Is Spring Coming?

It sure doesn't feel like it here in Lake Placid, but boy am I ready for it. Its been a while since I posted here and its mostly because I haven't had the energy to do so this year. Its been a year of the unexpected, with  many twists and turns. As I reflect back on this year it may have not only been my most difficult year but my most valuable year to date. I came into this year with my eye on one race, world championships in Lake Placid at the end of the year. My qualification for this race did not work out...I guess thats racing, sometimes it just doesn't work out like you plan. This last week during the world championships I spent my time coaching rather than competing, something  that was difficult as well as cleansing for my mind. Giving back to other sliders is one of the few things that brings happiness amidst failure in the sliding world. I find it to be very enjoyable, even though it is incredibly difficult. I believe that through coaching others you can learn quite a bit yourself at the same time, in that sense I took some good things from last week. I will continue to maintain that coaching is far more difficult and taxing than being an athlete!  I also got to spend some time with friends and enjoy some good wines, and anyone who knows me knows how much that means to me!

This year tested me in many ways, some races ( mostly in europe during the second half) I saw and got more out of myself as a slider than I have in a long time. I finally have full confidence in my start and have a strong handle on what it takes to be fast at the start. This was one of my biggest successes of the year. I got to the point of full confidence on many of my shaky european tracks which is also huge going into next year. This year I really had to push my focus to the bigger picture and to next year rather than the individual races in front of me. In essence I never walked away from one situation without taking something positive or learning something new from it. 

Im still weighing how long I will slide for, but I am treating this olympic year like it is my last. Doing everything that makes me happy, training at 100 percent, and creating a situation where I can allow all that I have learned in my career to come out for a peak next year, this is my focus. I have also decided to stay in Lake Placid training for the summer, rather than San Diego. With Home Depot dropping their USOC sponsorship I have little reason to go to San Diego to work. I will stay home with friends and family and enjoy a spectacular Adirondack summer of friends and training.

I hope all is well with everyone.