAM MICHELLE DAPPER CAUGHT UP WITH THEM AS THEY GET READY TO HIT THE FIELD. SOFTBALL IS BACK IN THE BATTER’S BOX RETURNING TO THE SUMMER GAMES FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2008. WE’RE ALL JUST SO HAPPY THAT THE GAMES ARE EVEN HAPPENING. IT’S FINALLY HERE. BUT LIKE, WHOA, IS IT REALLY COMING? MADE ITS OLYMPIC DEBUT BACK IN 1996, BUT 12 YEARS LATER THE THREE TIME OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS WERE DETHROWN FROM SOFTBALL SUPREMACY BY JAPAN. THERE’S ONLY TWO PLAYERS ON THE TEAM NOW MON. IT AND CUT OSTERMAN WHO WERE A PART OF THAT 2018, BUT WE ALL FEEL IT. WE DO WANT TO TAKE THAT BACK, BUT WE’RE ALL SO THAT NEW TEAM THAT HAS A NEW IDENTITY AND WE WANT TO STAY TRUE TO WHO WE ARE AND NOT THINK MUCH ABOUT THE PAST. THE LADIES NOW SET THEIR SIGHTS ON TOKYO LOCKED IN ON THE DIAMOND DREAMS. WE DON’T GET TOO HIGH TOO LOW, AND I THINK THAT’S THE STRENGTH OF THIS TEAM AND EVEN THIS YEAR LIKE WE DO HAVE OUR FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL LIKE THAT’S ONE OF OUR SAYINGS IS LIKE GAS TEAM USA IS ONE OF SIX TEAMS TO ALREADY QUALIFY WITH 18 OF THE NATION’S BEST EARNING A SPOT ON THE ROSTER THRILLED TO BE A PART OF IT AND IT YOU KNOW, I WAS I WAS REALLY JUST PROUD OF MYSELF BECAUSE I HAD WORKED SO HARD FOR SO LONG THAT REALLY IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS JUST HONED IN ON JUST BEING BETTER ALL AROUND. I HOPE THAT LIKE THE WAY THAT I TRAIN AND THE WAY I CARRY MYSELF WOULD BE SOMEONE THAT THEY WANTED TO REPRESENT THE COUNTRY AND THE CALIFORNIA CONNECTION RUNS. KEEP ALMOST 75% OF THE ROSTER CAN CALL THE GOLDEN STATE HOME. I DON’T KNOW HOW ALL OF US GOT ON ON THE TEAM, BUT IT IS PRETTY COOL TO HAVE SO MANY OF US ON ONE TEAM, CALIFORNIA. I FEEL LIKE IS WHERE IT STARTED BUT LIKE THE COOL THING IS TO SEE THAT IT’S GROWING THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC PUT A PAUSE ON PLAY IN 2020 DELAYING THE 12 YEAR ANOTHER 12 MONTHS. BUT THE WORLD-CLASS ATHLETES GOT IN THE ZONE AND PUSHED THEIR WAY THROUGH. THE POSTPONEMENT I HAD TO BE CREATIVE LIKE EVEN AT ONE POINT LIKE I REALLY LOVE SOCCER LIKE GROWING UP. I PLAYED SOCCER SOFTBALL, BUT I JUST TOOK THE SOCCER BALL OUT AND LIKE KICKED THAT AGAINST THE WALL AND LIKE TRY TO LEARN TO JUGGLE AND LIKE LEARN THAT LIKE THAT WAS REALLY FUN. I BIKED A LOT I RAN A LOT AND THEN YEAH, I FOUND A NEW BOXING ONLINE. THAT WAS AWESOME TEAM USA STANDS IS THE FAVORITE TO WIN GOLD. BUT IF THEY’VE LEARNED ANYTHING FROM THE PAST THEY WON’T COUNT OUT THE REST OF THE FIELD. THIS IS GONNA BE COMPETITIVE. IT’S NOT ONLY THE USA AND JAPAN. IT’S ALL OF THE OTHER TEAMS. SO I THINK WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP THAT IN MIND TOO AND STAY FOCUSED ON JUST ONE GAME AT A TIME AND PREPARING THE BEST WEEKEND. JUST HOPE THAT WE CAN COME BACK TO THE GOLD MEDAL AND THAT’S THE PLAN ON THE ROAD TO THE TOKYO OLYMPICS. I’M