The smiling face of Boothbay racewalker Lauren Forgues as she trained along the byways of this peninsula has been a familiar sight since her high school days.

Now, after a year of intense training, 24-year-old Forgues hopes to represent the U.S. in the 20-kilometer women's racewalk event at the Summer Olympics in London. To make it to the Olympics, she will have to win the one spot available to the U.S. by finishing first at the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore., on July 1.

Forgues is currently in San Diego, her training base for the last year. She checked in with the Register via email to share a glimpse of her Olympic journey.

The road to the Olympic trials

Although Forgues has been racing for years, she only decided to try for the Olympics a year ago, when she first ran an Olympic qualifying time in the 20-kilometer event. Since that decision, she "literally sleeps, eats, trains, eats, naps, trains, eats, sleeps." Forgues calls her current lifestyle simple and boring, but is quick to add that the routine is necessary so she can focus on training and stay healthy.

Forgues's coach Tim Seaman said in a phone interview that Forgues has shown tremendous progress over the last year.

"She is much more focused, much more driven. She has her eye on the prize," he said. Seaman said Forgues's positive attitude enables her to overcome obstacles that daunt other athletes. "Lauren's biggest asset is her ability to fight under pressure."

Despite the grueling nature and single-mindedness of training, for Forgues the rewards greatly offset the hardships.

She has had opportunities and experiences that most of her peers only dream about. She has travelled widely, met elite athletes and in May had the honor of representing the U.S. at the World Cup races in Russia. Last fall, she was asked to join the New York Athletic Club, one of the oldest and most prestigious clubs in the world, an achievement Forgues holds dear.

"The best part of being an elite athlete is when your hard work pays off and you perform well," Forgues wrote in one of her emails to the Register. "This year I won the Millrose games and walked a personal best at the indoor nationals and I was so happy after. Making the World Cup team was another huge pay off. That is the best experience, representing your country in competition and making new friends from all over the world."

A supported journey

Forgues has been fortunate to have Seaman for a coach. He holds 10 American racewalk records and is a two-time Olympian. Seaman is coaching four of the top six women vying for the U.S. spot in the racewalk. Forgues believes it is due to Seaman's coaching that she has remained injury-free this year and is in the best physical condition of her life.

Seaman and Forgues both think her Olympic quest has been greatly fostered by the network of family, friends, teammates and community who support her.

Seaman said the community support has made his job easier. "I really want to convey my thanks to the Boothbay community, which has supported Lauren so well," he said.

Forgues wrote that when she gets "tired or grumpy" she calls family and friends and "they remind me why I'm doing this and that they'll still be there when I'm done."

Forgues has also received financial support from USA Track and Field and the North American Racewalking Institute, as well as this community. Financial support for American racewalkers pales in comparison to the support that European and Asian racewalkers receive, but Forgues is grateful for what she has been afforded. "I would not have been able to stay (in San Diego) as long as I have without the help. I will be grateful forever."

The Olympic trials

There may be as many as 20 women competing on July 1, but Seaman said that no more than eight are serious contenders. "It's good and bad to say that, technically, it could be any of us," Forgues wrote.

Seaman said the trial will be a "big, big fight" for the Olympic slot.

Just how close the fight will be on July 1 was evident at the USA Track and Field racewalk championship in California on June 9. Forgues set a new personal record in that race, but so did her teammate/roommate Miranda Melville, who won the race, beating Forgues by only 7 seconds.

Of Forgues's chances, Seaman said: "She is an amazing contender. I wouldn't bet against her in any race."

Most of the hard work behind her, Forgues now waits for race day, her all or nothing chance for the 2012 Olympics. "Emotionally I am ready for the race to get here. I am also ready to race fast – it's in me somewhere. I just need to unleash it."

The women's racewalk trial begins at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.