Welkomen, Welcome, Bienvenidos, & Happy New Years! - Rob Mandje

Submitted by Rob Mandje on 12 January 2008 - 12:46pm

I wasn't sure how/where or even when to start blogging again. The reality is that I love to write, and had actually spoken to my good good (and patient) friend: Adam Ostrow about starting it up again in 2008 as I prepare for what could surely be (up to date of course) the most important year of my athletics life .
The second jolt came from an internet friend of mine: Yommie Omogbeja, whom I met through my participation in the last Olympic Games. I was very honored to have him request my blogging services in order to have them featured on www.AthleticsAfrica.com .
So here I'm, finally getting back on the proverbial horse again with a new year and a new blog. For those of you that didn't follow my old one -which gradually deteriorated in relevancy sometime after the 2004 Olympics- I'll re-introduce myself. My name is: Robert Caracciolo. I was born in Barcelona, Spain back in the early early 80's (1982). My mother was born in Equatorial Guinea and thus I received citizenship from them. I grew up all around the world traveling and living in such countries as: Egypt, South Africa & Mali, due to my father's Job (USAID/World Bank).
I begun running early in High School, but can't really say I took it that seriously till my last year and even through college. Once I left College I decided to give it a real good go at things and took my 1st steps in "professionalizing" myself after the 2004 Olympics, by moving to Boulder, Colorado.
I've been here for about 3 years or so now. I recently got a great new coach: Lorraine Moller. She and her husband: Harlan Smith have become my family out here over the years and have really looked after me. Lorraine is from New Zealand, and was the 1992 Olympic Bronze Medalist in the Marathon. Harlan's an all around great role model as well to have around, with and endless supply of (I guess you could call it) "new age" perceptions and outlooks into bettering life, one's self & of course maximizing the most out of your true potential. They along with their little girl, 7 year old Jasmine have not only become part of my family out here, but my "TEAM". Without their support I'm not sure exactly where I would've been, especially this fall when I returned from Europe with one goal in mind: Beijing Olympics, but very little clue as to how to prepare myself (properly this time!) for them.
So there you have it more or less, this has been my re-introduction to the blogging community. I will now write a brief entry about my fall training and where I'm at right now, but first it's 10:45AM local time and I must get out for my morning run. So next update will come in a couple hours when I've returned, showered & had some breakfast!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope to keep any old and new readers interested in my journey.

Peace & Love