Paris 2024 Olympics Update #2: Eduardo Garcia

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

​Thursday 7/25
Today was my day of travel to the Olympic Village. I was feeling bittersweet as I enjoyed my time here in the Mulhouse camp. It gave me a sense of peace and really allowed me to focus fully on training and recovery. I had zero distractions, which was nice for getting mentally and physically prepared for my upcoming race. I had a typical recovery run and lift that I started around 8am. Keith and I booked a train ride to Paris that was scheduled for 4:57pm, so I packed up all my belongings and went downstairs when it was time for us to depart. The train ride was supposed to be two and a half hours, but was closer to three hours due to engine malfunction. We arrived in the Paris train station at around 10pm and were greeted by volunteers for the Olympics who would take us to the village. Once we made it to the village, we had to go through security check, and pick up our accreditation. This gave us access to transport services, dining, gym, medical treatment, and a host of other amenities offered to the athletes competing. We ate at the dining hall and I called it a night after 1am. 

​Friday 7/26
The start of the Olympic Games began today with the opening ceremony. To say that I was excited was an understatement. Another one of my priorities today was to get a lay of the land as the village is massive, hosting over 200 participating countries and over 10,500 athletes roughly. The World Championships in Eugene, Oregon  last year was the closest comparable competition and that even felt a lot more laid back. This is a spectacle that I’ve never experienced before and I was feeling a bit overwhelmed as there was a lot going on. One of the many benefits to being a long distance runner is the ability to explore and get acquainted to a new area. I decided to do my 75 minute run around the village and identified important buildings including the dining hall, gym, studio for headshots, shopping center, transport mall, medical just to name a few. After the run I ironed my opening ceremony outfit and got in another run beforehand. This Olympics was historic being the first one to have the opening ceremony on boats. I was being intentional to soak it all in and be in the moment. I enjoyed every second of it despite rain during the ceremony. When our moment came to be on TV, we shouted and cheered with joy. We knew we were representing an entire Nation and that it was bigger that us. It’s truly a privilege  that I’m grateful for and don’t take for granted. My favorite part of the ceremony was seeing the Eiffel Tower up close with the Olympic rings. It even shimmered which was an amazing sight.  

​Saturday 7/27
I got back from the opening ceremony close to midnight and that was leaving early. I decided to sleep in and had breakfast around 9:30am. My goal for today was to get a more consistent schedule moving forward like I had in Mulhouse. I did my run and lift at the gym. Afterwards I went to probably my favorite spot in the village. It’s a quiet area for athletes to go and relax. They had calming fragrances, dim blue lighting, lots of comfy chairs and areas for resting. I found my zen and calmed my mind. I’m definitely using this area in the coming days. Next I picked up my new uniform by New Balance! It’s a really cool racing kit and also came with warm up gear. I got even more excited to race after seeing the new look. Tomorrow I will bus to the marathon practice area and complete a marathon workout.

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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.​