Flyin Brian

Dan Jansen skating tips & more

2011-01-12T22:29:00.000-08:00

Pretty good video by one of the guys who I admired before I started speedskating. He give some solid advice on things I'm still working on. Strong core.....you can have the strongest legs but if your core is weak it's like shooting a cannon from a canoe. Also, regrouping your knees underneath your core. He's seems like such a cool guy. Pretty funny too.

Some great clips from the European Champs by this user. Wow I can just imagine how slow this ice is after watching Bokko first full lap in his 1500 at 27.8. Watch how these girls regroup and use their full body weight. Sáblíková is a beast at the end. Until you do enough of these 5ks you don't really know how much this would hurt especially outside.

Double wow on this one. I guess that new rule is for her. She would have been DQ'd a half dozen times in this race on the straights.

Steal from the poor and give to the rich.

2010-12-12T11:26:00.000-08:00

Warning political rant coming! No skating covg today. Tired and will start trimming down my training so I can go fast again.

I happened upon parts of Bernie Sanders 9 hour speech Friday on C Span. It wasn't a filabuster since it's already a done deal. It wasn't the longest filabuster because that was over a day. Storm Thurman and his fighting Civil Rights were in the 50s i believe. I was excited seeing him tell it like it is. I must be one of the few that regularly watches C Span. It was refreshing to hear him. We have 350 people that represent the corporate interests of the US certainly not the people. I read the 15 second sound bites about him on the web. No real coverage of what he said. They say he's a socialist and a nut job. No coverage of this other than that. Listen to it with an open mind and tell me if this makes sense.

We need to start a third party and not the tea party. The welfare system has institutionalized dysfunction, where welfare childern continue to have children and collect checks. The Dems are stuck in what Buddists call "idiot compassion", cannot confront this situation for fear of offending their core constituents. We spend 17 times more on elections than 35 years ago. Other end of spectrum repubs shield "corporate welfare cheats" under the guise of "free enterprise." Somehow, transnational monopolies have become synonymoous with free enterprise, but when you have zillions of dollars to spend on impropaganda you can actualy blend two incompatible ideas into one big lie. We are given two choices: Vote Democrat and enable the lowly criminal (welfare system etc) or vote Republican and enable the highly criminal (wall street, big banks, insurance co, etc).

I love how HR 4853 will pass monday is called the Middle Class Tax Relief act of 2010. Write your congressman and senators. I did. Warren Buffet has said to tax us more but this is going to pass while we are at 13+ trillion in debt.

Getting it Back

2010-12-10T15:30:00.001-08:00

I didn't get on the ice this year till almost October and finally starting to feel like the looked last year. This looked hard a month ago watching it. Now think i could replicate it. I wish i could start where I left off the year before. I did alot of cycling this summer so it was hard to get back into it. I also spent 3.5 weeks on an Indian Reservation (Hualapai/Grand Canyon West) doing dryland in the middle of nowhere. 100 mile round trip to get groceries and no gas in town.
Funny story is one day i was doing dryland near our trailer. I had The Trainer hooked up and was doing turn crossovers. I saw a guy who had a couple of flats in the middle of nowhere on Rt 66. He asked me where the nearest gas station was. Told him 7-10 miles. In the middle of nowhere on Rt 66 in 90 degree weather he said I see u are working on your turns you a speedskater. I was blow away. Turns out he was from Netherlands.

Here's a cool vid that Ryan Border did last year. I like this song don't know who it is?

SLC Fast/National Team cool down relay

2010-12-05T11:36:00.000-08:00

After a long hard practice used Ryan Border's helmet cam to film this. It came out pretty good. The relay pushes look cool. I was pushing a kid from New Zealand (not sure of his name). Britney Salmon and Jonathon Valdivia (sp).

Direct link to video

Superweek

2010-07-13T16:34:00.000-07:00

International Cycling Classic. Living the dream. 100k crits rest and recover. Who said crits are stupid....these are fun. Some crazy courses but last night was a high speed fun one.

Wonder why we don't have more Utah guys here.

going with another break

Max Kash Agro™, HisLordstrong™ and FU Landowski™

2010-05-24T14:00:00.000-07:00

Pounding Idiots - Whale Whisperer

FU Landowski “Vee Fuxx U Upz Comeback Tour™”

Too funny with Lance Landis situation.....