MICHELLE DAPPER. SO AS OF RIGHT NOW DEIRDRE’S SOFTBALL IS NOT OFFICIALLY PART OF THE OLYMPIC SCHEDULE IN 2024 OR 2028. SO WE’LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. WE’LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS AND IN JUST ABOUT 10 MINUTES MONICA. ABBOTT WAS GOING TO BE JOINING US IN THE SHOW AS WELL. SHE IS ONE OF TWO ATHLETES ON THE TEAM WHO HAS ANY OLYMPIC EXPERIENCE. WE’LL FIND OUT WHAT SHE’S DOING TO GET READY FOR TOKYO. NEXT ON OUR COUNTDOWN TO T MEET AMERICA’S FASTEST RACEWALKERS THE HURDLES FOR THIS VACAVILLE COUPLE AS THEY STRIDE TOWARD THEIR OLYMPIC DREAM AND A TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETE ON THE VERGE OF MAKING OLYMPIC HISTORY. WE’VE TRAINED ON THE STREET WE’VE TRAINED ON THE BEACH AS LONG AS THERE’S A SURFACE TO RUN ON WE’RE RUNNING THE RECORD ALISON FELIX IS SET TO BREAK. AND CHANCES ARE YOU TOOK A LOT OF WALKS DURING THE PANDEMIC, BUT WE’LL BET YOU DID NOT WALK WITH THE SAME PURPOSE AS NICK AND NICK CHRISTIE AND ROBIN STEVENS. THAT’S RIGHT. THEY ARE AMERICA’S TOP RACEWALKERS AND THEY ARE SPEEDING THEIR WAY TOWARDS SPOTS REPRESENTING TEAM USA THIS SUMMER IN TOKYO. ENDEMIC SLOWED THE WORLD STEVENS AND NICK CHRISTIE KEPT THEIR SPEED BUT YOU KNOW WALKING OR RUNNING, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE THE CHIEF THING IS YOU JUST NEED A PAIR OF AND YOU KNOW, A SURFACE TO MOVE ON SO LIKE THAT’S THAT’S REALLY CONVENIENT FOR US AND I THINK A LOT OF JUST ENDURANCE ATHLETES IN GENERAL IS THAT WE WE CAN JUST STEP OUTSIDE AND THEN THE WORLD’S OUR PLAYGROUND BOTH ROBIN AND NICK ARE MULTI-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS IN RACE WALKING A COUPLE IN REAL LIFE WITH A SHARED OLYMPIC DREAM OF REPRESENTING TEAM USA IN TOKYO. STAY TOGETHER WHILE STAYING AWAY DURING THE PANDEMIC. WHAT IF YOU GUYS DONE TO TO REALLY JUST LIKE ISOLATE YOURSELF TO KEEP HEALTHY? REALLY? YEAH, SO WE’VE UH, WE MOVED UP TO THE MOUNTAINS AND YOU KNOW, I’VE BEEN TRAINING UP AT ALTITUDE AND LIKE A SMALL LITTLE TOWN OUTSIDE OF MOJAVE AND JUST REALLY AVOIDING AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE. WE DON’T EVEN GO TO THE GROCERY STORE. WE ORDER EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED. ANYTHING LIKE THE ONLY TIME WE’RE SIDE TO TRAIN LIKE ON THE TRAILS FAR AWAY. WE JUST TRY TO AVOID ANY OUTSIDE HOUSEHOLD CONTACT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND THAT MEANT LEAVING THEIR HOME IN VACAVILLE AND LOSING DIRECT ACCESS TO THEIR COACHES INSTEAD COACHING IS DONE. SAY IT WITH ME ON ZOOM AND THEY’VE COACHED EACH OTHER TO GET FASTER STAY FOCUSED AND MOST OF ALL STAY HEALTHY. WE KNOW A COUPLE ATHLETES IN OUR EVENT YOU KNOW HOW TO A HECK OF A TIME RECOVERING FROM FROM COVID WHO GOT IT. THE PANDEMICS WE CAN ROBIN ALSO DID WHAT A LOT OF AMERICANS DID DURING THE PANDEMIC AND THEY BUILT A GARAGE GYM LONGING WAY MORE MILES ON A TREADMILL