I started deleting all of my drafts that blogspot automatically saves for you and after that I started reading the comments I have been left periodically because blogger does not notify you when you receive a comment so if you don't check you'll never actually realize you were left one. I want to thank everyone that has commented me and just left anything from good luck to we love reading your blog.
Just for an update on my part, for everyone that could be interested and has noticed I have yet to participate in an invitational meet. You will not see me in West Palm but I have every intention of attending Roanoke which will be my first invitational of the season. It'll be awfully late for me to make my invitational debut considering that I haven't missed Greensboro in the last 8-10 years. I have been skating and I have been training but it just has not made the most since for me to attend these meets. Greensboro we decided wasn't going to be a big deal to miss because they were having Vinton and word was getting out that a lot of people were staying home for Greensboro and my team is not full of rich parents so we thought it would be a good idea too. Then it came time to sign up for Vinton and although my team went my division was not well represented. The winner of Junior and Senior actually came from my region which verified going was not a smart idea for me because we have the Keystone Speed League and fortunately for me at least there are skaters like Justin Mannon and Andrew Shatzer that aren't on my team but still attend these league meets and together we combine for a decent race that has competition. Yes, world team member attend our league meets.
On the year...
I still plan on attending Outdoor Nationals and I have every intention on skating very well. If I did not expect to skate good I would not go. I do plan to contend for a spot on the Senior World Team there is no purpose of me going if I did not. I already feel that we've picked up the intensity from last year to allow myself and others that plan to attend ODN from my team to have a shot at their goals. I state these seamlessly obvious things because there are many years this one included that I find first year Senior skaters to attend ODN with no intentions on making the world team. I find no since in this at all. There is no reason a previous Junior World Team member cannot contend with Senior skaters. If you could contend at a world level even for Junior you can contend for a US Senior event, yes you must train harder and stay focused but it is possible. Personally the number one reason for failing is because you don't believe you can succeed.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
World Class Dilemma
More time--More thinking--more decisions. Well the more time that passes it seems like the more things I will come to realize and yet the more decisions will have to be made about my future plans.
Well it has recently been announced that Worlds in 2009 are to be held in Haining City in the Peoples Republic of China. The dates are as late as I can remember which are September 16-27. That will definitely add another twists for many people. Every year the debate comes up that the Skating season is becoming longer and longer, well with Worlds this late it just got even longer and for many reasons some of our athletes could be in trouble. First I bring up the point that it allows for residency to be longer (if so they wish) therefore if you are a team member that has a job, you could be asked to miss even more time from work.
Secondly, I have said this before and I'll say it again.. some team members will train to make the World Team, they consider the peak of their season to be June and July where both Nationals take place but the problem is if ODN is in June those members have to pick up the intensity of their training until September. I can see most of the Senior Men having no problem or the least bit of problem with this. I see the Senior ladies (or some of them) next then I see the Juniors having an equal problem. This year there could potentially be seven new junior team members. That means, seven skaters that have no idea what worlds is like and have no idea what they are in for. Therefore, some of them will not train like they truly need to for 3.5 months until worlds comes around.
Next I have realized another problem that could have a bigger effect then many believe. This past year, the Senior Women's team had two individual medalists. Brittany and Sara, Brittany is a full-time college student, and if she wanted to attend Worlds in 2009 she may not be able to simply because you cannot take time off from college like you can from high school. Not to mention you have a number of Juniors moving up that have large intentions of attending college and if they were to make the team they may have to deny or put off college for the semester to do so. Brittany was the easiest example simply because if she decided to skate worlds she would not have any difficulty making the team in the first place.
So I will now explain my dilemma. In my life there are a few things that I would like to do. One would make the world team a few more times, another is attend a four year college, and finally I would like to give ice a serious shot in Utah and see where it can take me. They all conflict with each other to some degree, mostly college. I have full intentions on going to college. Like previously stated if I go to college full-time I may not be able to go to worlds even if I make the team, and if you are wondering the only reason I would have to go to Outdoor Nationals is to make the team especially because at the looks of it Outdoor Nationals is conflicting with my High School Graduation. It has also been brought to my intention although not yet confirmed that the inline transition program in Utah has no desire to include full-time college students. It appears that I could potentially do two of those at the same time but that would be leaving college out and I don't have any intentions on putting college off completely until later.
Well it has recently been announced that Worlds in 2009 are to be held in Haining City in the Peoples Republic of China. The dates are as late as I can remember which are September 16-27. That will definitely add another twists for many people. Every year the debate comes up that the Skating season is becoming longer and longer, well with Worlds this late it just got even longer and for many reasons some of our athletes could be in trouble. First I bring up the point that it allows for residency to be longer (if so they wish) therefore if you are a team member that has a job, you could be asked to miss even more time from work.
Secondly, I have said this before and I'll say it again.. some team members will train to make the World Team, they consider the peak of their season to be June and July where both Nationals take place but the problem is if ODN is in June those members have to pick up the intensity of their training until September. I can see most of the Senior Men having no problem or the least bit of problem with this. I see the Senior ladies (or some of them) next then I see the Juniors having an equal problem. This year there could potentially be seven new junior team members. That means, seven skaters that have no idea what worlds is like and have no idea what they are in for. Therefore, some of them will not train like they truly need to for 3.5 months until worlds comes around.
Next I have realized another problem that could have a bigger effect then many believe. This past year, the Senior Women's team had two individual medalists. Brittany and Sara, Brittany is a full-time college student, and if she wanted to attend Worlds in 2009 she may not be able to simply because you cannot take time off from college like you can from high school. Not to mention you have a number of Juniors moving up that have large intentions of attending college and if they were to make the team they may have to deny or put off college for the semester to do so. Brittany was the easiest example simply because if she decided to skate worlds she would not have any difficulty making the team in the first place.
So I will now explain my dilemma. In my life there are a few things that I would like to do. One would make the world team a few more times, another is attend a four year college, and finally I would like to give ice a serious shot in Utah and see where it can take me. They all conflict with each other to some degree, mostly college. I have full intentions on going to college. Like previously stated if I go to college full-time I may not be able to go to worlds even if I make the team, and if you are wondering the only reason I would have to go to Outdoor Nationals is to make the team especially because at the looks of it Outdoor Nationals is conflicting with my High School Graduation. It has also been brought to my intention although not yet confirmed that the inline transition program in Utah has no desire to include full-time college students. It appears that I could potentially do two of those at the same time but that would be leaving college out and I don't have any intentions on putting college off completely until later.
Monday, November 17, 2008
College and Short Track
Well, I got accepted to my first college. I wasn't really worried about getting into it, I knew my chances. When you have a 4.1 and a 1150 (or 1800 if you count writing) on your first SAT (i took it again but haven't gotten my results yet) a lot of local schools aren't the most difficult ones to get into. The more difficult schools I applied to are Pitt and Penn State both of which I haven't heard from (Pitt being the harder of the two to get into). So the whole safety school thing is out the window. I never really picked a safety school in the first place. I had like a 2-4 week response on the first college I applied to so I figured if I didn't get into it I would start applying to a safety school.
I have absolutely no idea what I plan to major in. For the past two years I planned on majoring in journalism/communications but last year I did a graduation project on it and I wasn't happy with the results. I am a good writer. I don't know why but I can write papers well. Particularly journalism papers. So I always thought it would be easy to just do what I am really good at. But the problem is I would become a Sports Journalist. Sports journalist work the hours of 4-12 on most days in order to get their piece written before their paper sends to press shortly after midnight. Normally you start out with nothing writing articles for a paper just trying to get hired. Then you will most likely work at a small time paper and make (if you are lucky) the average $40,000 a year. When I decided I wanted to be a journalist I had this vision of myself working at a big paper like the NY Times and sitting in my office cubicle writing the latest piece on the current Professional sport. Then the reality hit me and the fact that there is such a small percent of people that make it that far. The reality is that most journalist work for small time papers in more rural settings. Their paper probably comes out once a week and they are the papers that have done articles on me besides the one article I got written about in the Reading Eagle which is the only legal city in Berk's County.
Then there is Short Track. Haven't really done much of it thus far this year. I think about 5-6 practices. One race. The little Lehigh Valley race we went to this past Saturday. Not to be mean but there wasn't really competition. I was racing my brother as my biggest competitor and I do that at practice. Discounting the 500 I was over 5 seconds off my PB in the 1000 and like a good 13 seconds off my PB in the 1500m. Three former inliners made the Junior ST World Team: J.R. Celski, Eddy, and Robert Lawerence. That's good. I think I'm going to try and attend that meet next year. Top 16 in a 1000m TT end up being allowed to try out and after looking at this years last couple qualifying times I'm pretty confident I can make it especially because I feel I'd be better at a 1000m TT then I am at the 1000m pack race. We'll just have to wait and see. I still might see if I can attend a meet where I could qualify for the Am Cup time. I'm about two seconds over it from last year but with competition I think I might manage it by the end of the season.
I have absolutely no idea what I plan to major in. For the past two years I planned on majoring in journalism/communications but last year I did a graduation project on it and I wasn't happy with the results. I am a good writer. I don't know why but I can write papers well. Particularly journalism papers. So I always thought it would be easy to just do what I am really good at. But the problem is I would become a Sports Journalist. Sports journalist work the hours of 4-12 on most days in order to get their piece written before their paper sends to press shortly after midnight. Normally you start out with nothing writing articles for a paper just trying to get hired. Then you will most likely work at a small time paper and make (if you are lucky) the average $40,000 a year. When I decided I wanted to be a journalist I had this vision of myself working at a big paper like the NY Times and sitting in my office cubicle writing the latest piece on the current Professional sport. Then the reality hit me and the fact that there is such a small percent of people that make it that far. The reality is that most journalist work for small time papers in more rural settings. Their paper probably comes out once a week and they are the papers that have done articles on me besides the one article I got written about in the Reading Eagle which is the only legal city in Berk's County.
Then there is Short Track. Haven't really done much of it thus far this year. I think about 5-6 practices. One race. The little Lehigh Valley race we went to this past Saturday. Not to be mean but there wasn't really competition. I was racing my brother as my biggest competitor and I do that at practice. Discounting the 500 I was over 5 seconds off my PB in the 1000 and like a good 13 seconds off my PB in the 1500m. Three former inliners made the Junior ST World Team: J.R. Celski, Eddy, and Robert Lawerence. That's good. I think I'm going to try and attend that meet next year. Top 16 in a 1000m TT end up being allowed to try out and after looking at this years last couple qualifying times I'm pretty confident I can make it especially because I feel I'd be better at a 1000m TT then I am at the 1000m pack race. We'll just have to wait and see. I still might see if I can attend a meet where I could qualify for the Am Cup time. I'm about two seconds over it from last year but with competition I think I might manage it by the end of the season.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Fat Time
Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas might make it a little easier to eat. Other then Halloween you don't necessarily have to watch what you eat. Right now you still might be looking over at the Halloween bowl that's sitting there on the kitchen table full of sugary sweets and chocolates. You do need to watch those. To much sugar can make you tired during the day. Not to mention the cavity watch for your teeth and the weight watch on your scale.
But during the year how often can you say that you eat a full meal? I don't mean a meal that fills you up but a meal that covers the majority of the food pyramid. Thanksgiving and Christmas are probably two meals you eat full. Not only that, but with all the left overs from Thanksgiving how often do you heat them up? Probably a few times which gives you a few extra full meals.
