New Video

I've been absent on my blog for a few weeks, fighting some health battles. While getting that sorted out, I'm making videos, reading books, and trying my best to stay optimistic. I'm making some really cool shelves for my bedroom to house all the new books I'm reading: Atonement, My Antonia, Oh! Pioneers, and the Twilight series. (Twilight, in my opinion, happens to be the best therapy for bedridden athletes. I'm in love.)

Below is one of the training videos I've made.

Justin has requested more updates. And he's absolutely right! This week was a recovery week for me so the training was reduced. Unfortunately, the snow has melted, so I was only able to ski once. But on the flip side, the creek thawed, so I've been out paddling 5 times and LOVING it. I wish I could bottle up the scent of snow, musty leaves, and wet wood; it feels so natural to be out there. It makes me smile to think of the hundreds of hours I've spent training there in the springtimes.

I have also acquired an erg! If you visit my youtube channel, you can see recent videos. It takes me awhile to make them but I'll get around to it asap.

I head back to San Diego next weekend, so I have one last week of training and wonderful adventures before heading to the west coast for.... training, and wonderful adventures!!

Thanks for reading!

Ski Camp 2010

Each year, the US sprint kayak team joins with the US slalom kayak team for a magnificent cross-training camp in Lake Placid during which we cross-country ski, lift weights, have snowball fights, and generally enjoy everything about beautiful upstate NY winters. This year was no exception: a high level of training was accomplished, as well as a ton of fun. I wouldn't trade ski camp for the world! I'll post a bunch of pictures with captions because I'm sure that will be cooler than me re-counting the whole 2 weeks. :)


The sprint team: from left to right, Alejandro Schwendhelm, Emily Wright, Emily Mickle, coach Nathan Luce, Maia Farrar-Wellman, Kaitlyn McElroy, Ariel Farrar-Wellman, David Petrovics


Kaitlyn and me throwing on some extra blue for classic intervals


"Everyone demonstrate your best tuck!" Mickle, Maia, Ariel, me, Kaitlyn

David, Maia, and Mickle before a workout at Mt. VanHoevenburg

Ariel is demonstrating my favorite ways to spend time between ski sessions: reading Twilight!!

Snowboarding at Whiteface

Ariel, Alejandro, and me downhill skiing at Whiteface

View from the ski lift

I made friends with Bill the biathlete, who let me hold his rifle.

Also, I tried skeleton!


Though I am grinning, I am secretly terrified.
Mickle and Burgco, getting ready for the run down the track

Mickle and I took this picture before sliding down the track, musing that it could be the last photograph ever taken of us. In retrospect, that was sort of morbid and dramatic.

Tehe.

The girls ice skating on the Olympic oval: Kaitlyn, me, Maia, Mickle, and Ariel

Bug and Jure watched a little too much Blades of Glory, perhaps? Actually, I'm just jealous of their form.

Me with the slalom boys. We had to bribe the ice skate police to let us take this picture. Scott, Jure, Scotty, Bug, me, and Aaron

I found a giant black bear at Whiteface!

And another in Canandaigua on my way home!

Skiing on Christmas

Since I've been home I've been skiing almost every day. Justin and Alan are home now, too! Today, it was a balmy 36 and rainy so we busted out the rock skis and went to Fellows Rd. Park and skied in circles until the snow was gone.


We stopped to do pull-ups. Ski gear and winter clothing adds a surprising amount of weight.


Here I am doing some gymnastics moves in the middle of my set.



Onward, through the grassy field!

Merry Christmas!

My lovely family on Christmas Eve! We are so thankful to be all together and healthy. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, everyone!

Life throws curves

I was feeling the flow. The flow that comes from honest hard work and indisputable improvement. I was healthy, faster, and gunning down all my PRs during my last 4 weeks in California before the Holidays.

Then after Thanksgiving, everything fell apart. To make a long story short, I was battling a strange allergic reaction for about 2 weeks. After seeing many doctors, taking lots of medicine, and plenty of cold oatmeal baths, I finally went to the ER on Thursday night. I wish I'd come here sooner; doctors say the reaction is very serious and I need to be here for at least 4 days. So far they are running tests and trying to keep me comfortable. I've never stayed in a hospital before. It sure is lonely. I've barely left my bed the past 2 days but today I am feeling a bit more energetic and hope to wander the halls a little bit.

Of course, I was supposed to be cross-country skiing my brains out with Justin this weekend in Park City and then flying home and jumping into the arms of my family, and blissful snowy wonderland. But so far I just have to wait. This is my third day in the hospital.

My spirits are fairly high because my teammates, coach, and Tyler have formed a steady string of visitors so I am never bored or lonely for long. I'm sooo lucky to have them here since my family is 3,000 miles away.

I'll post some more info when the doctors give me an idea of when I can go home. When I am better, I will resume my plan to be training hard on XC skis in Rochester through the holiday season, and attending our team's XC ski training camp in Lake Placid January 2-14. Come out and train with me!!

Mmm, nature

Why you should GO OUTSIDE!!