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| Flexing for the camera |
Friday, October 7, 2011
MDA Make a Muscle. Make a Difference.
This past Tuesday I got invited to a Muscular Dystrophy event. I didn't know many of the details other than there was going to be food, fun, and we were to be there supporting children with this disease. I got way more than I expected. I made a great friend who showed me a thing or two about life. Erica (below) has Muscular Dystrophy, speaks to children who have this disease, and has managed to operate her own business. What an inspiration!!! At the event we also got to meet the Brew City Bruisers, participate in Zumba, meet former Olympian Chris Scheels, and best of all, we got to give Erica her award for the evening.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Post Easy Week
Once of my goals this season was to learn how to take it slow when I'm supposed to take it slow. It's so strange now to actually take a break. I'm so used to being all tied up in knots and having complete anxiety over schedules, family stuff, life, training... I'm actually having to learn how to unwind. For most people it's usually the other way around.
Before its was--wake up, eat, train for 2+ hours, work for 4+ hours, train for 2+ hours, teach the kids, make dinner, crash for the day. Over and over again.
Now I'm able to take this year slow, like a new relationship. I'm able to reflect on what I actually want and where I want to go and how I'd like to carry myself. Most importantly, actually working on my God-and-me relationship.
I'm finding that life is very much like how I approach my skating.
If I can't do it slowly, I'll never be able to handle it fast.
Before its was--wake up, eat, train for 2+ hours, work for 4+ hours, train for 2+ hours, teach the kids, make dinner, crash for the day. Over and over again.
Now I'm able to take this year slow, like a new relationship. I'm able to reflect on what I actually want and where I want to go and how I'd like to carry myself. Most importantly, actually working on my God-and-me relationship.
I'm finding that life is very much like how I approach my skating.
If I can't do it slowly, I'll never be able to handle it fast.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
New Begginings in 2011/2012 Season
Last season was quite a roller coaster. I finally started to mend after the loss of mom. As I found out, mending is not smooth sailing at all. Lots of "firsts" happen the year after a death and I was dealing with a bunch of them. I was actually dreading the 2011 season and it ended up being better than I ever could have expected as far as skating results were concerned. A mix of heartaches and special surprises the Lord had in store.
This year I was determined to start off with a level head and heart. I thought - if I can produce really good results in a mental mess, I just wonder what I can do with a lighter load. So, I really needed to let go, and let God.
So far I'm in a much better place. And I 'm so much happier in relationships across the board. The loss and grief I was feeling all last year caused me to shut a lot of people out. But now I'm learning to grab outreached hands and also learning to reach out to others in return.
Even in this individualistic sport I'm seeing that selfishness is not an option. My team is made of the people I surround myself with through the journey.
This year I was determined to start off with a level head and heart. I thought - if I can produce really good results in a mental mess, I just wonder what I can do with a lighter load. So, I really needed to let go, and let God.
So far I'm in a much better place. And I 'm so much happier in relationships across the board. The loss and grief I was feeling all last year caused me to shut a lot of people out. But now I'm learning to grab outreached hands and also learning to reach out to others in return.
Even in this individualistic sport I'm seeing that selfishness is not an option. My team is made of the people I surround myself with through the journey.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Calgary training under way!
The dog days of Salt Lake City and Russia are finally at an end. Honestly, Salt Lake was long and dry, Russia was a nightmare, and I'm so happy to be past the month of January. This month felt less like skating fun and more of a "job" than ever before.
For those who were concerned about the Moscow trip, all was well and we made it safely to our hotel in time. There was a suicide bomber in another airport and it went off just hours after we landed. Thank God the rest of the team was not flying into that particular airport. There were also 2 suicide car bombings that happened during the week as well. It is so sad to think that this is "normal" in Russia.
On a good note, I did my job by earning enough points to stay in 3rd overall in the 3k and top 10 overall in the 1500. We also qualified for World Singles in the Team Pursuit. Yay for the ladies!
Thankfully I'm back in Milwaukee and trying to regain some strength for the Big Show...World Allarounds. The past 8 weeks have been really tough on the body and mind but it feels like I'm going to come around just in time. Last year I was able to earn 5th place. I'm hoping to at least match that or even podium. We will see!
Until then,
Peace.
For those who were concerned about the Moscow trip, all was well and we made it safely to our hotel in time. There was a suicide bomber in another airport and it went off just hours after we landed. Thank God the rest of the team was not flying into that particular airport. There were also 2 suicide car bombings that happened during the week as well. It is so sad to think that this is "normal" in Russia.
On a good note, I did my job by earning enough points to stay in 3rd overall in the 3k and top 10 overall in the 1500. We also qualified for World Singles in the Team Pursuit. Yay for the ladies!
Thankfully I'm back in Milwaukee and trying to regain some strength for the Big Show...World Allarounds. The past 8 weeks have been really tough on the body and mind but it feels like I'm going to come around just in time. Last year I was able to earn 5th place. I'm hoping to at least match that or even podium. We will see!
Until then,
Peace.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
New Season
Honestly, the start of the season was pretty rough. I was a little zapped from the 2010 World Cup and Olympic chaos. It was a good chaos, but chaos nonetheless.
I was frustrated, I couldn't keep up with anyone on the bike, and I was running like a 10 ton tank. On top of all that I was still dealing with the loss of my mother. By the time fall came around I just came to grips with the fact that skating just might not be too stellar this year. I became determined to keep my outbursts at bay and just go with the flow.
Boy did I have the surprise of my life when I came out on top at the World Cups! I came out a winner and topped it off with November Athlete of the Month.
God sure does keep things interesting! I never know what he's going to pull out of His sleeves.
I DO know that there were a lot of lessons over the past 6th months. Most of them were on patience, perspective, and staying quiet enough to hear His voice. Selfishness and frustration can be so deafening.
When the drive for success gets loud I really need to stay focused on the calm. Things like "why didn't I get that?", "that's not fair", "I wish this would've happened" are so cloudy.
I'm very excited to tackle these new goals. They are not necessarily goals of higher placement, but mental goals. I guess we'll see how it goes this second half of the season with slightly higher pressure.
Starting tomorrow is the US Championships followed by our Regional Qualifier for the World Allarounds. I've been eating cookies, not actual food, for the past several days over Christmas...so we shall see how much trust I can muster up! It was not looking so pretty at this morning's practice.
Stay tuned.
I was frustrated, I couldn't keep up with anyone on the bike, and I was running like a 10 ton tank. On top of all that I was still dealing with the loss of my mother. By the time fall came around I just came to grips with the fact that skating just might not be too stellar this year. I became determined to keep my outbursts at bay and just go with the flow.
Boy did I have the surprise of my life when I came out on top at the World Cups! I came out a winner and topped it off with November Athlete of the Month.
God sure does keep things interesting! I never know what he's going to pull out of His sleeves.
I DO know that there were a lot of lessons over the past 6th months. Most of them were on patience, perspective, and staying quiet enough to hear His voice. Selfishness and frustration can be so deafening.
When the drive for success gets loud I really need to stay focused on the calm. Things like "why didn't I get that?", "that's not fair", "I wish this would've happened" are so cloudy.
I'm very excited to tackle these new goals. They are not necessarily goals of higher placement, but mental goals. I guess we'll see how it goes this second half of the season with slightly higher pressure.
Starting tomorrow is the US Championships followed by our Regional Qualifier for the World Allarounds. I've been eating cookies, not actual food, for the past several days over Christmas...so we shall see how much trust I can muster up! It was not looking so pretty at this morning's practice.
Stay tuned.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
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