But if you live closer up north you may realize winter is approaching pretty fast. Or at least the weather is. The days get shorter and you become much more likely to stay inside rather then get out. You will be more tempted to eat then you are in the warm months. A few ways to make it a little easier is to surround yourself with healthier choices. Fruits, nuts, granola are all snacks that are healthier. Nuts actually are proven to be quite filling so if you just need something quick and small there you go.
One of the easiest ways (in my opinion) to offset weight gain during the winter and to stay in shape is weights. I think it is so much easier to lift weights in the winter then in the summer and if you are going to put on weight at least you'll give your body the ability to convert it to muscle. When someone mentions weights people automatically think heavy weights and big muscles but that is not the case. There are multiple ways to lift weights. One way is for strength. Strength is high weight and low reps. Then there is for muscle mass. Mass lifting is with a little less weight but higher reps. Then there is endurance lifting which is much less weight but way more reps. Any of which can keep you in shape during the winter. Don't let the cold months become the fat months.
Keep your goals in mind and body fit.
But during the year how often can you say that you eat a full meal? I don't mean a meal that fills you up but a meal that covers the majority of the food pyramid. Thanksgiving and Christmas are probably two meals you eat full. Not only that, but with all the left overs from Thanksgiving how often do you heat them up? Probably a few times which gives you a few extra full meals.
But if you live closer up north you may realize winter is approaching pretty fast. Or at least the weather is. The days get shorter and you become much more likely to stay inside rather then get out. You will be more tempted to eat then you are in the warm months. A few ways to make it a little easier is to surround yourself with healthier choices. Fruits, nuts, granola are all snacks that are healthier. Nuts actually are proven to be quite filling so if you just need something quick and small there you go.
One of the easiest ways (in my opinion) to offset weight gain during the winter and to stay in shape is weights. I think it is so much easier to lift weights in the winter then in the summer and if you are going to put on weight at least you'll give your body the ability to convert it to muscle. When someone mentions weights people automatically think heavy weights and big muscles but that is not the case. There are multiple ways to lift weights. One way is for strength. Strength is high weight and low reps. Then there is for muscle mass. Mass lifting is with a little less weight but higher reps. Then there is endurance lifting which is much less weight but way more reps. Any of which can keep you in shape during the winter. Don't let the cold months become the fat months.
Keep your goals in mind and body fit.
the Joy's of Local November
We are going to Donora for regionals. The eastern region. Located in eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey is traveling west over four hours to Donora. If I didn't have relays there's a possibility I wouldn't have to go. The worst part is that I'm an official, my hotel will be paid for and I will get paid to be at regionals but all the people that are in the 2 hour (or less) range from the other option that if they had to could have drove back and forth cannot anymore. They will have to pay for a hotel. Two or more years ago I would not have stayed at a hotel at a meet unless it was more then 2.5 hours away. Last year the number of people that didn't make it to nationals in their division could probably have been counted with my fingers. But that is besides the point. I think if nothing else is added and my region wants to have regionals further away then it may be time to make it a one all-day meet.
We found this information out yesterday at our second league meet of the Keystone Speed League. League meets are fun. We go we skate four times (two division races two elite (nira) races) and you go home. It's good to get the racing in without having to go to an invitational. For me I use league meets for fun and I officiate them so that's always another reason for me to go. I don't show up to a league in my best shape because frankly I don't need to. Another reason I like league meets is they give me a chance to put on indoor wheels once a month. (Seriously.. I only wear indoor wheels at races) They also give me a chance to test indoor wheels that my sponsor company produces. There may not be a meet a skate this year until about April that I will not test something different, that is just how it goes. Testing wheels is a good thing it is something that has to be done. It's how you develop a wheel (hint research and development).
The best part about it is taking the shot's at the meets. There's always the people that will ask you about what you are wearing and it's simple "they're a test wheel, they're a prototype." Then there are the people that take shots. These are the best people. These are the people that despise you simply because they can. They go out of their way (considering I'm an official and usually in the center of the floor they actually have to come out of their way) just to say something smart. Just to say something to give them a little smirk on their face so in their head they can say to themselves "I really told him." Then it gets better. When you actually try to give a kind/polite response to their childish question and they cut you off with a childish comment. If you are going to go out of your way to say something to me, at least allow me to respond or get a word in.
The people that do this are never the people on your level.. never. They either have to be above you or below you. And because at a league meet few people are above those sponsored (in terms of skating), they are usually below. They can be a novice skater, a parent, or just some adult that has it out for you. This aggravates me, I will not lie about it. But I do not try to say anything else I do not stoop to their level. But I do something to give myself a little smirk. Needless to say, one of the people that did this saw their child get lapped in the first half of the next race.
We found this information out yesterday at our second league meet of the Keystone Speed League. League meets are fun. We go we skate four times (two division races two elite (nira) races) and you go home. It's good to get the racing in without having to go to an invitational. For me I use league meets for fun and I officiate them so that's always another reason for me to go. I don't show up to a league in my best shape because frankly I don't need to. Another reason I like league meets is they give me a chance to put on indoor wheels once a month. (Seriously.. I only wear indoor wheels at races) They also give me a chance to test indoor wheels that my sponsor company produces. There may not be a meet a skate this year until about April that I will not test something different, that is just how it goes. Testing wheels is a good thing it is something that has to be done. It's how you develop a wheel (hint research and development).
The best part about it is taking the shot's at the meets. There's always the people that will ask you about what you are wearing and it's simple "they're a test wheel, they're a prototype." Then there are the people that take shots. These are the best people. These are the people that despise you simply because they can. They go out of their way (considering I'm an official and usually in the center of the floor they actually have to come out of their way) just to say something smart. Just to say something to give them a little smirk on their face so in their head they can say to themselves "I really told him." Then it gets better. When you actually try to give a kind/polite response to their childish question and they cut you off with a childish comment. If you are going to go out of your way to say something to me, at least allow me to respond or get a word in.
The people that do this are never the people on your level.. never. They either have to be above you or below you. And because at a league meet few people are above those sponsored (in terms of skating), they are usually below. They can be a novice skater, a parent, or just some adult that has it out for you. This aggravates me, I will not lie about it. But I do not try to say anything else I do not stoop to their level. But I do something to give myself a little smirk. Needless to say, one of the people that did this saw their child get lapped in the first half of the next race.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Good Shape?
What is good shape? In October when are you in good shape? Is it when you are skating a marathon a day and skating your best and then all you have to do is hold it for the next 10 months? no. I'll tell you what good shape is in October.
The signs of good shape are simple to notice, but only you can notice them. And only if you are honest to yourself. You can read them and say, "Yeah I do all of that." but you probably don't, not everyday.
1. How much are you skating?
It's October so 10 times a week is not necessary. Actually, at that rate you most likely won't make it to the end of the season. I would say 4 times a week is adequate. Two is never enough. If you only skate two times a week you cannot actually think you are going to be in good shape. 4 times a week. Nothing big. If your team doesn't get in that many well that means you need to do something on your own. It all matters on what you do at practice. You should be doing fundamentals, if you are going over about 75% at any point you probably shouldn't. I'm talking about circles. Unless you skate at my rink, your indoor rink most likely has artistic circles put down on the wood, skate on them. If you can get your ankles straight before you try and go fast you'll increase your power (in every step) tremendously.
2. What do you want?
It's only October but if you don't know what you want out of your season you are headed in the wrong direction. You are skating for no reason. You are wasting your time and your coaches. Even if you just want to lose weight, that is your purpose. At no point in a season should you not know what you are skating for. You should remember this at every practice, even away from practice. Make a season goal. But don't get carried away. Keep it reasonable. Make it tough enough that you have to work every single day for it but not something that deep down isn't realistic this season.
3. What is your mindset?
When you tie your skates for practice what are you thinking? On Tuesday are you going through your day thinking, "Today's Tuesday, I've got practice.." Are you confident in what you are doing right now? If at any point you are at practice and your coach decides to do a certain drill are you like "why are we doing this?" ask. They are doing it for a reason. Your coaches want the best for you, ask them why you are doing this or why you aren't doing this. Bring up suggestions and see what they think. If you don't like the drill, then you are wasting it. Even if you aren't skating the times or the speed or whatever you want to right now you should still be confident that what you are doing is going to make you the fastest at the end of the season: the only time that matters.
4. What are you doing besides team practice?
You have a goal, you are going to your team's practices you are confident in your coach but what are you doing on your own? For some people this step does not apply. But if you want to be a national champion, a world team member, a world champion you can't expect to get where you want to just by going to practice. Take matters into your own hands. If it is doing dry land exercises for a half hour every day, or slideboarding every day for a half hour (if you can make it that long... without standing up), or skating outdoor. You want to be a champion? If you don't become one it wasn't your coaches fault, it was yours. You can lift weights (just get the correct program), cross-train or anything.
5. What are you doing to set yourself up for success?
Ever heard of nutrition? Sleep? Right now it is October. It's is the beginning of the season which is the easiest time to get hyped up about training hard this season and eating right but you probably wont withstand that mentality every day for the next 10 months. I would say wait until at least December for your nutrition in most cases. Eat (to some extent) what you want for now. That way when it is time to buckle down you've gotten all the junk out of you and you can focus. (If you want to be a world champion or make the world team.. December may be too late) Sleep eight hours a day no matter what. Naps don't count. Go to sleep at 10, get up at 6. They say you sleep in 4 hour cycles, that's why you might wake up in the middle of the night (after about four hours). If you lift weights then take a protein bar with you or a quick protein shake. When it is cold you can leave shakes in your car and they will be cold. Within 30 minutes of your workout getting some type of protein into your body will help your body retain more of the muscle you just worked up.
6. How is your personal life?
Not to invade privacy or anything. But the less distractions you have the easier it is to achieve your goals. Better grades in school will result in better skating. Less girlfriend/boyfriend/wife/husband trouble will improve your skating. I'm not lying either.
7. Are you listening to your body?
The only want to know if you need a break is to listen to your body. There will be times in the year where you just shouldn't push it as hard. One way to know is your heart rate. If you take your heart rate first thing once you wake up. And I mean like literally first thing (hit your alarm and take your heart rate) that s when your heart rate is at it's lowest. Days when you see a spike you should probably only do 75%-80% of your workout.
Right now I am in perfect shape. Technically I am in the worst shape physically since the start of the 2006 season when I broke my collarbone but I am probably in better shape then I ever have been. Right now I skate 3 times a week, next week it will probably spike to six which is adequate for myself. (that includes outdoor even though we are down to the 40's already). Next week I will start my slideboarding routine and weightlifting. In about two weeks I'm starting my nutrition. And I sleep 8-9 hours every night. Every drill I do I do it the way it is suppose to be done. I can remember about 5 minutes worth of drills where I have just gone through the motion all season the rest is focused on my goals. I no what my goals are and I remind myself every single day what I want and what I need to do.
The signs of good shape are simple to notice, but only you can notice them. And only if you are honest to yourself. You can read them and say, "Yeah I do all of that." but you probably don't, not everyday.
1. How much are you skating?
It's October so 10 times a week is not necessary. Actually, at that rate you most likely won't make it to the end of the season. I would say 4 times a week is adequate. Two is never enough. If you only skate two times a week you cannot actually think you are going to be in good shape. 4 times a week. Nothing big. If your team doesn't get in that many well that means you need to do something on your own. It all matters on what you do at practice. You should be doing fundamentals, if you are going over about 75% at any point you probably shouldn't. I'm talking about circles. Unless you skate at my rink, your indoor rink most likely has artistic circles put down on the wood, skate on them. If you can get your ankles straight before you try and go fast you'll increase your power (in every step) tremendously.