Speedskating Garage Sale

2010-04-27T20:47:00.000-07:00

I have size 44 Short Track and Long Track boots for sale. Plus 2 sets of blades and angled cups for short track. Great deals if you want to try out speedskating or are a veteran. Need the money to get a new mountain bike :). Happy bidding.....or contact me if you are local and want to try them on.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&&item=260592351706&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:US:1120

all items here:

http://shop.ebay.com/spsk8/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p4340

Mountain Bike Stolen

2010-04-23T11:05:00.000-07:00

Gary Fischer Cobia stolen from downtown by the library in SLC, UT. I have a pic of what the bike looks like and the guy who stole it. Any help call the police at 801-799-3000. thanks!

thanks for looking. I was just thinking the other day of going for some mountain biking above the avenues. Guess not. Bummer.

Olympics the Old Fashioned Way

2010-02-15T22:22:00.000-08:00

http://www7.livetv.ru/en/eventinfo/39074_speed_skating/

Thank the Russians for this one. NBC you can ..... you know what.

Olympic Trials and Olympics

2009-10-27T19:44:00.000-07:00

I had a decent 1500m and actually moved my left blade about a quarter inch the night before the race. I had it to far to the outside and actually went faster in my first lap of my 1500m than my 500m. Go figure. I had a short track setup on my left since I did short track till Sept 1st. It was hurting me big time on my left. Skated warmup on it and it felt great immediately.
Now they are much more centered on the left and can't wait for the next few months on them. Right foot is pretty easy just go from middle of your Achilles to between your first two toes or the middle of you big toe if you like it to the inside. It was a no brain er for the past eight years as i have been on the same boots. My new SS boots are a little over a month and working great.

Now here's a little video to get you ready for NBC's coverage of the upcoming Olympics. How about a return to the good old days of just showing the events.

Sugarhouse Criterium 2009

2009-05-25T16:26:00.000-07:00

I did two races on Saturday. Did well in the Master 35s placing 4th after almost witness a horific crash on the sprint to the finish line. I was on Dave Harward's wheel at 45mph on the left going down the big hill to the finish. There's a turn at the bottom and the guys in front of him or side of him moved over. I slammed my brakes and thought it was certain death. Dave literally squeezed in a spot the size of maybe a foot and had to lean over into the curb to not hit the guys on his right. Wow....then I just journeyed back on up the right side. Dave Hardwood's superior bike skills saved us (maybe me) from serious injury. I still only got Dave and someone else by an inch at the finish line with all that action he had to deal with.
Next up was the Pro 1/2 race. It was a fun time with cash handouts. Thanks Fox. I just missed a couple. First I saw some guy at the top of the hill and I thought he was handing out bottles? Then I was like no that's Fox with cash. It made life in the back of the bus a little more fun.

Lots of drama with that and other things in the race. Can't believe that we closed the gap on the "magnificent seven" as they were being called during the race. I was pretty toast at the end. Everyone was as there were riders all over the road in the "sprint". I placed 34th after sitting up and being out of breath and cross eyed.
Bike racing is pure when looking at these pics.....these were from the last 5 laps. It made me feel better about my race after seeing the pain on people's faces. Still haven't seen the results so I'm not sure where the break riders finished but I know that Darren Lill took the victory.

ISU experiment at SLC (new Short Track track?)

2009-05-15T10:47:00.001-07:00

The ISU is testing out a new Short Track this weekend at the oval from 1-6pm on Saturday. Skaters from around the world are here for this Test Event. I've seen Korea, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Hungary, US, Great Britain and Canada. Here's a pic of the new track that I drew out to give you an idea of what it's like. It's like the old safety track back in the day as the Ringer would tell me.
New blocks too that they are trying out. I had this design in my head after block chasing and seeing blocks stick to the ice. They are much smaller and you cannot boot out on them. Plus they are safer as Peiter Geisel was saying he was impaled on the thigh falling on a block. These are softer as well. Not everyone feels that way though? A Belgian guy said that they should go back to the old wooden blocks from 30 years ago? with the flags in them? Guess change is hard for some people.

more on this later.......

Bike handling skills/Derby video and crit racing

2009-04-29T15:17:00.001-07:00

Wow that's the best thing i have seen on youtube in quite some time.

Was that Chris Callis riding mine that Bird? Not to rag on Callis as he was a Long Track Stud in 2000 to 2006. Just reminded me of the Callis man back in the day for anyone that knows him. He was a fast talker like the jockey there. Seems like he's doing well from his facebook updates. I never knew that he trained with Derek Parra from an early age. Derek said he was in his indoor inline team way back.