THAN MOST OF US. ADD IN A HOME ROWER. SPINNING OUT THE LACTIC ACID ON BIKES AND TAKING JABS AT PANDEMIC FRUSTRATIONS WITH SOME BOXING, BUT THERE’S NO SIMULATING COMPETITION MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY SO WHEN RACES RESUMED IN FEBRUARY, ROBIN AND NICK TOOK RACE LOGISTICS WHOLE NEW LEVEL WE’VE HAD TO GET A LOT MORE CREATIVE WITH HOW WE PLAN OUT OUR TRIPS. LIKE WHEN DO WE SCHEDULE OUR COVID TEST BEFORE TRAVEL BEFORE RACING? YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE WE DO, YOU KNOW ALL THIS, YOU KNOW, ALL THE LITTLE DETAILS THAT WE DIDN’T HAVE BEFORE LIKE WE CAN’T TRAVEL LIKE, YOU KNOW TWO WEEKS EARLY TO A LOCATION NOW LIKE DEPENDING ON THE THE RACE, SO LIKE JUST THE LOGISTICS THING IS HAS REQUIRED A LOT MORE LIKE JUST OUTSIDE THE BOX THINKING AND SO FAR. IT’S WORKING BOTH ROBIN AND NICK WON THEIR NATIONAL. CHIPS IN FEBRUARY AND THERE ARE A FEW STEPS QUITE LITERALLY TO MAKING THE OLYMPIC TEAM TRAINING THE MIND AS IMPORTANT AS TRAINING THE BODY IN THIS OLYMPIC CYCLE. WHATEVER YOUR GOALS ARE JUST EACH DAY YOU WAKE UP. THAT’S YOUR DAY TO DO IT AND JUST DO WHATEVER IS IN YOUR CONTROL, BUT, YOU KNOW CONTROL THE CONTROLLABLES WHATEVER’S IN CONTROL AND JUST MAKE IT THE BEST THAT DAY AND WHATEVER THAT IS, THAT’S BUT LIKE BE PROUD OF THAT PROUD OF EACH OTHER AND HOPEFULLY PROUD TO REPRESENT THEIR COUNTRY THIS SUMMER IN TOKYO. NOW RACE WALKING NOT THE BIGGEST SPORT. SO ROBIN AND NICK ARE ACTUALLY LEADERS BEHIND THE SCENES IN THEIR SPORT. THEY HELP PUT ON A LOT OF THE EVENTS THAT ARE GETTING PEOPLE QUALIFIED TO GO TO THEIR TRIALS COMING UP IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS A LOT OF THEIR OFFICIALS TEND TO BE OLDER AND WE’RE VERY COVID-19 WEARY. SO THEY’VE HAD TO WORK REALLY HARD TO MAKE SURE THOSE JUDGES FELT SAFE. WELL TRAINING DURING THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN DIFFICULT FOR ATHLETES BUT TRACK AND FEEL ATHLETE. JASON FELIX IS FINDING SOME WAYS TO MAKE IT WORK ALONGSIDE HER LEGENDARY COACH, BOBBY KERSEY. WE’VE TRAINED ON THE STREET WE’VE TRAINED ON THE BEACH. WE’VE TRAINED ON 7. WE’VE BEEN ALL OVER THE PLACE AND WE THANKFULLY, YOU KNOW, BOBBY HAS BEEN REALLY GREAT AT NAVIGATING US THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND YOU KNOW, AS LONG AS THERE’S A SURFACE TO RUN ON WE’RE RUNNING SO IT’S BEEN DIFFICULT, BUT WE ARE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD. THIS NINE-TIME OLYMPIC MEDALIST IS HEADING INTO FIFTH SUMMER GAMES ALLISON FELIX IS TWO METALS SHY OF BECOMING THE MOST DECORATED TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETE AND OLYMPIC HISTORY MAN, OR WOMAN. YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE SHE HAS A TWO YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. THAT’LL KEEP YOU IN SHAPE AS WELL. WELL, NO ATHLETE IS WAITED LONGER FOR THE TOKYO OLYMPICS THAN GRANITE BAY OPEN WATER SWIMMER