Paris 2024 Olympic Update: Eduardo Garcia

Nicolas, Eduardo and Lillo

I started realizing my Olympic dream on Tuesday and I’m excited to share my experiences with you all. I want to document these life memories as a way to express my gratitude for all of the support I’ve received over the years. -- Eduardo Garcia

Tuesday 7/22
I arrived in Mulhouse, France for a short training camp hosted by the PANAM Sports Organization on Tuesday at 6:30 pm Central European Time Zone. I was pretty exhausted after a day of travel leaving Miami on Monday at 10:05pm Eastern Time Zone. I got something to eat and called it a day.​ 

Wednesday 7/23
I set my alarm for 7am, but after hitting the snooze for an hour, I decided to let my body dictate when I should start the day. I had two runs planned for the day to shake out the legs from travel. I did my first run and found a beautiful rail trail that runs along the countryside of Mulhouse. I can’t read in French, but I trusted the signs on the path that had a pedestrian and a bike. I had breakfast and had a tour to see my new home for the next few days. The camp is for all the countries in the Americas and the Caribbean. I decided to take full advantage of the amenities and start recovering. I did massage where I met Lillo, who I built a great rapport with along with a fellow massage therapist Nicolas. I then did a full body cryotherapy treatment and loved how I felt once I got out. I can get used to this! 

​​Thursday 7/24
Today was a big day and one that I’d been visualizing in my mind for a while. It was my last progressive long run with fuel. The duration is 2 hours and 30 minutes and the goal is to progress into a faster pace throughout the run while practicing taking fluids every 5k. I knew this was an important session and I was determined to make it count. Yesterday I worked with Jorge, who leads the day-to-day for the track athletes. I requested a bike for my athlete support person Keith and he delivered! Everything was set in motion and Keith said that I looked like “poetry in motion.” I sure felt like it and was left feeling reassured and confident. I’m ready. I once again did cryotherapy and another massage with Nicola. Tomorrow the next part of the journey continues as I head to the Olympic Village.

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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.​