RMR a couple of weeks ago was a blast with the wind. Impressive win by David Clinger. See why he was a pro racer that night. He gunned it from the U turn into a 40mph headwind and made up some serious distance to catch the break group. He motored past Andre Gonzales I heard. Wow that was cool. I was behind strongman Dave Hahhdwood and Slevie just hanging in. Apparently there was someone between Hardwood and Clinger when he jumped i heard later. When i did put myself into the wind i couldn't make up 3 feet on those guys. I was glad to finish and get a workout in. All this was second hand info as I was staring at the wheels in front of me just hanging on for dear life most of the night.

http://utahcritseries.com/Event.aspx?id=656

Been doing lots of training races lately and weekend races. It's been hard and fun and the bike form seems to finally coming around for me.

World All Rounds Day 2

2009-02-08T13:10:00.001-08:00

Sven Kramer and Martina Sablikova are the champs but for me the story was the crowd in Hamar.
Beginning of Bokko vs Hedrick 5k The end of Bokko vs Hedrick 5k

Hamar Day 2

2009-02-06T14:06:00.001-08:00

I posted a bunch of pics on facebook since it's way easier than on here. The Viking Ship is the coolest rink. It has alot of "character" and history even in it's short shelf life. I had no idea that the World All Rounds have been in Hamar like 6 times. The first time was in 1895! Wow that's cool. I'm sure it wasn't inside....the oval is right on the water.

I'm laying in bed trying to figure out when to go to sleep. I've never traveled to Europe and my body likes a routine for sure. I have trouble when I travel to east coast for work and that's two hour time change not 8 hours. I should be asleep right now but just keep typing away here.

We went to a bar called the Inner Lane i think in Norwegian. It's a "skaters" bar and it's pretty cool. We walked in with Peter and every head turned in the place it seemed. He doesn't like to go there and I imagine the last thing he wants to talk is skating away from the rink. Cool seeing names on the wall and pictures everywhere.

Anyways I met and did a flyer and accel with Peter Andersen today on the ice. Also, forgot that he pulled me around for 5 minutes of laps at 35s. It wasn't as easy as normal but I'm still jet lagged. He used to skate Sprints for Norway. He hasn't really skates in months he said but you don't lose it at his level. He retired in 2006 and went 35 something in the 500. Looking at his results I see alot of All Round competitions. I thought of him as a sprinter middle distance but he logged lots of miles looking at his results.

I hope that Claudia Pechstein can pull it off this weekend for us older skaters. She is a true professional and has been doing this "forever" and has 9 Olympic Medals I believe. Peter Mueller has rejuvinated her as she beat the unbeatable Czech Sáblíková this year in Moscow.

Speaking of her. John Diemont and I were riding the shuttle back with her and a couple of dutch skaters and a coach. There's a huge horse in the center of town. John took a bunch of pictures of it when we got here. I didn't really notice it. We were going a round the roundabout when John says look at that horse. He has some "big balls" on him. And sure enough he did. I think you have to have big ones to live up here in this cold and hardy area. I love it here and wonder what my life would have been like growing up here. This Dutch coach and skater was holding his laughter and Sáblíková was behind John straight faced. I assume she doesn't understand English???

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/album.php?aid=2011956&id=1501490387

World All Rounds - Hamar Norway

2009-02-05T23:42:00.001-08:00

Hello from Norway. Here are some pics from my travels. It's nice here and ran into some old friends. Easy 6:50 flight from NYC to Oslo. Still trying to adjust to the 8 hour time change.

Pete Mueller says he will be partying after Bokko wins. He has his tuxedo for the party!

Korean style

2009-01-14T18:08:00.000-08:00

The New Edge in SLC has a new coach and mostly the same skaters as before except for one. We have a Korean coach and it's been cool to train "Korean style". We have a skater here for a month (Yun-Jae Kim). He is the World JR ST champ from 2008. It's unreal watching him skate and skating behind him. I've seen lots of great skaters but never have skated with a high level Korean. His left push is absolutely incredible. I didn't need to even see who was who in this video I could just see it in his technique. Not bad a 2 second world record on the 1000m at 1:25 with two arms on your back for 8 laps! Crazy stuff.

This morning bright and early we were doing 4 lappers. Not very fast since everyone is pretty fried from all the training. Low 9s. Yun-Jae is just chillin at that speed and he rides his left around the apex block. I've never seen such a great left leg push. It blows my mind to think that he isn't on the team. I heard he was hurt earlier this season. They have such a deep deep well of incredible ST skaters in Korea.

