Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Growing Up
I have been ski racing now for a good part of my life. There have been a lot of great things that I have learned on the way…there are also many things I have learned about a dozen times, and every time I learn it, I vow to myself, that I will never make the same mistake again. Of course, if I followed my own advice I would never make the same mistake a dozen times. It is also apparent, with my repeated offenses of stupidity, that I am not learning a darn thing!
Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, but unless you do EVERYTHING at 100% you will never reach your goals. Growing up my weakness was always equipment maintenance…I’d rather clean my house and refold all my cloths a 100 times over versus wax my skis, or clean & tune up my bike.
This past weekend I was reminded of my flaws while racing up Brandon Gap with a bunch of college youngsters. Girls that are about 10 years younger than myself, with their careers in either skiing or the work force ahead of them, some confused, and others with dreams bigger than the world.
I started to think of my UVM days, some of the best and hardest days of my life. As we started our race up the gap, I was reminded of all the mistakes I made growing up when both my pole tips came lose. For me that meant a long climb up the gap without poles! This made for a good long time to reflect while I watched a strong group of girls pull away from me…buh bye!
Of course I told myself…”I will never do this again; not check my equipment before the start of a race!” I should know this by now, and I think I have told this to myself about 4 dozen times.
Due to my hard headed, do what I want to, go day by day attitude…I tossed out a good opportunity for a great fall training session! All because I didn’t take five minutes to take care of my stuff…hopefully those other college girls noticed how I was wasting my time trying to ski up the hill and fool around with my poles every few seconds that they learned a lesson from me…do as I say, not as I do!
There is a lot more to racing well besides training well…taking care of your shit is a big part of being the best! Growing up, the girls that scared me the most while racing where the ones that did everything…not just the training but the equipment maintenance, the hard training, the resting…and funny thing…those where the girls that have made it to the Olympics.
So, if I am not going to learn my lesson, hopefully someone else will. To be the best you have to be on top of EVERYTHING! It’s ok to make mistakes but learn from those mistakes!
Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, but unless you do EVERYTHING at 100% you will never reach your goals. Growing up my weakness was always equipment maintenance…I’d rather clean my house and refold all my cloths a 100 times over versus wax my skis, or clean & tune up my bike.
This past weekend I was reminded of my flaws while racing up Brandon Gap with a bunch of college youngsters. Girls that are about 10 years younger than myself, with their careers in either skiing or the work force ahead of them, some confused, and others with dreams bigger than the world.
I started to think of my UVM days, some of the best and hardest days of my life. As we started our race up the gap, I was reminded of all the mistakes I made growing up when both my pole tips came lose. For me that meant a long climb up the gap without poles! This made for a good long time to reflect while I watched a strong group of girls pull away from me…buh bye!
Of course I told myself…”I will never do this again; not check my equipment before the start of a race!” I should know this by now, and I think I have told this to myself about 4 dozen times.
Due to my hard headed, do what I want to, go day by day attitude…I tossed out a good opportunity for a great fall training session! All because I didn’t take five minutes to take care of my stuff…hopefully those other college girls noticed how I was wasting my time trying to ski up the hill and fool around with my poles every few seconds that they learned a lesson from me…do as I say, not as I do!
There is a lot more to racing well besides training well…taking care of your shit is a big part of being the best! Growing up, the girls that scared me the most while racing where the ones that did everything…not just the training but the equipment maintenance, the hard training, the resting…and funny thing…those where the girls that have made it to the Olympics.
So, if I am not going to learn my lesson, hopefully someone else will. To be the best you have to be on top of EVERYTHING! It’s ok to make mistakes but learn from those mistakes!
Monday, July 28, 2008
24 HOURS OF GREAT GLEN
Our team of very fast mt. bike chicks needs another expert female. Any one interested or know of someone that might want to race please let me know. There are money prizes and it's VERY fun!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
MudDING
With my big nobby tires. Slipping in the mud, cruising over rocks, flying over wet roots with my fingers crossed, praying I don’t launch my face into a tree, and the best part…flying through the deep puddles.
Puddles so deep you close you eyes & grip you handle bars with all your might so you don’t endo yourself over your handle bars and end up flying in mid-air over the puddle, as your bike drowns in the puddle...hmmm would you call this a puddle or a pond?
Lots of rain in Vermont right now, and lots of rain means really fun, muddy bike racing. Can you imagine being 26, but acting like you are about 4? Playing in the mud, splashing in the puddles and coming home COVERED in mud! Good thing my mom didn’t see me ;-)
The worse the weather, the more fun I have with my training, and this summer has been just AMAZING in Vermont, which I like, but I also like the adventures of the wind, rain, sleet. Helps when I have to do the same thing everyday, it always gives me a second wind, something different to spice things up.