HALEY ANDERSON. SHE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TWO PEOPLE TO PUNCH A TICKET TO TOKYO. THIS IS ANDERSON QUALIFYING FOR THE US OLYMPIC TEAM BY WINNING SILVER IN THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN SOUTH KOREA BACK IN TO 19 NOW. TOKYO WILL BE HER THIRD OLYMPIC SHE WON SILVER IN LONDON AND IS THE ONLY AMERICAN TO WIN AN OLYMPIC OPEN WATER MEDAL PRIOR TO COVID THE BIG WORRY FOR THE OLYMPIC OPEN WATER SWIMMERS WAS ACTUALLY THE TEMPERATURE OF THE WATER AT TOKYO’S OPEN WATER VENUE COMPETITIONS HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED VERY EARLY IN THE DAY TO TRY TO AVOID SOME OF THE HEAT THAT IS EXPECTED FOR SILVER. MEDALIST, MONICA ABBOTT THIS SUMMER AND THIS OLYMPICS HAS BEEN A DECADE IN THE MAKING DREA BLACKWELL HAS MORE NOW ON WHAT THE RETURN OF SOFTBALL TO THE OLYMPIC STAGE MEANS TO HER. SOFTBALL IS RETURNING TO THE OLYMPIC GAMES BACK ON THE SCHEDULE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2008 AND FOR SALINAS NATIVE AND SOFTBALL SUPERSTAR MONICA ABBOTT. THAT MEANS ANOTHER SHOT AT GOLD. HER SOFTBALL. IT’S THE WORLD’S LARGEST STAGE, YOU KNOW LIKE THERE IS NOTHING BIGGER THAN THE OLYMPICS FOR US, BUT DESPITE THE TEAM’S SUCCESS SOFTBALL WAS DROPPED FROM THE SUMMER GAMES AND FORCED TO WATCH FROM THE SIDELINES. I’M WATCHING, YOU KNOW, ALL THESE OLYMPIC COMMITTEES LIKE NOT VOTING SOFTBALL IN AND LIKE EVERY SINGLE TIME IT WAS JUST LIKE AH TEARS AND HEARTBREAK WITH THE OLYMPICS OFF THE TABLE ABBOTT CONTINUED TO DOMINATE THE SPORT PICKING UP CHAMPIONSHIPS AND AWARDS. FOUND THE WORLD AND THEN AFTER EIGHT LONG YEARS THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE ANNOUNCED THAT SOFTBALL WOULD RETURN TO THE LINEUP FOR THE 2020 SUMMER GAMES IN TOKYO WHEN THEY ANNOUNCED IT LIKE I WAS LIKE CHEERING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AIRPORT AND CRYING AT THIS WEEK AT THE SAME TIME AFTER YEARS OF WAITING ABBOTT AND TEAM USA HAD TO WAIT EVEN LONGER AFTER THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC FORCED ORGANIZERS TO DELAY THE 2020 GAMES. THE PRESSURE JUST CONTINUE TO BUILD AND BUILD AND BUILD AND YOU TRY NOT TO THINK ABOUT IT, BUT YOU KIND OF KNOW IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. THE WEIGHT IS ALMOST OVER FOR TEAM USA SOFTBALL WILL TAKE THE FIELD ON JULY 21ST AS THE GAMES FIRST EVENT AND ABBOTT HAS BEEN WAITING FOR THIS. I THINK THAT’S PRETTY COOL. CONSIDERING HOW MUCH OUR SPORT HAS BEEN THROUGH. THE ROAD TO THE TOKYO OLYMPICS, I’M DREA BLACKWELL. SO DEIRDRE COMPETING IN THE GAMES, THAT’S JUST ONE OF THE HURDLES FOR THE OLYMPIC ATHLETES THIS YEAR ONE OF MANY WE’LL TALK NEXT ABOUT SOME OF THE UNKNOWNS THAT ARE WAITING IN TOKYO AND THE STRUGGLES PERHAPS FOLLOWING THE GAMES. JAPANESE HEALTH LEADERS ARE WARNING THAT VIRUS RATES WILL LIKELY GET WORSE BEFORE THEY GET BETTER. AND THE COUNTRY’S VACCINE ROLLOUT HAS DEFINITELY BEEN