Mid Season Breaks

2009-01-06T12:54:00.000-08:00

It's always a good idea to take a break in the middle of the season to avoid burnout and refocus your efforts. Traditionally for me it's usually the week after Fall Long Track World Cup Trials at end of Oct and the US Championships at the end of December both of which I didn't do this year. This year I've had two forced breaks.

One was for 8 days around the middle of October when I had diarrhea for two weeks. It actually started during the America Cup ST 1 in Minnesota. One of the last races I raced that day was a 1000m D final. It was the D final because I was knocked down in the heat. I was racing one of my teammates who is getting faster and faster but I usually wouldn't have a problem beating him when 100%.

I encountered something in a race that has never happened before in my time in speed skating. I had to go to the bathroom bad (like diarrhea bad) with 4 laps to go in the 1000m. Not a fun feeling when you are out in front of the pack with other things to worry about. Anyways my teammate passed me with two to go but luckily he slipped coming out of the 2nd to last turn. I snuck by him and barely won the race.....I hockey stopped down the other end where I exited quickly. I ran down the length of the rink by all the locker rooms. Made it to the bathrooms downstairs. It was weird that the locker room had a shower only??? I was just wondering why i didn't go in there. The two stalls were full downstairs! There was just a resurface after our race and the fans (what fans we had there) were heading towards the restrooms upstairs. I ran up the stairs guards on and helmet on. Made it in the bathroom stall with some people looking at me like didn't you just race. I let loose in the bathroom with what was much more enjoyable than the shallow victory in the D final minutes before.

Fast forward to today. I had been walking around the past two weeks feeling ok but have had a cough but nothing was coming up. Was able to train and wasn't too sick. I'm pretty stubborn or stupid that I didn't go to the doctor earlier. Wed night i was going to go to the doctor but didn't want to miss LT practice. I skated ST Friday morning and after every set couldn't stop coughing. The 7 lappers i was doing felt like 13 lappers.

So I go to the doctor's after skating. Takes a chest x ray and tells me i have walking pneumonia. Great. I've been on antibiotics for 4 days now and I'm still in bed this moment writing this. Starting to feel better but that's a relative term from how i felt the past few days. Like I wanted to die is how I felt

Anyways this is my 2nd break of the season and with better planning might have been planned. I came back strong after the last one in Cleveland at the America Cup there. I have some good stories from that meet that I will post some other time. I have been so busy with life and stuff that posting here hasn't been a priority. But I'm back for today anyways. Take care and leave some comments to let me know anyone actually wants me to 1. get better and 2. post some more on here and reads about my ramblings.

God willing i won't get sick the rest of the year since I am going to Master Sprint Worlds in Inzell and National LT in Milwaukee the end of the month. We are also going to the World Allrounds in Hamar, Norway the week before Inzell. Can't wait as I'm going with my buddies John Diemont and Mark Chrysler.

I am signed up for Master All Rounds in Norway the end of Feb but I need some serious financial aid to get there. It's a shame because I have a good chance of winning that. Also noticed that there is a Master Meet in Vancouver the week in between but that would be a dream to get to that as well and too much travel. Then the rest of the season will be the ST Nationals and then the Chumps Challenge at the Oval in SLC towards the end of March.

America Cup I

2008-09-27T20:25:00.000-07:00

It was a long day. The facility here was really nice and Greg Oly did a great job as meet director. Unfortunately, they are losing $$$ putting this on so it will probably be the last Am Cup here. Highlights today was a 1500 semi that JR Celski won. It was a crazy race behind him with passes everywhere. Best 1500 i've ever seen.
Robert Lawerence making an outside in pass in a heat with no room. There were others but I'm having troubling remembering. There were alot of crashes and a couple of stopped races. Walter Rusk hit hard and hope he is ok. I saw his bloody skate in the locker room and he was taken off the ice in a stretcher. I didn't skate my best in the 500s but at least I made it out of today in one piece.

Here's some results I found on Ohno Zone.

OK, here we go; Heat results for mens/women/s 1500m.

NOte: first and second place advance, the 2 fastest skaters of the third placers advance, so we don't have that information yet....

