Out with a Bang

What a rush!

My final two trips as a forerunner for the World Cup were great! Lots of commotion, yelling, cow bells, and competitive spirit.


Corinne, Morgan, Tyler, Greg, and myself as World Cup forerunners

I've mentioned before that my job as a forerunner was not to "Mess Up." I took that job very seriously (mostly cuz I got yelled at on wednesday for not being 'ready'), and made sure to be on-the-job and ready-to-go at a moments notice. If there were any issues with the track, within 30 seconds we had to be ready to run off the top... yes, sorta-guinea pigs...

Supposedly at 9:00am on Friday, four of my friends were to take the very first runs off the top, and I was to wait about 45 minutes to start off the following heat of athletes. Yet, at 9:00, I was told I would be going off the top with the other 4 sliders. YIKEs! I luckily was fully dressed, though only about 80% warmed up. When I got to the line, the 5th forerunning sled, there were track workers dotting the starting area ice. It was announced over loudspeaker that the 'final forerunner' was up... I popped my helmet on my head, and began to lay my sled onto the ice, still aware of the workers on the ice in front of me...

"SLED IN TRACK!" "SLED IN TRACK!" the announcer yelled over the speakers... which was not true...and I became a little confused, as I was still at the start line. Here, I'm not supposed to mess up, and now I'm unsure if i'm just to jump on my sled and hope that I don't bowl down the track workers, or miss my 30 second window to begin my start.

The Great Britain coach assured me that I was to go ahead and mount my sled. As I got into my starting position, the workers scattered.

I'd never been part of a real large skeleton competition, so as I began my sprint, I heard people yelling... forgetting that it was a yell in "hip hooray go go go!" not a "Ahhhhhh why are you on the ice now stop stop stop!"

Needless to say, my start was quite slow, as I stutter-stepped the first 10m due to my lackadaisical confusion. But, no worries, my second forerunning start about 2 hours later felt great, and though it wasn't my fastest time, I've been working on a different starting technique, and I think it's beginning to pay off.

So ya, World Cup. CRAZY!

I got to meet several Olympians, including USA skeleton Olympians John Daly, Katie Uhlaender, and Eric Bernotas. As well as USA bobsled olympians Nick Cunningham, Mike Kohn, John Napier, Bree Schaaf and Bronze medalist Elana Myers and Gold Medalist Steve Holcomb. Also, I met many other Olympians from other countries, including Olympic Gold Medalist in skeleton, Jon Montgomery.

Jon Montgomery, 2010 Olympic Skeleton Gold Medalist


Sweet, huh? I was really pumped

I talk skeleton, skeleton, skeleton these days... and have neglected to talk too much about bobsled. But, there really has not been many bobsledders practicing at Lake Placid lately - until this week.

And guess who was here? Yes, lots of Olympians, but also (future Olympian) Jazmine Fenlator! The girl who is responsible for my being a bobsled/skeleton athlete at all... well, I have her and our friend Katie Doster to thank...but that's a whole 'nother story... but anyways, Jaz was competing at the World Cup level this year!!! I was her brakeman last year while she was learning to drive during the America's Cup races in Park City and Lake Placid. I went and watched her second run on Friday - it was awesome watching her, and seeing her improvements, and being able to take myself back memory lane to 1 year ago... sitting in the back of a bobsled. It's really been quite a journey over these past 12 months!

I left Lake Placid early Saturday morning, and won't be returning again until January 17th. My sled stayed in LP so Coach Don could make some revisions to it over the break. I'll be training at R.A.W. over the break, as well as using my own regimen here at home. Today I did sprints up our driveway, trying to avoid the ice patches to the best of my ability. Gotta get fast!

So, now I'm home, after spending time with my family celebrating my sister's birthday and decorating the Christmas tree. We're just laying around, listening to Christmas carols, as I'm writing this blog. It's so nice to be home <3

Race Prep

Tomorrow is the Big Day.

Women's Skeleton World Cup starts at 9:00am, followed by the men. And Morgan, Corinne, Greg, Tyler, and myself get the opportunity to "pilot" (or forerun) the races!!! What an incredible opportunity!

Though we technically aren't racing, the 5 of us are still preparing for tomorrow as if it were to be a race day. And preparing for a race day is a lot more work than preparing for any cross country or track race day that I've had in the past!

This morning was the last day of 'official' training. Each slider gets their last opportunity to learn all the curves of the track, and to find the quickest, and safest lines.


