To select World Cross Country Team in Yemen takes nails and hammers to set it on the wall.
I have been testing these athletes five times for only one reason. Just to reduce club coaches noises.Each club wants their own athletes to represent the country.
Three meets have been cancel because of noises in the technical meetings.They cancell two indoor meets and Arab X-country meet in Algeria.
What is left is WCC meet in March 28,2010 Poland.Who knows perhaps by then the noises will be in low point, then we can participate in Poland WCC.The noises is about money I came to understand them.
The athletes hearts have been put in between things.Going and Stoping all the time.But the training is going on well between me and the athletes.
Now the General Secretary have answers regarding athletes in Yemen for not having good heart to representing the nation.They say be patient after we have jump start our hearts and ready to have it,but wait.
Henry
The training is moving forward and athletes are experiencing the new method of training. They feel heavy but they run fast why is that? said my Asst. coaches and athletes. We climbe the hill in the morning and do the test at 10 am and their times are coming down so trasdically.I think we are going to break the best Yemen record in High altitude,said one of the athletes. We have gain alot from you coach.Said one the coaches.
Not only the fitnes also athlete mental have change.I said to be athletes no less no more.I told them notonly coaches and athletes can tell also the society can see and the world. Get readyfor Poland X-country.They are realy feeling confidence for just 18 day in the close camp. I think by March 27,2010 in Poland you guys can show the world.
Let me post before the lightgoes off.
After Nine days of training I had to bring down athlete from nine to five and one 400m/h runner. It turns out that I have to training athletes in Yemen from sprinters to middle/long-distances events. Their records are not that good as long as athletes are improving why not be called a coach for all I will make them to become international runners.Starting off from Indoors in Qatar this month and next month+X-Countries.
Life is very hard for athletes and coaches here in Yemen.One can not predict what will happen next because of the way system is running in Yemen affectes any business.Sports is the one can unite people;however,it takes time for people to encourage the running sports in Yemen.
Athletes just got invitation to Qatar indoor long time ago,but there a problem with management so they stop the invitation when athletes are ready to try.Maybe we will go maybe not all ways maybe word is common here.Maybe tomorrow!!!!! they never say no or yes!! I dont know why.The same way when it come to pay day.I’m still waiting part of salary of December leave alone January.
Athletes have good heart to train but no food to eat and place to stay,the problem of water and light at night night off and on by surprise.
Day three and training program is hot as the pepery in the eyes. It turns out it was alont of sweats in the early morning and that one went fine.In the evening was the hill climbing it was another gilly hot training.First I could see them panic I told wait noy yet.I gave them instruction on how to climbe to do the hill repeat.
Nothing important in the hill other than development in many areas in the body of running.The benefit of it:form,technigues,strength,endurance, speed style and the power of mental discipline.But dont forget the power lung breathing is the most important thing you get in the hills very early in the morning.But today we did in the evening.
You get more in the morning in which I will switch it to be in the morning and in the evening is intervals.Hawa!! in arabic,means yes,but make sure when cross the highway ’showf’ in arabic mean look and Esma’a mean listen or hear.
I tell my athletes to use their sense to meet the standard of coaching. I understand they are not using these senses.Another one is Esptema means smille,I want them to use these sense for their success in running.Hawa!!!,Esma’a,Showf,Esptema and Tawasool means communication.The true communication for athletes as human being!!!Tamam!!
Training is going well on our second day in close camp.It is something new for athlete in Yemen to go a long with my method of training.But they are doing and finish all the sections, I want them to do.The formula is for runners.They dont have to like it.I say,When they make noise about the program.It is how I medicated the runners by training hard and harder to reach the top.Some athletes are appreciating while others are out for something else in the mind. My philosophy of coaching is based on experiences and building the building upto the top.
What do you mean by that? I was coached and I learned the good way to the top of the world.
Some are working with the oppositions that they dont like running other than make money from athletes the easy way.I say to them at the beginning of the program everything has to be in order for me to see the light.
This is the vision for Yemen running world not for the coach.The twisting tonque towards coaching runners in Yemen shuts down the spirit of running.Perhaps the administration might use their monies to buy medals instead of training athletes.I said to them. Or buy runners from Kenya,Morocco to run for Yemen, it has been going in Arab nations.
Athletes were able to follow and listen today. I think close camp is hard for them for they have to see me all the time. I try to make them feel comfortable with the program. I want to make the differences than when they came into the program.I think by the time of finishing two weeks they will have see the light of training and racing races.