Ladies 1500
1st heat
Kristin Todd, Liz Burns, Maria Garcia, Jessica Smith, Kristen Beyondo, ALlison Baver

Allison first, Maria 2nd, Jessica SMith; Maria dq'd for impeding so Jessica advances

2nd race:
Cherize Wilkins, Tamara Fredericks, Kelsey Shield, Rachel Stewart, Mary Grace, Lana Goerig
Lana, Mary advance; Cherize third

3rd race:
Sade Grace, Maddie Waton, Carly Wilson, Morgan Izzy, Tina Koenig, Vicky Labordette
Tina, Carly advance, Vicky third

4th race:
Kathleen Russell, Alana Fiorenza, Kimberly Derrick, Alison Dudek, Eleanor Poore, Erin Bartlett
Kimberly, Allison, Erin Bartlett 3rd

Catherine Reutter, Sophia Milan, Erica Lanzer, Leslie Jaworski, Sara Elliott, Sarah Berg
Katherine, Leslie move on, Sophia Milan 3rd

Men's 1500 prelimns

Jonathan Sermeno, Kyle Haun, Buddy Gerr, Chris Krepling,Eddie Alvarez, Jeff Simon
Jeff, Jonathan, Eddie advances; Jonathan was dq’d

Levi Sinak, Cole Krueger, Ryan Leveille, JR Celski, Chris Mclaughlin, JUlian Wood
Ryan, JR, Julian 3rd

Nick Frank, Thomas Anderson, Kyle Urehara, Kyle Carr, Shani Davis, Michael Vertican
Shani Davis, Kyle Carr, Kyle Urehara third

Simon Cho,Derek Gray, Levi Kirkpatrick, Kevin Geminder, Dan Fiorenza, Anthony Lobello
Simon, Anthony,

Travis Jaynor, MC Scheab, Patrick Choi, Robert Lawrence, Jonathan Garcia, Barry Winslow
Travis, Robert Lawrence, Barry Winslow

Joey Lindsey , Ryan Bedford, James RWomens' 1500 Semi-finals and FINALS

Semi-finals, all top 3 advance to finals:

1st heat:
Katherine Reutter, Allison Baver, Allison Dudek, Tina Koenig, Cherize Wilkins, Lesley Jaworski
Reutter, Baver, Dudek (Tina & Cheriz both fell and both dq’d for impeding)

2nd heat: Lana Gehring, Carly WIlson, Jessica Smith, Kristen Beyondo, Mary Grace, Kimberly Derrick
Derrick, Gehring, Smith advancing

=======================

Women's 1500 Finals:
Starting with 1st place:

Katherine Reutter
Kimberly Derrick
Allison Baver
Lana Gehring
Allison Dudek
Jessica SMith

Men's 1500 Semi-Finals:
Womens' 1500 Semi-finals and FINALS

Semi-finals, all top 3 advance to finals:

1st heat:
Joey Linsey, Travis Jayner, Simon Cho, Eddie Alvarez, Kyle Carr, Robert Lawrence, Jeff Simon
Simon, Jayner, cho (dq’d for cross tracking) so Alvarez advanced

2nd heat:
Ryan Bedford, Ryan Leveille, Chris Krepling, Shani Davis, JR Celski,
Anthony Lobello
Celski, Lobello (who swooped in out of nowhere to take 2nd).
The rest of the 4 came in all together and it took quite a qhile for the officials to make the announcement. In the end:

Celski, Lobello, Ryan Bedford

500m finals (don't quote me on these results)

Simon
Lobello
JR Celski
Simon Cho?

Ladies (for sure)

Ruetter
Baver
Ruetter (crash)
Garcia (DQ)

Desert Classic

2008-09-01T18:26:00.001-07:00

Here's a post that I started on the Desert Classic a while ago. I'm in MN for the America Cup and figured I'd update people on what's happening here.

So first here's this unfinished blog post. I skated ok in this meet. First race I was too pumped up and wasted alot of energy in my 9 lap TT. I died really really hard but went 1:36.?. My best race of that meet was with Chris Creveling and two Japanese skaters. One was Sataro Teraou. I watched him on TV in 1994 when I was still playing hockey, drinking beers and doing other bad stuff. It's amazing that I even stepped to the line with this guy.

Anyways i took the start to the apex from the awesome #2 start spot and I slowed to let one of these World Cup guys lead. They were skating what seemed like 1000m pace. I settled in and watched Terao pass from the back and his teammate just let him in. Then Chris tried an outside move and things heated up. I got dropped with two to go came in bummed. Then when I saw the Japanese guys went 44 and i was 45.8 I was pumped. For those guys 44 is slow and it was awesome to see them just control their skates so well. Goes to show that if you just chill and skate you go fast.

I proved that to myself again today at the AmCup #1 as I scratched, clawed and toe picked around in my 500m final. I was lucky to get out of the 500m heat with a 2nd place time of 47.?.

