—Melissa Arkin
How does eyewear play a role in the sport of hurdling?
Hurdling requires good depth perception. Since we run mainly outside, there are a number of conditions that can hinder eyesight. For instance, there might be glare because the sun is shining so brightly. Or even the unpredictable surprise of a bug flying into my eye. My sunglasses help protect me from those elements.
What has your endorsement relationship with Oakley been like?
With Oakley it’s really about the product working for you. They are continually improving their technology. They aren’t just throwing me a product and saying “Lolo, this looks cool–wear this.” They are asking me, “Does this fit well? Will you have any problems running in it?” This is why Oakley works with the best athletes around the world–they consistently listen to our performance needs.
What sunglasses do you wear?
Currently, I warm up in the Thump Pro sunglasses and train in the Radar. But I can’t wait until the Endure comes out–it’s the first sport performance eyewear design created specifically for women by women. In a true collaboration with feedback from myself and other top female athletes, they have created this first-of-its-kind product that is optimized with attention to detail in every aspect–women’s fit,
performance needs and style.
What kind of training are you doing right now?
I'm finishing up my indoor season in a week which involves a lot of speed and hurdle work. After that I move on to
outdoors where I will do more general strength training and power weights to retain my base and strengthen my body for the long haul to the Olympics.
What keeps you motivated throughout your intense training?
This job doesn't differ much from a regular nine-to-five job. Sure, I get plenty of opportunity to slack off– much like someone who sits at their job all day and plays on the Internet instead of doing their work. However, in my case, rather than worrying about a boss catching me and firing me, I worry about other runners catching me in front of a crowd of 80,000 people. That's motivation enough.
How does eyewear play a role in the sport of hurdling?
Hurdling requires good depth perception. Since we run mainly outside, there are a number of conditions that can hinder eyesight. For instance, there might be glare because the sun is shining so brightly. Or even the unpredictable surprise of a bug flying into my eye. My sunglasses help protect me from those elements.
What has your endorsement relationship with Oakley been like?
With Oakley it’s really about the product working for you. They are continually improving their technology. They aren’t just throwing me a product and saying “Lolo, this looks cool–wear this.” They are asking me, “Does this fit well? Will you have any problems running in it?” This is why Oakley works with the best athletes around the world–they consistently listen to our performance needs.
What sunglasses do you wear?
Currently, I warm up in the Thump Pro sunglasses and train in the Radar. But I can’t wait until the Endure comes out–it’s the first sport performance eyewear design created specifically for women by women. In a true collaboration with feedback from myself and other top female athletes, they have created this first-of-its-kind product that is optimized with attention to detail in every aspect–women’s fit,
performance needs and style.
What kind of training are you doing right now?
I'm finishing up my indoor season in a week which involves a lot of speed and hurdle work. After that I move on to
outdoors where I will do more general strength training and power weights to retain my base and strengthen my body for the long haul to the Olympics.
What keeps you motivated throughout your intense training?
This job doesn't differ much from a regular nine-to-five job. Sure, I get plenty of opportunity to slack off– much like someone who sits at their job all day and plays on the Internet instead of doing their work. However, in my case, rather than worrying about a boss catching me and firing me, I worry about other runners catching me in front of a crowd of 80,000 people. That's motivation enough.
