Back at it

"LIFE IS DIFFICULT"

Life is exciting! Life will throw anything at you and do what it pleases and truly that is half of the fun.

The return to the real world has been a hard transition.  I have struggled to get back into the routine and to get back to working real hours.

I forced myself into the gym 3 times this week while getting my work done so I feel like I am making progress.

I did not work out this morning and I am struggling with that decision.

There is a big part of me that wants to hit the gym at 4 this afternoon before heading to Whistler to get everything done.

I am really trying to be a fitter kid but the fat kid in me is struggling to stay gone.

That's right I had 2 appies last night along with dessert.

Just say yes and trust the path you are setting for yourself.

Refresh

"THE ROAD TO SUCCESS AND THE ROAD TO FAILURE ARE ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME."

So in my renewed (how many times have I said this before) attempts to be accountable to myself I will be attempting to write something everyday to keep me focused on my goals and where I am headed.

My 10 week goals are to get as strong and as fast as possible while reducing my weight and my body fat.

I want to PR my snatch, squat, bench press and power clean multiple times within the 10 weeks. I also want to weight 75 kg or 165lbs or less.

Here is to my goals and my dreams.

I want to go to Lake Placid.

I want to have a 6 pack (let's be honest, a flat stomach)

I want to be better than the day before and continue upward and onward.

The future is bright I am so glad I got some new sunglasses.

Falling off the wagon

 "LOGIC WILL GET YOU FROM A TO B. IMAGINATION WILL TAKE YOU EVERYWHERE."

Okay so in my usual routine, I have completely fallen off the posting wagon.  It has been a month since my last post and a lot has happened. 5 NAC races and a training week in Whistler along with a lot of other exciting adventures.

NAC 3&4 came and went too quickly. It was a quick and sudden end to the trip.  I was very happy that I rented my own hotel room despite the cost because it led to the most random of adventures and I got some much needed silence after a couple weeks on the road.  The BC Bobslayers got some much needed ice house practice and we got to hang out with the other Canadians.  We had a good group of people that we were used to seeing on a daily basis so it was becoming like a second home to me.  I really do like the road life and meeting new people and not worrying about work so much.

My pilot and I crashed once in Calgary but the BC Bobslayers didn't all stay that lucky.

I even cheated on my pilot for the first time.  It was an equally rough ride and our brakes failed and it made for an adventure.

I PR'd my start time with my pilot sitting in the sled.  I definitely was starting to miss the gym at this point.

I am so thankful that I said yes to this. I keep reminding myself that I am a bobsleigh brakeman.  How cool is that?

And our time in Calgary a very beat up BC crew headed home.  The next week was spent trying to caught up on work, playing tour guide all while trying to get to Whistler to watch the world cup.

The second week home was international training week, my pilot decided not to slide and I was sadden by this.  I definitely understood her body needed a break but I felt I was missing out on training.

I managed to convince Anna who was riding with Berit to let me kick her out of the sled and I got my first 4 runs down Whistler from Ladies start on the Thursday.  I begged some more and managed to get her to not slide the Saturday I got my first 2 runs from the top of Whistler.

What a rush! 3 of 4 tracks in North America I have pushed from the top on.

This brings me to this past week.  My pilot and I were the only ones from BC going to Calgary for the next 3 races, so we convoyed with the Americans.

What an adventure! They lost their trailer and it was Canadians to the rescue.

In all the ways that this trip wasn't as exciting as last time, it was different. It was emotional, It was thrilling, and basically it was everything I wanted my life to be.

I realized that I am no longer the person I was before I started this adventure.  I truly value my life but I am realizing that I valued the wrong people before.  I cannot rewrite my story but I am move forward.

Calgary round 2 was exciting because we were more a part of the Canadian team, we got to keep our sled in the garage and got support from everyone.

Did I mention I get to go really fast down a hill! Yup, that is right!

Officially we never crashed in Calgary the second time around and my pilot and I both pushed.  It was a huge improvement and it was like PR city all over the place! Again again again!!!

I even got to Brake in a 4 man bobsled. 4 times over!

It's hard being home but I cannot wait for the future.

Did I mention it's hard being home.



