Uncategorized – Game Speed Sports Training

My Comeback Chronicles #6- Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts

Can you be exhausted and recharged at the same time?

All in all no regrets, well except one it happened at the awards ceremony when they handed out the gold medal. They gave away a tiny plush alligator (Games Mascot?), I did a double take….man, I would have loved to give that to my three year old grand-daughter …..sorry Tink….Pop Pop didn’t realize what was at stake.

So to put the indoor season in context I won the US Nationals at 60m with a time ranked second in the world overall, Silver in the 60m at the World Championships, and fourth in the Long Jump. Inches separating me and my competitors. So not to bad for doing the whole “rip van winkle” thing for the past 13 years. So fuck you track gods, fate or whoever, as far as I’m concerned the medals were the prizes but the rewards are the stories and memories that will stay with me forever.

It was great to be welcomed back into the masters community by old friends and new, David Jones, Kevin Biggers, Clinton Aurelia, Robert Thomas, Henry Landry, Bill Collins, Val Barnwell, Tony Di Salvo, Alan Sims, Francios Boda and […]

My Comeback Chronicles #6- Final ThoughtsGame2025-04-07T12:47:38-07:00

My Comeback Chronicles #5 – Long Jump – Playing in the sand

Long jump competition-Playing in the sand FUN and Unfinished business

First a funny little story. I was a junior in highschool, dual meet competition, I’m on the runway. I motor down as fast as I can, I’m about to jump and I catch my spike!! Easy to do with the nails we wore back then for dirt tracks, I trip and go flying superman style into the pit face first! Easily sliding 17ft, least they coulda marked it. It was embarrassing but all I could do was brush the sand out of my face, hair and shorts I shrugged and laughed with everyone else….that’s track.

For the most part the sprints are business but the jumps are pleasure. It scratches two itches, one its just plain fun and two I regret not pursuing it fully as a younger athlete.

Now this may be blasphemy for the Long Jump(LJ) purists but I like the idea of “sector” take off points versus hitting the board. Just quickly, for those who don’t know the LJ requires a great combo of speed, skill and jumping ability to run, hit the takeoff board (20 in wide) […]

My Comeback Chronicles #5 – Long Jump – Playing in the sandGame2025-04-03T10:30:27-07:00

My Comeback Chronicles Blog Post #4 Taking on the World

Blog Post #4 Taking on the world

THE TRIP

I own rental property, most everyday out of the year things are great but let me leave this time zone and something bounds to happen…. whether its a volcano erupting and hot lava running down my driveway, a zombie horde, or Godzilla fighting Mothra on my front lawn you can bet its gonna happen at my place. So I’m used to that curveball. At nationals last month it was a busted water heater. This time a I got a different kind of pitch.

Of the 40 years Ive been flying all over he world, Ive never missed my initial outgoing flight. Well, your boy did this time. Being the planner that I am I had purchased the flight months ago. During that time the airline had made changes to the flights due to changes in their flying schedules, booking me on alternate flights. I in turn made my own changes as well. Well with all the back and forth in my mind I was locked into my initial itenerary, an overnight flight Saturday into Sunday. Well I forgot I made the change to flying Saturday […]

My Comeback Chronicles Blog Post #4 Taking on the WorldGame2025-04-03T10:46:20-07:00

My Comeback Chronicles #3- The Preparation

Ok kids, I riddle you this? What can be against you, but yet on your side?…………TIME!!

Good conscience, Bad timing…Tick…Tock…

Sometimes “life be lifing” too hard and you can’t get anything done or at least the way you want to. A couple weeks ago I had the unfortunate experience of having to come to the aid of a long time acquaintance who fell on hard times. Having been through something similar, dimentia, with my mom, eldercare can be time consuming and emotionally draining. Note to self do not get old and do not get old alone. Lets just say the safety net of social security, has lots of holes in it. Today’s system for eldercare is ridiculous to say the least and woefully inadequate for most, so I’ll say less. My advice save your money, lots of it, be nice to people, don’t break relationships, fix them with your family and friends. To be old, broke and alone is tragic.

