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.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
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.
Friday, October 21, 2011
The Journey less Traveled
I still have a hard time grasping the idea that I'm going to compete in the Pan American Games next week.
When I started skating, I knew of the Keystone Speed League. It was where I went to race once a month against really fast kids my age. Dominic Camaioni, Dante Tuscai, Nathan Barry, Chris Semus, Andrew Shatzer. Those were the ones in the beginning when I was young, the one's I always thought, man I'm going to be that fast one day. The ones that were winning heat 1 while I was stuck battling for 4th's in heat 3. (Our league had a system where you earned points every meet and the top 6 in total points for the season were heat 1, then 7-12 heat 2, etc.) Then three years went by and I learned of Regional Championships and shortly after that Indoor National Championships at this point I was just eight years old. I saw even faster skaters. I saw Brent Phillips, Kimani Griffin, JR Celski, Eddy Alvarez, Adam Wullum and I couldn't believe how fast they could move.
Over this time period my goals advanced from simple wishes like wanting to advance to heat 2 in the league. Then to heat 1. Then to being able to keep up for the whole race. After that I wanted to win a race in JO then I wanted to skate regionals and qualify. After that I wanted to get top 5 in the league in standard. Then I wanted to win a race. After that I couldn't wait to make it to my semi's at nationals. Then it was making it to a final. Then it was winning regionals. After that it was placing top 4 in a JO race at nationals. Then I wanted to win the league overall. After that I wanted to make both finals at nationals (only two finals in JO). Then I wanted a medal. Once I got a medal it was time for an individual medal.
Around the same time I first heard of a world team. I practiced outdoor, occasionally, I raced outdoor.. and always lost. Rarely keeping up for more then a mile. But I didn't know anything about a world team. I remember sitting at practice, it was a tough practice, we were getting ready for nationals and were doing lots of races, 300m, 500m, 1000m what seemed back to back almost. Then Jeff was on the phone and it was awesome because he stopped paying attention for a minute to talk and we got a little extra rest. When he got off the phone he told us Steve made another world team. Talking about no other then Steve Carter. I knew Steve because he skated on the same team as I did. He was older and when he came to practice he went way, way, faster then everyone else. That's what I remember Steve as. I remember watching everything he did at practice, at a race. At races, when I was sitting in the reading area with my skates on and all the little kids pick someone to win a race I always picked Steve no matter if it was 500m or 5000m. And I remember thinking, wow, Steve made the world team again what is a world team, you must be the best in order to do that. Then it was back to practice. Steve was the guy when I was getting down on myself at a race my parents went and asked to come talk to me to cheer me up.
After I medaled at nationals it was time to try Outdoor Nationals. When I went to Outdoor Nationals it was all or nothing, my last year of the Freshman division so I wanted to win. That was the goal. That year I saw some great skaters, Darren Kauffman, Chris Creveling, Jordan Malone, Joey Mantia, I couldn't believe what they could do. I saw Darren's 10k points race on track and how he just kind of walked away from the pack and skated half the race.. a points race at that.. half a lap ahead of the field. That's when I learned of the World Team and at that moment I knew that was what I wanted to do. I figured that a lot of people make the team their last year but I wanted to make it my last two years of junior so I would have a greater accomplishment. But I was so young, so the goal was to gain experience in my first junior world class year. That year went so bad the goal the next year was to not embarrass myself. Then it was to make the team, after that it was to break another record at trials. Then it was to medal at worlds individually. (The year after I got my relay medal). My first year on the team was a Pan American year. I knew that year I wanted to make the Pan American team. I knew of all the great skaters who never made one so I figured if I did make one then I would have to be really good. Then I realized how special it would be to make the jump from junior to senior and make the senior team my first year, after all no one in the US had done it for four years.
I don't exactly know the point of this blog but it seems so surreal. I still have a hard time grasping exactly how I've gotten where I am in skating.
When I started skating, I knew of the Keystone Speed League. It was where I went to race once a month against really fast kids my age. Dominic Camaioni, Dante Tuscai, Nathan Barry, Chris Semus, Andrew Shatzer. Those were the ones in the beginning when I was young, the one's I always thought, man I'm going to be that fast one day. The ones that were winning heat 1 while I was stuck battling for 4th's in heat 3. (Our league had a system where you earned points every meet and the top 6 in total points for the season were heat 1, then 7-12 heat 2, etc.) Then three years went by and I learned of Regional Championships and shortly after that Indoor National Championships at this point I was just eight years old. I saw even faster skaters. I saw Brent Phillips, Kimani Griffin, JR Celski, Eddy Alvarez, Adam Wullum and I couldn't believe how fast they could move.
Over this time period my goals advanced from simple wishes like wanting to advance to heat 2 in the league. Then to heat 1. Then to being able to keep up for the whole race. After that I wanted to win a race in JO then I wanted to skate regionals and qualify. After that I wanted to get top 5 in the league in standard. Then I wanted to win a race. After that I couldn't wait to make it to my semi's at nationals. Then it was making it to a final. Then it was winning regionals. After that it was placing top 4 in a JO race at nationals. Then I wanted to win the league overall. After that I wanted to make both finals at nationals (only two finals in JO). Then I wanted a medal. Once I got a medal it was time for an individual medal.
Around the same time I first heard of a world team. I practiced outdoor, occasionally, I raced outdoor.. and always lost. Rarely keeping up for more then a mile. But I didn't know anything about a world team. I remember sitting at practice, it was a tough practice, we were getting ready for nationals and were doing lots of races, 300m, 500m, 1000m what seemed back to back almost. Then Jeff was on the phone and it was awesome because he stopped paying attention for a minute to talk and we got a little extra rest. When he got off the phone he told us Steve made another world team. Talking about no other then Steve Carter. I knew Steve because he skated on the same team as I did. He was older and when he came to practice he went way, way, faster then everyone else. That's what I remember Steve as. I remember watching everything he did at practice, at a race. At races, when I was sitting in the reading area with my skates on and all the little kids pick someone to win a race I always picked Steve no matter if it was 500m or 5000m. And I remember thinking, wow, Steve made the world team again what is a world team, you must be the best in order to do that. Then it was back to practice. Steve was the guy when I was getting down on myself at a race my parents went and asked to come talk to me to cheer me up.
After I medaled at nationals it was time to try Outdoor Nationals. When I went to Outdoor Nationals it was all or nothing, my last year of the Freshman division so I wanted to win. That was the goal. That year I saw some great skaters, Darren Kauffman, Chris Creveling, Jordan Malone, Joey Mantia, I couldn't believe what they could do. I saw Darren's 10k points race on track and how he just kind of walked away from the pack and skated half the race.. a points race at that.. half a lap ahead of the field. That's when I learned of the World Team and at that moment I knew that was what I wanted to do. I figured that a lot of people make the team their last year but I wanted to make it my last two years of junior so I would have a greater accomplishment. But I was so young, so the goal was to gain experience in my first junior world class year. That year went so bad the goal the next year was to not embarrass myself. Then it was to make the team, after that it was to break another record at trials. Then it was to medal at worlds individually. (The year after I got my relay medal). My first year on the team was a Pan American year. I knew that year I wanted to make the Pan American team. I knew of all the great skaters who never made one so I figured if I did make one then I would have to be really good. Then I realized how special it would be to make the jump from junior to senior and make the senior team my first year, after all no one in the US had done it for four years.
I don't exactly know the point of this blog but it seems so surreal. I still have a hard time grasping exactly how I've gotten where I am in skating.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)