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Ciao America…Benvenuto in Italia! Well, my track & field season has come to an end, and I have had a couple weeks now to reflect on everything that happened. I feel like it was a bittersweet season, because there were so many positive things that came out of it, however there were very difficult and disappointing moments, as well. I finished my season ranked #19 on the IAAF list, which was hardly what I had imagined when I kicked off the 2005 season. I was jumping great from the beginning and then things seemed to spiral downhill, beginning with the Banamex Mexico meet. I had been battling a bad back from my volleyball season, and re-injured it in Mexico. This was a bit difficult to deal with, considering that the meet in Mexico was one I probably could have skipped in order to prepare for USA Nationals. Hindsight is always 20/20! The Mexico meet seemed to initiate a string of jumps in the 1.80s (6’0-6’2"), which was devastating, considering that I was jumping well in the 1.90s (6’4"-6’5") before that meet. I rehabbed my back weekly, thanks to the help of Dale Smith here in Dallas. He was wonderful and without him I wouldn’t have been able to continue with my season! I had to completely take the weight room out of my daily routine. This was difficult for me, because I have always relied heavily on my strength and power as a high jumper. I was limited to an occasional leg press and everything consisted of machine weights – no more squats, cleans and snatches. As a track athlete, that is almost unheard of and as my season lengthened, I became thinner and thinner and thinner, losing all muscle weight. By the end of my season, I had turned into a 62 kilo (132 lbs.) waif with no strength whatsoever. It gave me a huge appreciation for the weight room! I have just finished a two week break of doing absolutely nothing, because I believe my body needed that break after a long season. Being a dual sport athlete, I have to force myself to take those breaks, even though it is like pulling teeth to keep me away from a track, volleyball court or a treadmill. I am conditioned to always be training in some respect. About two weeks ago I signed a contract to play my third season of professional volleyball in Italy. I am playing for a team in Jesi, Italy this year. Monte Schiavo Banca Marche Jesi is the team name and the team website is www.vms-volley.com, if you are interested in keeping up-to-date in what’s going on. Of course, it will be easier to keep up if you can understand or read Italian! The website for the Italian Volleyball League is www.legavolleyfemminile.it. You can find results there, as well, however I will have a schedule and results section on my website that we will try to keep updated as much as possible. I am really excited to play for Jesi. It is one of the best clubs in Italy, and we have a chance to win the championship this season. Our team is strong and, unlike the last couple seasons, it looks like I might actually get paid on time and in full! That is always a bonus. It seems like a much more serious club, which is such a relief. I passed up a lot of other financially better contracts with other clubs in Italy and Spain, only so that I can play for a team that will win and will pay. To me that is important, after being stuck on the losing end of things for the past two seasons. I couldn’t take it anymore! I have eased my way back into the weight room, and it will be a slow process to gain back my strength. I am willing to be patient with it, because I know that if I get too anxious, I will continue to injure my back. I am looking very forward to regaining the strength and filling out my waif physique once again! I left for Italy on the 28th of September, and my season will run through March or so. Then, we will play in the final tournament. I hope all of you will keep checking back for results and updates from my end. Who knows…maybe there will be another entertaining series of "Sex in the Italian Cities" headed your way! Love, Erin |