I'm too grown for this.

So, things went well for me in Zurich (9.95) and Zagreb (9.94). I hope the trend continues. Physically, I feel great and I think it shows...But MAN I'm missing home.

I'm used to being away from home for long stretches...it comes with the territory. And, I'm a grown man. What the heck do I look like being homesick?

Trust me...I've asked myself that quite a few times and I've just decided to give myself a pass.

All that stuff doesn't apply when you're married with a new baby. Yeah, it's sappy, I know. But a wife and a baby girl can do that to you. And what's so crazy is...I'm really not gone that long! I can't imagine what the baseball fathers do. Shoot. Tell me. Give me some pointers! I'm gone three months out of the year and y'all push, what? Eight?

I was doing okay until my wife sent me the most recent pictures of my daughter.

I left for Europe the day before she turned six-weeks old and today is her three-month birthday. I really wasn't tripping (on the outside) because I figured, "hey, she can't miss me if she doesn't know I'm gone." But, I know that I'm gone. Leaving was tough. No lie.

As a matter of fact, I must've looked pretty pitful because when I was standing in the security line at the airport this dude asked me if I was okay.

I'm laughing about it now, but for real, shout out to the nice people in the world - we need more folks like you hanging around.

Anyway, Wifey has been sending me pictures and videos of Kodie just about every day. She's laughing out loud now and doing the baby talk thing. And, from what I can tell, she's developing a little attitude. It's funny because she's so stinking little...too little to be fussing like she does over the phone.

Anyway, like I was saying, my wife sent these pictures to me yesterday. And, I probably would have been cool after seeing them, but I just found out that I wouldn't be coming home for a short four-day break...so it kind of tugged at my heart.

Look at that face.

Cute, huh? That's my fat fat.

Okay, just one more...

My wife thinks Kodie is spoiled now...just wait until I get home.

Yeah, so this is me (attempting to) suck it up. I'm gonna go do some push ups or something and get my mind right. I can't have that little girl getting me wrapped around her finger yet.

Next up...Memorial Van Damme in Brussels. Check me out.

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2009 Weltklasse Zurich - 100M

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There IS Life after World Championships...

It’s on to the circuit now. And, it is a little awkward.

Competing after World Championships is sort of like starting football season after the Super Bowl.

When the circuit begins, you leave behind the comforts of the Championships for reality. No more free wireless Internet. No more card games in the hotel lobby. No more catered breakfast, lunch and dinner. No more hospitality suites and snacks. I know. I know. Woe is me.

There’s really nothing else like the European track circuit. It’s European country-hopping at its best – and you learn SO much. The need for a converter, toilet tokens, and a second (or third) language to name a few…

It’s funny because every year there is a group of new athletes who turn pro and cross the pond for their first tour of the European track circuit. I laugh when I see them...all red-eyed and sluggish... because I remember MY first year on the circuit... Man that was a LONG two months

I basically jumped off the plane and into the bed. My eyes burned so badly it felt like I had sand in them. I was so happy when my head hit the pillow! I slept for 5 hours....and it was that good sleep. That kind of sleep that you get after a really good butt whooping - that mouth open, drool on the pillow, wake up with a headache wondering where you are sleep...And, when I did wake up it was 2 am and I was WIDE awake.

I thought I'd watch TV and fall right back asleep. Naw. Not even a little bit.

That night I re-discovered the BBC and learned more about the United States than I could’ve ever wanted to know. You THINK you know what's going on in the world…but you have no idea until you sit down and really listen to another perspective.

Anyway, that morning, I decided to shave and line myself up. You know, look decent for my track meet – it was going to be televised. Well, that was the beginning of a bad day. I blew up my edges – they started smoking and the cord melted – and I shorted out my Playstation. (Yeah, nobody told me about the whole voltage conversion thing). Frustrated, I showered in a shower stall made for a skinny troll and went downstairs for breakfast. This was not the bacon, scrambled eggs and biscuit breakfast you’re picturing. Nothing like IHOP. Breakfast consisted of salmon, watery eggs and stone-hard super dry bread – and orange juice with all the pulp in it. Yeah, tasty, I know.

