DANI SAMUELS: ATHLETE DIARIES

Hi everyone,

It’s that time of year where I like to know that I make sacrifice that pays me back and makes me stronger physically and mentally. I am always good with self-discipline but am also working closely with Johann Bilsborough from Carlton Football club over this festive season. I can promise you I will be living the life of an athlete aiming for nothing but the best! Johann is the consulting dietician to my training and management team’s company Competitive Edge and I truly believe the detail Johann is going to for me is giving me the edge. I know  the sacrifice that I will make pays me back and gives me a powerful belief that on the big day I know I have done everything possible.

It’s the time of year where I also like to train on Christmas eve when most people are partying. This is just something I’ve always done and has become a ritual. In saying this, I never lose the fun. I plan  ‘active rest’ not long after Christmas where I take off with family to our favourite holiday destination that I’ve been going to since I was a young. Of course I get some work done, but physically and mentally this is a very important part of my preparation- my coach tells me to do it! They really value what it does for me setting up the year ahead.

Attached are some pictures from my Athletic Allstars support team party recently and I have taken the opportunity to introduce you to some of my team. What a great night! It was themed ‘chariots of fire’ and for most of us it was a nice history lesson of Olympic athletes that have been there before us nearly 100 years ago. It got us in the Olympic spirit and was a great excuse to dress up like the recent Underbelly series! The room was set up with red carpet and hurdles, statues of the ancient Greek discus thrower Discobolus, suitcases filled with athlete uniforms and running spikes from back then, posters of the actual athletes from 1924 plus the movie (give yourself a history lesson and google who won Australia’s only gold medal in track and field that year… we never knew but we do now!) People dressed as the famous coach Sam Mussabini and the spinters Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell. Our extended family of athletes including UFC fighter James TeHuna, NRL stars Jarryd Hayne, Nathan Hindmarsh, Luke Burt along with each of the athletes' immediate families and closest support network all got together for such a great night. Our team are like a family and we look forward to more nights together so expect some more pics!

Excuse the plug but if you want to see more pics of what we get up to find our page on facebook and go to the photo albums www.facebook.com/athleticallstars We are always up to something!

Be safe everyone, and here’s to a big 2012!

Dani