For Tuesdays with Toyota, we are spotlighting some of USATF's most dedicated members with a short feature on USATF.org and our social media channels. Meet Michele Yates, a member of USATF Colorado from Conifer. Why are you a member of USATF? USATF has provided me with opportunities to travel all over the world and represent my country. I participated on the World teams for shorter distance mountain trail all the way up through 100k trail. I am a 4x national champion at the USATF Ultra Trail distances as well as being a member of numerous decorated NACAC and World teams. Now as a Masters athlete, I look forward to adventures in exploring the indoor track again (It's been years!), shorter road races and even some long trail races again! Furthermore, I've recently started a community youth running program, Mountain Movers Kids. USATF has given me the opportunity to enrich young minds with coaching the great sport of track and field and cross country running as well as provide growth opportunities for all ages and levels. What is your "why"? I believe I exist to inspire. Although that doesn't just mean with my personal performance, it highly relates to the gifts and talents I was blessed with as an educator, coach, and athlete. It also hasn't always been easy. I battle numerous autoimmune health conditions that are continuous and have had several surgeries including: heart, thyroid, double hip, coccyx, compartment syndrome and others. By having self-awareness, I am able to continue my journey with self-discovery in life as a USATF member. Those that surround me, my youth team, my adult clients, my fellow USATF competitors, all motivate me to continue to inspire. What is something that helps you focus while you train? Some things that help me focus while I train are music and mental imagery. Mental imagery is imperative for performance (whether you are coaching or competing yourself) allowing the person to visualize what they are going to do, how they are going to do it, and doing it well! This can build self-confidence which is like the watering can to the seed (the idea/the goal/the thought). Without this "watering" approach, the seed just dies. Music is just a way to excuse yourself from the rest of the world for a few moments and help one bring up the images needed in their minds to execute. How has USATF impacted you? USATF has provided me with growth, confidence, health, and safe competition as a coach and an athlete. Outside USATF how do you spend your time? USATF plays a major role in our household lives, but otherwise I also help coach soccer. I love to go camping and backpacking and spend time with my dogs. What is your favorite USATF memory? My favorite USATF memory would have to be winning the USATF 50k Trail Championships after a long year of success. I wasn't sure I could pull that one off given the demanding year; however, God blessed me with just one more win! On the coaching side, experiencing the 2023 USATF Cross Country Championships with the Mountain Movers Youth team. I cannot forget their little faces as they worked harder than they ever had before in their life and the pride they had in themselves when it was over. THIS is one of the most important things in life (self-love, self-confidence, self-discipline). Is there an athlete or person who inspired you to join the sport? The person who inspired me to join the sport of running was my sister. As a decorated high school athlete herself in the sport, she encouraged me to try out for the middle school cross country team. I was hooked on the first day and never looked back.