2. What do you want?
It's only October but if you don't know what you want out of your season you are headed in the wrong direction. You are skating for no reason. You are wasting your time and your coaches. Even if you just want to lose weight, that is your purpose. At no point in a season should you not know what you are skating for. You should remember this at every practice, even away from practice. Make a season goal. But don't get carried away. Keep it reasonable. Make it tough enough that you have to work every single day for it but not something that deep down isn't realistic this season.
3. What is your mindset?
When you tie your skates for practice what are you thinking? On Tuesday are you going through your day thinking, "Today's Tuesday, I've got practice.." Are you confident in what you are doing right now? If at any point you are at practice and your coach decides to do a certain drill are you like "why are we doing this?" ask. They are doing it for a reason. Your coaches want the best for you, ask them why you are doing this or why you aren't doing this. Bring up suggestions and see what they think. If you don't like the drill, then you are wasting it. Even if you aren't skating the times or the speed or whatever you want to right now you should still be confident that what you are doing is going to make you the fastest at the end of the season: the only time that matters.
4. What are you doing besides team practice?
You have a goal, you are going to your team's practices you are confident in your coach but what are you doing on your own? For some people this step does not apply. But if you want to be a national champion, a world team member, a world champion you can't expect to get where you want to just by going to practice. Take matters into your own hands. If it is doing dry land exercises for a half hour every day, or slideboarding every day for a half hour (if you can make it that long... without standing up), or skating outdoor. You want to be a champion? If you don't become one it wasn't your coaches fault, it was yours. You can lift weights (just get the correct program), cross-train or anything.
5. What are you doing to set yourself up for success?
Ever heard of nutrition? Sleep? Right now it is October. It's is the beginning of the season which is the easiest time to get hyped up about training hard this season and eating right but you probably wont withstand that mentality every day for the next 10 months. I would say wait until at least December for your nutrition in most cases. Eat (to some extent) what you want for now. That way when it is time to buckle down you've gotten all the junk out of you and you can focus. (If you want to be a world champion or make the world team.. December may be too late) Sleep eight hours a day no matter what. Naps don't count. Go to sleep at 10, get up at 6. They say you sleep in 4 hour cycles, that's why you might wake up in the middle of the night (after about four hours). If you lift weights then take a protein bar with you or a quick protein shake. When it is cold you can leave shakes in your car and they will be cold. Within 30 minutes of your workout getting some type of protein into your body will help your body retain more of the muscle you just worked up.
6. How is your personal life?
Not to invade privacy or anything. But the less distractions you have the easier it is to achieve your goals. Better grades in school will result in better skating. Less girlfriend/boyfriend/wife/husband trouble will improve your skating. I'm not lying either.
7. Are you listening to your body?
The only want to know if you need a break is to listen to your body. There will be times in the year where you just shouldn't push it as hard. One way to know is your heart rate. If you take your heart rate first thing once you wake up. And I mean like literally first thing (hit your alarm and take your heart rate) that s when your heart rate is at it's lowest. Days when you see a spike you should probably only do 75%-80% of your workout.
Right now I am in perfect shape. Technically I am in the worst shape physically since the start of the 2006 season when I broke my collarbone but I am probably in better shape then I ever have been. Right now I skate 3 times a week, next week it will probably spike to six which is adequate for myself. (that includes outdoor even though we are down to the 40's already). Next week I will start my slideboarding routine and weightlifting. In about two weeks I'm starting my nutrition. And I sleep 8-9 hours every night. Every drill I do I do it the way it is suppose to be done. I can remember about 5 minutes worth of drills where I have just gone through the motion all season the rest is focused on my goals. I no what my goals are and I remind myself every single day what I want and what I need to do.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
The College Search
Sucks. You want to find the college that is perfect for you but it's just so difficult. There are so many options. The difficult thing about missing the first three weeks of your senior year is the college search. I got three less weeks to get my recommendations, essay(s), applications, all of that. And when you get free applications as long as you apply by a certain date it makes it worse, because then you are rushing. I think I am applying to something like six colleges. Some of which are harder then others to get into to.
I don't feel as if I was successfully prepared for the whole college search thing. Like I've had good grades and a good SAT score but they don't really tell you what the application process will be like. It's a completely different ball-park.
I see all of these skaters that come out of high school and decide they are going to just get a normal job and become the best skater. And it never happens. Personally you need to plan for life after skating. I love skating, but very few, few people make a living in our sport and I have come to that realization. And I have come to the realization that as much as I want our sport to make it to the Olympics it looks like nothing more then a hope. Therefore, I am going to college, I have no idea where. I am applying to 5 different Pennsylvania schools across the state from 15 minutes from my dad's house to 5-6 hours across the state. Then I am applying to Utah University. I am not so sure about my plans with that, but I'm at least applying in case anything happens.
Just because I am going to college doesn't mean that my skating career is over. What it does mean is that you most likely won't see me at many invitationals once I get into college. But I can practice almost everyday while in college. Nothing changes, there will still be empty parking lots and I will still have skates. I will still be the same skater I am now while I am in college, I can guarantee that. Now the Utah thing, who knows at this point, I don't.
I have all intentions in majoring in Journalism or Broadcast Journalism. Focusing on politics and sports writing. I love sports, I watch sports, I know a lot about a lot of sports. And I like writing about politics, I like finding the information and working on it. I will be in my third year of Journalism at my high school this spring semester. The things about Journalism is that it's a really unsure career. There is the small-town, once a week papers where you get paid next to dirt, then there is the local papers where you write every day but not top end stuff and not a great salary. Then you have you're big city papers. The articles are better, the pay is better. Then you have the top of the line Journalism. The big time. It's difficult. But I plan on putting as much effort into the career I choose as I do into skating.
The thing is, anything I write that isn't in a newspaper isn't quite as good as it would be in a newspaper. Journalism writing is so much easier and common for me. You write what everyone wants to know, the facts. Who/what/where/when/why/how. That's what I write best...
So my college search continues...
I don't feel as if I was successfully prepared for the whole college search thing. Like I've had good grades and a good SAT score but they don't really tell you what the application process will be like. It's a completely different ball-park.
I see all of these skaters that come out of high school and decide they are going to just get a normal job and become the best skater. And it never happens. Personally you need to plan for life after skating. I love skating, but very few, few people make a living in our sport and I have come to that realization. And I have come to the realization that as much as I want our sport to make it to the Olympics it looks like nothing more then a hope. Therefore, I am going to college, I have no idea where. I am applying to 5 different Pennsylvania schools across the state from 15 minutes from my dad's house to 5-6 hours across the state. Then I am applying to Utah University. I am not so sure about my plans with that, but I'm at least applying in case anything happens.
Just because I am going to college doesn't mean that my skating career is over. What it does mean is that you most likely won't see me at many invitationals once I get into college. But I can practice almost everyday while in college. Nothing changes, there will still be empty parking lots and I will still have skates. I will still be the same skater I am now while I am in college, I can guarantee that. Now the Utah thing, who knows at this point, I don't.
I have all intentions in majoring in Journalism or Broadcast Journalism. Focusing on politics and sports writing. I love sports, I watch sports, I know a lot about a lot of sports. And I like writing about politics, I like finding the information and working on it. I will be in my third year of Journalism at my high school this spring semester. The things about Journalism is that it's a really unsure career. There is the small-town, once a week papers where you get paid next to dirt, then there is the local papers where you write every day but not top end stuff and not a great salary. Then you have you're big city papers. The articles are better, the pay is better. Then you have the top of the line Journalism. The big time. It's difficult. But I plan on putting as much effort into the career I choose as I do into skating.
The thing is, anything I write that isn't in a newspaper isn't quite as good as it would be in a newspaper. Journalism writing is so much easier and common for me. You write what everyone wants to know, the facts. Who/what/where/when/why/how. That's what I write best...
So my college search continues...
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
The Now and The Future
Right now I am enjoying my Senior year of High School. Back in June I made the decision to run XC so since I got back from worlds that is what has grasped most of my attention. In my second week I am finally past the point where I can run and still walk up the steps at home normally (I was crawling up them the first week). At my school you must have 10 days of practice in before you can participate in the event so next Tuesday will be my first XC race and I'll probably give an update after that.
I decided to run XC for a few reasons. One is that I really wanted to get back into running shape but I just couldn't manage to do it on my own. Now that I am in running shape I don't plan on losing it for a very long time. The thing about being in running shape is that you can use it for a warm up off-skates and it works so well but if you aren't in shape for it you're doing your body worse. The second reason I decided to run XC is because I always enjoyed it and we have a biker on our team who started half-way through last years season and ended up going to states so I thought what the heck we'll see what I can do. And it's my Senior year so I'd rather not look back and wonder what if.
Saturday is my first ice practice since somewhere around March. I will make every one possible from this point on and in terms of skating ice will be pretty much my number one priority for a few months. This will be my second full season of ice and it should just get better then last year.
October 12th marks my leagues first indoor meet. So that starts the indoor season. I'm looking to skate acceptable all year indoor but I have no particular goal for indoor. I want to skate good indoor because I hate to lose but I think it's pretty clear what my focus will be.
My mind is already set for June. I know what I did last year and I know what I have to do this year. The only awkward part is I know how hard I trained last year and I know I should feel like the task I'm trying to do is almost impossible but I don't. It's doable. I know how hard I have to train and it won't be that bad. Yes it will be hard and tiring but that's what I skate for. I wouldn't skate if it was easy. To make the jump I want to make, more of my changes will happen before I even tie my skates.
I decided to run XC for a few reasons. One is that I really wanted to get back into running shape but I just couldn't manage to do it on my own. Now that I am in running shape I don't plan on losing it for a very long time. The thing about being in running shape is that you can use it for a warm up off-skates and it works so well but if you aren't in shape for it you're doing your body worse. The second reason I decided to run XC is because I always enjoyed it and we have a biker on our team who started half-way through last years season and ended up going to states so I thought what the heck we'll see what I can do. And it's my Senior year so I'd rather not look back and wonder what if.
Saturday is my first ice practice since somewhere around March. I will make every one possible from this point on and in terms of skating ice will be pretty much my number one priority for a few months. This will be my second full season of ice and it should just get better then last year.
October 12th marks my leagues first indoor meet. So that starts the indoor season. I'm looking to skate acceptable all year indoor but I have no particular goal for indoor. I want to skate good indoor because I hate to lose but I think it's pretty clear what my focus will be.
My mind is already set for June. I know what I did last year and I know what I have to do this year. The only awkward part is I know how hard I trained last year and I know I should feel like the task I'm trying to do is almost impossible but I don't. It's doable. I know how hard I have to train and it won't be that bad. Yes it will be hard and tiring but that's what I skate for. I wouldn't skate if it was easy. To make the jump I want to make, more of my changes will happen before I even tie my skates.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
It's All Over
Well the 2008 season is officially over. What a year it was. Before a recap of the year which will come a different day I will finish with worlds.
It rained for us again during the marathon. It sucked a lot. The course wasn't a very good one to begin with so with the rain it just became terrible. Junior Men once again did not end up getting a medal which made us look horrible. To make matters worse we didn't even get a relay medal like the previous two years. That puts us in a pretty bad place. I really thought we had the team to do it and I thought we trained pretty hard at residency. As a team (Junior Men) I think we were so close. 1000m final, 500m final, relay final, 300m final, a couple top 10 long race finishes.
