I guess first off, the thing I am most thankful of is that everyday I wake up. And everyday I wake up I put in the work for everything I have.
I'm thankful for my family, not to be cliche or anything, but they obviously played a big part in molding me into who I am today. Thankful for my dad, who always supported me especially thru skating, I still don't know how we made the numbers work but we did.
Thankful for my brother, who even though it may have never seemed like it you pushed me thru practices I thought I was too tired to go on, because I'd never let you beat me.
Thankful for my coaches, especially Jeff, who has played the biggest role in the opportunities that are presented to me today. Without his guidance and coaching I probably would have left skating all together many years ago. More then that Jeff always coached me as a person instead of an athlete. He always made sure I knew that at the end of the day, skating is just skating: it doesn't change the person I am win or lose. I still and always will remember the first and only time I ever quit in a race. It was at a small race in Ohio, I was a Freshman but I was skating back-to-back Sophomore then Freshman. In the Sophomore race I put half a lap on the field and then fell twice on the last lap. For the freshman race I thought I could take it easy and rest for the next Sophomore race, I wasn't prepared and someone beat me and I quit with half a lap to go. Jeff told me if I ever did it again I could find a new team to skate for because if I was going to win like a champion then I was going to lose like one too.
I am thankful that for the work ethic that so many helped instill in my over the years. Coaches: all of them. Teachers, family, movies whatever it was I'm glad it happened. I don't have nearly enough talent to even attempt to rely on it.
I'm thankful that I fell in love with a sport that gave me more then I could ever give it. Yes, I am talking about my inlines. I met thousands of people, traveled to so many places, learned so many things, and most of all it never asked for anything in return. Some of my favorite moments were on the road practicing alone, just the soft vibration of the pavement beneath my feet. Whenever I needed it to be there it always was, the road never told me no, never told me I wasn't good enough or my technique was bad. Whenever I laced up my skates, left then right, the road was ready for me.
I am of course, thankful for the opportunity I was given to be apart of the WHiP program and allow me to test myself on the ice. Obviously things have turned out well for me and who knows what the future holds.
I am thankful for my coach this season, Jae Su Chun, who was able to see something in me that I couldn't see myself. Was able to take me from an inliner with blades instead of wheels and turn me into an ice skater that benefits from an inline background. He took a chance picking me for the NRP program this year without knowing anything about me and in a few months managed to put me in contention.
Lastly, I am also thankful for food and Duck Dynasty. Food because I am a fat kid at heart, and Duck Dynasty because it is the greatest show to ever surface.
I hope everyone takes care and remembers we are nothing without the people that got us here.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Dear Kevin
The destination, no matter what it is, is nothing without the journey. We've had one heck of a journey. But, as always this is something we always expected, it just took longer then expected. The true destination you'll have to figure out yourself. It might lie somewhere in Italy or it might lie somewhere else entirely but that is something you'll have to figure out on your own. I appreciate you thanking everyone including myself that helped you get where you are today, as I truly believe you are nothing without those surrounding you. At the end of the day if you are completely satisfied with what you've done then okay, maybe the journey ends here. Deep down I hope there is a sense of urgency, something that still hasn't been fulfilled. Something that still leaves you unsatisfied.
The best thing I can tell you over the next few weeks is not to take advantage of it at all. To train and skate like it is your last chance. To always leave yourself wanting more.
Now, first off Kevin, you'll always be my little brother, and for that I'll never give up on you. Secondly, anyone who has spent time with us as athletes can see you are twice the athlete I'll ever be. My range of athleticism ends at skating, that's what I can do. I'm average at best at everything else. You're bigger, stronger, and possess more raw power then I do, you just don't know how to use most of it.
Next, when you look back on things there is a lot you are forgetting or failing to remember. You remember my successes but not my failures. Maybe it's because by the time you really started to care about skating I started to win. Maybe you don't remember the three year stretch I never won as much as a league meet. Maybe you can't remember how hard I always was on myself every time I lost. Maybe you don't remember 05 when I sat and cried because I didn't qualify for a final I thought I should have won. Or 06 when I came so close but failed to make that team. Or 07 when I didn't medal in the 300 how pissed off I was, how I thought my championship was over before it even started. Or indoor that same year, 2007, when I lost for the first time all year at nationals in the first final. Remember all those years I skated Trexlertown and got whooped? I would finish two or three laps behind the winners every time. Surely you can remember the many times I threw my helmet, what you might not know is it was never because I was mad at the person that beat me or anyone else but myself. I hated myself for losing. Losing never mattered to me until I won, then I couldn't stand losing. I would let a single loss, even from a league meet. Eat me up, I would remember it at every practice. I would use it to make me keep going. I would tell myself I would lose again if I didn't keep going, or I had to train harder then everyone else in order to be better then them.
If you haven't learned it by now we are not the same. My drive has always come from my hatred for failing. My confidence has always come from my strength in training. A lot of my successes have been because I couldn't face myself if I lost or if I failed. Remember in 2007 when I qualified for that first jr world team? I was like the last one to make it and I skated 3 sometimes 4 or 5 times a day doing intervals and sprints all day long. Remember how the only thing that kept me going day after day was the thought of everyone being better then me? That year at trials I got 5th or 6th in the 300 but somehow at residency and worlds I was able to run as fast or faster then everyone else.
I just deleted a few paragraphs because I thought it was getting to far away from the topic. Basically Kevin, I want you to know you have a lot to still be accomplished. There's no doubt in my mind you have the physical tools to be a better skater then I could ever become. My greatest strength has always been between my ears. And once you figure that part out you'll start to see it. Just remember this isn't the end of the road, so although it's nice to thank everyone there are still tasks at hand.. even right now in the next few weeks. Remember over the next few weeks you need to train your mind as much as your body, get the necessary amount of rest and eat well. And of course, remain confident in yourself at all times..even in moments of doubt and train hard. And whatever you do, don't lose your passport.
Sincerely your brother in life and wheels,
Keith
The best thing I can tell you over the next few weeks is not to take advantage of it at all. To train and skate like it is your last chance. To always leave yourself wanting more.
Now, first off Kevin, you'll always be my little brother, and for that I'll never give up on you. Secondly, anyone who has spent time with us as athletes can see you are twice the athlete I'll ever be. My range of athleticism ends at skating, that's what I can do. I'm average at best at everything else. You're bigger, stronger, and possess more raw power then I do, you just don't know how to use most of it.
Next, when you look back on things there is a lot you are forgetting or failing to remember. You remember my successes but not my failures. Maybe it's because by the time you really started to care about skating I started to win. Maybe you don't remember the three year stretch I never won as much as a league meet. Maybe you can't remember how hard I always was on myself every time I lost. Maybe you don't remember 05 when I sat and cried because I didn't qualify for a final I thought I should have won. Or 06 when I came so close but failed to make that team. Or 07 when I didn't medal in the 300 how pissed off I was, how I thought my championship was over before it even started. Or indoor that same year, 2007, when I lost for the first time all year at nationals in the first final. Remember all those years I skated Trexlertown and got whooped? I would finish two or three laps behind the winners every time. Surely you can remember the many times I threw my helmet, what you might not know is it was never because I was mad at the person that beat me or anyone else but myself. I hated myself for losing. Losing never mattered to me until I won, then I couldn't stand losing. I would let a single loss, even from a league meet. Eat me up, I would remember it at every practice. I would use it to make me keep going. I would tell myself I would lose again if I didn't keep going, or I had to train harder then everyone else in order to be better then them.
If you haven't learned it by now we are not the same. My drive has always come from my hatred for failing. My confidence has always come from my strength in training. A lot of my successes have been because I couldn't face myself if I lost or if I failed. Remember in 2007 when I qualified for that first jr world team? I was like the last one to make it and I skated 3 sometimes 4 or 5 times a day doing intervals and sprints all day long. Remember how the only thing that kept me going day after day was the thought of everyone being better then me? That year at trials I got 5th or 6th in the 300 but somehow at residency and worlds I was able to run as fast or faster then everyone else.
I just deleted a few paragraphs because I thought it was getting to far away from the topic. Basically Kevin, I want you to know you have a lot to still be accomplished. There's no doubt in my mind you have the physical tools to be a better skater then I could ever become. My greatest strength has always been between my ears. And once you figure that part out you'll start to see it. Just remember this isn't the end of the road, so although it's nice to thank everyone there are still tasks at hand.. even right now in the next few weeks. Remember over the next few weeks you need to train your mind as much as your body, get the necessary amount of rest and eat well. And of course, remain confident in yourself at all times..even in moments of doubt and train hard. And whatever you do, don't lose your passport.
Sincerely your brother in life and wheels,
Keith
Friday, April 27, 2012
2008 Season
2008 I can sum up into one post for both indoor and outdoor. Indoor I skated pro all year getting some experience racing with those guys what I still have NSC to thank, but wish I would have just done so much sooner was believe what I could do. I always new I was fast enough to race anyone, and sometimes it was there but until I started NSC if Will or Steve were in front of me I simply didn't think to pass them because they were suppose to win, if I finished behind them it was still news.
Indoors we had a lot of wheel issues at nationals for what would end up as my last year with MPC. I was 100% dedicated and loyal through everything. Even when the wheel didn't perform like we expected it to I never switched wheels until they gave me a set of competitor wheels and told me to put them on. When I put on other wheels, I made sure to salvage the championships. Skating poorly due to equipment in the 1000m and 500m I switched in the 2000m and broke a 10yr record by eight seconds. I remember my last 5 of my 20 were all under 8.5 and I managed to get third overall, an accomplishment in itself.
Outdoor I viewed trials as a formality. I wanted to prove I would be going to worlds the top junior sprinter and I let the chip on my shoulder be known. I broke two records that year at trials. Won both TT and got ready for worlds. I practiced my sprint a lot leading into residency in worlds that year. I had just moved that year which forced me to drive much further to practices and instead of being able to skate to a practice location I was stuck searching for somewhere new to train alone.