It was disappointing not in placing DFL in the A final but not skating to my potential. You know how it feels when you are "on" and when you are "off". I'll skate better tommorow I'm sure. I haven't done alot of ST racing and you cannot simulate that in practice. But Mike said I popped off a couple of 9.5s so that was good to here. I remember Appolo saying that he had a bunch of 20 lappers one day and I said what speed....he said 9.5??? Sad thing is that is cruising speed for the National Team guys in SLC. They look like they are chillin at that speed.

*****Desert Classic Post*************************
It was a wake up call racing short track first time since last season. Highlights from the weekend that I have imprinted in my brain. I didn't see Star Shin's TT but she went 1:32 which is awesome for any woman especially one that just turned 14 last a couple of weeks ago.
The Japanese guys who placed 1 thru 9 in final standings all skated their TTs very flat as did Robert Lawerence. I haven't seen all the results just the final ones. It was humbling to race with these Japanese guys and the Australians the first day. I looked up the Japanese guys and they are all top level World Cup skaters.
It was cool seeing Derek Parra racing short track. He is skating well but you could tell it was his first real short track race. The 3 Japanese guys really schooled him as he was trying to pass in one of his heats. It was exciting also with Walter Rusk making some moves. There was a lot of contact in that race.

First Short Track Meet

2008-08-26T21:39:00.001-07:00

2nd annual Desert Classic Short Track meet. Races start around 2:00 (1000 meter Time Trials-Pursuit style then 1500m (heats, quarters,semis,finals). Sat racing starts at 10am and it's 500/1000s and 1500 super finals. Last year this was the best meet I did all year. This year we have 20+ Japanese skaters, Australian National Team, a couple of New Zealand skaters, Mike's New Edge Program and whoever else shows up. Don't think the Us National team will race.

If you haven't seen short track come on down and see a criterium on skates at the Utah Olympic Oval ~(4800W/5600S). I'm racing if I don't forget to sign up tommorow. Can't wait to get it going.

Here's what I've been upto the past few weekends. I did the Tour de Park City a few weekends ago. I was quoted here. That a simplified view of what doing a 170 mile race felt like. It was a day after doing some hard intervals on the Short Track. I decided to do this ride on TH night. I was as ready as i would ever be and felt great till about mile 120....finished 16th though and my motto was "compete to complete". My left foot was numb until just a few days ago from that ride but sign me up for next year. It was epic!

This might have been one of the 5-10 minutes out of 8.5 hours that I led.

The break early in the Race.

We are going over this???

Almost there on the 47 mile climb.

The next weekend I did the Snowbird Hillclimb. Then this past weekend I did Sanpete Road Race.

Tour of Utah 2008 - Louder Wins

2008-08-16T20:15:00.000-07:00

Cool post race video. Way to go Jeff. Sets him up well for the TT. GET ER DONE tomorrow! There were some heavy hitters here today and the local guys rode well. Burke rode well as usual and Nate Page had a great ride today.

While I was surfing vids came accross this vid of Lance at Leadville. Whether you hate him, love him, think he doped, or think he was clean as a whistle it great to see him spinning up hills on a bike.

Alan Butler Crit & The Freak

2008-07-30T14:43:00.000-07:00

Drove up to lovely downtown Idaho Falls last Saturday solo. It seemed crazy but it was worth it in the end. It was a great course, great crowd, and fun crit. Thanks to Rob Van Kirk for putting this on. Six corner course over about a 1k but it was smooth on the turns. Few bumps in the straights but a fun course. My first Pro/1/2/3 race as a Category 2. I feel like I belong since I was able to nab a podium finish.

I knew on the drive up that the Park City Jeep-Global Knee Clinic Team would be there in force and laying it down hard for their teammate. I figured a podium was the best I could do and that was the goal.

I looked at the start line and saw about 20 riders with 8 from one team. The attacks started early as Turbo and Sam Krieg took off from the gun. Needless to say 10 seconds into the race I'm at 29 and 15 seconds in i'm at 32mph. There were only two other small teams to chase and me it seemed like. We caught them after a few laps then of course Global Knee sent two more guys up the road. In the 1/2s guys are smart. Their teammates didn't chase and waited for someone else to. It was like a poker game as we are riding at 20mph and the break is going up the road. Finally I rode tempo for a few laps to keep things going. Then more attack of course. I felt like I was doing the DMV course and there was no hill. It was hard.

