Momentum

"The trick is to leap out of bed as soon as you are aware of consciousness. Up, into motion, no time for doubt, no questions asked. New day. Game on... we are out the door and in the van- on our way to work on the dream. On our way to training. This is a mission. Every day is a mission . Some days the mission is to rest, some days it’s academics, some days fun, but most days the mission is to work. The planning and thinking have been done. This is the time for doing.

Training can be fun. A run through sunbeams splintered by tall pines in the cool of evening, feeling fresh and light, skis in hard tracks, on fast snow, full of life. But today training threatens to be less than fun. Low clouds, dark and cold. We are pushing through a hard ten days of training. No one feels fresh and light. If tall pines and sun exist, I cannot remember having enjoyed running through them. Training right now is nothing more than work, laboring up a gravel road in the light rain and in complete discomfort. It is our last interval. All are head- down, snot and rain dripping off the nose, fully involved in the task. We are a soggy string of runners stretched out up a steep incline deep in the woods. Alone- save for Sten, soaked and shivering, hollering encouragement to us. We are doing it, and even if the act of training itself is less than fun right now, we are working on the dream, and working on the dream is what drives me out of bed each morning. No hesitation, no doubt, up into motion.

To commit to something grand, something that may not be possible, to say “I am going to do it,” even when you may not be able to: That is dreaming. To actually set about the task of living up to your commitment, to begin doing, to tenaciously pursue what you said you would achieve: That is working on the dream."

-excerpt from Momentum, by 2-time Olympic nordic skier Pete Vordenburg

Snowshoe Race Video

Holly compiled a fantastic video of the snowshoe race. I think she got clips of almost all the participants in the 4-mile event, plus some requisite pre-race interviews from yours truly.

Snowshoe Race

I raced in the Lake Effect Winter Trail Festival today: a 4-mile snowshoe race (I skipped the half-marathon option). Snowshoe racing is not for the faint of heart. If you haven't tried it, think about wearing weighted shoes 4 times bigger than normal, and running in soft, dry sand. Add 7 degree temperature and 15 mph winds and you've got yourself Sunday's race!

However, I am not complaining. I like epic conditions! Plus, I was toasty warm once we got going. The race kicked my butt for sure, and I always appreciate a good butt-kicking. At the start line when the gun goes off, everyone was engulfed in a white cloud from all the kickup from the hundreds of snowshoers running together. It was a riot.

Even though I donned my subzero parka as soon as I crossed the finish line, by the time I got to my truck my hands inside my gloves were frozen and numb like wooden sticks. I was able to get the door handle open using two hands, but I had to wait 5 minutes before my wooden hands had warmed up enough to turn the key in the ignition.
I may look warm... but I am NOT WARM.

Weight training in the Great White North

Make sure you wear your furry boots!

Olympic Weightlifting meet

My competition in Buffalo yesterday went okay. I was pleased that I got a tiny clean and jerk PR, but not pleased that I dropped 3 out of my 6 lifts. I underestimated how nerve-wracking it would be to lift in front of a gym full of people who are all silent and staring at you! I loved it though. Had a blast. I plan to get a lot stronger and then do this again as soon as my kayaking schedule allows. The sweet thing about Oly lifting is that it's a competitive sport--- but it's also a regular part of my kayak training routine. So win-win!

My last lift was an attempted 61 kilo (134lbs) clean and jerk. I got it overhead, and then one arm buckled. Instead of letting go of the bar like you're supposed to, I just held on, twirled the weight around, and then smashed it into the gym floor, making a nice-sized dent. Whoops. I'm such a n00b! Check out the video:

PRs on max lifting day

I would like to commemorate this day, January 7, 2010, for several reasons.

First, it is the day that will go down in history as the first time my squat has ever been heavier than my bench press.

Second, I feel it will be the only day of my life that I will be able to say I got 4 serious lifting PRs in one day. (back squat, deadlift, shoulder press, snatch).

Third, it is a beautiful day in this gorgeous world and I loved every minute of it. It feels good to be stronger than ever and having a blast at the gym. I'm lifting a lot lately because A.) duh and B.) I'm competing at an Olympic weightlifting meet in Buffalo next weekend. Whoop whoop!!

Fourth, it's my last few weeks at home in Rochester and I'm soaking them up with fervor. I'd be happy to never leave New York... and yet I'm looking forward to getting back to California.... so basically I'm lucky that I love everywhere. Vie getz, bitches.

Tough Break

I was supposed to join the slalom kayak team for their XC ski training camp in Lake Placid this week. I woke up Tuesday morning with a sore throat, but ignored it. I lifted weights, packed my truck full of skis, and made a playlist for the 5-hour drive. I made it about 30 minutes from home before I realized I was really sick and I wasn't going to make it.

So I sadly turned around and drove home, got into bed, and slept for 18 hours straight. The past few days I've been alternating between sleeping, reading, eating soup, and taking dayquil/nyquil. I'm finally starting to feel better but not in time to make the drive to training camp. Super bummer. The moral of the story is I that I did not sleep or recover nearly enough during the end-of-the-semester craziness this year. Staying up til 2am writing papers and getting up at 5:30 to work out does not mesh well with my need for 10.5 hours of shut-eye per 24 hours. That's why I'm putting Get Even More Sleep second on my list of Themes for 2011.

At any rate, I'm currently typing at my desk bundled in warm blankets even though it's a balmy 40 degrees outside and the snow is disappearing. To quell my desire to work out and be healthy, I'm watching crossfit videos.

"I don't want any training to be easy... I want it to hurt really, really really bad. I want to start too fast and just try to always maintain that speed until I break totally down. I want to push myself just.... so hard. I really want it. I really do. Every time that I do training, I am telling myself, 'you know that the other girl won't stop.' so I am pushing and pushing." -Camille Leblanc-Bazinet