Athletes preparing for Heat #1 in the start house

In case you missed my last post - we are 'forerunners' for the World Cup Races. Therefore, we slide down the mountain before the World Cup Athletes, so they can see how the ice at the beginning is cut, and so the officials are sure that the timing eyes are working correctly. Also, we are to report any 'problems' with the track that we see. We get 2 runs per day, just like the athletes - however, it's over an hour between each of our runs... nothing like trying to stay warm, while still remaining relaxed and energized at the same time. But trust me, the long waits are mooooore than worth it!

Preparation for races isn't held just on the track. Injury prevention and care are important leading up to a race as well. Last wednesday I was doing some power cleans, and tweaked my back on a light weight rep. Since then I've been icing my back every day, doing extra stretching, and trying to take it easy on any training involving strain on my lower back. Things have been going well, and today I woke up feeling as 'good as new.' I'm still taking some preventative measures, and so therefore spending at least 15-20 minutes per day in the COLD TUB. Even just typing it, makes me shiver. The water is a toasty 53 degrees, which feels like zero, and causes complete numbness in a matter of minutes. However, the first few minutes are incredibly miserable, and so in order to force ones self into the cold tub, you must gain comraderie with your friends...and have them jump in with you.


Morgan and I in the cold tub... looks waaaay warmer than it is

So, after sliding to prepare for the race, and then spending an hour or so with Coach Becca learning some sport-specific drills and workout plans, and then spending some time in the cold tub, we then prepare our sleds for the races.

Preparing a sled at the World Cup level is a slightly more complicated endeavor than it is for us forerunners. However, we certainly have put as much work into getting the sled ready as we know how.

So - this is the (less than world cup level) way of prepping a sled. First, you gotta pick which runners you want. Some are better when the ice is warm, while others are better when the ice is cold (and hard). Then, you have to make sure that all the bolts and tape are tight and adhered well. Lastly, you have to sand the runners (ya know, the blades on the bottom)... make them nice n' shiny.

PHEW! Now, that is a task!

My roomies, Morgan and Corinne, hard at work sanding runners

It takes anywhere between 1 and 3 hours to sand runners. Basically, we take sandpaper at 320 grit, and rub it over the runners about 20-50 times. Then we use 400 grit and do the same thing. Then 600, 800, 1000, 1500 ... some people even use "diamond paste" type of stuff, to make it UBER shiny and smooth. We're certainly not there yet.

Anyways, my sled is prepped and ready to go! I will take my last 2 runs of 2010 tomorrow, and will come back in 4 or 5 weeks to continue training on the ice.

Cameras, TV crews, Olympians, fast ice, and 4 great friends to make the experience of a lifetime tomorrow. CAN'T WAIT!

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!!!!

Brace yourself

Sliding the 'Chicane' - the longest straight section of track


So... we're getting faster. Maaaaybe sometimes a little too fast for our own good.

There have been 30 of us here for the Advanced Sliding Camp over the past 8 days. Though at different levels of sliding, we are all supportive of one another, share excitement for each other's achievements, and are sympathetic in one another's heartbreaks.

And heartbreaks...err..at least...breaks...there have been.

This sport is certainly not for the faint of heart. It's not a "wimp's" sport, as Coach Don says. There has been one broken finger, hundreds of bruises, a few swollen hands (which I'm certain tomorrow we'll find out one is broken), bloody noses, sprained muscles, swollen heels, pulled backs, bad headaches, a few bleeding chins, and several crashes... all in the past 4 weeks.

And crashes... ahhhh, crashes. It seems that daily there is an athlete who has taken a turn too late, and instead of having their sled follow the curve of the ice, they have no choice but to launch perpendicular to the curve, become airborne, and land shiny-side-up.

I haven't done that....... yet.

Coach Don says to get ready. It WILL happen.

Anytime I hear the call of "Eighty-One" (which is a code word for 'CRASH') over the announcements, I race over to the camera to see my fellow teammate emerging from one of the curves...often with a slight limp, and a head held in disbelief...or maybe it's in sadness... or maybe they're just looking down to make sure their legs are still attached...I'm not sure. But in any case, it's always a relief to see them walking... but boy does it get my heart racing for my next run!

Most of my fellow teammates say their body often feels like it's on fire after a crash. Upon looking at their skin on their shoulders, butt, legs, and back... you can find a bright pink irritation, caused from 'ice burn.' Doesn't look like fun to me..but I will say, most people come back up to the top with a great story, and have been ready to jump right back on the horse and show that curve who is Boss. I haven't met a single slider yet who I would categorize as a 'wimp'. I've got a lot to live up to when the day comes that I, too, crash.... but I'm also looking forward to writing my blog post of "My First Skeleton Crash" ... haha! Every crash is a good story :)

Tomorrow is the last day of our Advanced Sliding camp. I'll stay up here for the Skeleton World Cup (not to compete, but to forerun) and slide the 14-17th of December and then head home.

