Paris 2024 Olympic Update #5: Eduardo Garcia

Eduardo posing in the green circle.

This is the fifth update from Eduardo Garcia regarding his participation in the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Friday 8/2
I went to breakfast and started my first run at around 9:30am. Coach Caldwell gave me two 45 minute runs today to keep the volume honest I believe. I was pleased with how my body responded to treatment yesterday with Thomas. I ran comfortable at around 6:35 per mile pace. I then saw Thomas for a massage afterwards and had another great session with him. I relaxed for a bit in my room and tidied up. I also added pins that I traded from other countries onto my lanyard with my accreditation. I went for my second run and saw Grant Fisher representing Team USA in the 10,000 meters going for a shake out before his final later that night. I would witness him come home with a bronze medal. He would join a small company of U.S medalists in the event by becoming the 4th male to make the podium at the Olympics. I went to the gym to stretch and then had dinner and retired to my room to get rest. 

Saturday 8/3
We are a week out from the Paris marathon and I’m feeling excited. I know that I’ve done everything that I can to give myself the best chance to perform at my best. I just need to trust and believe in my training/fitness. Coach Caldwell gave me a 90-minute medium long run to keep the endurance honest. I was greeted with a nice morning with temperatures in the 60s. I completed the run pain free and averaged a 6:32 per mile for a total of 13.77 miles. I was in good spirits after not having pain in my left glute. I went to the gym to stretch and then got my last massage from Thomas before he heads back to his home in Mulhouse. The silver lining is that the other team of physiotherapists will come in tomorrow evening including my good friend Lillo! I went to grab lunch and called my parents and my wife. Not only do I have amazing support back in the states, but I’ll also have my wife, my in-laws, my parents, and a few cousins that will arrive in Paris on the 7th. I’m going to have my federation issue guest passes for them to visit me on the 8th and 9th. I’m looking forward to that. I went to the mind zone room to relax and then grabbed dinner. I ended the day with watching the Olympics women’s 100 meter final and the final for the women’s triple jump. 

Sunday 8/4
I woke up around 7am and had breakfast before my typical recovery day. I did my 45 minute run and went to the gym to do our strength routine. I had no discomfort again during my run, so it was another positive step in the right direction. I’ll head over to the marathon practice course to complete a mini workout on some hilly terrain.   I have found a pretty solid routine at the village and did not deviate. I wanted to focus on rest and relaxation today. I got a massage and took some team photos with our chef de mission Desiree and our fencer Kruz. I took a good nap at the room and ate dinner at the dining hall. I’ve enjoyed all of the variety of food that is offered here. Tonight I had salmon, rice pilaf, and spinach. Like last night I concluded the evening with some track and field Olympics.

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Greenville Track Club-ELITE was established in 2012 and is in its second decade as a post-collegiate, Olympic-development program. The program developed and produced one participant for the 2024 Olympic Games marathon in Paris, four qualifiers for the 2016 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Los Angeles, one qualifier/participant for the 2019 Pam American Games Marathon in. Lima, Peru, three qualifiers/two participants for the 2020 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Atlanta, GA, one qualifier and participant in the 2021 USATF Olympic Track & Field Trials in the 3000m Steeplechase and three qualifiers for the 2024 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Orlando, FL. The program's runners set four South Carolina State road race records in 2020 (5K, 15K and Half Marathon--twice) and three (15K, 10-Mile and 20K) in 2021. GTC-ELITE also produced the South Carolina Men's 2020 Long Distance Runner of the Year. 

​The program is sponsored and supported by the 52-year-old Greenville Track Club, ASICS, Joy Real Estate (Adopt an Athlete partner), generous individual contributors and partnerships with Performance Therapy, Carolina Spine and Rehab, Roll Recovery products, FinalSurge (on-line training log), ElliptiGO, NormaTec Recovery Boots, Cocoa Elite recovery products, UCAN energy products, Coach Bob Williams Pace Calculator, the DorsiFlex (stretching device), the MOBO board (balance & mobility), On Pace Wellness (nutrition coaching) and LEVER Movement (treadmill body weight support). The club is a proud and active member of both the Road Runners Club of America and USATF.​