Age Group Long Track Nationals 2008 Lake Placid

I just noticed that a bunch of people have been checking here for the past few days. I have a hard time bragging about myself since that's the way I grew up. I have a blog that is really for me and no one else. But yes I did win another Age Group Nationals last weekend. It was the closest one yet out of the 4.

The first one was in Minn in 2003 and not much competition. I went for a National record in the 1st race and missed it by 1 second in the 1500. I still feel the pain from that 2:13 1500m. The 2nd and 3rd ones were battles with the Love man in 2003 & 2005. I had home field advantage in both of those (Butte & SLC respectively). Fun times in 2005 and stressful in 2003. I still can't believe that the full results from 2008 are not posted.

It was anything but placid in Lake Placid on Saturday morning for our first race. The temps were in the single digits, winds were 20-30mph, and some occasional snow. Mix in one turn that was cracking out and the other turn that was washboard ice and you have some interesting conditions. I put alot of work in for this meet. I think I'm skating the best ever and in great shape. Trained hard and tapered better for this meet than US Championships in December.
First race I took off too early like 500m out and couldn't get a gap on Marty Haire. He got on me and executed a perfect pass at the line and it was game on. I was none too happy as I let out a few explatives that only I think Marty heard. It was not going to be easy to win. I thought the 40 plus group would be alot easier than racing the Love man in the 30-39 class. Boy was I wrong.

1500M Video 40-49m Part I


Dick Ring was my "coach" on the backstretch. In the first race I thought I had gapped Marty. Ringer was yelling at the end of the backstretch "you gotta go Brian, he's right on you". This was after I pulled super hard into a 20-30mph headwind with Marty on my back with two arms on his back breathing thru his nose. I didn't hear him back there at all and thought I had a gap. When I heard Ringer I knew I was in trouble. Welcome to pack racing on the Long track. It's so much different than metric. I can see the European's expressions after getting whipped up by the Americans in the 32 Olympics.

1500M Video 40-49m Part II



The next race 800m was a photo finish but only problem is they didn't have a photo. It as called by a human judge and it was super close. I "hawked" the line and somehow stayed up. I was lucky I did otherwise it was DQ and game over for me. Two races and two close finishes. The ice was alot better for the 800m though from the morning.

800m Final 40-49 Men


The best thing about this meet was all the old friends I caught up with. Winning is nice and feeds my ego but I think enjoying yourself is much more important. I was a mess after losing the 1st two races.
Next day I woke up feeling relaxed. I went to the rink figuring i had to win a few races. Things went awesome and I was demonstrative after winning the 1000m in the morning. I was yelling and pumping my fists. I wasn't trying to show anyone up just happy to win a race. The 500m was great race. I had the 6 spot on the line (yes 6 people on the line). My main rival Marty Haire was in the 1 spot. I just took off and had a clean start. I looked to my left and didn't see anyone as I went into the 1st turn. The backstretch I looked completely back to make sure Marty wasn't on me. I cruised in and actually broke the Age Group National record. That was icing on the cake for me. I just wanted to win the race and didn't care about time. Pack style or short track time means NOTHING!
After the race I apologized for swearing the day before to Marty Haire. I told him that he was skating really well and this is what it's all about. He appreciated hearing that he said. If he wasn't skating so well I wouldn't have had to dig so deep for those two races. I always thought of him as more of a short track skater but he is a man on a mission this year. I heard from Chris Callis that he lapped him 10 times in a marathon the year before. He also beat Andrew Hodor in a 5k this year I heard.
3k for all the marbles. Marty's a competitor and he said he knew he got in my head the day before.

Last race conditions changed big time. Crappy ice, snow storm, and wind. Jim "marathon man" Cornell took off like we were doing a 500m. Tom Cole, Glenn Corso were also strong in that race. Marty raced a ballsy race keeping the pace high and pulling 3 laps. I just executed my strategy and took off with 1 to go. I didn't pass Marty till the last 100m. I really shot out of the last turn and had a good gap at the line. I pumped my hands and had my knee up in the air AFTER the line. One of the refs said on the next lap that it was a "dangerous move". If someone was around I might have kicked them. Come on. You can't have fun in speedskating.
That was all about me. Jerica raced awesome as did Mark Chrysler and Pat Knox.

To be continued......