When I got to worlds I couldn't figure the track out to save my life I felt like. I kept thinking I had it down and next thing I knew I was barking or slipping again because my line was poor. I think I proved it in the 300m. I qualified 8th overall for the 300m, and got 5th in the 300m final but I left a lot to be desired after barking in turns two and three. Fifth place was cool but still left me unsatisfied. The next day I didn't get to skate what I thought could have been my best race, the 1000m. The coach told me he didn't even consider me for the race because it's not a sprinters race. Which pissed me off a lot at the time, and maybe still does a little. 7 out of 8 finalist for the 1000m that year were in the top 12 for the 300m and through all of our training I never finished worse than 2nd for the 1000m all at fast speeds.
I remember I called Jeff on skype of course, and told him what happened. I remember he asked if I would be in the 500m the day after and I told him I should be and he said simply, show them what you can do.
The day of the 500m I was still bitter or angry. And at that stage I was still an ipod-on-in-the-zone-kind-of-guy. I remember the heat I came out at 100% and 50m into the race I already had 15m to spare on the field. Safe cruising from there. Fast-forward through the quarter(i won) to the semi. I had 4th overall in the 300m in my semi and one of the best jr sprinters from Australia in it. I came from behind in the semi and won that too. Afterward I realized my semi and quarter were the fastest two jr 500's thus far. In the final I knew a medal was within reach. I had beaten one of the skaters in the final in my quarter and semi but I was skating so well that day I wanted gold. I remember off the line I was in fourth where I wanted to be basically because the favorite was in front of me. Then I remember one skater tripping and out of reaction I grabbed his hips to hold him up then on his next cross his left foot came through and took my skates right out from under me.. My medal dreams were dashed. I remember getting up and wanting to get off the track, not finish, wanting to go hide out and shed a tear or two for myself.
But I had a relay final to skate, if the 500 did anything for me it was make me hungrier for the relay gold. I had a goal to get an individual medal but I could still win a relay medal along the way. I was in a pissed off and disappointed zone before the relay. I made the decision to push the pace in the relay before we ever warmed up. I wanted to be in the front and if we were going to lose it was going to be because someone was better then us. After my first time out we led every exchange until four laps to go. I was coming out for my exchange at which point I decided to go full 100% and see if I could open the race up a bit but before I ever got going a competitor cut into our relay line knocking me down, this video doesn't show much of the contact but you can tell someone falls.. that's me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqeRkXUDFLc
I felt back after that, mostly because I think we had a very good chance at winning that relay, the few times anyone passed us we moved right back up to the front. Although I couldn't really control it I still feel like there's a medal Jake, Jonathan, and I left in Spain.
Falling twice in a span of an hour on your knee, shin, leg does quite the damage. That night I couldn't put weight on it. The next day for road practice I didn't skate. I remember telling Jeff I wasn't sure if I would be able to skate the 200m and he asked me if I was healthy would I be the best bet to skate it and I said yeah, so he told me to skate it so I did. I couldn't feel my left foot and I didn't make the 200m final, I got 13th with my leg still swollen there wasn't much I could do. I salvaged what I could out of the rest of worlds that year but the falls on the track didn't leave me in a good spot for road.
Someone came up to me after track at worlds and told me if anyone deserved to win a gold medal it was me, that it was tough to watch my fall in the 500m and then again to see it all happen just an hour later in the relay. I had never spoken to this person before, nor had I ever met them. It didn't help me really, but it still felt good for someone to recognize me even without any accomplishment.
Indoors we had a lot of wheel issues at nationals for what would end up as my last year with MPC. I was 100% dedicated and loyal through everything. Even when the wheel didn't perform like we expected it to I never switched wheels until they gave me a set of competitor wheels and told me to put them on. When I put on other wheels, I made sure to salvage the championships. Skating poorly due to equipment in the 1000m and 500m I switched in the 2000m and broke a 10yr record by eight seconds. I remember my last 5 of my 20 were all under 8.5 and I managed to get third overall, an accomplishment in itself.
Outdoor I viewed trials as a formality. I wanted to prove I would be going to worlds the top junior sprinter and I let the chip on my shoulder be known. I broke two records that year at trials. Won both TT and got ready for worlds. I practiced my sprint a lot leading into residency in worlds that year. I had just moved that year which forced me to drive much further to practices and instead of being able to skate to a practice location I was stuck searching for somewhere new to train alone.
When I got to worlds I couldn't figure the track out to save my life I felt like. I kept thinking I had it down and next thing I knew I was barking or slipping again because my line was poor. I think I proved it in the 300m. I qualified 8th overall for the 300m, and got 5th in the 300m final but I left a lot to be desired after barking in turns two and three. Fifth place was cool but still left me unsatisfied. The next day I didn't get to skate what I thought could have been my best race, the 1000m. The coach told me he didn't even consider me for the race because it's not a sprinters race. Which pissed me off a lot at the time, and maybe still does a little. 7 out of 8 finalist for the 1000m that year were in the top 12 for the 300m and through all of our training I never finished worse than 2nd for the 1000m all at fast speeds.
I remember I called Jeff on skype of course, and told him what happened. I remember he asked if I would be in the 500m the day after and I told him I should be and he said simply, show them what you can do.
The day of the 500m I was still bitter or angry. And at that stage I was still an ipod-on-in-the-zone-kind-of-guy. I remember the heat I came out at 100% and 50m into the race I already had 15m to spare on the field. Safe cruising from there. Fast-forward through the quarter(i won) to the semi. I had 4th overall in the 300m in my semi and one of the best jr sprinters from Australia in it. I came from behind in the semi and won that too. Afterward I realized my semi and quarter were the fastest two jr 500's thus far. In the final I knew a medal was within reach. I had beaten one of the skaters in the final in my quarter and semi but I was skating so well that day I wanted gold. I remember off the line I was in fourth where I wanted to be basically because the favorite was in front of me. Then I remember one skater tripping and out of reaction I grabbed his hips to hold him up then on his next cross his left foot came through and took my skates right out from under me.. My medal dreams were dashed. I remember getting up and wanting to get off the track, not finish, wanting to go hide out and shed a tear or two for myself.
But I had a relay final to skate, if the 500 did anything for me it was make me hungrier for the relay gold. I had a goal to get an individual medal but I could still win a relay medal along the way. I was in a pissed off and disappointed zone before the relay. I made the decision to push the pace in the relay before we ever warmed up. I wanted to be in the front and if we were going to lose it was going to be because someone was better then us. After my first time out we led every exchange until four laps to go. I was coming out for my exchange at which point I decided to go full 100% and see if I could open the race up a bit but before I ever got going a competitor cut into our relay line knocking me down, this video doesn't show much of the contact but you can tell someone falls.. that's me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqeRkXUDFLc
I felt back after that, mostly because I think we had a very good chance at winning that relay, the few times anyone passed us we moved right back up to the front. Although I couldn't really control it I still feel like there's a medal Jake, Jonathan, and I left in Spain.
Falling twice in a span of an hour on your knee, shin, leg does quite the damage. That night I couldn't put weight on it. The next day for road practice I didn't skate. I remember telling Jeff I wasn't sure if I would be able to skate the 200m and he asked me if I was healthy would I be the best bet to skate it and I said yeah, so he told me to skate it so I did. I couldn't feel my left foot and I didn't make the 200m final, I got 13th with my leg still swollen there wasn't much I could do. I salvaged what I could out of the rest of worlds that year but the falls on the track didn't leave me in a good spot for road.
Someone came up to me after track at worlds and told me if anyone deserved to win a gold medal it was me, that it was tough to watch my fall in the 500m and then again to see it all happen just an hour later in the relay. I had never spoken to this person before, nor had I ever met them. It didn't help me really, but it still felt good for someone to recognize me even without any accomplishment.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
2007 Outdoor
There's so much to write about my outdoor season in 2007. But first, in 2007 ODN was still in late may or early June that time frame. Well in the fall/winter of 2006-2007 I started skating a little bit of short track speed skating. Maybe three times a month I would practice for an hour on the ice. Well, on my birthday, April 16th 2007, we were skating really slow and the season was over (for ice) and like most clubs we didn't have pads around the entire track just on the turns to the blue line. We were doing a circle tech drill and I slipped and fell down going back first into the boards. I tried to shake it off but right away I knew something wasn't wrong, I had a stinger go straight down my left leg.
Two weeks later I still wasn't practicing but had already paid for a flight to the national team clinic, so I went and did what I could, which was much of nothing but luckily I still went because the the training room had me hooked up to stem and a few other things everyday which ended up helping me out alot. After the national team clinic I still couldn't skate much outdoor Straight away pushes were painful for me so I prepared for trials with little outdoor training in the last month and a half. I don't remember when the pain went away but I know I was fine at trials.
In the first race I had the mindset that I could win, the 300m TT I don't remember what happened but I ended up fourth I think.. the top five were all within .2 of a second. I was pretty disappointed with my 300m but I cam back pretty strong in the 1000m and ended up third. The points race was bad for me that year, and the elim was barely any better, I manged 7th or 8th in the elim which gave me some points but not much. The 500 was always a tough race and I remember coming out of the final turn I came underneath Colin Thomas and won out the hawk at the line for third place. In the 200m I ended up in 3rd, didn't do much of anything in either long race on road and then it was the 500m. I didn't mention it to anyone at the time but running through my head was flashbacks of 2006. In the final race I had not yet secured a spot on the world team, but I was still in the hunt for the last spot. Jeff had to leave ODN early that year for work, I remember calling him before the 500m I explained the points to him and I remember telling him, Jeff if I win I'm in.
I remembered him telling me in 2006 win and you're in. Those words stuck with me and I thought it was a fitting time to repeat it back to him.
