Today I am excited to announce that Mechelle Lewis will one of our special guests at the Trill Fitness Marathon Launch party on Saturday, August 21! Mechelle has a desire to help children and combat childhood obesisty. Please read below as I interviewed Mechelle about her life, training, and plans.
You have a fascinating story. At one point you had decided to quit running competitively. Could you share with us your journey and how you decided to get back into the sport?
During college I was successful on a national level, but I was very injury prone. When I graduated I decided to focus on my career since the injuries were really keeping me from reaching my full potential on the track. After about four years off, I felt in my heart that it was time to go back to my sport and try to make the U.S. Olympic Team. It was always my dream and after experiencing some challenges in my personal life, I realized that I had the perseverance to make it through anything, including the sacrifice it takes to be an Olympian. I quit my job and with two years left to train I dedicated my daily life to training. When I really made the team, I really can’t put words to the feeling that with God first, and faith and dedication a close second and third, All things are possible.
I assume that you have not taken a Group fitness class in the traditional sense. Is this a true statement? If not, what have you taken?
I am actually a certified Zumba® instructor! I traditionally never would take a group fitness class to help with my track performance, but I do like taking group fitness classes for fun! I enjoy David’s (dfreemansfitness.com) BODYPUMP® class because it’s funny when I can’t do 20 reps with 5 pounds on each side, but I can push 135 pounds 10 times on the bench. I started teaching Zumba® because I worked with an after-school program for at-risk youth where I led the physical fitness programs. The director wanted to give them a fun angle on becoming more physically active so she thought it would be a great idea for me to get Zumba® certified and I did. It turned out great!
You have done group training all your life with other athletes. During practices or times in the training room what are some of the workouts you do as a group?
We lift and run as a group. Some days we have condition focused practices where we run longer distances repetitively and other days are sprint and technical practices. With my main event being the 100m, it is necessary that the sprint group get practices that focus on power and running mechanics. We do a lot of plyometrics, jumping over hurdles for example, and plenty of sprint drills. In the weight room, three days of the week are specifically used to train the lower body and two days of the week are for the upper body. We make sure that we get a good comprehensive workout where all relevant muscle groups are addressed. It’s always good to train with a group for motivational purposes. We encourage one another; we make each other work harder. It is necessary for me because my weak days can be my training partner’s strong days and I am able to feed off their energy.
What do you do off season?
There is no REAL off season! Professional Track and Field athletes run between the months of November-September. We get October off, so I will say that we have an off month! Although the indoor competitions don’t start until January, it is important that you start working out in November to make sure you don’t loose any fitness and are able to work on any issues that negatively affected your previous season’s performance. During October I do make sure that I see my family in my hometown of Maryland and just take the time to enjoy doing nothing!
I am about to launch a program called BODYATTACK™. It is a sports inspired cardio workout. What type of specific exercises do you do to prepare you for running a race?
Sprinting requires powerful gluteus muscles, hamstrings, calf muscles, quadriceps, and shoulders. It is important that we do exercises to address these muscles groups including power cleans, squats, leg press, and hamstring and quadriceps exercises. For the upper body, I make sure I do a shoulder circuit, bench and incline press, and it’s always good to get those push ups in!
You are now an Olympian. Are you training your body differently now to prepare as a result? Do you plan to return in 2012?
Yes I am training for the 2012 London Olympic Games. I will take the same basic approach I take every year when training for a season. The biggest thing is making sure my mind is prepared for the moment and day of the 100m event at the 2012 Olympic Trials. It is all about timing, literally, and I want to be prepared to be right on target.
What do you do to prevent injury?
I am actually recovering from an injury now! I had to deal with a herniated disc this past season, so I had to sit out and address it. I am feeling good again and I am taking the steps to be fully prepared to go into this year’s fall training 100%. Nevertheless, I do what I can to prevent injury through strengthening my muscles in the weight room, taking nutritional supplements to help with recovery, and doing therapeutic work on my body through weekly chiropractic care, massages, and ICE BATHS (ouch!).
More about Mechelle
Mechelle Lewis, the youngest of a set of twin girls, is a Maryland native and graduate of the University of South Carolina where she obtained her Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Mass Communications. After working in New York at Young & Rubicam Advertising Agency, she returned her focus to her all-time passion, Track & Field. Mechelle went on to become a 2007 World Champion and a 2008 Olympian running the 4×100 meter relay. She currently uses her platform to reach out to the community to speak against obesity and help youth recognize self-worth and courage through her organization BEvolved. Mechelle is also a certified Zumba Instructor and is dedicated to healthy-living awareness and fitness. She is currently training for the 2012 London Olympics Games.
For more information about Mechelle or to find out about her events and projects please visit her site at www.mechellelewis.com.