Side thought- Is it true humanity if good deeds are only done when its convenient?

Anyway… I’m not sure I’ve gotten everything in I’d hope too to be completely prepared. I have had basically three weeks. The last 7-10 days prior […]

My Comeback Chronicles #3- The PreparationGame2025-03-24T19:26:40-07:00

My Comeback Chronicles #2-It’s The Shoes…hmmm

This blog post is dedicated to my father John Thigpen, who when he came to a meet proudly and affectionately used to call me “twinkle toes,” unfortunately at times a little too loudly and in front of the wrong company………………..gee,..thanks dad.

Some of you are old enough to remember an early Nike JORDANS commercial staring Spike Lee, where concerning Mike’s greatness he says; “It’s the shoes”.

Well, I never bought into it, I’ve never even owned a pair of Jordan’s (don’t take my black card). Honestly, I couldn’t afford them until my thirties and never saw the use of spending $300 on shoes I wasn’t gonna play basketball in. My money was gonna be wasted on more productive vices, like video games!!!

Recently I made a bet with myself that if I won Nationals I would treat myself to some of those “newfangled” “carbon fiber super spikes”. I’d been intrigued by them over the past year and spent way too much screen time down the “rabbit hole” researching them….what’s up.doc?

I’d heard the claims and noticed almost every one at Nationals were wearing some brand or another. So I spoke with a few guys and even got […]

My Comeback Chronicles #2-It’s The Shoes…hmmmGame2025-03-24T19:18:36-07:00

My Comeback Chronicles #1: A long road back just for a short sprint

I’ve been able to run as far back as I can remember. Instead of walking my first steps, I probably ran. I’ve been fast but not always the fastest, so I’ve had to fight to win, fight to train and fight to compete, but I’ve never had to fight my body..and this fight back to the track has taken three years….and I’m not sure it’s quite finished..here’s hoping it is .

Even though we live in a society that celebrates rugged individualism and social media that loves to demonstrate our uniqueness. I believe, on the contrary, that we are not as special or unique as we think. We are closer to being the same just different iterations, more likely sharing similar or the same life experiences at one point or another. So I try to navigate in this way with the belief that something I may be going through is more likely than not something someone else has, is, or will be experiencing. So I share this story to maybe help some one else work through the same or a similar trial in their life. I hope it helps.

By now most who know me can safely say I’m not an open […]

My Comeback Chronicles #1: A long road back just for a short sprintGame2025-04-03T10:51:16-07:00

Maximizing Playing Time in High School Baseball: A Comprehensive Guide

For high school athletes who have successfully made the baseball team, the next challenge is to earn and maximize playing time. Coach Eric Johnson and Aaron delve into insightful strategies and tips in their podcast, emphasizing the importance of consistency, mindset, and continuous improvement throughout the season.

Understanding the Key Points
Making the Team is Just the Beginning
Every Rep Counts: Treat Practice like a Game
Knowing Your Role and Being Ready for Opportunities
The Evolution of an Athlete: Freshman, JV, and Varsity Levels
Adding Value to the Team: Offensively, Defensively, and Motivationally
Patience and Perspective: Trusting the Process
Overcoming Unrealistic Expectations and Mental Challenges
Earning Playing Time Throughout the Season
Freshman Year
First Impressions: Make an impact during scrimmages and early practices.
Trust Your Preparation: Stay confident and trust the work put in during the off-season.
JV Level
Prove Yourself: Show growth and improvement from the previous year.
Consistency is Key: Demonstrate that you deserve playing time through your performance.
Varsity Level
Make an Impression: Introduce yourself to the varsity coach effectively.
Competing for Opportunities: Be prepared to compete with more experienced players.
Maintaining a Positive Attitude and Work Ethic
Contributing to the Team: Find ways to add value consistently.
Staying Patient: Results take time to show; trust the process and […]

Maximizing Playing Time in High School Baseball: A Comprehensive GuideGame2024-05-13T22:47:57-07:00

Turning Setbacks into Opportunities: What to Do When You Don’t Make the Team

Turning Setbacks into Opportunities: What to Do When You Don’t Make the Team

In the world of sports, not making the team can be a tough pill to swallow. However, Coach Eric Johnson and his co-host delve into the silver lining of being cut from a team and how it can actually propel athletes to greater success. Let’s explore the key takeaways from their insightful podcast.