My semi was very interesting, it was myself, Colin Thomas, Moe Hall, Greg Gorman. The thing was that Colin was already on the team, Moe, Greg, and I were all fighting to be the second sprinter on the team. The course had a slight down hill and a slight up hill. I remember Moe won the start and then Colin then me. Colin went to the front and I remember going inside of Moe in the turn after the downhill. The uphill straight I went by Colin and sprinted to the line. I won the semi and Colin made it behind me. We watched the other semi skate and once Chad Horne and Kimani Griffin advanced to the final I took a pause and then realized I just made the world team. Whether I won or lost the A final as long as I skated and finished I made the team. I remember shortly after that being called to the officials tent and I was super nervous, I didn't understand I skated a clean race and nothing was questionable I couldn't be disqualified. When I got the tent the announcer was announcing my name, apparently I had just broken the 500m road record for Jr. Men. I was pretty stoked. I remember calling Jeff and telling him the news I felt terrific, in the final I remember coming off the line pretty easy because I didn't want to risk anything and end up with a DQ.. I took 4th in the final and officially made the world team.
After I got back from trials I remember Jeff sat me down and told me it was time to take it to the next level. He told me we had trained hard the past two years to get to this point but if I was going to skate at the World Championships we would need to take it up a lot higher then we already were. I remember he told me I would have to do a lot of it on my own because he still would have to work so everyday I would have to skate without him there to coach me in the mornings but at night we always had a 1-2 more practices that he would be there for. I remember in the mornings a lot of times it would be me and the watch. Intervals, sprints, intervals, sprints I think that's all I did day after day, morning after morning. Then I would gear up and do whatever Jeff thought up for the evening practices. The training paid off, I won indoor nationals which was in my previous blog.
When I got to residency I didn't know how good or bad I would be. I remember everyone expected me to be purely sprints but after a few days they realized I could do the distance drills, too. I ended up splitting my time between sprints and distance. Every 300m we did Chad, Kevin Quandt, and I were all basically within a couple of tenths.. every single time. Residency could basically be a wash between most of us, we were all strong that year.
Worlds was different.. as soon as we got to Cali I peaked or something.. Everything started to fall in place. On the second night a bunch of sprinters were at the track to work on opening 100's.. I remember I ran my first full 100 and everyone told me how good it was and they told me it was 9.6 and I said what does that mean, Joey was the only one that beat me that night for an opener.
I remember being so nervous the day of the 300m.. the first race at worlds and my first worlds. I didn't really know what to expect. I remember qualifying for the final which was cool and then I got 8th which I was proud of I guess. In the 1000m semi at worlds we thought it would be fast from the gun and it wasn't we crawled the first lap so knowing it went by time except the winner and that we had the 300m champion in our semi I took off with 4 to go. Coming out of the last turn Colin passed me and then him, me, and the 300m champion hawked at the line. Colin made the 1000m final.. he was the only one in our semi to make it.
The relay on track is probably the most interesting part. We made it out of the heat easily. In the final we had decided to make our tags low so we had inside position heading into the turn. To that point I had never ran that hard in my life, the track was huge and parabolic so sprinting through the turn was an option. We led from the gun every exchange the whole time. On the last cycle I remember Italy coming along side of us before the tag then we had a poor exchange that left me twisted down the straightaway but I/we recovered and maintained position finishing with second place and a medal at my first world championships.
Funny story, after my 300m heat a US parent/coach came up to me and told me I never belonged on that world team. I was offended, I still think I might be. I didn't really understand, I went to trials and beat out everyone else and earned my spot fair and square, and I had an injury going into trials but I didn't use it as an excuse. Needless to say, they stood in front of me and said I didn't believe you deserved a spot on this team. I thought you were the 6th and final person and that you wouldn't be on the same level anyway. They paused and then continued to say that I 'proved them wrong' and they weren't sure how I did it but I was very good here at the world championships. I didn't know how to respond and I if it happened today I still don't know what I would say.
If the 2007 World Championships did anything for me it showed me how close I was and it made me want it more than ever.
Two weeks later I still wasn't practicing but had already paid for a flight to the national team clinic, so I went and did what I could, which was much of nothing but luckily I still went because the the training room had me hooked up to stem and a few other things everyday which ended up helping me out alot. After the national team clinic I still couldn't skate much outdoor Straight away pushes were painful for me so I prepared for trials with little outdoor training in the last month and a half. I don't remember when the pain went away but I know I was fine at trials.
In the first race I had the mindset that I could win, the 300m TT I don't remember what happened but I ended up fourth I think.. the top five were all within .2 of a second. I was pretty disappointed with my 300m but I cam back pretty strong in the 1000m and ended up third. The points race was bad for me that year, and the elim was barely any better, I manged 7th or 8th in the elim which gave me some points but not much. The 500 was always a tough race and I remember coming out of the final turn I came underneath Colin Thomas and won out the hawk at the line for third place. In the 200m I ended up in 3rd, didn't do much of anything in either long race on road and then it was the 500m. I didn't mention it to anyone at the time but running through my head was flashbacks of 2006. In the final race I had not yet secured a spot on the world team, but I was still in the hunt for the last spot. Jeff had to leave ODN early that year for work, I remember calling him before the 500m I explained the points to him and I remember telling him, Jeff if I win I'm in.
I remembered him telling me in 2006 win and you're in. Those words stuck with me and I thought it was a fitting time to repeat it back to him.
My semi was very interesting, it was myself, Colin Thomas, Moe Hall, Greg Gorman. The thing was that Colin was already on the team, Moe, Greg, and I were all fighting to be the second sprinter on the team. The course had a slight down hill and a slight up hill. I remember Moe won the start and then Colin then me. Colin went to the front and I remember going inside of Moe in the turn after the downhill. The uphill straight I went by Colin and sprinted to the line. I won the semi and Colin made it behind me. We watched the other semi skate and once Chad Horne and Kimani Griffin advanced to the final I took a pause and then realized I just made the world team. Whether I won or lost the A final as long as I skated and finished I made the team. I remember shortly after that being called to the officials tent and I was super nervous, I didn't understand I skated a clean race and nothing was questionable I couldn't be disqualified. When I got the tent the announcer was announcing my name, apparently I had just broken the 500m road record for Jr. Men. I was pretty stoked. I remember calling Jeff and telling him the news I felt terrific, in the final I remember coming off the line pretty easy because I didn't want to risk anything and end up with a DQ.. I took 4th in the final and officially made the world team.
After I got back from trials I remember Jeff sat me down and told me it was time to take it to the next level. He told me we had trained hard the past two years to get to this point but if I was going to skate at the World Championships we would need to take it up a lot higher then we already were. I remember he told me I would have to do a lot of it on my own because he still would have to work so everyday I would have to skate without him there to coach me in the mornings but at night we always had a 1-2 more practices that he would be there for. I remember in the mornings a lot of times it would be me and the watch. Intervals, sprints, intervals, sprints I think that's all I did day after day, morning after morning. Then I would gear up and do whatever Jeff thought up for the evening practices. The training paid off, I won indoor nationals which was in my previous blog.
When I got to residency I didn't know how good or bad I would be. I remember everyone expected me to be purely sprints but after a few days they realized I could do the distance drills, too. I ended up splitting my time between sprints and distance. Every 300m we did Chad, Kevin Quandt, and I were all basically within a couple of tenths.. every single time. Residency could basically be a wash between most of us, we were all strong that year.
Worlds was different.. as soon as we got to Cali I peaked or something.. Everything started to fall in place. On the second night a bunch of sprinters were at the track to work on opening 100's.. I remember I ran my first full 100 and everyone told me how good it was and they told me it was 9.6 and I said what does that mean, Joey was the only one that beat me that night for an opener.
I remember being so nervous the day of the 300m.. the first race at worlds and my first worlds. I didn't really know what to expect. I remember qualifying for the final which was cool and then I got 8th which I was proud of I guess. In the 1000m semi at worlds we thought it would be fast from the gun and it wasn't we crawled the first lap so knowing it went by time except the winner and that we had the 300m champion in our semi I took off with 4 to go. Coming out of the last turn Colin passed me and then him, me, and the 300m champion hawked at the line. Colin made the 1000m final.. he was the only one in our semi to make it.
The relay on track is probably the most interesting part. We made it out of the heat easily. In the final we had decided to make our tags low so we had inside position heading into the turn. To that point I had never ran that hard in my life, the track was huge and parabolic so sprinting through the turn was an option. We led from the gun every exchange the whole time. On the last cycle I remember Italy coming along side of us before the tag then we had a poor exchange that left me twisted down the straightaway but I/we recovered and maintained position finishing with second place and a medal at my first world championships.
Funny story, after my 300m heat a US parent/coach came up to me and told me I never belonged on that world team. I was offended, I still think I might be. I didn't really understand, I went to trials and beat out everyone else and earned my spot fair and square, and I had an injury going into trials but I didn't use it as an excuse. Needless to say, they stood in front of me and said I didn't believe you deserved a spot on this team. I thought you were the 6th and final person and that you wouldn't be on the same level anyway. They paused and then continued to say that I 'proved them wrong' and they weren't sure how I did it but I was very good here at the world championships. I didn't know how to respond and I if it happened today I still don't know what I would say.
If the 2007 World Championships did anything for me it showed me how close I was and it made me want it more than ever.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
2007 - Indoor - Defense
You always here how much of a 'target' will be on your back after you win something big. I guess that's how 2007 started for me. Before the first race of the season I had someone I would end up racing that year telling me how much better they were than me, how they would win that year, break my record, and prove how bad I really was. I've always said that I never needed motivation, that I'm a self-motivated person.. but I've always accepted it when someone wants to pour some on.
My National Title defense didn't quite start the way I wanted it to. In September of 2006 I broke my collarbone at an outdoor race, it was the first time I ever had to take any amount of time off from skating. At first I tried to show up to every practice but I had to stop going, I couldn't sit and watch without being able to skate. Little did I know that wouldn't be the only time I missed that season.