The shoes is a problem for now.
The day close start February 15,2010 for the Yemen X-country which is very late compared with other countries that I know. I might not get our feet wed to meet the international standard;however,beginning is better than nothing. Few things to be learn in close camp,some might not like it but I have no choice other than the right choice for the benefit of athletes who have national interest in heart. Go by the IAAF rules in that note I must practice the knowlege that it services five comon sense of athletes world wide.
I’m back in the city of Sanaa,where my running goes well with familiars faces knows me well in street Tunis close to my living Hostel.I notice the kids have been missing to see an old man running in the early morning as of today.So they join me running along side me and forgetting going to school way direction.”Hawa!!” How are you? “Gave halak….” I’m fine,I say in Arabic language.
Perhaps kids are seeing the new light of living in Yemen is the way of running.Before in their minds might have seem to be strange but it is the reality of breathing good light in today living.
The faces of the young people are happy to see me back in Sanaa,after they read about me on the newspaper last Sunday.And also the Athletic Federation seem like they didnt know who I was.The Arabic Newspaper treat the administration as the dummis if they dont take this opportunity to use me to bring up Yemen Youth ahletes to the next level of running.
Now Athletic Federation are working out the easiest ways where I can not be distructed in my business of coaching athletes. “Bukura” we have a meeting again.Tomorrow we will tell you, your next plan,”We want to make sure you will be in peace in order your job be done right.” Meeting after meeting are the pattern ways of officials here.Nothing for sure until you see it happening.Before I get into these meeting I’m in good spirit where my running comes first before breakfast are my daily prescriptive drugs,it feels good afterwords and naturally as high powerful drug at 54 minutes for this morning. Thanks “Bukura”
Trainning is great! “Get me out of this elevator!!!” My room is up fifth floor. I always hate to take stairs my knees are weak and it hurts,but not when the light goes off.I’m in the elevetor too dark inside I’m alone!! “What happen?!!” As if I dont know how the powers-lights here goes off every now and then.I’m not worried about my sweats,showers and smells.I should use stairs talking to myself inside the dark elevator.
Just as soon I got in elevator,press number 5, before I got to second floor the light went off.The elevator refuse to go up and to come down,I’m stack in the middle between first floor and second floor;WHAT HAPPEN?! “I have been screaming and calling you guys.”I said. “Just one or two minutes” He shows up open the doors smiling at me!! I try to make calls to my translator four times on two lines I have in my cell. My cell reads NO connection!
When I’m online sometimes or while watching TV the lights goes off for few minutes to half an hour or one hour. I always avoid using stairs because I’m so tired after training and my knees hurts.After sitting and screaming inside the evelator no more knees problem.I see people sometimes running up-down stairs and wonder why are they not using elevators.Now I know why!!
After a long fight and for this fight was about me.No wonder, I was not given a translator in the first place.So that I would not be able to hear what they are talking about.Four months has gone by living in a wonder land!
Finally,after I get in he newspaper,things starts to change by flushing out the bad apples and keeping the right ones.My training starts to pick it up now.
I was reading the Sports sysytem here through body langauage.It was affecting my exercise psychology which ends up in my exercise physiology training.No training for four weeks.The last time I was feeling good in training was January 2,2010 as of today February 3,2010. When an athlete is going through alot of issues that it takes up alot of mental work,where there are so many ups-downs too many turns so speak is like climbing the hills without oil in the knee joins.You are done in running by then.
Moreover,national Coach in a new culture without experience is another obstacle.So this barrier is over now.I realise running comes first before heading to office meeting.
The long article written by arabic media was on January 31,2010 not only made some changes on my outlook trainning Yemen athletes today.Also they did tough workout, discipline,commitment, motivation and the power they had today.200mx24:38 sec to 23 sec. were incredible.While jogging across the field someone calls me coach.He is showing me the text messges on his cell phone that,’you are in the news in arabic language and English’.Henry Rono National Coach,……..In the newpaper,I saw three photos,one was taken here in Yemen and two was in 1978 in college.
The spirit of athletes was high up today running without headaches.Good news sometimes makes athletes feel smooth and strong when their faces are not tense.Me too I was strong I was able to run more minutes than before since I stop running 30 days ago.So, we are back and no more turning back.All I needed was the handle to cripp tight.As before,I didnt know where and when to act and move forward as it is my game that I know how to play. Since, I have been here I told them this is my game.