Kris Lunning from Fitzgerald's was super strong. I heard that he pulled the break back then when they caught two more Global guys took off. That was to be expected. Sam Krieg and Ryan Barrett were off after the 2nd break was caught and they were at 35 seconds for a while eventually they lapped the field at about 40-45 minutes. Global kept sending guys up the road in 2s trying to get 3rd and 4th.

I remember seeing 13 to go. At that point I was hanging on by a thread. One turn Kris Lunning had a problem with his tire i heard and stopped in the turn. Sam, me and David Bergart were gapped. Sam "The Freak" Krieg immediately bridged up. I struggled as I lost his wheel. I pulled for two laps not knowing Dave was behind me. I caught Sandy Perrins coming up to 2 to go. He heard me breathing like a blowfish. I was crosseyed.

There were 2 or 3 up the road when i got dropped and i couldn't tell what was going on. It slowed a bit for a lap. I caught my breath. Coming to the bell lap I was thinking I need to move up then a crash happened to my left or an issue not sure but they slowed. I picked it up to 32 and moved to about 5th on Turbo's wheel. Sandy was riding tempo at the front keeping it fast. We came to the 2nd to last turn. I was right on Turbo's wheel when he jumped. He led me thru the last two turns and I finish behind him as he celebrated. I knew I was lapped so I didn't want to get in the way. I looked back to make sure I got the field sprint for what I thought was 5th. I felt like an uninvited guest to the team's celebration as last year I think they got places 1-6. I figured i got 5th or 6th. After slowing down Bob Walker excitedly said to me that I got 3rd. I was pumped. Wow.

The story of the day though was Sam. I told my skating coach Mike Kooreman what Sam did and he said "that's Freakish". Sam "The Freak" Krieg raced Chalk Creek in the morning. Not sure if he drove up in the morning but bet he did. I remember rolling out of bed at 10:30 thinking they are 30 minutes into the RR at Chalk Creek. He placed fifth in a strong field. He drove back to Pocatello maybe rested for an hour then drove to the crit in Idaho Falls. Took off from the gun and lapped the field. Wow he should be racing the Tour of Utah he is killing it right now. He rides a bike with which I'm unfamiliar with.

I talked to him after the race and he said he was going to either lap the field or blow up. I love his attitude. He said he couldn't do accelerations which we did in the pack. Makes sense but he could ride hard tempo. We avg'd 26.9 so he had to TT with Turbo at 27+ for a bit. They did get 20 or 30 seconds easy as everyone looked at everyone else to chase. We didn't really work together. It was a 11 or 12 man non cooperative Team Time Trial with 6 Global guys either sitting on or attacking. I expected that and that's the way to race as a team. That is how I spend my Saturday nights and that's what I call a stress relieving night???? It was fun and I got to see Idaho Falls. Missed seeing the new Mormon temple though.

Overall this was one of the most friendly crits I have done. There wasn't the usual bitching a moaning although there was some grumbling about the Global team. What did you expect a team with 30% of the field. Sandy was cool as he told me I was riding strong. I remember seeing him in 2004 just killing it when i couldn't even pull thru in the B group. The cool thing is that I probably lapped myself from 2 or 3 years ago. In the end is the race with yourself.

Lazing on a Sunday afternoon

2008-07-27T13:39:00.000-07:00

How to handle a telemarketer. From one of my fav morning shows on KBER locally (101.1) The Bob and Tom Show.

Here's an American hope in Beijing in a couple of weeks. This was his coming out winning the JR Worlds last August. I saw this video last year and it's as good as the first time I've seen it. It almost gets me pumped to go out and do a TT. That's pretty hard to do for me under any circumstances.

No Risk No Fun? (i get my thrill on ST but that's nothing compared to this shit)

Finally the podium jerseys from the Tour De France.

Dylan Casey on How to Ride The TDF

2008-07-24T22:16:00.000-07:00

Very refreshing and entertaining talk from Google bike to work day?. Marketing guy for Google now. Retired from pro cycling in 2002. Very long but kept my attention for an hour.

What goes thru my mind is did this guy dope? I guess it's a question that you would ask of every professional cyclist. Was he talented and didn't win because he didn't dope? I don't know much about his career but he doesn't seem like someone who would have doped......but who knows.

Masochistic Cat II

2008-07-21T17:00:00.000-07:00

That's what Ryan Parnes's mom said to me after my third bike race of the weekend in Boise, Idaho. I now have enough points to upgrade to Category II which will be more masochism for sure.