I skated a little race over Halloween that year a week or two after being cleared to skate, everything was going good and the last lap of the last relay of the meet I fell on my shoulder of course. I thought I re-broke my collarbone but although I couldn't move it the Dr said that it looked great on the X-rays. The first invitational for me was always Greensboro, NC. I went in expecting not to do great since I only managed a few weeks of skating before the race but somehow I won both distances.. the 1500m by a lot which was new for me. That year was also my first with MPC so I went to a lot of races and tested 100's of different wheel combinations.
I went to west palm that year as well. It was the first time I would race the competitor that told me how much better he was then me. In the very first race of the meet I lapped him, it was only 10laps.. and a heat. I skated well enough at that meet that I fell down in both finals and still got 2nd.
West Palm was the first time I started learning what I really could do. Sure, I always had a good start and I could sprint with the best of them but I learned the rest of it. I learned quick that I developed an ability to go out harder in most races and make it hard for people. I started every 1500 and 1000m way faster than anyone wanted and usually I made it hard for everyone. I got to the point that I didn't care if I blew people away or if they finished right behind me, I wanted them to know I was stronger then them. I spent a lot of that season winning a lot of races.
I wanted to win Nationals for a lot of reasons that year, obviously I wanted to defend my title. I also realized at that point no one had won back to back sophomore men's titles on inlines.. ever so I wanted to do that. Next, everyone told me how impossible it would be to win on MPC wheels, and I wanted to prove they were wrong.
When I got to nationals that year I had a huge chip on my shoulder. I only lost one race that Nationals, it happened to be the first final, the 1000m. Someone fell early and for some reason it froze me.. I stopped doing what I had all year and it cost me a win in the first distance. From that point on, for the rest of division I led every lap of every race I skated. In the 1500m final I was still fighting for the overall title. I started the race out pretty fast, every time someone tried to pass me I passed them right back the very next straightaway. I got in the habit of picking the pace up even more with 7 laps to go because I knew no one wanted it to be sped up that soon. I never had to reach a full sprint because the race was fast throughout tiring everyone out enough. Coming out of the last turn I knew that the race, the title, and the defense were all mine, the three things I cared about. After the race I was told that I just broke the record which was cool because it sealed the title for me. That year we were in Omaha and after something like 60 records were broken in 2006 only 19 or something got broken in 2007, plus now I had the 500m (2006) and the 1500m.
That year the officials at Nationals tried to get my medal stripped from me after the award ceremony. I wore my MPC uniform on the podium, something I had seen athletes do before that did not skate pro. The was no rule that said you had to wear your club suit on the podium, just during races. Now, there is a rule that allows non-pro skaters to wear there sponsor uniforms on the podium.
My National Title defense didn't quite start the way I wanted it to. In September of 2006 I broke my collarbone at an outdoor race, it was the first time I ever had to take any amount of time off from skating. At first I tried to show up to every practice but I had to stop going, I couldn't sit and watch without being able to skate. Little did I know that wouldn't be the only time I missed that season.
I skated a little race over Halloween that year a week or two after being cleared to skate, everything was going good and the last lap of the last relay of the meet I fell on my shoulder of course. I thought I re-broke my collarbone but although I couldn't move it the Dr said that it looked great on the X-rays. The first invitational for me was always Greensboro, NC. I went in expecting not to do great since I only managed a few weeks of skating before the race but somehow I won both distances.. the 1500m by a lot which was new for me. That year was also my first with MPC so I went to a lot of races and tested 100's of different wheel combinations.
I went to west palm that year as well. It was the first time I would race the competitor that told me how much better he was then me. In the very first race of the meet I lapped him, it was only 10laps.. and a heat. I skated well enough at that meet that I fell down in both finals and still got 2nd.
West Palm was the first time I started learning what I really could do. Sure, I always had a good start and I could sprint with the best of them but I learned the rest of it. I learned quick that I developed an ability to go out harder in most races and make it hard for people. I started every 1500 and 1000m way faster than anyone wanted and usually I made it hard for everyone. I got to the point that I didn't care if I blew people away or if they finished right behind me, I wanted them to know I was stronger then them. I spent a lot of that season winning a lot of races.
I wanted to win Nationals for a lot of reasons that year, obviously I wanted to defend my title. I also realized at that point no one had won back to back sophomore men's titles on inlines.. ever so I wanted to do that. Next, everyone told me how impossible it would be to win on MPC wheels, and I wanted to prove they were wrong.
When I got to nationals that year I had a huge chip on my shoulder. I only lost one race that Nationals, it happened to be the first final, the 1000m. Someone fell early and for some reason it froze me.. I stopped doing what I had all year and it cost me a win in the first distance. From that point on, for the rest of division I led every lap of every race I skated. In the 1500m final I was still fighting for the overall title. I started the race out pretty fast, every time someone tried to pass me I passed them right back the very next straightaway. I got in the habit of picking the pace up even more with 7 laps to go because I knew no one wanted it to be sped up that soon. I never had to reach a full sprint because the race was fast throughout tiring everyone out enough. Coming out of the last turn I knew that the race, the title, and the defense were all mine, the three things I cared about. After the race I was told that I just broke the record which was cool because it sealed the title for me. That year we were in Omaha and after something like 60 records were broken in 2006 only 19 or something got broken in 2007, plus now I had the 500m (2006) and the 1500m.
That year the officials at Nationals tried to get my medal stripped from me after the award ceremony. I wore my MPC uniform on the podium, something I had seen athletes do before that did not skate pro. The was no rule that said you had to wear your club suit on the podium, just during races. Now, there is a rule that allows non-pro skaters to wear there sponsor uniforms on the podium.
Monday, April 2, 2012
2006 - Indoor
I think I've written about this a million times. If you can ever pick a defining moment this has to be it for me.
My last blog covered the outdoor part of 2006 and now I'm going to jump into the indoor part. A few blogs ago i wrote about 2004 where I had a lot of trouble falling.. That would not compare to 2006 in any way, shape, or form. The first race of the season was always in Greensboro, NC during thanksgiving for me. Let me give you a little idea of the season. 500m semi I was sitting in a poor, 4th place. Waiting for my opening knowing I was fast enough to move up, just skating behind someone a little awkward.. I fall down with 1 lap to go. Too bad. 1500m I don't remember if it was a semi or the final. I was in the lead four laps in and I fall down.. Get up quickly.. catch all the way back up to the pack work my way to second place.. and fall down with 2 laps to go. 2 races.. three falls. This was my season in 2006. Falling.. falling and more falling. Not at practice too much, just racing.
We worked watched video and tried to figure out what was happening. Not sure, we made the decision that I was going to stop pushing in the straights. The reason was because I took long steps in the straight trying to get as much out of it as possible and because I did that my left straight would end just barely before the turn so I would go from moving slightly right to jumping on my left edges and the quick position change was just too much. Even after making this change I was still falling a lot but we kept at it hoping it would just take a little time. The other thing was in 2006 I grew to the height I am now, which I thought would work to my advantage being a little bigger.. little did I know everyone else got bigger too.
Around President's Day, The Philly Challenge my luck slowly started turning. I got 2nd at the biggest meet of the year without falling down. I think I won regionals that year too also without falling down. Then Outdoor Nationals happened. After that I just kept hearing about how much fun everyone was going to have at worlds and how hard they were training for residency and worlds. Hearing that made me want to win indoor nationals more than anything.
One Wednesday night I remember we had just finished practice it was late. Everyone was gone I'm sure my brother and mother/father were lingering around. It's probably 10:30 and it's just Jeff and I, I don't remember how the conversation started but I remember him telling me that I might have to settle for 2nd or 3rd in a race because if I fall trying to get to the front then I get nothing. I don't even know that I let him finish talking before I said I don't want second or third, I want to win. I remember he said I want you to win too, but there are three races. I feel like I could end the story there, that moment sticks out to me more than the races that followed.
The first race at indoor nationals is the middle distance, which was the 1000m for me. In the final I won the start and was in the front but not going that fast. I remember the whole pack almost passed me in the same straightaway. Then I was in last place with four laps to go just looking for somewhere to go. In two and a half laps I found myself in second place, having passed one person each straightaway. At this point Jake Powers was out in front a little ways but I gave chase. We finished 1, 2.
Next was the 500, naturally I thought I could take the overall lead after the 5. I broke Will Bowen's Sophomore 500m record in the semi but barely. In the final I took second off the line, waited to really set my pass up and went to the front after one lap. After another lap second and third fell giving Jake a clear path to chase me. The finish was much like the 1000m but swapped and I lowered the record again.
Heading into the final for the 1500m Jake and I were tied for the lead and we were taking 1,2 overall no matter what. Obviously we joked about how we each won one race again this year, only this time we weren't getting worse than second overall. The 1500m record that year got slaughtered by us. I think we broke it in like 3 heats, 1 semi, and then the final too. In the final I pretty much just wanted to stay out of trouble and beat Jake, so I could win overall. I remember being in the front and then with maybe 7 laps to go Kimani Griffin passed me and picked up the pace. With four to go I noticed we were alone.. really alone like a straightaways length ahead of third. At that point I knew I just had to settle in and as long as the pace didn't die down I would win overall.
And that was my first overall indoor title for division. I think it brought closure for me after barely missing the 2006 Jr. World Team.
My last blog covered the outdoor part of 2006 and now I'm going to jump into the indoor part. A few blogs ago i wrote about 2004 where I had a lot of trouble falling.. That would not compare to 2006 in any way, shape, or form. The first race of the season was always in Greensboro, NC during thanksgiving for me. Let me give you a little idea of the season. 500m semi I was sitting in a poor, 4th place. Waiting for my opening knowing I was fast enough to move up, just skating behind someone a little awkward.. I fall down with 1 lap to go. Too bad. 1500m I don't remember if it was a semi or the final. I was in the lead four laps in and I fall down.. Get up quickly.. catch all the way back up to the pack work my way to second place.. and fall down with 2 laps to go. 2 races.. three falls. This was my season in 2006. Falling.. falling and more falling. Not at practice too much, just racing.
