[sixcol_five_last]
By Derek Mandell
It was nearly six months ago when I stepped off the track at the Olympic Stadium in London, England. With my head sunk as low as ever, I felt as if everything that I worked towards in my running career was lost. A four-year long goal wasn’t reached and I couldn’t understand why. My training was at its peak, my nutrition was perfect, and all the energy I had was channeled towards two laps around an oval track. Sometimes, things just don’t go as planned. I debated retirement, but that debate lasted about thirty-seconds. I need running and I need goals, so I kept hitting the pavement and just kept running…a lot.
Thousands of miles and countless burgers later, I made a decision. What started out as a sarcastic comment eventually evolved into a serious endeavor.
“Since I’m running so many miles, I might as well not waste them.”
Anyway, enough blabber, long-story-short, I found a new goal: run a marathon and run it fast.
It’s only fitting that my first marathon will be at inaugural Guam International Marathon. I attended the press conference for the event at PIC and can confidently say that it looks like it’s going to be successful. Any time you serve prime rib sandwiches, chocolate-dipped dried fruits, and bacon-wrapped shrimp at a post-press conference luncheon, you know they mean business.
I’ve spent most of my running life on the track where you can get away with one hour “long” runs. I’m pretty sure those days are gone, for now. So for the next several weeks I’ll take you on my new journey: the ups, downs, and random observations. Nothing too detailed, though, my facebook has privacy settings.
We’ll see what happens. Run love.
Derek Mandell is a two-time Olympian and a GSPN contributing writer. He will be writing about his preparation for his first ever marathon on April 7 in the Guam International Marathon.
[fbshare url=”http://www.gspnlive.com/runningtrack/recovering-from-olympic-blues/ ” type=”button”][fblike url=”http://www.gspnlive.com/runningtrack/recovering-from-olympic-blues/ ” style=”standard” showfaces=”false” width=”450″ verb=”like” font=”arial”]
[/sixcol_five_last]


GPS Sports Calendar
July 2025
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for June
1st
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
2nd
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
3rd
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
4th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
5th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
6th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
7th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
8th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
9th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
10th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
Events for July
11th
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
Events for July
12th
Events for July
13th
Events for July
14th
Events for July
15th
Events for July
16th
Events for July
17th
Events for July
18th
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
Events for July
19th
Events for July
20th
Events for July
21st
Events for July
22nd
Events for July
23rd
Events for July
24th
Events for July
25th
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 1
- 2
Events for July
26th
Events for July
27th
Events for July
28th
Events for July
29th
Events for July
30th

Soccer
MASAKADA DRAWS 0-0 WITH UAE

Basketball
YI NAMED NEW UOG BASKETBALL COACH

Pacific Mini Games
WATER SPORTS KICKS THINGS OFF IN DAY 1

Jiu-Jitsu
CRUZ BROS. CRUISE THROUGH STATESIDE COMP

Basketball
GUAM BASKETBALL CREATES HALL OF FAME

Pacific Mini Games
16 READY TO MEDAL IN TRACK & FIELD

Basketball
FD ALUMNI HOOPS OPENS WITH A BANG
COMING SOON …
FD Alumni Basketball Tournament June 27-July 18
Pacific Mini Games June 29-July 9
QUICK HITS