Official slide count: 57 (16 at school, 6 Whistler runs,17 training race runs, 4 4man runs and 14 race runs)
26 at Park City, 25 at Calgary, and 6 at Whistler

Balance

"FULL EFFORT, FULL VICTORY"

I am at a loss at how to express how I am feeling and since I am the only one who I am writing for I am going to attempt to work through my thoughts out loud over the internet.

I am participating in a sport that results come down to hundredths of a second.  A sport that combines speed and strength. A sport that is only participated in by a select few athletes from a variety of different sport.  Typically a sport that is on people's bucket lists.

Currently I am not 100% what I can bring to this sport, my strength is entry level here and really the only thing I can think of is my heart and my ability to take a beating and hop in the sled for the next run.

Oh Canada

"HOWEVER MEAN YOUR LIFE IS, MEET IT AND LIVE IT."

NAC #1 & #2 Completed

So we have returned to Canada safe and sound and what a trip it was!

After we finished the Park City driving school we had one off day before we immediately went into the training runs for the North America's Cup at the Utah Olympic Park.

We had training runs Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.  Our training runs started at 2 pm and we each were allowed 2 runs a day.  In order to qualify for the racing we need to have 2 clean runs out of 6.

We completed all 6 runs with no issues.  The first 3 runs I pushed with the pilot in the sled and the last 3 we both pushed.

We had some decent runs and some fun runs.  We got to use our official FIBT runners which was pretty exciting.  They were so beautiful and shiny.

One issue that arose in our training runs was our lack of experience.  The Pilot landed on the brakes 2 of 3 times she jumped in and I was unable to get the same hit with her running which was my issue.

We made the call to have the pilot sit in the sled and have me push alone.

We hit PBs on both our runs and our starts during the races.

We had some great growth between the two of us.

We did come in last but we were able to finish all our runs and get below 55 seconds for the first time.

It's been a crazy run so far, many stories.

I am so happy I said yes to this wild ride.

We are now in Calgary for the next set of races.

Official slide count: 26 (16 at school, 6 training race runs and 4 race runs)

Park City Driving School Completed

 'THE AIM OF THE WISE IS NOT TO SECURE PLEASURE, BUT TO AVOID PAIN."

My first ever driving school in Park City has come to a close and it was a great adventure.

To start we crashed in our last run today, but the guys caught us (no additional ice burn) and it was our fastest run to date.

A ton of fun, I haven't decided what my favourite part is or was yet but once I can describe it I will let you know.

I am actually a bobsleigh athlete and I am getting to represent my country.

Crazy ride. I am loving the people. So far the people is definitely my favourite part.

Learning about the sport is also amazing. What a community. Definitely reminds me of crossfit and rugby. 

I look like a fighter but I cannot tell if I won or lost the fight yet!

Can't wait to start official training runs for the first North America Cup race on saturday.

Loving life! Ice burn, bruises and all




Official slide count: 16

Crash and Burn

"EVERY GAME IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEASURE YOURSELF AGAINST YOUR OWN POTENTIAL."

So we crashed..crashed hard and slide...UPSIDE everyone is okay DOWNSIDE ice burn UPSIDE the first crash is out the way UPSIDE I am officially a bobsledder.

We have completed 5 days of training here in Park City.  I am honestly having the time of my life, tons of great people, tons of great adventures and tons of adrenaline.

This sport is made for someone like me.  I get to socialize, work with my hands and go extremely fast down hill and I am the stop sign!

The second day we started at Junior start again with a bit of a push.  I was sitting down and not pushing.

The third day we started at Junior start to get ready for the top.  Second run we got lowered into the exit of corner 1.

It started out rough and before I knew it I was sliding the wrong way...on my back...we slid to almost corner 15 and then back to the flat by corner 14.  I started to feel the burn on the way back down.

It was what I expected. Kinda of excited that it was done to release the fear and to increase the respect and fear.

A burn vest or flexibility would of prevented the burn but it's all good. Lesson learned. Had a blast.

We called it for a day.  I should mention it was my pilot's first day in a new sled. Her first pilot crash and my first brakesman crash.

It was great to have everyone else gather around and actually care if I was okay it was a neat feeling.