We worked watched video and tried to figure out what was happening. Not sure, we made the decision that I was going to stop pushing in the straights. The reason was because I took long steps in the straight trying to get as much out of it as possible and because I did that my left straight would end just barely before the turn so I would go from moving slightly right to jumping on my left edges and the quick position change was just too much. Even after making this change I was still falling a lot but we kept at it hoping it would just take a little time. The other thing was in 2006 I grew to the height I am now, which I thought would work to my advantage being a little bigger.. little did I know everyone else got bigger too.
Around President's Day, The Philly Challenge my luck slowly started turning. I got 2nd at the biggest meet of the year without falling down. I think I won regionals that year too also without falling down. Then Outdoor Nationals happened. After that I just kept hearing about how much fun everyone was going to have at worlds and how hard they were training for residency and worlds. Hearing that made me want to win indoor nationals more than anything.
One Wednesday night I remember we had just finished practice it was late. Everyone was gone I'm sure my brother and mother/father were lingering around. It's probably 10:30 and it's just Jeff and I, I don't remember how the conversation started but I remember him telling me that I might have to settle for 2nd or 3rd in a race because if I fall trying to get to the front then I get nothing. I don't even know that I let him finish talking before I said I don't want second or third, I want to win. I remember he said I want you to win too, but there are three races. I feel like I could end the story there, that moment sticks out to me more than the races that followed.
The first race at indoor nationals is the middle distance, which was the 1000m for me. In the final I won the start and was in the front but not going that fast. I remember the whole pack almost passed me in the same straightaway. Then I was in last place with four laps to go just looking for somewhere to go. In two and a half laps I found myself in second place, having passed one person each straightaway. At this point Jake Powers was out in front a little ways but I gave chase. We finished 1, 2.
Next was the 500, naturally I thought I could take the overall lead after the 5. I broke Will Bowen's Sophomore 500m record in the semi but barely. In the final I took second off the line, waited to really set my pass up and went to the front after one lap. After another lap second and third fell giving Jake a clear path to chase me. The finish was much like the 1000m but swapped and I lowered the record again.
Heading into the final for the 1500m Jake and I were tied for the lead and we were taking 1,2 overall no matter what. Obviously we joked about how we each won one race again this year, only this time we weren't getting worse than second overall. The 1500m record that year got slaughtered by us. I think we broke it in like 3 heats, 1 semi, and then the final too. In the final I pretty much just wanted to stay out of trouble and beat Jake, so I could win overall. I remember being in the front and then with maybe 7 laps to go Kimani Griffin passed me and picked up the pace. With four to go I noticed we were alone.. really alone like a straightaways length ahead of third. At that point I knew I just had to settle in and as long as the pace didn't die down I would win overall.
And that was my first overall indoor title for division. I think it brought closure for me after barely missing the 2006 Jr. World Team.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
2006 - Outdoor
2006 and 2007 were huge years for me in and out of the sport. If I had to pick a time period that shaped me it would be these two years. So let's jump into it.
If you saw my last blog, you read about 2005 the single most disappointing season I have probably ever endured. I guess that probably helped what happened in 2006 but I still don't think I've ever needed motivation, that I've had enough of it to begin with. But 2005 taught me a few things. First that I never, ever wanted to fail to reach another goal. It makes me feel weak, made me look back and wonder what I didn't do. Back in 2004 I set a goal that I wanted to qualify for the Jr World Team in 2007 and 2008. I felt like a lot of people qualify for it there last year of junior but not as many can do it more than once, with that being said I realized after getting destroyed in 2005 that I was in trouble if something didn't change. On the indoor side of things it's hard to say what the goal was at the beginning of the season. I think I just wanted to win and not just because I love winning, I had other motives.. It was time to shut people up.
In 2006 I switched to a long mount boot, switched over to 100mm wheels. Every year I trained with Jeff there was someone better then me, or at least around my level for training at least. In 2006 I think it started changing a little bit. I still had my best training partner, Justin Foster. Mostly because when it came to racing we did a bit of the same things and he was two and a half years older then me so most of the time I was chasing him. But he started missing some practices because of school sports that he was doing, and doing well. So when he wasn't there I had no idea how to judge how hard to go, how fast was too fast in a 15lap drill or 10 lap drill so I would just go hard.. and then try to keep going when I blew up. 2006 was the first year we really started getting a little serious about outdoor skating too. I think we probably skated everyday, twice a day if we had indoor too.
At the beginning of every season I try and set goals based off of where I want to go and where I was the year before. For outdoor, in 2006 I decided I wanted to be competitive at outdoor nationals.. a modest goal. In 2005 I wasn't just terrible, I was really terrible, like getting lapped out of the 10k points elim maybe 1400m in, that terrible. So in 2006 I wanted to be competitive, I didn't want to embarrass myself.
When outdoor nationals rolled around I got nervous, a very, very new feeling for me. I never got nervous and quite frankly, no one expected anything out of me so there wasn't a reason to be nervous. I was one of the last ones to go in the 300m so I sat through everyone watching there times. Everyone seemed fast, I remember watching some people go and I knew I should be able to go that fast but the time seemed so fast. When it was my group I remember taking a deep breath, shaking off the nerves telling myself it was time convincing myself into confidence, something I often did.. especially before time trials. The actual race was a blur, but my time was incredible, 27.376 I was in second place I couldn't believe it.. I took a double take at the clock to make sure. I finished third in the 300m behind Chad Horne, and Terrell Bradley. That was probably my most surprising medal I've ever won, I never expected that one. The 200TT I got second, missing an automatic spot on the team but just .03 (then the winner of the 300 and 200 automatically made the team). After a little controversy in the 20k elim it came down to the final race for me.. whether or not I would make the jr world team.
The final spot was going to be between Colin Thomas, Greg Gorman, and Me. I made through to the semi where it was Greg, Kevin Quandt, Christian Lavelle, and me with the top 2 moving on to the final. I knew if I made the final and won I would be on the team but it feels different when someone mentions it.
Jeff pulled me aside before the semi and it was just me and him around, talking. He told me how he had this kind of conversation with Steve (Carter) plenty of times. He told me he wasn't going to sugar-coat it. If I win I'm in. And I went on to try and tell him if I finished second in the final depending who won I could still make it. But he said, listen win or go home it's that simple at this point.
My semi was a challenging thing for me. I was pretty sure flat out I was fast enough to make it. But I also knew that Greg was a great 500m skater, and Kevin was willing to help him because they were such good friends. I won the start but it was windy so I didn't want to sprint through the wind to have them sit behind me so I waited a little. I remember Greg followed by Kevin came along the side of me but I didn't panic because I had time and speed. As soon as they got by Kevin slowed down, effectively letting Greg get a little gap on us. It killed my speed and I jumped inline to accelerate. Out of the final turn I started going wide to try and drag race Kevin to the line but he started drifting outward pinning me with little space. The hawk at the line fell in his favor.. my championship was over. I was disappointed again but in a much different way. My goal was never to make the team that year, I just wanted to compete. I competed for a spot on the team, just barely missing out. Missing out still sucked but everything changed after that.
If you saw my last blog, you read about 2005 the single most disappointing season I have probably ever endured. I guess that probably helped what happened in 2006 but I still don't think I've ever needed motivation, that I've had enough of it to begin with. But 2005 taught me a few things. First that I never, ever wanted to fail to reach another goal. It makes me feel weak, made me look back and wonder what I didn't do. Back in 2004 I set a goal that I wanted to qualify for the Jr World Team in 2007 and 2008. I felt like a lot of people qualify for it there last year of junior but not as many can do it more than once, with that being said I realized after getting destroyed in 2005 that I was in trouble if something didn't change. On the indoor side of things it's hard to say what the goal was at the beginning of the season. I think I just wanted to win and not just because I love winning, I had other motives.. It was time to shut people up.
In 2006 I switched to a long mount boot, switched over to 100mm wheels. Every year I trained with Jeff there was someone better then me, or at least around my level for training at least. In 2006 I think it started changing a little bit. I still had my best training partner, Justin Foster. Mostly because when it came to racing we did a bit of the same things and he was two and a half years older then me so most of the time I was chasing him. But he started missing some practices because of school sports that he was doing, and doing well. So when he wasn't there I had no idea how to judge how hard to go, how fast was too fast in a 15lap drill or 10 lap drill so I would just go hard.. and then try to keep going when I blew up. 2006 was the first year we really started getting a little serious about outdoor skating too. I think we probably skated everyday, twice a day if we had indoor too.
At the beginning of every season I try and set goals based off of where I want to go and where I was the year before. For outdoor, in 2006 I decided I wanted to be competitive at outdoor nationals.. a modest goal. In 2005 I wasn't just terrible, I was really terrible, like getting lapped out of the 10k points elim maybe 1400m in, that terrible. So in 2006 I wanted to be competitive, I didn't want to embarrass myself.
When outdoor nationals rolled around I got nervous, a very, very new feeling for me. I never got nervous and quite frankly, no one expected anything out of me so there wasn't a reason to be nervous. I was one of the last ones to go in the 300m so I sat through everyone watching there times. Everyone seemed fast, I remember watching some people go and I knew I should be able to go that fast but the time seemed so fast. When it was my group I remember taking a deep breath, shaking off the nerves telling myself it was time convincing myself into confidence, something I often did.. especially before time trials. The actual race was a blur, but my time was incredible, 27.376 I was in second place I couldn't believe it.. I took a double take at the clock to make sure. I finished third in the 300m behind Chad Horne, and Terrell Bradley. That was probably my most surprising medal I've ever won, I never expected that one. The 200TT I got second, missing an automatic spot on the team but just .03 (then the winner of the 300 and 200 automatically made the team). After a little controversy in the 20k elim it came down to the final race for me.. whether or not I would make the jr world team.