A LOT SLOWER THAN IT HAS BEEN IN THE US AND FOR A LOT OF AMERICAN ATHLETES PART OF THE OLYMPIC PREP WILL MEAN GETTING A VACCINE BUT IT IS NOT GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO COMPETE IN TOKYO. BUT WE ARE HELPING SUPPORT TEAM USA ATHLETES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ENSURE THAT THEY KNOW WHERE TO FIND ACCESS TO A VACCINE IF IT’S SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT TO TAKE. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THIS SUMMER GAMES WILL LOOK AND FEEL EXTREMELY DIFFERENT AND WE WANTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MINDSET FOR THESE ATHLETES GOING IN. I SPOKE WITH SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY EXPERT DR. ANDREA BECKER FROM SACRAMENTO STATE ABOUT THE CHALLENGES. THE ATHLETES WILL FACE IN TOKYO. THE OBVIOUS UNCERTAINTIES AROUND THE OLYMPIC GAMES. HOW MANY TIMES WILL THEY BE TESTED? WILL THEY BE ABLE TO LEAVE THEIR ROOMS ONCE THEY GET THERE HOW MUCH INTERACTION WILL THEY BE ABLE TO HAVE WITH THEIR TEAM? WE ALREADY KNOW THAT THEY’RE NOT ALLOWED TO BRING THEIR FAMILIES. LIKE THEY TYPICALLY DO LET’S GO A LITTLE DEEPER IN THAT. WHAT ARE THESE SPECIFIC MENTAL CHALLENGES AND HURDLES THAT THE ATHLETES ARE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW RIGHT NOW THE OLYMPIC ATHLETES ARE FACING MANY DIFFERENT. OBSTACLES IN MANY DIFFERENT PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESSORS DEPENDING ON THEIR SPORT AND DEPENDING ON THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL SITUATION ONE OF THOSE STRESSORS MIGHT BE MAKING THEIR OLYMPIC ROSTER ONE OF THOSE STRESSORS MIGHT BE QUALIFYING FOR THE GAMES. SO LET’S TALK POST OLYMPICS FOR AND POST-TEAM USA. WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY’RE GONNA FACE ONCE THE THE GAMES ARE OVER AFTER COMPETING IN THE IN HERE ABOUT A LETDOWN. WHETHER IT’S CAUSED BY EXTREME EXHAUSTION IN THESE ATHLETES ARE STRIVING TO MEET A GOAL THAT THEY’VE HAD FOR FOUR YEARS AND IN THIS OLYMPICS IN FIVE YEARS AND SOME OF THEM HAVE ACHIEVED THAT GOAL AND SOME OF THEM WILL COME UP SHORT AND WHEN THEY’RE COMING OUT OF THAT COMPETITION, THEY’LL BE COPING WITH COMING BACK TO REALITY AND WHAT IS LIFE LIKE WITHOUT HAVING THAT GOAL IN FRONT OF YOU THE EXPERIENCES ARE GOING TO BE UNIQUE TO EACH INDIVIDUAL ATHLETE, BUT IT’S CERTAINLY PROBABLY GOING TO BE A RELIEF BUT AT THE SAME TIME ALSO A LETDOWN. AT DEIRDRE MAYBE THIS YEAR MORE THAN ANY OTHER IT’S GOING TO BE THE ATHLETES WHO OVERCOME THOSE MENTAL CHALLENGES THE MOST THAT ARE GOING TO BE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL. NO DOUBT ABOUT IT AND AFTER YEAR WHEN THE WORLD HAS HAD TO UNITE AGAINST COVID. THERE IS A HOPE OF THESE ATHLETES THAT WE WILL ALL UNITE BEHIND THEM NEXT SUMMER OR THIS COMING SUMMER TO CHEER THEM ON IN TOKYO. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING OUR COUNTDOWN TO

