Posted: March 3, 2006

Athletics: Perdita Felicien Interview

This interview will appear in the Spring issue of Kidsworld Magazine

How did you first discover your gift for hurdles?

I started in track and field at age 9 as a sprinter and a long jumper. I had no clue what “hurdles” was. One day, when I was about 15, my coach Mr. Sahadath called me over during practice. He had a set of hurdles assembled and asked me to jump over them. I had no idea why. I was scared but I jumped over them. He was happy and said from then on when I came to practice I would be a hurdler. And so it was, every practice after that I did the hurdles. I love the hurdles in particular because the event is difficult and there is some risk involved. Also since it is so technical there is always lots of room for improvement.

What is your training routine?

I make sure to have a good thorough warm-up to prepare me to have an excellent training session. Sometimes I use the bike or I jog around the track. My training involves going over at least three to six hurdles at full speed five to six times. This keeps my technique sharp for when I am ready to compete. I usually weight lift in my training. This keeps me strong and helps prevent injury. At the end of the day I get therapy from my physiotherapist or chiropractor. The best part is on very hard days, I get a one-hour massage for my legs and lower back, that always feels great!

What kind of mental preparation do you do?

I use positive affirmations and self talk. I say phrases to myself over and over to strengthen my belief, like “You are a fighter,” “You can do it,” or “Let’s go!”. My phrases change every now and then and are just what I need at that point in time. Another part of training my mind is visualization ... imagining an action or occurrence you want to become real. I visualize my best races, running fast and winning. When you visualize, you want to be as detailed and accurate as possible. What colours do you see? What do you smell? What do you hear? Where are you and who is around? It takes a lot of concentration to be good at this.

What do you eat to keep fit?

I make sure never to skip breakfast – it is the most important meal of the day for anyone and not just athletes. I love omelets in the morning, with some cheese, onions, ham, peppers, mushrooms and even spinach. I also like to have a small glass of orange juice or grapefruit juice and water. For lunch I like a turkey and cheese sandwich with lettuce and tomatoes with an apple or orange. My dinners can be anything from salmon, steak or chicken with steamed vegetables. After dinner I treat myself with something sweet, a small piece of chocolate or a medley of fruits. On days I compete, I drink lots of water hours before the start of the race and less the closer I get to the race. In the morning I may have a small bowl of oatmeal and a protein shake. And for lunch at least three hours before I begin my warm up I may have a sandwich and a piece of fruit. During my warm up, I usually sip Powerade and water.

I want to encourage young people to dream big...

What do you like to do to relax?

Down time is very important for athletes. I like to curl up on my couch and listen to some of my favourite artists, like Sade and Jamie Foxx, or surf online and send emails so I can keep in touch with friends. The one thing that helps me relax the most is writing my journal because I get to write anything I want – my day, how my training is going, what my goals are for the future, anything.

What advice would you give to kids?

I want to encourage young people to dream big, dream vastly and don’t put limits on your dreams. I never thought I would be one of the best hurdlers in the world, but I am. Looking back on those years when I was afraid to dream big, I don’t want others to make that same mistake. Whatever you want to do or be, someone has to get there, so why not you?

...someone has to get there, so why not you?

This article was posted with the permission of Athletics Canada. Subscribe to their free newsletter at: www.athletics.ca

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