The final spot was going to be between Colin Thomas, Greg Gorman, and Me. I made through to the semi where it was Greg, Kevin Quandt, Christian Lavelle, and me with the top 2 moving on to the final. I knew if I made the final and won I would be on the team but it feels different when someone mentions it.
Jeff pulled me aside before the semi and it was just me and him around, talking. He told me how he had this kind of conversation with Steve (Carter) plenty of times. He told me he wasn't going to sugar-coat it. If I win I'm in. And I went on to try and tell him if I finished second in the final depending who won I could still make it. But he said, listen win or go home it's that simple at this point.
My semi was a challenging thing for me. I was pretty sure flat out I was fast enough to make it. But I also knew that Greg was a great 500m skater, and Kevin was willing to help him because they were such good friends. I won the start but it was windy so I didn't want to sprint through the wind to have them sit behind me so I waited a little. I remember Greg followed by Kevin came along the side of me but I didn't panic because I had time and speed. As soon as they got by Kevin slowed down, effectively letting Greg get a little gap on us. It killed my speed and I jumped inline to accelerate. Out of the final turn I started going wide to try and drag race Kevin to the line but he started drifting outward pinning me with little space. The hawk at the line fell in his favor.. my championship was over. I was disappointed again but in a much different way. My goal was never to make the team that year, I just wanted to compete. I competed for a spot on the team, just barely missing out. Missing out still sucked but everything changed after that.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
2005 - The year we don't speak of
One thing I have always done, from the very beginning is set goals. I don't know if it can be considered a strength because everyone sets goals.. or they should. But I never lost sight of my goals. I set them and then I remember them. Then when I felt tired or lackadaisical I would remember that I didn't want to fail to meet my own goal.
2005 was a weird year for me because I don't remember a ton about it like I do the other years. I remember I skated for Mogema that year and that I switched from my 84's to 90's.. but I used a 4x100m frame and an adapter plate to make the boot and frame work together.
For everyone my age, 2005 is the year we don't speak of. It's weird that so many of us can think so poorly about a certain year but.. this is the one. Outdoor, it was my first year of Jr which meant it was going to be a rough year basically.. but you never quite no. I was still terrible outdoor at this time.. my only bright spot being the medals I won in 2004 as a freshman. At the trexlertown series I got killed.. kept up with the pro pack for like 2 or 3 laps and I was toast.. would get lapped by them at least once (the course is over a mile). I don't even know how I was THAT bad outdoor. Going to ODN was a learning experience. The only thing I can legitimately remember is at one point Jeff saying, "This will make or break you."
Luckily, for me it only made me want everything that much more. But probably one of the only times in my skating career, ODN in 2005, that I was just embarrassed. Even the races I was suppose to be okay in I did terrible. But then again, I didn't have aspirations to win anything that year. Although we did win both Jr. Relays at ODN setting both of the records. I guess that was cool. But I didn't go there with any expectations and it wasn't like the world was ending when I was losing.. I was 14.. racing some that were 17 I was suppose to lose.
Indoor Nationals was suppose to be different though. Top of the division, placing at every big meet. Everything was suppose to go well. There was so many of us that year, probably our best year as a group. Jake, Colin, Dallas, Me, Hank, Kevin.. so many of us got points that year. All of us thought we were going to win that year. Naturally, I still had a great start so I figured I should have the best shot with a 500 and a 300. Things still went bad. The 500 I didn't make the final, getting knocked out in the semi. I was pretty pissed about that. The 300 I skated with a vengeance. I won every round of the 300 I skated including the final. I think going into the final race, the 1000m Jake and I were tied for first, Dallas and Colin were tied for third just 5 points back, Hank was in fifth 10 points back.
In the semi I think Colin, Jake, Kevin, Jordin Stelly, and I were all in the same semi. I led the beginning, with about two and a half laps to go Colin passed me, I was in second. I thought I was fine and wouldn't have to move up. I had only two and a half laps to go how could I move that far back. With one and a half laps to go Jordin passed me, now I was in third. Going into the final turn Jake went to through a pass on me and I don't remember if we kicked skates or just bumped but I remember both of us going wide... really wide.. near the check in chairs wide. From about a corner back Kevin came by both of us.. claiming the third and final spot in the 1000m final. My goal of winning was over. Even worse chances of my reaching the podium were very slim at this point even with the new rule that year of 4 on the podium. The final couldn't have been crazier two early DQ's left just four on the track. Colin and Dallas separated themselves from the other two.. by a straightaways length. Colin was leading with just a lap to go when Dallas passed him. The very next straightaway Colin went to through a very late passed on Dallas, Now considered a bomb. The pass had no chance, Dallas and Colin both went down.. Hard. Colin knew he would be DQ'd and had no real reason to get up. Dallas didn't get up.. Hank from way back came across the line.. celebrating his victory to be crowned overall division champion.
If you are wondering, we still occasionally mention the celebration to Hank, which he normally gets a little embarrassed about. But in the end three people finished the 1000m. Dallas eventually got up and went across the line for third in the race.
When it was said and done Hank stood atop the champion with 50 points, Dallas in second with 35 points, Jake third with 30 points, Myself in fourth with 30 points, Colin in fifth with 25 points, and Jordin Stelly in 6th with 20 points.
This is might be the only time I can remember setting a goal and failing to meet it. In the end, I think it was a blessing in disguise.
2005 was a weird year for me because I don't remember a ton about it like I do the other years. I remember I skated for Mogema that year and that I switched from my 84's to 90's.. but I used a 4x100m frame and an adapter plate to make the boot and frame work together.
For everyone my age, 2005 is the year we don't speak of. It's weird that so many of us can think so poorly about a certain year but.. this is the one. Outdoor, it was my first year of Jr which meant it was going to be a rough year basically.. but you never quite no. I was still terrible outdoor at this time.. my only bright spot being the medals I won in 2004 as a freshman. At the trexlertown series I got killed.. kept up with the pro pack for like 2 or 3 laps and I was toast.. would get lapped by them at least once (the course is over a mile). I don't even know how I was THAT bad outdoor. Going to ODN was a learning experience. The only thing I can legitimately remember is at one point Jeff saying, "This will make or break you."
Luckily, for me it only made me want everything that much more. But probably one of the only times in my skating career, ODN in 2005, that I was just embarrassed. Even the races I was suppose to be okay in I did terrible. But then again, I didn't have aspirations to win anything that year. Although we did win both Jr. Relays at ODN setting both of the records. I guess that was cool. But I didn't go there with any expectations and it wasn't like the world was ending when I was losing.. I was 14.. racing some that were 17 I was suppose to lose.
Indoor Nationals was suppose to be different though. Top of the division, placing at every big meet. Everything was suppose to go well. There was so many of us that year, probably our best year as a group. Jake, Colin, Dallas, Me, Hank, Kevin.. so many of us got points that year. All of us thought we were going to win that year. Naturally, I still had a great start so I figured I should have the best shot with a 500 and a 300. Things still went bad. The 500 I didn't make the final, getting knocked out in the semi. I was pretty pissed about that. The 300 I skated with a vengeance. I won every round of the 300 I skated including the final. I think going into the final race, the 1000m Jake and I were tied for first, Dallas and Colin were tied for third just 5 points back, Hank was in fifth 10 points back.
In the semi I think Colin, Jake, Kevin, Jordin Stelly, and I were all in the same semi. I led the beginning, with about two and a half laps to go Colin passed me, I was in second. I thought I was fine and wouldn't have to move up. I had only two and a half laps to go how could I move that far back. With one and a half laps to go Jordin passed me, now I was in third. Going into the final turn Jake went to through a pass on me and I don't remember if we kicked skates or just bumped but I remember both of us going wide... really wide.. near the check in chairs wide. From about a corner back Kevin came by both of us.. claiming the third and final spot in the 1000m final. My goal of winning was over. Even worse chances of my reaching the podium were very slim at this point even with the new rule that year of 4 on the podium. The final couldn't have been crazier two early DQ's left just four on the track. Colin and Dallas separated themselves from the other two.. by a straightaways length. Colin was leading with just a lap to go when Dallas passed him. The very next straightaway Colin went to through a very late passed on Dallas, Now considered a bomb. The pass had no chance, Dallas and Colin both went down.. Hard. Colin knew he would be DQ'd and had no real reason to get up. Dallas didn't get up.. Hank from way back came across the line.. celebrating his victory to be crowned overall division champion.
If you are wondering, we still occasionally mention the celebration to Hank, which he normally gets a little embarrassed about. But in the end three people finished the 1000m. Dallas eventually got up and went across the line for third in the race.
When it was said and done Hank stood atop the champion with 50 points, Dallas in second with 35 points, Jake third with 30 points, Myself in fourth with 30 points, Colin in fifth with 25 points, and Jordin Stelly in 6th with 20 points.
This is might be the only time I can remember setting a goal and failing to meet it. In the end, I think it was a blessing in disguise.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
2004
More memories, more skating.
2004 was a bittersweet year for me. Those years we had a lot of skaters around my age on our team which meant that competition was always close by. When you have lots of competition in team, you have controversy.. Naturally.
That year (believe it or not) I started growing a little, got a little bit taller, started developing a lot more muscularly. When I skater that gets use to skating a certain way grows it can often throw them off, usually because of flawed technique somewhere. I got taller, bigger, stronger, faster in a short amount of time. What that meant was I had a lot more speed then ever before and trying to skate like I did before caused me to fall way, way too much. Focusing on my technique, we tried to months to figure out what was going on.. which I don't remember at this point. But I fell everywhere I went, except for the Philly Challenge that year.. I got second place behind Chad Horne I think. And then I started falling again. Every big race, every invitational we had that year I pulled it together enough to get top 3. Whether that meant winning one race and falling down in the other I placed.