Sooooo..... let's just save that 'crash' blog for sometime in the New Year, K?


Advanced Sliding School with Kuk Sool Won instructors in the OTC gym

The Crew

My first trip to the Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid was almost exactly one year ago. I still remember driving up to the "Olympic Training Center" sign, with my heart pounding, and my palms sweaty. Knowing I'd be living among elite athletes was a BIG DEAL! What if they talk creatine and power cleans the whole time? Should I change out of my winter (barn) boots, and into my new sneakers, to look the part?

Two weeks before my first 'sliding' experience, I went out and bought an "UnderArmour" shirt, and new spandex pants... I figured everyone would be wearing their high-priced athletic gear at the OTC, and didn't want to be an immediate eye-sore upon entrance. I gotta be coo'

But...honestly, to my surprise, the people here are REAL people! Who knew? And even better yet, they are nice, sincere, helpful, and a ton of fun! Granted, my exposure to the World Cup athletes has been somewhat minimal, but even in that limited amount of time, those athletes have also been extremely generous and helpful. Everyone's 'friendly' personalities may not strike most people as odd, but you need to remember that we are each other's competition. This is not a team sport, and in order to be ranked top in the field, you have to out-compete your friends...err...your enemies...



There are about 25 of us 'developmental' skeleton athletes living at the training center at the current time. Most athletes were past sprinters, football players, gymnasts, wrestlers, etc. We all come from very different backgrounds. Chase, from Texas, just got to make his first Snow Angel ever... and Ron and Morgan both graduated from Mercyhurst College in Erie, and Megan is in the Army Reserves, and Derek was a professional soccer player, and Charmaine is actually a Canadian skeleton athlete. Get the picture?

So, for all of us to get along... well, that would be crazy right???

Ok, so things aren't perfect. I'd like to close my eyes and ears at certain moments and picture they are, but for the most part we truly are a group of athletes who genuinely enjoy one-anothers company. Which is EXTREMELY important when you live in a town of 2600, a small community of 50 at the OTC, and have about 6 hours per day of "I'm bored...whatcha doin?"



Last wednesday, nearly all 25 of us went to watch a Holiday Ice Skating Performance, and then went ice skating ourselves afterwards. Yesterday, about 15 of us went bowling, and this afternoon most people went to the movie theatre. I stayed in my room tonight to get my sled's runners all shiny and to write this blog, but most of the athletes are playing a little volleyball right now.

How did we get so lucky?

So, here's a "Cheers!" to my fellow athletes, and may this honeymoon phase last all the way through April!

The Pursuit of Excellence

What kid doesn't want to be an Olympian?

When I was in 7th grade, I became heavily involved in cross country and track. At the time, I was a tough farm girl who knew what it meant to work hard, and had some ( ok, they were little) muscles on my bones. Many of my fellow teammates were still coming on to their athleticism, which only meant I had a head start.

So, in 7th and 8th grade, I had my heart set on becoming a nationally-known runner. I was winning medals, and began decorating my room with quotes, and put my whole heart into the sport. The possibilities seemed to expand into the sky.

When I entered the varsity xc/track teams, I found myself among some very athletic (and, more mature than me) women. I was no longer winning the 100m hurdles, or taking the top spots in cross country invitationals. I still put up a fight for my competition, but the experience was humbling, and I suppose the dreams of becoming a nationally-ranked runner, waned.

I hit the peak of my performances as a sophomore, and spent my junior and senior years of high school, chasing the times I had put down earlier in my career. My love for playing violin became a distraction as well, and a few of my coaches correlated my decrease in athletic performance, to my increase in time devoted to the violin. I began to lose interest.

Upon entering college at Penn State Behrend, I joined the cross-country and track teams, but with a wavering heart. I had originally told the coach I would not run for them because my heart and mind were no longer in it. After several hours on a campus-tour with the coach, I realized I couldn't turn back on something that had been such a big part of my life.

My cross-country career never really took off, but my times on the track began to improve again, as I rekindled my love for spikes and the rubber-topped oval track. But, Olympics? Or becoming nationally-ranked? That was long past, and the fire that drove me to run faster times, was simply the fire that challenged me to always be at MY best. It wasn't to prove I was better than someone. (There are some high caliber athletes here at the OTC who just want to prove they're BETTER than you). It was to prove to myself, what I could do.

To be at MY best.

So, now, Here I am, at the opportunity of a lifetime, and with the possibility of competing in the Olympics is in the closest reach that it has EVER been. And I got here on ACCIDENT! How does this happen? And how will I ever measure up to an 'Olympian'? Most of the women here are jacked! Muscles abound, big round bums, and super quick feet... where do I fit in? HOW do I get to the point of fitting in?

well...

