In my recent travels, between boarding flights and infinite cups of coffee I wandered through a bookstore. Choosing books by their cover (yes, really) I happened to open up one, in which this sentence suddenly jumped out at me, “Go where you don’t want to go. Get in luck’s path.” I stood there motionless. Some might consider that moment to be a revelation or even a sign, but for me it was the perfect description of how I have recently been approaching my life and athletic career.
My 2011/12 season was exactly what I needed to make it. I And although I could still fill a warehouse with the amount of improvements I have on my “to do” list — it has all been and will all be, an integral part of my downhill journey.
***
After taking one final week to train & test equipment inWhistler on my own – I returned to Calgary to compete in both the Alberta Provincial Championships & the Canadian National Championships (held on
back to back weekends). Each race presented new challenges . Whether it
was the warm weather eating away at the integrity of the ice, or the deep field
of talented athletes pushing their limits, we all gathered up a ton of mental
strength to attempt to achieve our individual performance expectations.
My first session back at Canada Olympic Park (after Whistler) was a
flash back to just two short years ago. My first training run felt a little off, but I had just gotten of the plane less than 12 hours prior. I resolved to
only take one more and call it a day.
flash back to just two short years ago. My first training run felt a little off, but I had just gotten of the plane less than 12 hours prior. I resolved to
only take one more and call it a day.
 |
| Just a little scratch … |
My sled, likely in response to my lagging
brain, took a tremendously high exit line through curve 9 (a 270 degree corner) and saw me pointed directly at the inside short-wall traveling at more than 115
km/h. I knew at the last moment, that it wasn’t going to be good – but anyone
who has slid Calgary knows the perilous exits that this corner can induce – so
I didn’t panic (much). Unfortunately, my body ricocheted so aggressively when I
hit, that I felt both my left ankle & the left side of my helmet strike the wall.
I remained on my sled and completed the run.
brain, took a tremendously high exit line through curve 9 (a 270 degree corner) and saw me pointed directly at the inside short-wall traveling at more than 115
km/h. I knew at the last moment, that it wasn’t going to be good – but anyone
who has slid Calgary knows the perilous exits that this corner can induce – so
I didn’t panic (much). Unfortunately, my body ricocheted so aggressively when I
hit, that I felt both my left ankle & the left side of my helmet strike the wall.
I remained on my sled and completed the run.
When I took my helmet off at the
bottom I was mortified to discover a huge scratch from the cement — a $600
helmet never seemed so precious … I sighed and went home.I repaired the helmet the as best I could and took the next day off
entirely.
bottom I was mortified to discover a huge scratch from the cement — a $600
helmet never seemed so precious … I sighed and went home.I repaired the helmet the as best I could and took the next day off
entirely.
Thankfully, no concussion symptoms surfaced and I resolved to get
back to the basics.
back to the basics.
Come race day, the regular two-run combined format for Provincials
saw me push a new personal best & maintain the lead to land on top of the
podium. I was pleased, but knew I would have to turn up the volume on both the push and my driving if I wanted to take on these same girls (and additional world cup
level sliders) in the 4-run combined format for Nationals.
saw me push a new personal best & maintain the lead to land on top of the
podium. I was pleased, but knew I would have to turn up the volume on both the push and my driving if I wanted to take on these same girls (and additional world cup
level sliders) in the 4-run combined format for Nationals.
The final week of sliding was mentally and physically exhausting. I had tokeep reminding myself how badly I want to succeed, and ignore my muscular &
neurological cries for a break. It was a real case of mind over matter. My teammates and I were all feeling it.
Nationals saw almost our entire Canadian crew duke it out for the
2011/12 championship title. The 4-heat (combined time) format was put in place, and each of the
two days was filled with beautiful warm weather. And while I’m not going to be
upset about sweating in my speed suit when the alternative is freezing — the
ice was once again a real challenge to read. It reacted differently every run and forced a new level of hyper awareness about every little movement and
action we made on our sleds.
2011/12 championship title. The 4-heat (combined time) format was put in place, and each of the
two days was filled with beautiful warm weather. And while I’m not going to be
upset about sweating in my speed suit when the alternative is freezing — the
ice was once again a real challenge to read. It reacted differently every run and forced a new level of hyper awareness about every little movement and
action we made on our sleds.
Heats 1 & 2 saw two new personal best pushes and had me taking risks with my equipment choices and set up. After heat 1, I was in 2nd place behind World Cup slider Sarah Reid by 0.09 seconds. But as the lessons tend to come when I need them most (even if I can’t see it at the time) my second run that day taught me some valuable information about ice conditions and my driving style. I slipped back to 3rd, just +0.06 out of 2nd.
Daylight savings made sure we were all a little more tired than we might have otherwise been, since the races were slated to begin at 11AM each day. And while “feeling” like it’s 10AM might not seem like a huge change, I know you ALL suffered the lag of losing that hour – so just trust me. Regardless, heats 3 and 4 got underway.
My first push (heat 3) was okay, but racing with an “okay” push is no longer sufficient. My glutes and hamstrings threatened to continue tensing as the break between runs lengthened, but thankfully our physiotherapists were on hand, and Jonathan Reimer dug deep (literally), to help me find that little tiny percentage of added strength. “Just one more,” he said to me as I sat up. I smiled and nodded. He was right. It was now or never. This would be the last on-ice moment I would have for 6 months.
Push number 4 felt strong, and when I loaded onto Phrixus I whispered a little “Let’s do this” in my helmet. As expected, the ice was really losing it’s durability and I focused on getting low. I could feel the speed increase, but I also recognized my goal was to either gain a position or maintain 3rd so I didn’t over drive. When I crossed the line I saw what I needed to see – I had secured the bronze. (Additionally, I had matched my new PB push on that final run). The weight of an entire season released from my shoulders, and even as the doping chaperone approached me to let me know I had been selected to pee in a cup in front of a complete stranger (my first time ever), I was smiling.
Take every chance. Drop every fear.