Well, falling down doesn't prove your speed or potential. Our team operates out of three rinks in Pennsylvania all within about 90 minutes of each other. It came time for Regional paperwork to be filled out. Well, I remember Jeff had to call me out of our beginning warm-up/paceline/catch-the-pack drill to sit me down and talk to me about regionals. He said, a lot of people don't think you should be in the top relays. Their argument was that in our league I wasn't winning and not doing that well.. because I was falling. My first reaction, was to point out that when it mattered, the bigger races I was on the podium. Jeff told me he didn't think it was right, but I would be sitting out the 2mix and 4mix relays at regionals and nationals.. skating in the A 4man and the B 2man. I was naturally upset, not because relays meant a whole lot to me but the pride factor. Even if that relay was going to be the worst one at nationals, I was still suppose to be on it.
I've always been a self-motivator but I always accepted additional sources of motivation. That year I was training hard anyway. I had just moved into the Freshman Division and everyone older than me at practice was telling me how much faster everyone was than me that I would have to race at nationals. That year also happened to be the first year I would compete at Outdoor Nationals and my last year of the freshman division there. First was regionals, where I fell down again in the 1000m heat but won the 300m and took second in the 500m to get second overall. Next, I went to outdoor nationals, won three medals.. one of each color.
Then there was indoor nationals. In my division, I qualified for the 500m final. Took third off the line and in the first turn second place fell down and I soared over him.. Not an ideal situation. One other skater on my team qualified for that final, and also fell down. The 300m I think I took 3rd or 4th in the final.. the only skater from my team. Then the 1000m, which was still my worst and most hated race. Somehow I qualified for the final and then I took 4th.. the only one from my team in the final. I didn't medal individually indoor that year but I took 5th overall which wasn't bad. At the end of nationals Jeff came and told me that after division one of the other coaches admitted they had made a mistake, that I was the fastest one on our team and I should have been in the relays. In the two relays I did skate, we won the 4man and then took 4th in the 2man final.
2004 was a bittersweet year for me. Those years we had a lot of skaters around my age on our team which meant that competition was always close by. When you have lots of competition in team, you have controversy.. Naturally.
That year (believe it or not) I started growing a little, got a little bit taller, started developing a lot more muscularly. When I skater that gets use to skating a certain way grows it can often throw them off, usually because of flawed technique somewhere. I got taller, bigger, stronger, faster in a short amount of time. What that meant was I had a lot more speed then ever before and trying to skate like I did before caused me to fall way, way too much. Focusing on my technique, we tried to months to figure out what was going on.. which I don't remember at this point. But I fell everywhere I went, except for the Philly Challenge that year.. I got second place behind Chad Horne I think. And then I started falling again. Every big race, every invitational we had that year I pulled it together enough to get top 3. Whether that meant winning one race and falling down in the other I placed.
Well, falling down doesn't prove your speed or potential. Our team operates out of three rinks in Pennsylvania all within about 90 minutes of each other. It came time for Regional paperwork to be filled out. Well, I remember Jeff had to call me out of our beginning warm-up/paceline/catch-the-pack drill to sit me down and talk to me about regionals. He said, a lot of people don't think you should be in the top relays. Their argument was that in our league I wasn't winning and not doing that well.. because I was falling. My first reaction, was to point out that when it mattered, the bigger races I was on the podium. Jeff told me he didn't think it was right, but I would be sitting out the 2mix and 4mix relays at regionals and nationals.. skating in the A 4man and the B 2man. I was naturally upset, not because relays meant a whole lot to me but the pride factor. Even if that relay was going to be the worst one at nationals, I was still suppose to be on it.
I've always been a self-motivator but I always accepted additional sources of motivation. That year I was training hard anyway. I had just moved into the Freshman Division and everyone older than me at practice was telling me how much faster everyone was than me that I would have to race at nationals. That year also happened to be the first year I would compete at Outdoor Nationals and my last year of the freshman division there. First was regionals, where I fell down again in the 1000m heat but won the 300m and took second in the 500m to get second overall. Next, I went to outdoor nationals, won three medals.. one of each color.
Then there was indoor nationals. In my division, I qualified for the 500m final. Took third off the line and in the first turn second place fell down and I soared over him.. Not an ideal situation. One other skater on my team qualified for that final, and also fell down. The 300m I think I took 3rd or 4th in the final.. the only skater from my team. Then the 1000m, which was still my worst and most hated race. Somehow I qualified for the final and then I took 4th.. the only one from my team in the final. I didn't medal individually indoor that year but I took 5th overall which wasn't bad. At the end of nationals Jeff came and told me that after division one of the other coaches admitted they had made a mistake, that I was the fastest one on our team and I should have been in the relays. In the two relays I did skate, we won the 4man and then took 4th in the 2man final.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
The Memories 2003
I guess this might be the first installment of what I could end up writing. I series of memories that stick out in my mind much more than others while I was growing up skating.
The year is 2003, the place is Indoor Nationals. My first in standard to be specific. 2002 was the first time I ever earned a National Medal, a gold in the JO Elementary 2-boy, a race that I can still describe lap for lap.
The Background:
2003 started like a good year but nothing special. I competed in my division locally usually placing anywhere from first to third not much lower. Overall for most of the year the league title for Elementary boys was a battle between myself and Andrew Shatzer. As the year progressed racing starting becoming a little easier. Well, 300m and 500m started becoming easier.. Any sort of long race was may arch nemesis until about 15-16. Yes, 700m was a long race. When I say easier, I mean I started winning more of them regularly. At our regional championships that year I got 2nd in the 700m, my worst race of course. I remember my dad was less than pleased. I tried to tell him that I still had two of my best races coming up. I ended up winning regionals after winning the 300m and 500m races. For me, the bigger win was that I broke two regional records, both held by Chris Creveling in elementary. Both of which I think still stand and I can still remember to this day: 300m 29.49 and 500m 50.16.
The Story:
I don't think any serious expectations were set for me going into Nationals. I wanted to win of course, but realistically I had never made more than one individual final in a single year, in JO and now I was standard. But nevertheless, if there was any chance it was the 300m and 500m.. the 700m was still the nemesis. I remember my 500m heat, there was only like 4 of us for some reason and 3 qualified. One kid looked like he could barely skate, knee pads and all so I was confident. I remember getting off the line, I had developed the start at a young age I think 2003 was when it became really good. I was in first heading into the first turn and something happened, I fell down. Naturally, pissed off not because I had aspirations that I would win the race overall but because I knew I should be moving on to the semi-finals and I wouldn't. I might of sat on the ground after the fall for a brief second. Got up a little slow and then started skating again. I guess a lap or two later I decided to start sprinting, mostly in frustration. I almost caught the kid in third, the one with the knee pads.
Ever since I started skating for Jeff the very first thing I did after a race was go over and talk to Jeff in the coaches area of the floor. Even last year, I still skate up to Jeff as soon as I'm done. Sometimes it would be simple but there was always something to be said and always will be. Well, this time there was a lot to be said. Jeff was not happy with me. Not because I fell, or because I lost, didn't qualify, etc. Jeff was upset because I could have gotten up faster, I could have started sprinting faster, I could have caught up and I could have qualified after the fall.
All the year's I've skated for Jeff winning become normal but if I lost and I came off the floor and simply said, "I didn't have it today." That would have been enough for Jeff as long as I still gave it my best shot. (I don't think I ever once admitted that 'I didn't have it' mostly because I found new ways to win without 'it'.)
Back to the story, even at this age I was never afraid to speak up if I thought I was right. So I tried with Jeff, but I was wrong. I came off the floor even more pissed. So I did what I always did at that age: I took my stuff off, grabbed my music and isolated myself. I skated my 300m with a vengeance because I could hold a grudge. Not on anyone but just in general if something made me mad I kept it with me so I could use to to fuel me. I finished third in the final for the 300m. I knew then exactly what I had to do in order to place overall. I had to get top 3 in the 700m and not like Jordin Stelly beat me, who got third in the 500m which meant we were tied for third overall. I told myself I could do it but in the back of my mind I knew that it was a long race so I could be in trouble. I made it to the final, so did Jordin. I still had a good start so I used it, getting out to second in the final. I battled with Kevin Quandt for second the whole race, eventually settling for third at the end. When the race was over I found out Jordin ended up getting disqualified. But either way I got my third, I got my first overall placement as an individual at nationals that year.
I guess this memory sticks out more then others because of the fall in the 500m. That might have been the last time I took my time getting up from the fall. I don't think it was because I always had a chance to catch up, but I didn't want to disappoint again.
The year is 2003, the place is Indoor Nationals. My first in standard to be specific. 2002 was the first time I ever earned a National Medal, a gold in the JO Elementary 2-boy, a race that I can still describe lap for lap.
The Background:
2003 started like a good year but nothing special. I competed in my division locally usually placing anywhere from first to third not much lower. Overall for most of the year the league title for Elementary boys was a battle between myself and Andrew Shatzer. As the year progressed racing starting becoming a little easier. Well, 300m and 500m started becoming easier.. Any sort of long race was may arch nemesis until about 15-16. Yes, 700m was a long race. When I say easier, I mean I started winning more of them regularly. At our regional championships that year I got 2nd in the 700m, my worst race of course. I remember my dad was less than pleased. I tried to tell him that I still had two of my best races coming up. I ended up winning regionals after winning the 300m and 500m races. For me, the bigger win was that I broke two regional records, both held by Chris Creveling in elementary. Both of which I think still stand and I can still remember to this day: 300m 29.49 and 500m 50.16.
