Monday, November 8, 2010
Monday November 8th
Well, I am back here in New York. I am so happy to be home. I feel like I'm floating in a puffy soft cloud I am so comfortable. I would love to say that the race was a huge success and I am on my way to a great season but that is just not true. I have some serious changes in store. It was a mess of okay skating, equipment problems, mental issues, injury issues and it was generally challenging to stomach. It was better than last Am Cup. at least. I finished 18th out of 24 overall, which to me is remarkable considering how it felt overall. I don't feel good writing about it, but I just thought I should let any followers know how it went.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Friday November 6th
Tis the eve of the race. It is cold and rainy here in Cleveland, Ohio. Well actually it is more snowy than rainy. Call it a wintry mix and I love it. The trees are orange and red and brown and my hands get cold and stiff if I stay outside too long. Feels like it should November 5th.
I have had a busy bunch of days preparing so I apologize for failing to post in so long. Wednesday night I only got 41/2 hours of sleep because I went to practice that night so I couldn't have all my bags packed when I got back and I had to eat something. By the time I got to sleep it was 11 and I had to wake up at 3:30 for the flight here. I am so disoriented. I went through a porthole it feels like from clear deep blue skies and 85-90s to cold, hailing Cleveland. Thursday was a lost day. I was so wired I hardly was myself plus the fact that the clock moved forward 3 hours from L.A. to here so I traveled super early but by the time I was settled into the room it was practically time for dinner. I have been in a room at the Regency Hotel all by my self since then. It is a really nice room as far as my standards for regular hotels go and overall, I have been impressed. The only flaw so far was the magically emptying bathtub. No matter what I did, it kept emptying even though I stopped the drain and could not feel anywhere where there was a downward current! My bath in Epsom Salts and stretching was the latest thing I've done today, and before, I went to the rink this morning for practice Ice and went to eat and pick up groceries at Wal Mart with Jean and Kyle. With the World Cup team not present, Kyle has a great shot to win the overall competition here this weekend. I'm just trying to improve on last Am. Cup. It should be great and there is actually a live stream in HD, I believe ... here: http://www.shorttrackhd.com/menu.html I am pretty sure the live stream is happening tomorrow if you click on the link some ways down that page. I will find out for sure soon and get back to you. Of course, if you miss it or can't watch, my dad is here this time! So he will be recording all the races. You just won't get those live. He should be here any minute from the airport actually. We're gunna go check in for the race and then eat.
I'll try to confirm on the live video soon.
I have had a busy bunch of days preparing so I apologize for failing to post in so long. Wednesday night I only got 41/2 hours of sleep because I went to practice that night so I couldn't have all my bags packed when I got back and I had to eat something. By the time I got to sleep it was 11 and I had to wake up at 3:30 for the flight here. I am so disoriented. I went through a porthole it feels like from clear deep blue skies and 85-90s to cold, hailing Cleveland. Thursday was a lost day. I was so wired I hardly was myself plus the fact that the clock moved forward 3 hours from L.A. to here so I traveled super early but by the time I was settled into the room it was practically time for dinner. I have been in a room at the Regency Hotel all by my self since then. It is a really nice room as far as my standards for regular hotels go and overall, I have been impressed. The only flaw so far was the magically emptying bathtub. No matter what I did, it kept emptying even though I stopped the drain and could not feel anywhere where there was a downward current! My bath in Epsom Salts and stretching was the latest thing I've done today, and before, I went to the rink this morning for practice Ice and went to eat and pick up groceries at Wal Mart with Jean and Kyle. With the World Cup team not present, Kyle has a great shot to win the overall competition here this weekend. I'm just trying to improve on last Am. Cup. It should be great and there is actually a live stream in HD, I believe ... here: http://www.shorttrackhd.com/menu.html I am pretty sure the live stream is happening tomorrow if you click on the link some ways down that page. I will find out for sure soon and get back to you. Of course, if you miss it or can't watch, my dad is here this time! So he will be recording all the races. You just won't get those live. He should be here any minute from the airport actually. We're gunna go check in for the race and then eat.
I'll try to confirm on the live video soon.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Monday November 1st
I got good sleeps Saturday night and Sunday night and I woke up ready to work this morning. It was a good thing because the workout was tough and I led most of it. We did the warm up relay, then finished three out of four sets of 20 laps technical - no lap times - followed by 10 laps between 10.5 and 11.0 followed by a 3 lap accel. I was around 10.1 for a lot of the 3rd 10 lapper. I am working so hard on the technique still. 4 things have to come together for me: I have to steer into the turn more with my right, then after the right push I have to cross big with the right. I understood completely what Wil has been saying over and over about transferring weight more today and that helped me comprehend the term "shifting" she always says. So four things in recap:
- Steer into the turn on the right,
- Cross bigger with the right,
- Transfer the weight from leg to leg so longer pushes,
- Shift the hips more.
Of course I always have to "tuck" more, which basically means rounding my back but the result is that my hips stay "under my body".
Imagine going 25 mph on thin blades around hairpin turns on ice thinking about all this and more. It is not easy. But I am better than a lot of people in the country, I have a shot to be great, the whole process is making me a better, stronger individual, I enjoy it a lot when I'm doing well and I am learning how to feed myself, eat, sleep and prepare right so that I can do it well. Why complain?
Yesterday afternoon was very pleasant with Gary. We went to Venice Beach, had a great meal looking right out on the beach with lapping waves and clear blue skies. Then we walked to a different part of the beach, the main part and rested in the sun for a good hour. It was too bizarre, first of all to be with Gary in the nice parts of the West Coast when we are always together in the East, but moreover to be in a place that was hot enough to take off my shirt, with palm trees, summer blue skies, and huge white beaches while back home it must be chilly and full of autumn colors. Hard to believe I'll be in that place soon.
- Steer into the turn on the right,
- Cross bigger with the right,
- Transfer the weight from leg to leg so longer pushes,
- Shift the hips more.
Of course I always have to "tuck" more, which basically means rounding my back but the result is that my hips stay "under my body".
Imagine going 25 mph on thin blades around hairpin turns on ice thinking about all this and more. It is not easy. But I am better than a lot of people in the country, I have a shot to be great, the whole process is making me a better, stronger individual, I enjoy it a lot when I'm doing well and I am learning how to feed myself, eat, sleep and prepare right so that I can do it well. Why complain?
Yesterday afternoon was very pleasant with Gary. We went to Venice Beach, had a great meal looking right out on the beach with lapping waves and clear blue skies. Then we walked to a different part of the beach, the main part and rested in the sun for a good hour. It was too bizarre, first of all to be with Gary in the nice parts of the West Coast when we are always together in the East, but moreover to be in a place that was hot enough to take off my shirt, with palm trees, summer blue skies, and huge white beaches while back home it must be chilly and full of autumn colors. Hard to believe I'll be in that place soon.
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