The Junior Women skated so good this year. They had three individual medalists which was a team high. And they ended up with six medals including the relay which is great.
The Senior Women were dominate in sprints. To think Sara and Brittany would do what they did on track is just ridiculous. I never would have thought they would get 6 of the 9 medals in the 3 track sprints (Yes, I'm calling the 1000m a sprint race). This was Sara's first year medalling individually and you never would have guessed it.
The Senior Men skated good. They had the sickness in their group but I think two of them qualified for the world games (I am not certain though) which would be Josh and Dane. They also had two medalists in Josh and Joey.
It sucks that again Junior Men ended up the weakest link, especially because we had a stronger team heading into worlds this year then we did last year I think.
It rained for us again during the marathon. It sucked a lot. The course wasn't a very good one to begin with so with the rain it just became terrible. Junior Men once again did not end up getting a medal which made us look horrible. To make matters worse we didn't even get a relay medal like the previous two years. That puts us in a pretty bad place. I really thought we had the team to do it and I thought we trained pretty hard at residency. As a team (Junior Men) I think we were so close. 1000m final, 500m final, relay final, 300m final, a couple top 10 long race finishes.
The Junior Women skated so good this year. They had three individual medalists which was a team high. And they ended up with six medals including the relay which is great.
The Senior Women were dominate in sprints. To think Sara and Brittany would do what they did on track is just ridiculous. I never would have thought they would get 6 of the 9 medals in the 3 track sprints (Yes, I'm calling the 1000m a sprint race). This was Sara's first year medalling individually and you never would have guessed it.
The Senior Men skated good. They had the sickness in their group but I think two of them qualified for the world games (I am not certain though) which would be Josh and Dane. They also had two medalists in Josh and Joey.
It sucks that again Junior Men ended up the weakest link, especially because we had a stronger team heading into worlds this year then we did last year I think.
Monday, September 8, 2008
The Plague, Racing, and Falling
The Plague. Which is what we have started calling it. It started with Cheeks, when he got sick. And then moved onto Joey. Joey couldn't skate pretty much all of track. Which sucked, but it gave Josh (not that he wouldn't have gotten it) another chance to get a medal after the points race in the 1000m. And Josh did just that, winning a bronze medal proving that US Senior Men not named Mantia can still earn medals. Not to say we didn't want Joey to be healthy and to skate because that would have just been more medals.
Racing. I skated the 500 and the relay. A lot of people told me through the 500 rounds that I looked really relaxed and calm. I felt great. We had 5 rounds. Heats- 1/8- 1/4 - 1/2 - finals. I skated through the semi winning every single one I skated and having the two fastest times in my semi and quarter final for the entire division. In the 500m final I managed to fall down while accelerating to make my move towards the front. As I crossed over the skater in front of me crossed back and my right foot got kicked by his left foot and I just went down fast.
After that I'll be honest, I was pissed off. But like many people wouldn't know I didn't sulk or anything, I sat down.. alone and visualized what I wanted to do in the relay. I figured I was going to get to the front as fast as possible and take it from there. So on my first time out I went around the pack on the outside and got to the front. From there on we picked the pace up. If you saw the video there's something you probably didn't know: although we picked it up and was going fast we all had another gear we were waiting to use. Anyway, receiving my tag with 4 laps remaining (we were still winning) I tried going around a Colombian awaiting his tag and as his partner flew up to tag him I ended up getting hip-checked or whatever but I ended up falling in the same exact spot and took out the number two team (Korea) with me. So I ended the day with two fourth place finishes: the worst of all.
Some results from road:
-Joey won the 20k for the fourth year in a row breaking the world record in that distance for the third time.
-Mariah got third in the 200m.
-Bri was tied for third place overall in the points race before a Korean skater fell down in front of her and she went over her.
Racing. I skated the 500 and the relay. A lot of people told me through the 500 rounds that I looked really relaxed and calm. I felt great. We had 5 rounds. Heats- 1/8- 1/4 - 1/2 - finals. I skated through the semi winning every single one I skated and having the two fastest times in my semi and quarter final for the entire division. In the 500m final I managed to fall down while accelerating to make my move towards the front. As I crossed over the skater in front of me crossed back and my right foot got kicked by his left foot and I just went down fast.
After that I'll be honest, I was pissed off. But like many people wouldn't know I didn't sulk or anything, I sat down.. alone and visualized what I wanted to do in the relay. I figured I was going to get to the front as fast as possible and take it from there. So on my first time out I went around the pack on the outside and got to the front. From there on we picked the pace up. If you saw the video there's something you probably didn't know: although we picked it up and was going fast we all had another gear we were waiting to use. Anyway, receiving my tag with 4 laps remaining (we were still winning) I tried going around a Colombian awaiting his tag and as his partner flew up to tag him I ended up getting hip-checked or whatever but I ended up falling in the same exact spot and took out the number two team (Korea) with me. So I ended the day with two fourth place finishes: the worst of all.
Some results from road:
-Joey won the 20k for the fourth year in a row breaking the world record in that distance for the third time.
-Mariah got third in the 200m.
-Bri was tied for third place overall in the points race before a Korean skater fell down in front of her and she went over her.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Politics, politics, politics
Let me lay it out for you... Some people get to a point in their lives that they decide to train to make the world team. If they are smart and willing to put in the time they usually will. Once you make the world team their are two types of people: Those who realize they are about to represent the USA and decide to train harder or at least keep training, and those who realize they have made the USA world team and think that is good enough.
Those who keep training usually are those who end up skating more then everyone else and doing better then everyone else at worlds the other ones well ehhh.
Then there is this little glitch in our system. Were Juniors must pay their full way to get to worlds. And because their parents must pay their child's full way there becomes a point where a parent has the right to ask why they paid so much for their kid not to race at worlds. Therefore, it is a responsibility for the staff to allow every child to race. But what those parents may not know is if their child has really trained for their chance at worlds.
So the staff at one point must make a decision. Continue to put those best suited for each race in each race, or play the politically correct card. In which turn they will play the politically correct card and in which they practically forfeit a race.
And as they say: there are politics in everything.
Those who keep training usually are those who end up skating more then everyone else and doing better then everyone else at worlds the other ones well ehhh.
Then there is this little glitch in our system. Were Juniors must pay their full way to get to worlds. And because their parents must pay their child's full way there becomes a point where a parent has the right to ask why they paid so much for their kid not to race at worlds. Therefore, it is a responsibility for the staff to allow every child to race. But what those parents may not know is if their child has really trained for their chance at worlds.
So the staff at one point must make a decision. Continue to put those best suited for each race in each race, or play the politically correct card. In which turn they will play the politically correct card and in which they practically forfeit a race.
And as they say: there are politics in everything.
Day 1
Day one is over and the USA has three medals, one gold and two silvers. Brittany and Sara combined to break the world record in the 300m 3 times while taking 1,2 in the final (brittany then sara). Bri finished second place by a quarter of a wheel in the 15k elim.
Hank finished 7th place in the 15k elim and jake finished 10th. Sophie also got 12th in the same race bri placed in.
Josh Wood most likely would have ended up medaling in the 10k pts elim but someone fell down in front of him and he ended up going down too. At the time of the fall he was tied for second place in points. He got up and tried to catch up because 10 people finish the race and everyone else gets eliminated, but unfortunately he ended up as the last person to be eliminated.
Kevin and Dane both finished 13th in the 300m being the first persons to not qualify for the final (top 12 qualify). Mariah and I both finished 5th place, Joey finished 7th, and Erin Jackson finished 10th.
Hank finished 7th place in the 15k elim and jake finished 10th. Sophie also got 12th in the same race bri placed in.
Josh Wood most likely would have ended up medaling in the 10k pts elim but someone fell down in front of him and he ended up going down too. At the time of the fall he was tied for second place in points. He got up and tried to catch up because 10 people finish the race and everyone else gets eliminated, but unfortunately he ended up as the last person to be eliminated.
Kevin and Dane both finished 13th in the 300m being the first persons to not qualify for the final (top 12 qualify). Mariah and I both finished 5th place, Joey finished 7th, and Erin Jackson finished 10th.
Monday, September 1, 2008
What I Want
Gijon 2008. Spain. World Championships. As an athlete at this level what do I want?
I am not a Joey Mantia, if I don't get gold medals no one will be disappointed or upset. I am a Keith Carroll. No one here may no my name. And next year they still won't know who I am. But what do I want out of my races? I want to lay everything out on the track and go home with my pride and whatever else that may bring me. I know up to this point I have trained about as good as I could have this year and whatever I do in my races if it was my personal best then I'll be fine with those results.
If those results bring me home a medal, be it a bronze medal or a gold medal then that will be great. But truthfully, I am here for myself. If I win a medal that would be great but no one will remember I won that medal next year anyway.
Now if I skate the same races as last year, I want to do better then last year. I don't care if it is by a placement or 10 I want to do better. I don't care if my 300m is a second slower if it gets me better then 9th place then those results are fine with me.
I am not a Joey Mantia, if I don't get gold medals no one will be disappointed or upset. I am a Keith Carroll. No one here may no my name. And next year they still won't know who I am. But what do I want out of my races? I want to lay everything out on the track and go home with my pride and whatever else that may bring me. I know up to this point I have trained about as good as I could have this year and whatever I do in my races if it was my personal best then I'll be fine with those results.
If those results bring me home a medal, be it a bronze medal or a gold medal then that will be great. But truthfully, I am here for myself. If I win a medal that would be great but no one will remember I won that medal next year anyway.
Now if I skate the same races as last year, I want to do better then last year. I don't care if it is by a placement or 10 I want to do better. I don't care if my 300m is a second slower if it gets me better then 9th place then those results are fine with me.
Training The Mind
Racing. It's a big concept to really understand. Most think racing is all about training, training, training. I can put in as many miles as I want and be 10 times stronger then everyone else but that won't make me a better racer.
There are so many components that go in to being a good athlete. Of course there is practice. And there is different types of practicing. There is the residency type training where I was just skating as hard as I could every time I could because it will make me a strong competitor. But then there is Spain practice. Where every time I touch the track I'm thinking where I want to be every time I skate. Training to make the most of my races. Not so much to be stronger but to know take the strength and speed I have accumulated thus far in my life and use it all to good use in order to have a good performance.
It's so easy to just be strong and then decide 'I'm going to go race like hell.' Well that is a great approach but there is so much more you need to do. You literally have to visualize every aspect of the race so you are mentally prepared. You have to visualize the race when everything goes perfect, and even when something goes wrong so that you are always prepared. You should be able to see yourself with the results you want before you even tie your skates.
Everything I am doing here in Spain is for muscle memory and that sort of thing. I run through my starts so I know where I want to be on the track. I picture myself skating my race a million times so that my mind is prepared for the race just as much as every other part of me.
Those of you who know me, know that I over analyze everything. I know every element of every wheel, whether or not I'm skating on it or not. I know what makes me go faster and what doesn't. I ask more questions then anyone just because then I have all of this information I can just sort through and decide what is for me. Out here, the coaches and staff think I am screwing my own head up with all of my questions and all the starts I'm doing but I'm trying to tell them that this is me. I've said if they ask Jeff he will tell them the same thing, that I over analyze everything. But it normally works out for the best!