The Story:
I don't think any serious expectations were set for me going into Nationals. I wanted to win of course, but realistically I had never made more than one individual final in a single year, in JO and now I was standard. But nevertheless, if there was any chance it was the 300m and 500m.. the 700m was still the nemesis. I remember my 500m heat, there was only like 4 of us for some reason and 3 qualified. One kid looked like he could barely skate, knee pads and all so I was confident. I remember getting off the line, I had developed the start at a young age I think 2003 was when it became really good. I was in first heading into the first turn and something happened, I fell down. Naturally, pissed off not because I had aspirations that I would win the race overall but because I knew I should be moving on to the semi-finals and I wouldn't. I might of sat on the ground after the fall for a brief second. Got up a little slow and then started skating again. I guess a lap or two later I decided to start sprinting, mostly in frustration. I almost caught the kid in third, the one with the knee pads.
Ever since I started skating for Jeff the very first thing I did after a race was go over and talk to Jeff in the coaches area of the floor. Even last year, I still skate up to Jeff as soon as I'm done. Sometimes it would be simple but there was always something to be said and always will be. Well, this time there was a lot to be said. Jeff was not happy with me. Not because I fell, or because I lost, didn't qualify, etc. Jeff was upset because I could have gotten up faster, I could have started sprinting faster, I could have caught up and I could have qualified after the fall.
All the year's I've skated for Jeff winning become normal but if I lost and I came off the floor and simply said, "I didn't have it today." That would have been enough for Jeff as long as I still gave it my best shot. (I don't think I ever once admitted that 'I didn't have it' mostly because I found new ways to win without 'it'.)
Back to the story, even at this age I was never afraid to speak up if I thought I was right. So I tried with Jeff, but I was wrong. I came off the floor even more pissed. So I did what I always did at that age: I took my stuff off, grabbed my music and isolated myself. I skated my 300m with a vengeance because I could hold a grudge. Not on anyone but just in general if something made me mad I kept it with me so I could use to to fuel me. I finished third in the final for the 300m. I knew then exactly what I had to do in order to place overall. I had to get top 3 in the 700m and not like Jordin Stelly beat me, who got third in the 500m which meant we were tied for third overall. I told myself I could do it but in the back of my mind I knew that it was a long race so I could be in trouble. I made it to the final, so did Jordin. I still had a good start so I used it, getting out to second in the final. I battled with Kevin Quandt for second the whole race, eventually settling for third at the end. When the race was over I found out Jordin ended up getting disqualified. But either way I got my third, I got my first overall placement as an individual at nationals that year.
I guess this memory sticks out more then others because of the fall in the 500m. That might have been the last time I took my time getting up from the fall. I don't think it was because I always had a chance to catch up, but I didn't want to disappoint again.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Earn your Stripes
NSC Season 3 Event 2 just finished up. I was at work so all I got were placements and significant events that happened but I ask myself where did everyone go?
Let me start with the endurance athletes because I enjoy that group of skaters and the contrasts between them.
-The Dominate-for-years Cheex. Been around for a while winning endurance races in the sport forever it seems like.
-Then you have Stelly, although not skating up to his usual standards he is still Stelly. The guy that does everything no one else would think to do. Wants to win but wants to put on a show, which one comes first? Only he knows.
-Jake one of the coming-into-prime-aged skaters that is starting to skate and earn the results that everyone thought he would while watching him grow through divisions.
-Jarrett a skater that is coming into his prime a little later then most but has a lot of talent. The one that catches all the crap for being to safe or being content with the second or third place finish.
If you had to pick four skater types is there any other way to go? The Dominate Star, Showboater, Up and Comer, and the Something to prove guy? After that who is the first endurance athlete to come to mind? It's probably someone you know personally or have a good relationship with, not someone who deserves the next spot. I like Jeremy as my fifth guy, only problem is can you imagine sprints without him? Wow. But what about the Past-prime-proving-age-doesn't-matter-guy with those four? What if you tossed in a highly talented but even bigger ego skater? Say Harry Vogel. What if you add season 1's Endurance champion, Mantia to the mix. Now you have a group that makes you itch a little bit until the next event. I don't want to see a great race and somewhere out in the galaxy there be this idea, what would that race have looked like with Vogel or Anderson? Would Mantia still beat these guys?
Who out of the next tier is going to man-up, put in the work, and add their name to the mix? I'll be sitting here waiting for it.
What if you had to earn your colors in the National SpeedSkating Circuit? Let's be honest, the people I named everyone knows therefore they should have their colors, but the next tier of skaters.. why give them the same privilege as the best? Why not give them all the same neutral color uniform/skinsuit and when they managed to finish top 3 in TWO different races (can be at the same event or different) they earn that colored skin everyone covets?
I want to see the last qualifiier, the 16th endurance guy on the roster grow a pair and try something different. Sitting behind the best and hoping that you magically became faster then everyone else is a terrible plan. Why not use strategy? Why not think about going all out before everyone else, maybe you blow up and don't make the final or don't get top 3 but sitting there and waiting for them to make their move isn't going to get you anywhere.
I live in Salt Lake now and skate a lot of ice, watch a lot of ice. But sports are still sports. There was an event a year ago that in a semifinal was just stacked. You had an Olympian, World Cup Medalist, World Cup skater, and then three other skaters in a 1500m. One of the 'other skaters' took off from the gun, the most profound and absurd thing to do in short track speedskating. Ended up blowing up and and not qualifying for the A final BUT he effected the outcome of the race. One of the better 1500m skaters had to chase him while a quick guy with less endurance go to sit behind and just draft the whole time.
I don't want Event 3 to come around and know right now that Cheex, Jake, and Jarrett are my top three endurance athletes in some order baring falls and DQ's what is cool about that?
Sprint thoughts in the coming days..
Let me start with the endurance athletes because I enjoy that group of skaters and the contrasts between them.
-The Dominate-for-years Cheex. Been around for a while winning endurance races in the sport forever it seems like.
-Then you have Stelly, although not skating up to his usual standards he is still Stelly. The guy that does everything no one else would think to do. Wants to win but wants to put on a show, which one comes first? Only he knows.
-Jake one of the coming-into-prime-aged skaters that is starting to skate and earn the results that everyone thought he would while watching him grow through divisions.
-Jarrett a skater that is coming into his prime a little later then most but has a lot of talent. The one that catches all the crap for being to safe or being content with the second or third place finish.
If you had to pick four skater types is there any other way to go? The Dominate Star, Showboater, Up and Comer, and the Something to prove guy? After that who is the first endurance athlete to come to mind? It's probably someone you know personally or have a good relationship with, not someone who deserves the next spot. I like Jeremy as my fifth guy, only problem is can you imagine sprints without him? Wow. But what about the Past-prime-proving-age-doesn't-matter-guy with those four? What if you tossed in a highly talented but even bigger ego skater? Say Harry Vogel. What if you add season 1's Endurance champion, Mantia to the mix. Now you have a group that makes you itch a little bit until the next event. I don't want to see a great race and somewhere out in the galaxy there be this idea, what would that race have looked like with Vogel or Anderson? Would Mantia still beat these guys?
Who out of the next tier is going to man-up, put in the work, and add their name to the mix? I'll be sitting here waiting for it.
What if you had to earn your colors in the National SpeedSkating Circuit? Let's be honest, the people I named everyone knows therefore they should have their colors, but the next tier of skaters.. why give them the same privilege as the best? Why not give them all the same neutral color uniform/skinsuit and when they managed to finish top 3 in TWO different races (can be at the same event or different) they earn that colored skin everyone covets?
I want to see the last qualifiier, the 16th endurance guy on the roster grow a pair and try something different. Sitting behind the best and hoping that you magically became faster then everyone else is a terrible plan. Why not use strategy? Why not think about going all out before everyone else, maybe you blow up and don't make the final or don't get top 3 but sitting there and waiting for them to make their move isn't going to get you anywhere.
I live in Salt Lake now and skate a lot of ice, watch a lot of ice. But sports are still sports. There was an event a year ago that in a semifinal was just stacked. You had an Olympian, World Cup Medalist, World Cup skater, and then three other skaters in a 1500m. One of the 'other skaters' took off from the gun, the most profound and absurd thing to do in short track speedskating. Ended up blowing up and and not qualifying for the A final BUT he effected the outcome of the race. One of the better 1500m skaters had to chase him while a quick guy with less endurance go to sit behind and just draft the whole time.
I don't want Event 3 to come around and know right now that Cheex, Jake, and Jarrett are my top three endurance athletes in some order baring falls and DQ's what is cool about that?
Sprint thoughts in the coming days..
Friday, January 13, 2012
Get Picky
(Editors note, this was a blog I started 1/12/12 and just re-discovered my passion for it and decided to finish it.)
Depending on the goals you set for yourself people won't always understand or get you. They'll think of you as too greedy, or picky, or too hard on yourself. These thoughts are incorrect. You have to be hard on yourself or you become complacent.
Complacency can be defined briefly as self-satisfaction.
Never, become satisfied. After a loss, the first thought is what has gone wrong, what little mistake was made that could have changed the outcome. After a win, there is no thought of the little mistakes. As if a win creates perfection. There is nothing perfect about a win except that you alone achieved it. Those that reach their most challenging goals take a win as a win but look for the mistakes within it.
A goal must be a desire. Something you sacrifice so much trying to achieve that failure forces you to question yourself. What did I do wrong? Maybe I can't improve any more. Is this something I still want to do? A desire must always eat at you. It must be there when you wake. It must be the reason for frustration. It must be the reason for new heights. It must force you to your knees at times. It is not something spoken about but rather something shown.
The minute you stop searching for answers, stop obsessing over the little things, forget about the small mistakes you cannot reach those goals. You are complacent.
Most challenges in life that occur in the pursuit of a goal require a need to want technical perfection. Unattainable but the will most be there. Good cannot be good enough. Great cannot be great enough. Something done well must be done better.
For me a goal becomes a piece of me. Achieving fills a void created solely but the desire to be better. Failure creates a hole that can only be filled by further success. Thes goals drive me every day. They force anger out of me when I cannot grasp a technical aspect of sport. The force a high when I feel a breakthrough. They bring me to my knees during tough weeks. They wake me up in the morning when I've barely slept. They keep me going through work, through practice, through days, weeks, through life.
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