Thursday, April 19, 2012

Spring Update

So I've been holding off on writing this post for, oh about 5 weeks now. Not because it's a secret, but frankly I just haven't wanted to put it into writing.

But many of you already know: I'm not going to Olympic Trials. It was a very tough decision that went something like this:

In January, I started at Geneseo and MCC simultaneously with the goal of completing my undergraduate degree by December. I planned to hurry through my senior year because I'm 24, I'm sick of school, and I want to get back to full-time kayaking. School, for me, [perhaps unfortunately] has always felt like a means to eventually fund my athletic endeavors. I get annoyed that, in the meantime, it gets in the way of what I like to do.

A thousand assignments piled on top of my other responsibilities sent me into Total Stress Overload. I knew I had to make a decision. Focus on school, or focus on training?

A major factor in that decision was the reality of the situation: I was 7th at July's World Championships Team Trials, and there are only 2 potential Olympic spots qualified for US women. Will I get better? Of course, but probably not in 6 months. And although I'm in good shape, school was preventing me from getting on the water every day. In fact, school was preventing me from getting on the water more than twice a week. You can't go to Olympic Trials if you only kayak twice a week.

I know it was the right choice.

So what have I been doing the past 5 weeks instead of blogging? Mostly homework. A ^&$^#ton of homework: reading 3 books a week and cranking out papers like it's my job.

I also have been doing my best to get out with Nicole for a few workouts per week. She kicks my butt and reminds me how it's impossible to paddle fast in a boat unless you spend a lot of time in a boat. Nicole is my hometown girl. As I've said before, we started paddling at the same time, and paddled k2 together often. I'm really excited to see how she does at Olympic Trials this weekend, because she's been working so hard. She's going to PA school AND been training like an animal. I truly don't know how she does it!!!

Nicole and me racing at Empire State Games in 2002

Nicole and me paddling k2 a few weeks ago!