World Cup

This is a BIG week here in Lake Placid! The once barren, empty hallways of the Olympic Training Center, have now become a booming little community of International elite athletes. Today, I was inches from Olympic Gold Medalist, Jon Montgomery of Canada, and have met USA Bobsled Olympic Gold Medalist Steve Holcomb, among other Olympians!

Not only are there a ton of people around these days, but the majority of them speak English as their second language (or don't speak English at all!) - so, I have done a lot of head nodding and smiling lately. Approximately 20-25 different countries are being represented in this weeks' USA Bobsled & Skeleton World Cup Races.

Today, Tuesday, was the first day of "Official Training." Essentially, each athlete is only allowed a total of 6 'training runs' before competing in the Lake Placid World Cup Races. Only 2 runs down the track are allowed per day, so that means Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are strictly training days, and Friday will be the races.

Soooooooo. Where do I fit in to this shindig?

Well, my job is tough. Gruelling.... intense...

Ok, maybe not so much. But it is a bit nerve-wracking. I'm considered a 'forerunner' for the training and races. Therefore, myself and 4 other forerunning friends will actually take runs off the top of the mountain before the World Cup Athletes. Our job is NOT TO MESS UP. (c'mon, if you know me, that's sorta a big request!). We run off the top, and are not allowed to make any type of steer into the first turn, so that the other athletes can see which way the ice naturally pushes a sled. Also, the track workers will check that all the timing eyes are working correctly, and that there are no major faults with the track. If we accidentally pop our sled out of the groove at the top of the track...we're fired. And if we crash, we're fired. DANG! haha and to top it off, they make the ICE FAST AS POSSIBLE! Wooooooooohooooo!!! But...also calls for a few more 'oh crap' moments.



Our runs today went great. It was awesome being up in the start house with such a conglomeration of elite athletes. It was pretty cold.... 2 degrees Fahrenheit, but we hardly are outside any length of time anyways.

I hope to one day compete in the World Cup circuit, or in any circuit for that matter... but to this point, this has been one of the biggest honors I've ever had. Like throwing the first pitch in the World Series. So happy to have the opportunity for this experience!!!

And a big HAPPY BIRTHDAAAAAY to my favorite(est) sister in the whole wide world!!!!