The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
11.11.2006 | Track & Field / Cross Country w, Track & Field / Cross Country
National Champion Michelle Carter is ready for her senior year. The fourth-year Longhorns thrower has her sights set on defending her individual conference, region and national titles and helping Bev Kearney's track and field program to another National Championship.
With a hectic offseason, Carter stopped by TexasSports.com to update the Longhorns faithful on her whereabouts and actions since the outdoor season ended in June.
Can you fill us in on the details of your offseasaon training program? Well, this year the training and drills are harder than last year. We're just taking everything to the next level. We're hitting the weight room harder and getting in better physical shape so we can be prepared for both indoor and outdoor seasons.
What is the biggest change between last year's condition and this year's new regimen? Through our strength and conditioning coach, we've added more exercises and are trying to keep things more consistent. Typically, you might do a workout for a while and then stop working out. You go back and forth -- getting out of a routine and then back into it. This year, we're trying to build off each phase in the workout and maintain our consistency.
You mentioned your conditioning has changed in the weight room. Have your drills on the track been altered as well? That will always be the same. I'm always working on my technique in throwing the discus and the shot put. My numbers in terms of distance may change but as far as repetition is considered, you just go out there and throw.
Is your training different in the offseason since you have no competitive meets? Is it harder to motivate yourself through a workout each day? In the past, it's been like that. This year I've changed my mentality when it comes to practice and competing; I'm throwing hard and giving it my best all the time. I've pushed myself harder in the offseason so I'll be that much better when the season starts.
We know that you work hard in school and in training for track and field but is there something outside of those two areas that helps you balance your life and not get overwhelmed with class and conditioning? Recently, I started bowling and I love it. I've probably gone five times in the last week and a half. I'll bowl by myself or try to get someone to come with me. Sometimes, I go with a group of people including some of my teammates. It's actually kind of fun. If I'm not doing anything and I need to get out, I'll grab some bowling shoes and a ball, and head to the lanes.
Do you find it takes your mind of off everything? It takes my mind of things. Because I'm competitive I find myself saying to some of my friends, "You're not beating me again." The last time I went bowling, one of my friends won the first game so I told him I'm practicing now because he's not going to beat me again.
Well with training and bowling, how is life in the classroom? It's going well. I'm a kinesiology major with a minor in education. One day, I may want to coach. I also want to run my own daycare and learning center. I am keeping my options open for the future.