I've been going to Bible studies with Pastor Derek Spain from the Baptist church up here. He is a really great guy, and correlates the studies with our lives as elite athletes.

I've now gone to Derek's church twice, and to bible study twice, and both times I come away being more energized and with my mind more straight than it has been in weeks.

Last night, Bible study concentrated on the "Pursuit of Excellence"
http://ncministries.wordpress.com/2010/11/29/the-passionate-pursuit-of-excellence/


How do we get to our 'best'? In the work place, on the athletic field, in family life? Do you weigh yourself against others? Do you give in to temptations? Do you work hard, or try to take shortcuts? What conscious decisions do you make that will help you to improve in the areas you lack?

I recommend everyone to click on the link. He really breaks everything down well.

So, I came out of yesterdays study, feeling more confident about my own 'pursuit of excellence.' I'm excited to be here, and know that my effort to date is minimal yet. I will keep taking step after step to achieve my own 'Excellence.' To be at MY best. I'm not there yet, and I don't know that you can ever be at your VERY best. There are always ways to achieve an even higher level of excellence.

As my ninth grade teacher, Mr. Srock once said "It's not enough to be good, if you have the ability to be better."

Turkey Day!

There are SO many advantages to gravity sports.

1) I sprint for 30m and then my athletic ability no longer matters... take me away, gravity.
2) I will get to the bottom of the mountain no matter what. There's no option for quitting.
3) The heavier I am, the FASTER I go!

...and heavier, I am.

Ok, maybe not THAT much heavier - but I deserve to be after this Thanksgiving!

I've been following a diet that includes low-carbs, and no (or few) sugars. Therefore, I don't eat desserts, and avoid sandwiches and unnecessary carbs. Now...don't get me wrong, I do cheat from time to time... but YESTERDAY...oh, my.


OTC Cooks!

Let me preface yesterday's meals, by filling you in on my last week of dining here at the OTC. It's been crazy! Normally, the OTC can occupy as many as 250 people. This past week, there has been less than 30 of us. It makes for a quiet week, but the cafeteria food is incredible! Six eager cooks whip up some fancy made-to-order menus. This week, I've been choosing from the following:

a) NY Strip Steak
b) Marinated Chicken
c) Shrimp Scampi
d) Marinated Swordfish

"Yes, may I have a medium NY Strip Steak?" ..."with some blue cheese?"

YUM. So, this week my stomach has slowly been expanding as I've been filling up on all the goodies being offered to us. I mean, next week, we'll be back to the normal big-batch-cooking-style. The cooks do a great job year-round, but wow they've really outdone themselves this week.

So, I knew that with only 10 of us coming to Thanksgiving meal, it was gonna be AWESOME. And, that it was.

I first went to OTC breakfast, where I dined on chocolate chip pancakes and a blueberry muffin... yes, CARB overload for me. Then, two and a half hours later we had to leave for Saranac Lake for the day, so we ate our Thanksgiving meal at the OTC only 2 hours after my very filling breakfast.

Everything your grandma makes for Thanksgiving, and then some. It was sooooo delicious. Plus, I had to have some pumpkin roll, and stuff down an extra slice of turkey for good measure. And cranberry sauce is really good for you, right? I hope so. I could have eaten buckets of it.


Kristina, Mike, and Greg being goofs at our Thanksgiving meal at the OTC

Six of us rolled out to the car and drove down to the Saranac Lake Adult Center to help serve a Thankgiving meal to elderly from the area. The other volunteers greeted us with "GREAT to have you! How bout you sit down and eat first?"

"Nooooo, thank you but no. Really, sorry. No. No, you don't understand. We just ate. JUST ate. like, A LOT."

The dinner ended up being a little slow, though it was obvious that we were genuinely helping a few people there to have a great Holiday. Just providing a meal, a smile, or offering some competitive spirit in a mean game of Chinese Checkers. In whatever capacity, it was great to get out there and volunteer. Bravo to Kristina Hull, the leader of our group of 6, who was the one who organized the trip.


Greg, Kristina, Mike, Tyler, Me (Matt had to leave early)

We left the Adult Center around 5, still unable to fit anything more into our stomachs... OK, OK, so... I did fit in a piece of pumpkin pie with a dollop of whipped cream... I couldn't resist!

We came back to the OTC for a light dinner and some fun terrorizing each other in the dorms with a few friendly pranks. Despite not being home around family, I had a great Thanksgiving!

And to top it allllllll off -

My Cousin, Annie, Had a Baby!!! Congrats to Annie & John on Baby Wyatt!