This is an inspirational track and field book, unlike anything that has been written on the topic. It challenges those who believe that genetic makeup is the only significant contributing factor to becoming an elite track and field athlete, and goes beyond technique to explore the critical importance of mindset. It offers evidence-based tools to help build sustainable and performance-enhancing training philosophies, with a capacity to support athletes from all parts of the genetic spectrum on their journey to the top. The book is a unique story of one athlete's journey in the decathlon from humble beginnings in rural Latvia, through the US college experience on the plains of Kansas, and most recently training with Olympians in Prague, in the heart of Europe. The book documents the physical and mental challenges encountered, the struggles to overcome them, and the training and coaching lessons learned along the way. The book contains personal stories, observations, collected training wi