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How does Olympian Allyson Felix start off her morning? With a cup of coffee, of course.
The six-time Olympic medalist is headed to Rio in less than two weeks to compete in the 400m and 4x400m relay after clocking the fastest time in the world at 49.68 seconds. Despite her injuries, she finished strong with the support of her coach and loved ones.
We got a chance to chat with Felix about her partnership with Folgers #OneCupAtATime campaign and how she celebrates those special moments with her support system.
What does your typical day look like?
[During a] typical day, I wake up and that’s usually when I have my cup of coffee. And [I] kind of go over my day — visualization is a big part of it and usually when I have my coffee, I’ll do that. I’ll run through my race and training and what that looks like.
Why did you partner with Folgers #OneCupAtATime campaign? What morning moments do you cherish the most with your coach, loved ones, etc.
It’s cool [that] the campaign Folgers is doing is really celebrating those people. That’s so special to me, [like] my coach and family. My coach is the person I have the most interaction with every day. I’ll meet him when I get to the track. He’s a very intense person but that’s what makes our partnership work. We’re very opposite of each other. Our moments are really about his vision for me.
And it’s not just my coach [that supports me]. My mentor Jackie Joyner Kersee, who’s been influential in my life, and of course, people like my parents who give me all the support, even in those moments that aren’t glamorous and I’m questioning why am I even doing this.
Can you share a specific moment or story about how a loved one, teammate, or coach encouraged you throughout your journey to the Rio Olympics?
This year I dealt with an injury a few months ago and the moment that I remember all the time is the afternoon that the injury happened. Right in the gym, I had called my brother to figure out what hospital we were going to. And by the time we got to the hospital, Bobby Kersee, my coach, was there, my parents were there, my brother was there… I just had this outpouring of support and they were helping me with icing every 20 minutes. Just to see that level of support when I was super down and out was amazing.
How do you personally push yourself to be your best despite obstacles thrown at you?
For me, goals are huge like physically writing them down. You have those days you wake up and you just don’t feel like [doing anything]. I log all of my workouts so I can physically see the amount of work I put in and the investment of time. It pushes me and motivates me. Even when I’m feeling great, it gives me more confidence when I go back [and] see that I’m actually making progress.
How do you like to relax and unwind?
I’m a homebody. I love to be at home with family and friends, just hanging out at the house. I’m a California girl so I enjoy relaxing at the beach or taking a bike ride. And movies…I love to just sit down with a good movie.
What’s on your workout playlist?
Right now, I have a lot of Beyoncé, some Jay-Z. I have Kendrick Lamar and some J.Cole. Anything kind of upbeat and motivating.
xx, The FabFitFun Team