Embracing Rejection: A Path to Improvement

Learning and Reinventing
Learn from Feedback: Engage with the coach to understand why you were cut and what areas need improvement.
Reinvent Yourself: Use the setback as motivation to show significant improvement for the next opportunity.

Preparation for Success
Ready for Prime Time: View the extra time as a chance to prepare intensively for future opportunities.
Maximize Training: Focus on training to excel, especially when aiming to be scouted by college programs.

Cultivating a Winning Mindset
Harnessing Motivation
Fuel Your Fire: Let the rejection fuel your determination to prove yourself.
Develop Resilience: Use setbacks as a catalyst for becoming a better, more resilient athlete.

Competitive Mindset
Earn Your Spot: Understand that competitive sports require continuous effort and improvement to secure your place.
Annual Challenges: Scholarships are on a yearly basis, emphasizing the need for ongoing dedication and performance.
Looking Ahead: Webinar and Resources

In conclusion, […]

Turning Setbacks into Opportunities: What to Do When You Don’t Make the TeamGame2024-05-13T22:40:42-07:00

Unlocking the Path to Athletic Success: Overcoming the Pack Mentality Embracing Individuality in Sports

Unlocking the Path to Athletic Success: Overcoming the Pack Mentality
Embracing Individuality in Sports

In the world of sports, it’s easy to get caught up in the “pack mentality” – a tendency to follow the crowd, blindly adopting the same training programs, coaches, and strategies as everyone else. However, as Coach Eric Johnson and Coach Aaron discuss, this approach can be detrimental to an athlete’s growth and ultimate success.

The Dangers of Conformity

The coaches emphasize that the pack mentality can stifle an athlete’s individuality, creativity, and personal development. They argue that true success often comes from stepping outside the box and finding the path that works best for the individual, rather than simply following the crowd.

“If you’re with the pack, expect to be with the pack.” – Coach Eric Johnson

Developing Goals and Aspirations

One of the key issues the coaches identify is the lack of clear goals and aspirations among many athletes. They believe that without a strong sense of what they want to achieve, athletes are more likely to fall into the trap of the pack mentality, simply going along with what everyone else is doing.

“What’s wrong with aspiring to greatness? You have to shoot for something.” – Coach Aaron

Collaboration and Empowerment

The coaches […]

Unlocking the Path to Athletic Success: Overcoming the Pack Mentality Embracing Individuality in SportsGame2024-05-13T22:57:05-07:00

Unlocking Athlete Confidence: Strategies for Coaches and Parents Identifying the Confidence Challenge

Unlocking Athlete Confidence: Strategies for Coaches and Parents
Identifying the Confidence Challenge

In the world of sports, confidence is a crucial element that can make or break an athlete’s performance. As coaches EJ and Aaron discuss in this podcast, many athletes struggle with maintaining a strong sense of self-belief, especially when faced with adversity or challenging situations.

The underlying reasons for this lack of confidence are multifaceted. As Aaron points out, some athletes may have inherently lower levels of confidence due to their personal experiences and family backgrounds. Additionally, the environment in which young athletes are often placed, with participation trophies and a lack of emphasis on honest feedback, can contribute to a false sense of confidence that crumbles when faced with the harsh realities of competition.

Fostering Honest and Constructive Environments

The coaches emphasize the importance of creating an environment that fosters genuine, honest confidence in athletes. This means providing clear and constructive feedback, both positive and negative, to help athletes understand their strengths and areas for improvement. As EJ notes, the key is to build athletes up, not break them down, by offering solutions and a clear path forward.

“You’re trying to uplift. And I think the keyword that you said after honesty is […]

Unlocking Athlete Confidence: Strategies for Coaches and Parents Identifying the Confidence ChallengeGame2024-05-13T22:42:38-07:00

12 Next