Yesterday for Halloween we only did 2 runs. Second run was a bit rough and my pilot got bumped around and she called it for the day.  Better safe then sorry.

Today we hit all three runs from the top..no assistance... I walked the sled out and hopped in.

Second one was the fastest but I think the third one was the best.

We did push training on tuesday and wednesday and that was super neat.

Learning how to hit the sled and getting to be in control was a fun experience and people loved the power which was good feedback.  I now need to learn to spirit and spirit hard.

I am so competitive sometimes it is hard to keep it inside and not show the world.

Trouble is and I am really starting to realize this that when I eat whatever I want I am telling myself I a not good enough.

Today after sliding with a smoothie for breakfast and 3 coffees in my supersuit and shoes I weighed 81.1 kg.

Ideally by end of January 2013 I would like to weigh 75 kg but with more muscles.

I know what I need to do but now I need to do it.


Official slide count:13

I didn't die:)

"BECAUSE I HAVEN'T FOUND MY LIMIT."

Today was the day that I finally experienced by first bobsleigh ride. It was what I expected and it was a ton of fun going fast.

We started at the Junior start today which is also curve 6.  It took us just under 50 seconds each run.

I will admit that as soon as I closed the helmet and put in my mouthguard I had a hard time breathing and did panic a little.  First run was the smoothest and definitely exciting, but pushing a sled to the finish at 2 km above sea level was not.

We actually got in three runs today when we were only scheduled for 2.

I did not have to doing any pushing today...I know that will be a different experience.

I need to train my sprinting in order to maximize my strength.

I know the National team is a pipe dream but unless you put your pedal to the metal you won't find your limit.





Official slide count: 3

Soaking it all in!

'THE TROUBLE WITH TALKING TOO FAST IS YOU MAY SAY SOMETHING YOU HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF YET."


I decided to switch back to recording my thoughts and actions on this blog mostly because my work computer considers tumblr as a restricted site.

My life over the last couple months has been a whirl wind of opportunities and I can barely keep up with myself.

A brief recap is as follows:
1. Switched to Crossfit 604 from Crossfit Lions
2. Took an additional position with Fatigue Science
3. Went to bobsleigh tryouts and through dumb luck get to race in the Americas Cup
4. Got a roommate
5. Volunteered to be the temporary treasurer of the BCBSA

As I write this I am in Park City, Utah for a week driving school followed by the first two races of the Americas Cup.

I am realizing that if I do not record what is going on I will eventually forget everything.

I know a picture is supposed to speak a thousand words but blogging with give them all context.

I have blogged and failed on many different platforms but I am hoping that it will go better this time.

I still have not yet been down the track in a sleigh so I cannot know how much I will enjoy it.

I am down in Utah with the BC unofficial Bobsleigh team.  We are sharing a huge house with 6 BC athletes and 2 NZ athletes.

Today was the first day of my first ever driving school. As a Brakesman, the first day was really for the pilots. We did had an orientation, had a track walk (the brakesman walked outside the track), and then worked on the sleds.

As someone who always writes goals and dreams down and dreams bigger then typically achievable.

So in order for me to hopefully change my stars, I am making my goals more specific and I am writing them down and putting them out there for everyone to see.

I have never been down a sled but because I am stubborn and sometimes a little bit cocky. I am making my goals larger then myself.

On September 1, 2012 I hit the following scores:
Vertical Jump: 10 inches
Bench Press: 61 kg
Front Squat: 86 kg
Power Clean: 70 kg
5 x double leg bound: 9.7 m
Single bound: 1.8 m
Sled Pull: 3.53 sec

What I would like in the next 6 months (end of tax season):
Vertical Jump: 24 inches
Bench Press: 75-85 kg
Front Squat: 110-120 kg
Power Clean: 100-110 kg
5 x double leg bound: 13-14 m
Single bound: 2.8-3.0 m
Sled Pull: 3.13 sec

End goal of this sliding season would be get an invite to another camp next summer to see my test results improve.

Definitely interesting living with a bunch of people and the dynamics that go along with it.

Here is to my future and proving the theory that luck is just karma that you can control.

Upward and Onward!