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Creativity Makes Running Fun
June Role Model - Monica Cabbler
In Motion
 By using my imagination in track & field, I can invent ways to make running fun! Before a big meet, I close my eyes and picture myself as an animated cartoon character on a big screen TV. My mind has the remote control. First, I put myself in slow motion. I watch my running form, frame by frame. Then, I do an instant replay. Not only can I see myself running, but in the instant replay, I can actually feel my muscles working. My arms and legs are moving with my mental movie. When I push the fast forward button, I can see myself sprinting faster than ever. My heart is racing. I can taste a victory. I hear the crowd screaming in amazement. I've just broken my personal record. WHEW! Once I push "stop" on my mental race, my is mind activated and my body is ready for takeoff. 
When I'm training, I also like to use music to pick me up during long
runs
and tough workouts. I imagine my favorite songs are blasting. When I
sing
the lyrics in my head, it takes my mind off the distance and the pain.
If I have my walkman, I'll pop in my "track mix" and run with the rhythm. As the beat gets faster, my feet go faster. Music lifts my spirits and always triggers that hidden burst of energy. At the end of every workout, I write down what I did and how I felt in my track journal. Cool symbols like stars and smiley faces describe the good days and tough days. I draw graphs to show my improvement, over time.  WhenI set my goals, I write them down on little Post-It notes and stick them everywhere: my mirror, my clock, my door, my bed, even inside my track shoes. I'm always focused on getting better and dreaming BIG. With a positive attitude and creative training, the sky is the limit!  Girls, Inc. Guest Speaker Monica Cabbler competes for the United States in the triple and long jump events. She was awarded a track & field scholarship to the University of Georgia, and went on to become an NCAA All-American, SEC Team Champion, and Homecoming Queen while at UGA.  Upon receiving her BBA degree in Marketing, the Roanoke, VA native moved
to Atlanta the year of the 1996 Olympic Games. She recently received the
Ocean
Spray Training & Travel Grant from the Women's Sports Foundation to
continue
her excellence in track & field.
In addition to training towards her Olympic and World Championship dreams, Cabbler works as a model and owns a business offering a wide range of marketing services, specializing in professional sports. Photo In the Sun by Tim Alexander Email: mcabbler@monicacabbler.com Support Web site: womenssportsfoundation.org Photo Credits: Action photos are by Tony Duffy and Boxing Photo from Upscale Magazine. Contact people for Dream Big were Carol Goodrow, Editor, KidsRunning.Com rwedit@rodale.com and Mark Springer, Director of Grass Roots Programs, USATF mark.springer@usatf.org
  
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Editor's Note: Running and writing are more fun when they are combined. Warm up for writing. Lace up your running shoes and get out the door. Start up slowly, then pick up the pace and have a great run. Cool down, drink and stretch, then break out that running journal and let 'er rip!