Tuesday, June 21, 2011

42s on my 44th Birthday

 Hurdling 42s on my 44th Birthday



June 20, 2011 marked the 44th year of my birth and over the past few years I've made it a tradition to step foot on a track and take on the 42 inch hurdle to celebrate life, the blessings of having the ability to still overcome the obstacles both off and on the track. As a track and field athlete, my main event was the 110 meters high hurdles and for more than 20 years I've competed in the event from grade school to college (paid my education) to elite level (earned a living doing). Once I gotten passed the point of earning money doing it, I simply kept doing it for the love of the event, the sport, and the benefits I receive from doing it (physical fitness and peace of mind). I competed up to the age of 38 at the US Championships and if not for other obligations I could have kept it going into my 40s.

I get the questions, Why do it? Isn't it taxing to your body? What is it you got to prove? You can't fight father time, face it you're old, you're getting old... The (glory) days are over so why, why why?

My easiest answer to all the questions, the I'm too old for this, etc. is simple... You  have your thing you do that gives you 'peace of mind' and I have mine... and if you don't have that thing that gives you 'peace of mind' you best hurry up and find it. I'm a physical needy kind of person, I like to be on the move so I absolutely love that my job is coaching and I'm outside on a daily working and putting in work to maintain my own health. For me, being physically fit leads to a healthy state of mind as I deal with the ups and downs of life.

Hurdling, is a way of life for us all and I just so happen to have done it for a living on the track and in doing so.. I look at life as a hurdler. The obstacles I face in life is simply another hurdle I'm trained to overcome.

So until that day GOD let me know that the days of running over 42s is over, I'm lacing up the spikes and getting into that 'Ready-set-Go' position and celebrate my way. And yesterday when I stepped off the last hurdle it felt incredibly good to step over in stride all 5 hurdles... YES!

Hurdling over 42 inch hurdles on my 44th birthday was the best gift I could give myself and I thank my Heavenly Father for the gift that keeps me moving forward in spite of the challenges I face.

Hurdler For Life

Thursday, June 16, 2011

My 2011 Father's Day thought (Flashback to the day my son was born)

On Sunday June 19, 2011 it's our turn..  that's right! It's Fathers Day and I'm elated to say that for 10 years and some months, I've had the privilege of wearing the hat of dad daily (A full 24 hours, 7 days a week). Through the up and downs (the hurdles seen and unforeseen) the one thing that remain a constant since the day little tee was born, I am a father to a son and for as long as I have God's blessing, His mercy and grace to see another day I'll continue to live up to the challenge of raising a son to be a man, and prayerfully a even better father to his son(s) and/ or daughter(s). 

His mom went into labor on a Monday night around midnight and 14 and half hours later 2:28 pm on Tuesday the 26th day of September 2000, we were blessed with a handsome young prince, Terry Reese III. It wasn't until the moment I held him in my arms that he was named after me. 
Tiger Woods ~fist pump~ YES!

A hungry Baby Tee
Lil Tee's mom had  initially got me to settle for Terrence Jamal Reese before birth.. Whew! Not a fan of that name... But once I held him in my arms and looked her in the eyes when the nurse asked us what will be the name of our blessing. I got my wish to name him after my father and I. See picture =>





Random father and son moments through the years (2000 - 2011)

Daddy Tee and Afro lil tee

Back to school - 3rd grade




A Day at the Office (Paul Derr Track)

Yeah! We big like that!


Workout time at Paul Derr Track


At the neighborhood park

Father's Day/ Birthday Dinner at Kickback Jacks June 20, 2010

In Buffalo, NY

Dad and Baby Tee

Each One, Teach One


Father's day 2009

At the park


Kings Dominion July 2010

Incredible ride
This was too fun (1 hour 30 minute wait time for front row)
Before going into Kings Dominion
Fathers and sons King Dominion July 2010


Duke Twilight 2010

Wolfpack Football 2010

Wolfpack 2010 Champs Sports Bowl Game (Orlando, Florida)



Snow day

October 28, 2010 - Wolfpack 28 - FSU 24

NC State baseball vs VA Tech 2010


At the park