Yesterday was so muddy I was covered head to toe, my mouth was very gritty…cheap whitener!!! My eyes BURNED, I think there is still mud coming out of my eyes & ears today! I kept thinking to myself: “Sizzillin, don’t stop and keep it going” as I rode through the slick roots, rocks trying to maneuver myself on the tight, winding single track…keep pedaling!
When the weather gets bad get out there & train! Goin hard when the weather turns on!
Puddles so deep you close you eyes & grip you handle bars with all your might so you don’t endo yourself over your handle bars and end up flying in mid-air over the puddle, as your bike drowns in the puddle...hmmm would you call this a puddle or a pond?
Lots of rain in Vermont right now, and lots of rain means really fun, muddy bike racing. Can you imagine being 26, but acting like you are about 4? Playing in the mud, splashing in the puddles and coming home COVERED in mud! Good thing my mom didn’t see me ;-)
The worse the weather, the more fun I have with my training, and this summer has been just AMAZING in Vermont, which I like, but I also like the adventures of the wind, rain, sleet. Helps when I have to do the same thing everyday, it always gives me a second wind, something different to spice things up.
Yesterday was so muddy I was covered head to toe, my mouth was very gritty…cheap whitener!!! My eyes BURNED, I think there is still mud coming out of my eyes & ears today! I kept thinking to myself: “Sizzillin, don’t stop and keep it going” as I rode through the slick roots, rocks trying to maneuver myself on the tight, winding single track…keep pedaling!
When the weather gets bad get out there & train! Goin hard when the weather turns on!
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Mt. Snow Mt. Bike National Championships
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Climb To Mt. Top
Today I had my first roller ski race down in Rutland, Vermont. An 11k climb up to Mt. Top. To give you an idea it's a mass start race, where we have about 400 meters before we start climbing for a few k. The first climb was very nice, I had to put together a plan this year, there were a few girls in the race that are very strong skiers. I couldn't go out to hard risking bonking, so I jumped behind a very young & talented skier, Keely Levins for about 2 k. The group stayed together for a few K, until I decided it was time to spread out the field. For a little while I was worried I had made a move to soon.
My attack broke up the race and for a few k I skied on my own until Alex Jospe caught me. We skied together trying to fend of the other skiers, I felt very good on the flat section...than we reached the final 3k. The steepest 3k of my life...I put my head down and went. Many times I skied hard in fear that Alex was going to beat me, I could hear her poles gripping the pavement behind me, they always sounded like they were coming closer and closer. Than I saw the 200m sign and knew I could win this race. It was a good hard race with some very good girls there.
Below is video from the race. Very early on. We all look rested & relaxed!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
errr...sorry it has taken me so long!
I know...I hear ya! It has been to long since my last post. It gets a little busy in the summertimes!
My days are amazing right now, CRAZY busy just the way I like it...though it truly is amazing that I keep anything together with all that I am doing! Sometimes I am reminded to jump about 5 miles up into there air to take a quick breather and see everything else that is going on around me...makes me feel a little better when i am overwhelmed. Just think how small each one of us is.
I am working hard at work, things here are going really well. Training is also going well, mondays I am taking off from training & putting in some extra hours at the office, while Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday I am off the wall busy with catamount outdoor center 5ks & mountain biking after work. On the weekend I live out every min. to the max with training & seeing my friends, until the most exciting part of my weekend begins...The Little Bella Mountain Bike Mentoring program for girls from 6-14. IT'S AMAZING...On that note, I have a little more work to do & will update more next week on the Little Bellas.
My days are amazing right now, CRAZY busy just the way I like it...though it truly is amazing that I keep anything together with all that I am doing! Sometimes I am reminded to jump about 5 miles up into there air to take a quick breather and see everything else that is going on around me...makes me feel a little better when i am overwhelmed. Just think how small each one of us is.
I am working hard at work, things here are going really well. Training is also going well, mondays I am taking off from training & putting in some extra hours at the office, while Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday I am off the wall busy with catamount outdoor center 5ks & mountain biking after work. On the weekend I live out every min. to the max with training & seeing my friends, until the most exciting part of my weekend begins...The Little Bella Mountain Bike Mentoring program for girls from 6-14. IT'S AMAZING...On that note, I have a little more work to do & will update more next week on the Little Bellas.
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