There are so many components that go in to being a good athlete. Of course there is practice. And there is different types of practicing. There is the residency type training where I was just skating as hard as I could every time I could because it will make me a strong competitor. But then there is Spain practice. Where every time I touch the track I'm thinking where I want to be every time I skate. Training to make the most of my races. Not so much to be stronger but to know take the strength and speed I have accumulated thus far in my life and use it all to good use in order to have a good performance.
It's so easy to just be strong and then decide 'I'm going to go race like hell.' Well that is a great approach but there is so much more you need to do. You literally have to visualize every aspect of the race so you are mentally prepared. You have to visualize the race when everything goes perfect, and even when something goes wrong so that you are always prepared. You should be able to see yourself with the results you want before you even tie your skates.
Everything I am doing here in Spain is for muscle memory and that sort of thing. I run through my starts so I know where I want to be on the track. I picture myself skating my race a million times so that my mind is prepared for the race just as much as every other part of me.
Those of you who know me, know that I over analyze everything. I know every element of every wheel, whether or not I'm skating on it or not. I know what makes me go faster and what doesn't. I ask more questions then anyone just because then I have all of this information I can just sort through and decide what is for me. Out here, the coaches and staff think I am screwing my own head up with all of my questions and all the starts I'm doing but I'm trying to tell them that this is me. I've said if they ask Jeff he will tell them the same thing, that I over analyze everything. But it normally works out for the best!
Friday, August 29, 2008
In Spain
Well we are here in Spain. I´m typing on a Spanish keyboard so odd things may appear in my posts and I will apologize in advance for that. We have skated on the track for two days for a total of 3 practices. We have two more today. We are six hours ahead of the east coast so it´s 10AM here and 4AM on the east.
The track is really fast and entirely different. There is a lot we still have to learn on the track and most of that will begin today when we split up into our groups and start working on what we each need to be successful in the upcoming week. Gijon is really a nice play to be and the weather is terrific. There is a beach within walking distance. And a McDonald's which is always good when we have to eat on our own. And the track is also in walking distances.
Our hotel is quite nice for a European hotel (those of you who have been to Europe know that the rooms are small).
We had some baggage troubles on the first day. I think when we got to the hotel we had like 17 bags missing then most of them came in that night. And then mine came in the next day, and I think we might have one person missing bags still which is really unfortunate. Well we have to leave for practice in a half hour so that´s it for now.
The track is really fast and entirely different. There is a lot we still have to learn on the track and most of that will begin today when we split up into our groups and start working on what we each need to be successful in the upcoming week. Gijon is really a nice play to be and the weather is terrific. There is a beach within walking distance. And a McDonald's which is always good when we have to eat on our own. And the track is also in walking distances.
Our hotel is quite nice for a European hotel (those of you who have been to Europe know that the rooms are small).
We had some baggage troubles on the first day. I think when we got to the hotel we had like 17 bags missing then most of them came in that night. And then mine came in the next day, and I think we might have one person missing bags still which is really unfortunate. Well we have to leave for practice in a half hour so that´s it for now.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Wrapping Things Up
Residency is coming to a close today and I think everyone is ready for it. I'm ready to go home even if it's only for 3 full days.
Yesterday the sprinters did a workout and I think everyone ran faster times then we were running before which is definitely good. And our times we ran were when we were all tired which is even better.
I can't wait to get to Spain. We've heard a good bit of information about the track and it's making me anxious.
While I'm there I will continue to blog but for live results and videos I would suggest going to www.patincarrera.com that is a great website that has interviews and everything about worlds. And once you get on the worlds website from theirs you can put it into English which is nice if you can't speak Spanish!
Yesterday the sprinters did a workout and I think everyone ran faster times then we were running before which is definitely good. And our times we ran were when we were all tired which is even better.
I can't wait to get to Spain. We've heard a good bit of information about the track and it's making me anxious.
While I'm there I will continue to blog but for live results and videos I would suggest going to www.patincarrera.com that is a great website that has interviews and everything about worlds. And once you get on the worlds website from theirs you can put it into English which is nice if you can't speak Spanish!
Monday, August 18, 2008
Back to Practice
After three days of heavy rain we were back to practicing this morning. It was a good workout, it seemed way harder then it really was because of the three day rest everyone had. Sprinters did a workout and then distance did a workout and then at the end everyone came together (sprints and distance) and each division ran five 500m sprints. But the sprints weren't to see who could win the most but rather to achieve a time as a group. For instance, Junior Men had to run at least a 46 and if the winner did not achieve that time then the entire group had to do it again.
Time is running out and worlds is just around the corner. We only have seven more practices (if it doesn't rain). We get three days at home and then we are off to Spain which should be awesome!
Just so everyone knows, while I am in Spain I will still be blogging (to the best of my ability). It may only be every three days depending on how much Internet access there is available at the hotel.
Time is running out and worlds is just around the corner. We only have seven more practices (if it doesn't rain). We get three days at home and then we are off to Spain which should be awesome!
Just so everyone knows, while I am in Spain I will still be blogging (to the best of my ability). It may only be every three days depending on how much Internet access there is available at the hotel.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Rain, Rain, Go Away
The title sums it up.. Rain and rain and more rain. In the five years I have been out here I have never seen it actually rain for a day. Usually for like a half hour then it stops but it has just kept coming. And there is no sun with the overcast to dry up the rain.
We've been in the gym doing some workouts on the exercise bike to keep our legs in shape but it's not as good as the skating would be.
I guess I can't really complain to much in my case. With tendinitis in my Achilles the time off of my skate is giving in a chance to heal some. The swelling has gone down a lot but it is still very tender to the touch. Tonight it looks like we might make it out to the track for a practice after missing out on this mornings again. And later on tonight we are going bowling!
We've been in the gym doing some workouts on the exercise bike to keep our legs in shape but it's not as good as the skating would be.
I guess I can't really complain to much in my case. With tendinitis in my Achilles the time off of my skate is giving in a chance to heal some. The swelling has gone down a lot but it is still very tender to the touch. Tonight it looks like we might make it out to the track for a practice after missing out on this mornings again. And later on tonight we are going bowling!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
The Things No One Wants To Hear
Here comes the worse part about residency: injuries. In three weeks you can expect something unfortunate to happen, but this year we've had quite our fair share of falls. Almost all of them have been fine where the skater just gets frustrated and gets up but last night we had a more serious fall.
While the guys were skating Justin Mannon kicked the wall with one skate, and got twisted around and hit his head into the plexi glass. His helmet was cracked in the back in two places and there was a lot of concern about his neck (which is very sore today). They took him back to sports medicine at the Olympic Training Center for x-rays which came up negative and then they took him over to the hospital for a CT scan which thankfully also came up negative.
That is of course the most serious problems we've had. But there has been a lot of skin burned on the track thus far. Personally my only problem to this point is swelling in my Achilles tendon which is really aggravating. (I try not to talk about myself but..) It's frustrating because today I tried putting my skate on and even standing with my skate hurt. This is my last year of Junior World Class and because you never know what can happen in the future I'm trying to make the most of it but things like this really irritate me and others I'm sure.
Mind Games: Everyone can play them. The coaches have a few up their sleeves today too. During one of the drills they told the girls if they could maintain a certain lap average they would be done for the day. Well the girls did it, and at the end the coaches said, "Now we know what you can really do."
While the guys were skating Justin Mannon kicked the wall with one skate, and got twisted around and hit his head into the plexi glass. His helmet was cracked in the back in two places and there was a lot of concern about his neck (which is very sore today). They took him back to sports medicine at the Olympic Training Center for x-rays which came up negative and then they took him over to the hospital for a CT scan which thankfully also came up negative.
That is of course the most serious problems we've had. But there has been a lot of skin burned on the track thus far. Personally my only problem to this point is swelling in my Achilles tendon which is really aggravating. (I try not to talk about myself but..) It's frustrating because today I tried putting my skate on and even standing with my skate hurt. This is my last year of Junior World Class and because you never know what can happen in the future I'm trying to make the most of it but things like this really irritate me and others I'm sure.
Mind Games: Everyone can play them. The coaches have a few up their sleeves today too. During one of the drills they told the girls if they could maintain a certain lap average they would be done for the day. Well the girls did it, and at the end the coaches said, "Now we know what you can really do."
Monday, August 11, 2008
Where I Stand
Here at Residency guys and girls are in completely separate buildings. I like it. Some people may hate it but to be honest with you I love it. My whole purpose of coming to residency (outside that I have to) is to focus on what I need to do and prepare myself for worlds. The reason I like it so much is not because I'll say the girls are distracting but guys distract girls and girls distract guys it's just human nature.
Another reason I like it is because living with guys for 3 weeks is one thing if you are a guy (and the same thing for girls) but when you throw in the opposite sex into the same building it can get annoying after 3 weeks. I can tell you right now that I'm sure people would get annoyed with me after 3 weeks if they didn't really know me.
I like to relax pretty much when I don't have skates on so it's cool. Especially because our floor is almost deserted. We are just about empty.
Another reason I like it is because living with guys for 3 weeks is one thing if you are a guy (and the same thing for girls) but when you throw in the opposite sex into the same building it can get annoying after 3 weeks. I can tell you right now that I'm sure people would get annoyed with me after 3 weeks if they didn't really know me.
I like to relax pretty much when I don't have skates on so it's cool. Especially because our floor is almost deserted. We are just about empty.
When To Trust The Weather Man
Never. At least not while in Colorado. Today was suppose to be 76 degrees according to the weather channel I watched last night. Well, this morning turned out chilly but it got HOT! Really hot during practice. Today was our first day of dividing into sprinters and distance skaters and I think it went well. It was definitely hard work but that's what we need.
It's hard to compare this year to last year in my opinion. Last year if we did sprints you had to run the fastest times or you basically weren't getting a race. This year during our sprint practices the coaches know that your times are going to get slower because you are doing so many of them and you will get tired if you are doing it right.
Outback on Sunday was soo much fun. It was pretty much all Juniors and Kevin, Hank, Jake, Jonathon, and I decided to get a table to ourselves. (You get served way quicker with 5 then you do with 17) The other's were going to try and embarrass us by telling the waitress it was our birthday but it didn't work and we got them really good. Their waitress (not even ours) decided for a prank to put Crisco in a bowl and put ice cream toppings on it and everything so it looked real, and they ate some of it. It was a good time. (If you don't know Crisco is completely harmless its just like flavorless)
The Olympics. I love it. It is just incredible. The 4x100m men's relay last night may have been the greatest sporting event I have ever seen. It was that good. Look it up on youtube it's got to be on there. Kevin, Jake, Hank, and I lit up watching it. We were screaming when Lezak made that comeback it was ridiculous. I love to watch pretty much everything. I like to see the athletes in their sports even when I know NOTHING about their sport.
It's hard to compare this year to last year in my opinion. Last year if we did sprints you had to run the fastest times or you basically weren't getting a race. This year during our sprint practices the coaches know that your times are going to get slower because you are doing so many of them and you will get tired if you are doing it right.