Lunch wasn’t much better. I asked for a hamburger and that’s exactly what I got – a piece of ham wedged between two slices of bread. The same thing happened when I asked for a cheeseburger – bread and cheese – no meat. Needless to say, at the end of the day, I was sick as a dog and in desperate need of Pepto-Bismol. Yeah, well…it sucks when you’re sick and can’t read the labels at the pharmacy. So yes, I advocate bilingual – even trilingual education. Everyone else speaks two or three languages, why shouldn’t we?

Like I said…that was a LONG two months, and I’m so happy I made it through. Now I pack two converters, and bring my portable DVD player and two week’s worth of movies for down time and airport layovers. I put my bodysuit, spikes, and an extra pair of underwear in my backpack along with my laptop and extra batteries because your trip to Europe isn’t complete until you lose your luggage. I save my Euros for my next trip over because the Euro always seems to trump the dollar (why lose money if you don’t have to?). I keep a calling card, Skype account and a friend with an international phone just in case there is an emergency. And, I make sure I have headphones and blanket and earplugs for the plane ride home. You taking notes?

You learn best when you learn the hard way. Here’s to the first timer’s on the circuit!

Check me out today – I’m competing in the 100M at the Weltklasse Zurich meeting. It will air in the states on NBC this Sunday, August 30 at 12PM. I’m sure it will find its way to YouTube before then though. If I find it, I’ll post it.

Until next time…

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Fanarchy TONIGHT!

The folks at Versus have invited me to be a guest on Fanarchy tonight! I'm looking forward to it. Make sure you check it out! 9:30 CT on Versus.

Go to http://www.versus.com and use the channel finder to locate the Versus channel in your area.

It's past my bedtime, so you will hear more from me later.

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WOW. A Protest. Really?

Some call me a perpetual optimist, and that’s something that I can claim, but man, the Lord is testing my spirit. I’m pretty good at picking myself up off the floor, but what do you say at a time like this? Two events with the same outcome, all in 12 month’s time. This is the worst kind of déjà vu…

It’s hard to get over this feeling without punching the wall and dropping a few f-bombs. Honestly, that’s how I feel. But, I know none of that will make this feeling that I’m feeling go away.

Rules are rules and we have rules for a reason. I respect the rules and the rule makers.

And, since we’re walking the tight rope of rules, yes, we were disqualified on a technicality.

A technicality that the officials missed. A technicality that the commentators missed. A technicality that the cameras missed. A technicality that required a slow motion, frame-by-frame HD-quality, 10-camera angle booth-style review, an hour after the race was done.

Hey, if that’s what it takes, then so be it. We stepped onto the track ready. We’ve been ready. The fans were waiting. And, now they are the biggest losers. The fans were cheated today. They were cheated out of a race that was a long time coming. And for what? A technicality.

I’ll tell you this. Life teaches the best lessons and I’m learning them – this time, twice over.

I’m angry. I’m frustrated, and I don’t understand how something like this could happen to me – to Team USA – TWICE.

And it’s not that I really don’t understand. I’m not stupid. I was there. I’ve been there.

I guess what I’m saying is… I live to compete. I am a competitor. That means I want to beat you when you’re at your best, and that I’m going to give it my all come hell or high water, no matter what the occasion – EVERY SINGLE TIME. So when things don’t pan out like I expect it, it’s naturally a disappointment. And, I’m still trying to put words to what happened yesterday. Disappointment just doesn’t cut it.

And it’s annoying because you hear so much criticism. Yeah, that’s part of the process – but hear me out.

I think sometimes folks forget that I – WE – represent an entire nation. We wear the United States of America across our chests proudly. We’re representing our mommas, daddies, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, teachers, friends and everyone else who has ever made a difference in our lives – not to mention countless strangers who just love the sport – every time we compete.

Why then would we do anything less than bring the best that we’ve got each and every time we step on the track? I guess I’m “talking” to the folks who will, and always do, dissect our races from the comfort of their living room couches. The ones who had a brother who ran track in high school, or knew someone who knew someone who coached a summer track team once or twice and think they can do me better than me. Every sport has those folks…they bring life to the discussion…and they keep things interesting, but if you’re going to be a real fan, please, don’t dog us. A true fan will never kick their team when they’re down.

Comments and criticism come easily when you’re behind closed doors watching a crowd of 50,000 people instead of standing in front of them. And, I’m not making excuses. That’s what a professional athlete is paid to do. But does that mean we are infallible? Does it mean that we are invincible? Nah, not at all…we’re just human. So just keep that in your back pocket for future reference, and I’ll keep it moving.

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