California , United-states , Sacramento , Japan , Tokyo , Vacaville , Ali-aguilar , Monica-abbott , Kim-conley , Nick-christie , Robyn-stevens , Team-united-states

LADIES WHO ROCK FOR A CAUSE FOUNDATION PRESENTS THEIR 2021 GLOBAL MUSIC FESTIVAL VIRTUALLY ON APRIL 18TH AT 8:00 pm EDT

LADIES WHO ROCK FOR A CAUSE FOUNDATION PRESENTS THEIR 2021 GLOBAL MUSIC FESTIVAL VIRTUALLY ON APRIL 18TH AT 8:00 pm EDT
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PHILADELPHIA (PRWEB)
April 12, 2021
The Ladies Who Rock For A Cause® Foundation is excited to bring their annual music festival to the world virtually on April 18, 2021, at 8:00 pm EDT. The LADIES WHO ROCK FOR A CAUSE leverages the unifying power of music to help those in need. This festival, which will highlight female musicians from around the world, is set to raise awareness in the fight against Ataxia. Ataxia is a rare and debilitating neurological disease with no cure. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the National Ataxia Foundation in that fight, and an individual in need.

Georgia , United-states , Michelle-leigh , Amber-hendricks , Juliette-leong , Rick-jannotti , Kathryn-shipley , Jan-smith , Mama-jan , Lauren-hart , Sandy-hall , Suzy-kory

Column: Artist, 4, featured in re-opened Union Bank in La Mesa

“All we need is love.” Those were the words
Aviana Dobesh, age 4, painted on her brightly colored artwork that was posted on the fence encircling the charred remains of the Union Bank branch in downtown La Mesa.
After the bank reopened in a relocatable structure on Jan. 25, her painting was selected by bank officials to hang on its lobby wall. That was eight months after the building had been torched May 30 by social justice protesters in the wake of the
George Floyd killing.
It was one of several shops and small businesses vandalized and looted that night. The adjacent Chase Bank and an office building also were burned.

Andrea-soffa , Aviana-dobesh , Robyn-stevens , George-floyd , Carlton-hill , El-cajon , Nadia-zamora , Paul-nestor , Nick-christie , Dan-cruz , Olympic-team-trials , Christie

Holloway's world record earns him USATF Athlete of the Week honors

Holloway’s world record earns him USATF Athlete of the Week honors
INDIANAPOLIS -- In a week that saw a slew of stellar performances in college conference championships and a pair of race walk national titles,
Grant Holloway (Gainesville, Florida) won the fan vote to earn the seventh USATF Athlete of the Week award for 2021 after breaking one of the oldest men’s indoor world records (pending ratification).

The reigning outdoor world Champion in the 110m hurdles, Holloway finally took down Colin Jackson’s 27-year-old world indoor mark in the 60m hurdles with a 7.29 at the Madrid World Indoor Tour meet in Spain. The win was his 10th in a row this season in all competitions and took .03 off his own American record that he set Feb. 9 at Liévin, France, and tied in the prelims at Madrid.

Gainesville , Florida , United-states , Germany , Sindelfingen , Baden-wuberg , Madrid , Spain , Cuba , France , American , Molly-seidel