Outback on Sunday was soo much fun. It was pretty much all Juniors and Kevin, Hank, Jake, Jonathon, and I decided to get a table to ourselves. (You get served way quicker with 5 then you do with 17) The other's were going to try and embarrass us by telling the waitress it was our birthday but it didn't work and we got them really good. Their waitress (not even ours) decided for a prank to put Crisco in a bowl and put ice cream toppings on it and everything so it looked real, and they ate some of it. It was a good time. (If you don't know Crisco is completely harmless its just like flavorless)
The Olympics. I love it. It is just incredible. The 4x100m men's relay last night may have been the greatest sporting event I have ever seen. It was that good. Look it up on youtube it's got to be on there. Kevin, Jake, Hank, and I lit up watching it. We were screaming when Lezak made that comeback it was ridiculous. I love to watch pretty much everything. I like to see the athletes in their sports even when I know NOTHING about their sport.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Training Can Be Hard
Today is our sixth day out here for residency. Like I've said there are many differences this year but that doesn't mean we are not training hard still. In my opinion, it seems as if when the staff told the team that things would be different this year they assumed they meant easy.
We are all skating and we are sore. That is the purpose of training. If your legs never get sore, then your muscles are never developing more strength or muscle. The first so many practices we have set up so everyone skater does the distance workouts, and every skater does the sprint workouts. This servers multiple purposes: The distance skaters gain foot speed and acceleration by doing the sprints and the sprinters gain more endurance and will be able to go longer. Eventually we are going to be breaking up into groups so that there can be specializing.
The coaches have told us we only have 7-10 more days of really hard practice because after that we will begin to taper and the drills will become a little easier. Some people have gotten the idea that they will be 'burnt out' by the end of residency but it was stated many times today, 2 weeks of intense training does not burn anyone out. Someone also said they felt burnt out because their legs were sore but that is the way it is suppose to be, if you are sore you did it right.
Things are going really good out here though. We have a few minor injuries to some skaters like blisters and cuts on the foot and we have some skaters with sore groins which can be expected from the sprint workout we did the other day. But there is nothing major up to this point and we are all still focusing on being our best at worlds! Well that's it for now and if everyone keeps giving 100% every practice things will turn out appropriately for team USA.
P.S. The Olympics start tomorrow, don't forget to watch them!!
We are all skating and we are sore. That is the purpose of training. If your legs never get sore, then your muscles are never developing more strength or muscle. The first so many practices we have set up so everyone skater does the distance workouts, and every skater does the sprint workouts. This servers multiple purposes: The distance skaters gain foot speed and acceleration by doing the sprints and the sprinters gain more endurance and will be able to go longer. Eventually we are going to be breaking up into groups so that there can be specializing.
The coaches have told us we only have 7-10 more days of really hard practice because after that we will begin to taper and the drills will become a little easier. Some people have gotten the idea that they will be 'burnt out' by the end of residency but it was stated many times today, 2 weeks of intense training does not burn anyone out. Someone also said they felt burnt out because their legs were sore but that is the way it is suppose to be, if you are sore you did it right.
Things are going really good out here though. We have a few minor injuries to some skaters like blisters and cuts on the foot and we have some skaters with sore groins which can be expected from the sprint workout we did the other day. But there is nothing major up to this point and we are all still focusing on being our best at worlds! Well that's it for now and if everyone keeps giving 100% every practice things will turn out appropriately for team USA.
P.S. The Olympics start tomorrow, don't forget to watch them!!
Monday, August 4, 2008
Another Day
Sunday's we have off so there really wasn't much to write about. Some of us went to see Step Brothers. It is a hilarious film. I would recommend it as long as you don't mind the profanity. Today was a good day of practice. Both sessions. This morning we did two sets of relays and we did a 10k where you have a strong pace for 300m and an all out sprint for 100m throughout the whole thing. It ends up being 25 sprints. Coaches are really paying attention and helping every skater out when they see something that could need improving.
Another thing that is standing out is the leadership. Last year Cheeks was the team captain for the guys(we haven't picked for this year), but this year he really seems like a captain. He's more vocal which is constructive and it helps. Plus when the girls were doing their 10k him and a few other seniors went out and helped the girls keep up a strong pace when their pack broke up.
For the guys with the 10k's, or at least the juniors (we did one 10k in the morning and one in the afternoon) it seemed as if in one or the other they really skated great. If they didn't do so well in the first one then they did in the second one which is definitely good to see.
The second practice (the afternoon practice) was really windy so everything became a little bit harder. We did some flying 100's and flying 200's in the second practice too. For those of you who are not familiar with those terms what you are suppose to do is get up to top speed and then the coaches time you for 100m or 200m. It gives them and us an idea of your top speed in those distances. We also did a passing drill in the second practice. Everyone skated really good today. It was a good overall day because for the most of us, if you had a bad drill you also had a really good drill. One thing that stands out is Sara, she skated her flying 100 ridiculously! For those of you who have seen the bank track we use the term 'redline' for skating really low on the track. Well Sara was flying at redline and ended up beating most of the guys which is really good because she hasn't been feeling 100%.
For those of you who have not heard, this year the coaches are really looking for top notch behavior this year. They have stressed how profanity and inappropriate language will not be tolerated and we have kind of a game set up. Every time someone uses inappropriate language, they owe a dollar.
Tomorrow is our first day of road practice and it's set to be a challenging day. So we'll see how everything goes.
Another thing that is standing out is the leadership. Last year Cheeks was the team captain for the guys(we haven't picked for this year), but this year he really seems like a captain. He's more vocal which is constructive and it helps. Plus when the girls were doing their 10k him and a few other seniors went out and helped the girls keep up a strong pace when their pack broke up.
For the guys with the 10k's, or at least the juniors (we did one 10k in the morning and one in the afternoon) it seemed as if in one or the other they really skated great. If they didn't do so well in the first one then they did in the second one which is definitely good to see.
The second practice (the afternoon practice) was really windy so everything became a little bit harder. We did some flying 100's and flying 200's in the second practice too. For those of you who are not familiar with those terms what you are suppose to do is get up to top speed and then the coaches time you for 100m or 200m. It gives them and us an idea of your top speed in those distances. We also did a passing drill in the second practice. Everyone skated really good today. It was a good overall day because for the most of us, if you had a bad drill you also had a really good drill. One thing that stands out is Sara, she skated her flying 100 ridiculously! For those of you who have seen the bank track we use the term 'redline' for skating really low on the track. Well Sara was flying at redline and ended up beating most of the guys which is really good because she hasn't been feeling 100%.
For those of you who have not heard, this year the coaches are really looking for top notch behavior this year. They have stressed how profanity and inappropriate language will not be tolerated and we have kind of a game set up. Every time someone uses inappropriate language, they owe a dollar.
Tomorrow is our first day of road practice and it's set to be a challenging day. So we'll see how everything goes.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
First Day, First Practice
Yesterday afternoon everyone got in to Colorado Springs from their flights. There were a lot of delays and one group got stranded in Atlanta for about 5-6 hours. The day you fly in is always the worse. Everything is so rushed. You get in then you go eat next you have a meeting and then the Wal-mart run. Then you have to be in your room at 10 and lights out at 11. Right off the bat things are different this year. Our meeting went well although it was a bit longer then expected. One thing that I can't be more happier about is the practice times. This year we practice 9-12 and 4-7. These times are much better then last year's 8-11 and 1-4. We have more of a break in between and 1-4 sucks because it's so hot and the track is slicker. That was my first thing that stood out. Next was something that was never mentioned last year: the idea of tapering for the world championships. We have three weeks and the idea is two train hard but the last week we will begin to taper ourselves in order to peak at the world championships.
Onto today's practice. The first practice is always strange. You have new people and you have your experienced group and although we get a schedule you still don't know how it's going to go. The first day you also just get a lot of skating done of the track. The goal is to get a bunch of laps in so you get use to skating on the track again and to get use to the altitude. We started off with our usual low, middle, high line pace. It was a fast drill and at the end everyone was pretty much still in it which is huge. Especially because the last 5 laps got a lot faster. Everything we do is with a stopwatch so they can regulate our paces.
In all I think everyone is feeling the 'altitude burning' in their chest if I can call it that but I think we had a really good first practice. We have another tonight and every Sunday we are here we have off.
Onto today's practice. The first practice is always strange. You have new people and you have your experienced group and although we get a schedule you still don't know how it's going to go. The first day you also just get a lot of skating done of the track. The goal is to get a bunch of laps in so you get use to skating on the track again and to get use to the altitude. We started off with our usual low, middle, high line pace. It was a fast drill and at the end everyone was pretty much still in it which is huge. Especially because the last 5 laps got a lot faster. Everything we do is with a stopwatch so they can regulate our paces.
In all I think everyone is feeling the 'altitude burning' in their chest if I can call it that but I think we had a really good first practice. We have another tonight and every Sunday we are here we have off.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Expectations
First I want to apologize, over the course of a summer you stop using correct writing format and just start typing. I guess all the email, texting, and myspace got me out of the habit of writing in paragraphs. Hopefully my post will become a little easier on the eyes now that it has been brought to my attention!
This is always a touchy subject for me: Expectations. I don't want to go into too many personal expectations because one it's really early and two things change. But, as team USA I think we should expect to do much better then we did last year. Last year the USA team finished fourth overall in total medals, third in gold medals. But Joey literally won half of our total medals, a number that the rest of us she be ashamed of. Four of the remaining eight medals were won in relays and the last four were won by Brittany (200 and 500 on road) Mariah (300 track) and Bri (10k road). In the last decade the USA team only failed to get 20 medals 4 times and 3 of those four are the last 3 years! 2007, 2006, and 2005. I feel that the USA team is capable of 20 medals.
Last year and 2006 for a matter of fact, the US Junior Men's team has not brought home an individual medal. I believe that out of the six of us this year we can get it done. Last year we had two 4th place finishes, a 6th, four 7th's, and a 9th. All eight of those top 10 finishers came in just 5 races, the 1000m and below. That means in 5 races we have 10 competitors (two per distance for every country) and eight out of the ten were placed in the top ten (the other two placements were an 11 place and a 14th). In the longer distances are best finishes were two 12th places. One in the 20k elim by Kimani and one by Hank in the marathon.
Brittany ended up with two individual medals last year and at least two more 4th place finishes. I feel she can replicate or improve those results. And the Junior women's team looks so strong to me this year but we will have to wait and see how everything goes! Wish us luck in our training and preparation.
This is always a touchy subject for me: Expectations. I don't want to go into too many personal expectations because one it's really early and two things change. But, as team USA I think we should expect to do much better then we did last year. Last year the USA team finished fourth overall in total medals, third in gold medals. But Joey literally won half of our total medals, a number that the rest of us she be ashamed of. Four of the remaining eight medals were won in relays and the last four were won by Brittany (200 and 500 on road) Mariah (300 track) and Bri (10k road). In the last decade the USA team only failed to get 20 medals 4 times and 3 of those four are the last 3 years! 2007, 2006, and 2005. I feel that the USA team is capable of 20 medals.
Last year and 2006 for a matter of fact, the US Junior Men's team has not brought home an individual medal. I believe that out of the six of us this year we can get it done. Last year we had two 4th place finishes, a 6th, four 7th's, and a 9th. All eight of those top 10 finishers came in just 5 races, the 1000m and below. That means in 5 races we have 10 competitors (two per distance for every country) and eight out of the ten were placed in the top ten (the other two placements were an 11 place and a 14th). In the longer distances are best finishes were two 12th places. One in the 20k elim by Kimani and one by Hank in the marathon.
Brittany ended up with two individual medals last year and at least two more 4th place finishes. I feel she can replicate or improve those results. And the Junior women's team looks so strong to me this year but we will have to wait and see how everything goes! Wish us luck in our training and preparation.
Spare Time
Nationals came to an end and for most skaters it's break time. But for 24-32 of us, we are just getting started with our season. Last year it was really easy. I had like 4 days maximum between Indoor Nationals and residency so I went home and just waited really. This year is different. We had 2 weeks in between. If someone went home and literally didn't touch their skates or barely touched their skates then they will have a problem. Two weeks of nothing will kill any core shape an outdoor skater has that will be competing at the top level. This year worlds is much later (like it was in 2006) which for the Junior Team poses a bit of a problem. The Seniors that do work, will have to take off the same amount of time no matter what time frame worlds falls on. But the Junior Team has school and some school are really tough on allowing their students to have days off. In my school I'll be missing the first 14 days of school. My handbook says no student is to miss the first of last 5 and missing 15 days in a semester could lose a student partial credit for the semester. Now because I am enrolled in AP English I have summer reading requirements that I must fulfill before I get to school. I picked up the three books I am entitled to read and respond to. The thing about summer reading is that it is graded and you may be required to take a test or write an essay on the book but while you are reading you have no idea what to truly look for. Every student (or good student) should adapt the way they write essays and take tests to satisfy their teacher that year. But while you read these books you don't even know who your teacher is or even less what they look for so you are basically going in blind. They give a sheet of paper that tells you to respond analytically. So I have to write between 40-44 pages of information between three books making sure it is all analytically. Eckk. Even better is that I went and got all three books, and I picked up a fourth book and so far all I've read is the book of my choice. For some reason I decided to read Lance Armstrong's It's Not About the Bike: The Journey Back to Life. It's an absolute incredible book. In fact, I finished it in two days. I don't know why schools don't ask their students to read a book like this because it is beyond belief.
Two weeks this year. While all of your teammates take their break you have to keep skating because you are considered the best. You must represent the red, white, and blue. That's the hard part. Just skating when no one else is. Everyone is vacationing and breaking but not you, it's the time of the year where everything you've done so far means nothing because none of it will compare to what is to come.
Two weeks this year. While all of your teammates take their break you have to keep skating because you are considered the best. You must represent the red, white, and blue. That's the hard part. Just skating when no one else is. Everyone is vacationing and breaking but not you, it's the time of the year where everything you've done so far means nothing because none of it will compare to what is to come.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Indoor Nationals
Indoor Nationals. It's the time of year that almost everyone has prepared for. It's the reason that most allow sweat, hot dim roller rinks, brush-burns, and spandex to control our summer. And all for the chance to be a National Champion. First off I love Lincoln. I have since I first went in 2000. For me it's like indoor speed skating heaven it's always the fastest floor. Back when records were more important then medals it was easy: Lincoln meant a chance to set a record, anywhere else was a long shot. This year records dropped like flies. I have one giant reason for this the wheels are getting so much bigger. Honestly, 110m is big. The top speeds on these things are just ridiculous not to mention the grueling long race for every age group has started to feel a little shorter with so much roll. Don't get me wrong, the athletes that broke records were top-class well trained and earned those records but it would be nice to look back at all the records from 80mm wheels and know what the current record holders could do. It's kind of a knock because when a record falls it seems that someone is always saying but they were on XXmm wheels back then. The racing was a lot more exciting for me this year then it has been in the past. I just think it could really hinder the excitement next year for a few reasons. I don't think we are going to have Sophomore Men going out from the gun to break records next year, even if they are the same ones because they may realize that the floor most likely will not be comparable in speed to Lincoln. When Andrew and Jonathon were having their Record fight (if i can call it that) it was exciting. If you don't appreciate someone who sprints off from the gun, runs a 45.0 opening 500 all out and by the end of the race is just completely blown and struggling to finish the race with a 47.0 closer then you don't appreciate the struggling. It's exciting because you sit there and watch the clock and watch the skater and you see them put their head down and just keep fighting to finish. It turns into a one man grind-it-out to the finish race even though they are going to win that win still won't be good enough.
My top performance:
Ricky Blas - Ricky was second year Junior this year at Nationals and really skated phenomenal. Last year Ricky skated great and barely missed the podium which was a ridiculous improvement from what he had accomplished in 2006 and then this year he topped that. 2nd place Junior Men, 3rd place Senior 2 man.
My top performance:
Ricky Blas - Ricky was second year Junior this year at Nationals and really skated phenomenal. Last year Ricky skated great and barely missed the podium which was a ridiculous improvement from what he had accomplished in 2006 and then this year he topped that. 2nd place Junior Men, 3rd place Senior 2 man.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
The Rest of the World Team
Senior Men:
Overall I think the senior men's team is definitely stronger then it was last year. Joey is still Joey and whatever area he is focusing on this year I would expect him to win almost every gold in that area. Last year I believe he focused on the shorter distances and out of 5 races 1000m and below he won 4 golds which is pretty impressive. Cheeks looks better this year to me especially because of the 110's. They look natural on his feet and it wasn't like last year where he skated 110's indoor then 100's for ODN residency and worlds. Josh looks so much strong this year to me then he did last year and that's a good thing considering that he won a relay gold last year. Sebastian skated good and made his fifth straight world team. I don't have any experiences with Dane but he is really well-rounded which obviously will help us out. And Harry is just something else. I love watching him skate because it looks like he is putting everything into every push. It sucks not having Jonathon on the team because he is funny and can lighten the mood at residency not to mention how strong he is in the distance but if we had to lose Jonathon I think Harry has some of the same skating qualities. Harry has a good sprint like Jonathon and he is well-rounded as well which will be great.
Senior Women:
Senior women is stronger or at least as strong as they were last year in my opinion. If Brittany wouldn't have skated then I think we would have been in trouble but her coming out really boosted this team. Sara skated great again but she definitely looked stronger this year. Emily is still really strong so she is definitely good to have on the team. Chelsea skated so good at ODN that she is definitely a strong person to have on the team. Erin skated good in the distance after all of the ice she did this year and the more she skates on her inlines the better she will get on them this year.
Junior Ladies:
Junior Ladies is easily way stronger then last year in my opinion. You have two individual medalist returning from last year in Bri and Mariah. Alex who skated really good in the middle distances at worlds and was apart of the bronze medal relay team. Erin who beat the silver world medalist in the 300m distance which always shows good signs for the USA in the 300m having those two. Sophie who reminds me a lot of Bri in her ability to just keep going in the distance races which will be really cool if the two of them get paired together. And Melanie who skated much better in my opinion then she did last year when you look at it overall.
All of our teams are stronger this year I think and I especially think the Junior Ladies team will turn some heads because they just seem like such a strong group. that I think she is really good for the senior women's team. Katelyn didn't get hurt this year and finally made the team after she was strong enough the past two years so she will be good especially because she went to residency as an alternate last year so she knows what to expect. And Erin skated good in the long races after all of the ice this year and the more time she spends on her
Overall I think the senior men's team is definitely stronger then it was last year. Joey is still Joey and whatever area he is focusing on this year I would expect him to win almost every gold in that area. Last year I believe he focused on the shorter distances and out of 5 races 1000m and below he won 4 golds which is pretty impressive. Cheeks looks better this year to me especially because of the 110's. They look natural on his feet and it wasn't like last year where he skated 110's indoor then 100's for ODN residency and worlds. Josh looks so much strong this year to me then he did last year and that's a good thing considering that he won a relay gold last year. Sebastian skated good and made his fifth straight world team. I don't have any experiences with Dane but he is really well-rounded which obviously will help us out. And Harry is just something else. I love watching him skate because it looks like he is putting everything into every push. It sucks not having Jonathon on the team because he is funny and can lighten the mood at residency not to mention how strong he is in the distance but if we had to lose Jonathon I think Harry has some of the same skating qualities. Harry has a good sprint like Jonathon and he is well-rounded as well which will be great.
Senior Women:
Senior women is stronger or at least as strong as they were last year in my opinion. If Brittany wouldn't have skated then I think we would have been in trouble but her coming out really boosted this team. Sara skated great again but she definitely looked stronger this year. Emily is still really strong so she is definitely good to have on the team. Chelsea skated so good at ODN that she is definitely a strong person to have on the team. Erin skated good in the distance after all of the ice she did this year and the more she skates on her inlines the better she will get on them this year.
Junior Ladies:
Junior Ladies is easily way stronger then last year in my opinion. You have two individual medalist returning from last year in Bri and Mariah. Alex who skated really good in the middle distances at worlds and was apart of the bronze medal relay team. Erin who beat the silver world medalist in the 300m distance which always shows good signs for the USA in the 300m having those two. Sophie who reminds me a lot of Bri in her ability to just keep going in the distance races which will be really cool if the two of them get paired together. And Melanie who skated much better in my opinion then she did last year when you look at it overall.
All of our teams are stronger this year I think and I especially think the Junior Ladies team will turn some heads because they just seem like such a strong group. that I think she is really good for the senior women's team. Katelyn didn't get hurt this year and finally made the team after she was strong enough the past two years so she will be good especially because she went to residency as an alternate last year so she knows what to expect. And Erin skated good in the long races after all of the ice this year and the more time she spends on her
Saturday, June 21, 2008
The 08 World Team
Well ODN is over. It came and went pretty quickly which stinks. This was my fifth consecutive year there and for some reason this year my dad decided we would drive. That really sucked! We live in Pennsylvania so driving to Colorado is really long. And of course because I have a license I had to do some of the driving. It seemed like my dad new when the weather and the traffic would pick up and those were the times he decided I would drive. On the way there my dad decided I could drive through Indiana. Well Indiana had been under serious weather and it turned out the road we were traveling on was flooded! I-70 was flooded in Indiana but there was also an accident and a lot of traffic. So there was a long time where I got stuck sitting in traffic but it didn't get any better there either. The road that parallels I-70 is I-40 so we decided that I should jump on their a few exits before the detour so I would miss all of the exiting traffic.. that was another mistake. It turns out that I-40 has a ton of traffic lights and as if I would have waited to get on it I would have missed all of them. Then to top it off it started to pour raining and the road looked like it was just going to completely flood and we would end up like one of those cars you always see on the news that tried to go through the flood and looks like an idiot! We got out of that though and it was pretty smooth from there on. But whenever I drove it always started drizzling or raining for some reason.
Enough of that.. I want to give my opinion on the world team this year from how we looked at ODN. Mostly in the junior men's category because that is the one I am most familiar with. In the order of priority (sprinter, sprinter, distance, track, road, overall)
Myself: last year I was one of the last people to make the team and I didn't make it until the very last race on the road, the 500 final. I wasn't that strong at ODN last year and a former world team coach actually told me I never deserved to make the team a few months after I did. I trained my butt off after that and skated two-a-days all throughout the summer to prepare and I ended up winning a medal in the track relay at worlds! Enough about last year.. this year I won the 300m which I knew I had a shot at but I never thought it would be like it was. When I skate good in the first race, it really relieves a lot of pressure and it makes the rest easier. I skated what I would say was a bad 1000m final with dumb strategy that ended up in a 5th place finish which I was really unhappy about especially considering I raced the 1000 at worlds last year. I skated really good on the track and finished up with the most points on the track which was 1 less then I got the entire ODN the previous year.
Kevin: Kevin was once again really strong. He continues to seem the most well-rounded when it comes to track sprints, track distance, road sprints, and road distance. He earned the most medals for junior men with 5 and he got points in every single race. He also finished the entire event with road and track combined as the point leader due to his consistency. This will be Kevin's third year at world's so I would expect him to be strong again and prepared because he's done it before. Last year Kevin experienced bad luck at world's with a fall on the track that caused him to keep a brace on and his wrist wrapped up.
Hank: This is Hank's fourth year on the junior world team which makes him the most seasoned easily. Hank was Hank once again and racked up his points in the distance races while also getting a fourth place finish in the 1000m. Hank won 3 of the 4 long races and got second in the other and has been to worlds plenty of times. When worlds and residency comes around Hank will be strong like always.
The next three are all new this year
Jake: Jake won track and really stepped up a lot from last year. From the very first race, the 300m it was obvious that Jake was a completely different skater then last year. Every aspect of racing was stronger for him ranging from the time trial to the points race. How much stronger he is this year is incredible and it is definitely good to have him on the team. He isn't just a distance skater either which will help push everyone at residency.
Jonathon: Jonathon is probably the hardest one to judge from ODN. He was someone that everyone expected to be strong because he has been everywhere all year but everyone knows racing isn't always about how strong you are. It was his first time trying out and I think it was definitely obvious early on especially on track. I don't think he was comfortable skating on the track and especially with the style. He had a good 300m but I'm sure it will be much faster at residency because he will be on the track for the second time and everyday almost. One thing that stood out the most to me about him racing on the track was the points race. He was strong in the points race but he looked like I did at residency, when he went for points he went to hard and instead of just doing what he needed to get the points he did extra that he could have saved for the next lap. One of the things I have learned is that when going for points (or at least in my opinion) it is best if you just do the bare minimum to still win the points. If you sprint all out then you will probably get a little gap when you could have gone 90% and still gotten the same 2 points. Jonathon showed on the road what everyone thought: his strength. Most of the time people do so much better their first year on the road because there is no getting use to it really. The race that he won: the elimination on road really stood out to probably everyone. To me it didn't necessarily look like he was a lot stronger then the other 3 people left in the pack when he took off but he just wanted it so much more then everyone else. When he took off it wasn't one of those graceful powerful take-offs it was more of a takeoff where you could tell he was tired but he literally just put his head down and moved his feet as fast as he could. I don't want anyone to think of that as a bad thing either because in those types of races everyone gets tired but the person who can just forget about it or who wants it that much more usually gets it and I think it was definitely evident. Something I will say though is that Jonathon has another 2 years of this and next year I would definitely expect him to skate much better all around. Getting the experience of residency and worlds this year will do so much for him next year and the year after that.
Justin: This was Justin's second year out here and I think he surprised a lot of people this year. This year I was pretty positive that he was strong enough to make the team I just wasn't sure if the mental aspect and racing strategy would be there in the points races. From the start I never would have guessed Justin would get third place in the time trial. I thought that was huge for him. He really skated good in the points race when he went on a flyer with about 15 laps to go that ended up getting him I think all but 2 of his points. Justin got three track medals and he did everything on 100mm wheels which I think was fine on track but I think on the road where the track is so much bigger and their is so much less rolling in the races I think the wheel size really hurt him and that was why his road performance didn't come close to his track performance. He has another year of junior after this so he should definitely have a great next year too.
I think Junior men definitely has a stronger team then anyone would have expected. The big thing will be for Jonathon and Justin to really step it up next year and lead by example because their will be four new members next year. That seems like a lot of new faces for one year.
Well that is the Junior Men's team I might give a little about the other three teams later but it will be no where as in-depth as this. One thing I will say is that to those of us that have made the team please, please, don't stop training! Train harder please! Just because you trained to make the team don't stop now, train harder because the whole purpose is to represent your country to be the best in the world! Not to represent yourself to be the best in the country in June and then stop training and let your country down in September.
Enough of that.. I want to give my opinion on the world team this year from how we looked at ODN. Mostly in the junior men's category because that is the one I am most familiar with. In the order of priority (sprinter, sprinter, distance, track, road, overall)
Myself: last year I was one of the last people to make the team and I didn't make it until the very last race on the road, the 500 final. I wasn't that strong at ODN last year and a former world team coach actually told me I never deserved to make the team a few months after I did. I trained my butt off after that and skated two-a-days all throughout the summer to prepare and I ended up winning a medal in the track relay at worlds! Enough about last year.. this year I won the 300m which I knew I had a shot at but I never thought it would be like it was. When I skate good in the first race, it really relieves a lot of pressure and it makes the rest easier. I skated what I would say was a bad 1000m final with dumb strategy that ended up in a 5th place finish which I was really unhappy about especially considering I raced the 1000 at worlds last year. I skated really good on the track and finished up with the most points on the track which was 1 less then I got the entire ODN the previous year.
Kevin: Kevin was once again really strong. He continues to seem the most well-rounded when it comes to track sprints, track distance, road sprints, and road distance. He earned the most medals for junior men with 5 and he got points in every single race. He also finished the entire event with road and track combined as the point leader due to his consistency. This will be Kevin's third year at world's so I would expect him to be strong again and prepared because he's done it before. Last year Kevin experienced bad luck at world's with a fall on the track that caused him to keep a brace on and his wrist wrapped up.
Hank: This is Hank's fourth year on the junior world team which makes him the most seasoned easily. Hank was Hank once again and racked up his points in the distance races while also getting a fourth place finish in the 1000m. Hank won 3 of the 4 long races and got second in the other and has been to worlds plenty of times. When worlds and residency comes around Hank will be strong like always.
The next three are all new this year
Jake: Jake won track and really stepped up a lot from last year. From the very first race, the 300m it was obvious that Jake was a completely different skater then last year. Every aspect of racing was stronger for him ranging from the time trial to the points race. How much stronger he is this year is incredible and it is definitely good to have him on the team. He isn't just a distance skater either which will help push everyone at residency.
Jonathon: Jonathon is probably the hardest one to judge from ODN. He was someone that everyone expected to be strong because he has been everywhere all year but everyone knows racing isn't always about how strong you are. It was his first time trying out and I think it was definitely obvious early on especially on track. I don't think he was comfortable skating on the track and especially with the style. He had a good 300m but I'm sure it will be much faster at residency because he will be on the track for the second time and everyday almost. One thing that stood out the most to me about him racing on the track was the points race. He was strong in the points race but he looked like I did at residency, when he went for points he went to hard and instead of just doing what he needed to get the points he did extra that he could have saved for the next lap. One of the things I have learned is that when going for points (or at least in my opinion) it is best if you just do the bare minimum to still win the points. If you sprint all out then you will probably get a little gap when you could have gone 90% and still gotten the same 2 points. Jonathon showed on the road what everyone thought: his strength. Most of the time people do so much better their first year on the road because there is no getting use to it really. The race that he won: the elimination on road really stood out to probably everyone. To me it didn't necessarily look like he was a lot stronger then the other 3 people left in the pack when he took off but he just wanted it so much more then everyone else. When he took off it wasn't one of those graceful powerful take-offs it was more of a takeoff where you could tell he was tired but he literally just put his head down and moved his feet as fast as he could. I don't want anyone to think of that as a bad thing either because in those types of races everyone gets tired but the person who can just forget about it or who wants it that much more usually gets it and I think it was definitely evident. Something I will say though is that Jonathon has another 2 years of this and next year I would definitely expect him to skate much better all around. Getting the experience of residency and worlds this year will do so much for him next year and the year after that.
Justin: This was Justin's second year out here and I think he surprised a lot of people this year. This year I was pretty positive that he was strong enough to make the team I just wasn't sure if the mental aspect and racing strategy would be there in the points races. From the start I never would have guessed Justin would get third place in the time trial. I thought that was huge for him. He really skated good in the points race when he went on a flyer with about 15 laps to go that ended up getting him I think all but 2 of his points. Justin got three track medals and he did everything on 100mm wheels which I think was fine on track but I think on the road where the track is so much bigger and their is so much less rolling in the races I think the wheel size really hurt him and that was why his road performance didn't come close to his track performance. He has another year of junior after this so he should definitely have a great next year too.
I think Junior men definitely has a stronger team then anyone would have expected. The big thing will be for Jonathon and Justin to really step it up next year and lead by example because their will be four new members next year. That seems like a lot of new faces for one year.
Well that is the Junior Men's team I might give a little about the other three teams later but it will be no where as in-depth as this. One thing I will say is that to those of us that have made the team please, please, don't stop training! Train harder please! Just because you trained to make the team don't stop now, train harder because the whole purpose is to represent your country to be the best in the world! Not to represent yourself to be the best in the country in June and then stop training and let your country down in September.
Starting The Blog
Welcome, this is the very first post!
I'm starting the blog because it seems to be catching on and it's an easy way for me to share my thoughts and opinions my own way without (hopefully) offending anyone. I love writing and expressing opinions while hearing other opinions and responding to them. I plan on using my blog to give updates on how things are going this summer. I'll be at residency for three weeks with Team USA and then I will be in Spain with Team USA for another two weeks. The majority of the inline skating world won't be there but wish they could so if I can update this every now and then and let people know what is going on then that could help. Plus I feel that people need to know what really goes on at residency and worlds instead of the garbage that gets out. If anything good was to happen at worlds I don't think anyone would find out because the people that always spread stuff about worlds only tend to spread what went wrong. This will be my second time around and if it's anything like last year I won't have practically anything negative to post besides the falls and disappointments that tend to happen. I also think that some of the events that happen in the skating world should be viewed by multiple age classes and being in the teen class and loving to write I might as well help out. The first few days will have a lot of post probably because I have a lot brewing in my mind. After that I'll try to post a few times a month but there will probably be times like residency and worlds where I will tend to post every 2-3 days because a lot happens and I write update emails home every night anyway. A lot goes on in our world of speed skating and even though I may not have as many years in this world as others I think it would be good if people heard a younger opinion of everything too. Now although I say that I wont be going against any one's opinion and will often agree because I don't tend to do a whole lot that my age class does anyway. In the off time when skating isn't as big I'll probably blog about anything. From my cross country season, school, recent meets, politics, and everything else I can think of.
I'm starting the blog because it seems to be catching on and it's an easy way for me to share my thoughts and opinions my own way without (hopefully) offending anyone. I love writing and expressing opinions while hearing other opinions and responding to them. I plan on using my blog to give updates on how things are going this summer. I'll be at residency for three weeks with Team USA and then I will be in Spain with Team USA for another two weeks. The majority of the inline skating world won't be there but wish they could so if I can update this every now and then and let people know what is going on then that could help. Plus I feel that people need to know what really goes on at residency and worlds instead of the garbage that gets out. If anything good was to happen at worlds I don't think anyone would find out because the people that always spread stuff about worlds only tend to spread what went wrong. This will be my second time around and if it's anything like last year I won't have practically anything negative to post besides the falls and disappointments that tend to happen. I also think that some of the events that happen in the skating world should be viewed by multiple age classes and being in the teen class and loving to write I might as well help out. The first few days will have a lot of post probably because I have a lot brewing in my mind. After that I'll try to post a few times a month but there will probably be times like residency and worlds where I will tend to post every 2-3 days because a lot happens and I write update emails home every night anyway. A lot goes on in our world of speed skating and even though I may not have as many years in this world as others I think it would be good if people heard a younger opinion of everything too. Now although I say that I wont be going against any one's opinion and will often agree because I don't tend to do a whole lot that my age class does anyway. In the off time when skating isn't as big I'll probably blog about anything. From my cross country season, school, recent meets, politics, and everything else I can think of.
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