Masochism
1 : a sexual perversion characterized by pleasure in being subjected to pain or humiliation especially by a love object — compare sadism
2 : pleasure in being abused or dominated : a taste for suffering

Hmmm I guess I take having a taste for suffering but not sure about the other definitions. This was after the Idaho State Criterium Championships on Sunday. It was 100 degrees and I just had finished the 2nd 50 minute race. I placed 2nd in the Cat 3 race and suffered in the Master Race.

I finished DFL but finished. I caught back on the pack after getting dropped which is not easy in a criterium.

results of Idaho State Crit are here:
http://www.lostrivercycling.org/docs/2008_sct_results.pdf

The Boise Twilight Criterium was the main event on Sat night in Downtown Boise. It's the place to see and be seen as at least 10,000 people show up for it.

Here's a video of what the pro race looked like.

Toyota United put on a clinic on how to race. I got there for the last 1/2 of the race and they were in the top 8 most of the time. Kristen Armstrong showed why she's in good form for the Beijing Olympics in a few weeks. She hammered a 1:12 1st lap then a few 1:06s (30mph) and cut the field in half right away then lapped the field solo.

I found some great pictures here. Good pics of Cameron Hoffman and KK (Kirsten Kotval). It was fun cheering on the Utah riders.

Cameron Hoffman went off the front a couple of times in the 2nd half of the race. I missed the 1st half. There was a $500 cash preem at about 6 laps to go. The last few laps heated up and Hilton Clarke won easily surrounded by teammates after lapping the field with a teammate and Dan Ramsey from Time Cycling. He was quite a ways back in the 3 man sprint.

My race (Cat 3/Master 40+) was fast from the gun. I was trying to just sit in and settle into the race. I started moving up when it slowed after 6 laps. Some idiot looked back and I saw him swerve and lean into another guy and all hell broke loose. A few guys went down and I swerved around and thru them. Another couple got tangled up, A guy from George's went down. He was laying accross the street sideways. I tried to slow down and my front tire went right into his ribs at about 19 mph (that's what my computer said b4 it went to zero). I went airborne over the bars. I should have bunny hopped him but didn't think off that because I was slowing. I checked myself and ran to the pits and jumped back in. I was happy to finish the race. Results are here.

Just found a video of our race. I think i'm in the middle somewhere. That looked pretty fast there.....

It was a great weekend for the wife and I. I really like Boise and thank to Anthony Barthell for the room.

Ice is Back

2008-07-13T11:08:00.000-07:00

Here's an article on the Olympic Oval yesterday. I've been watching the ice making process at the rink for the past few weeks.

Here's a little audio slideshow of how the ice is made. I didn't even know the oval had a marketing director? I know they have been thru a few of them.

I won't get into the contract negotiations and the politics of the oval. Suffice to say that the foundation was to keep these venues going and for the kids of Utah. I can count on one hand the number of local kids speedskating. It's really sad. Heck we had more skaters in Baystate in Boston without an oval. It looks like Eva R has posted a comment on this article.

Here's a link of some shots of the national team short trackers who I see skate after The New Edge Group most mornings at 8:45 on my way to work. They are training really hard from what I see and hear.

We have a huge group of Short Trackers in Mike Kooreman's group and it's been fun skating short track. I can't believe I'm going to say this but I'm not really looking forward to skating Long Track?? I'm really enjoying going around in little circles.

In Memory of my Dad

2008-07-10T19:05:00.000-07:00

This Saturday I'm doing the Big Cottonwood Hillclimb for the American Cancer Society in memory of my father (Carl Boudreau). I donated $70 for this already and am looking for any matching donations for any amount ($1 per mile or anything you wish/how about $1 per foot of vertical). I haven't updated here in a while and there so much to catch up on.

This is a 12.8 mile race/fundraiser which climbs 3800 feet. It's for a great cause and a beautiful ride. I have been doing this ride the most times ever this year and it should be better than last year. I did a hill climb two weeks ago at Don Mealing's Skater Party. Hillclimb races are "not my bag baby" (in my best Austin Powers voice) but somehow among the skaters I placed 2nd. I don't think i've ever made it to the top of a hill 2nd even in a training ride. I'm the lightest I've ever been tipping the scales at 190 so hopefully i'll get a PB this weekend.

To donate to the American Cancer society for the hillclimb this weekend go here. Thanks for your help in fighting cancer.

Sugarhouse Criterium

2008-06-07T21:03:00.000-07:00

This is the big downtown race this year. Lots of people out for this one. This year in my race it wasn't about me but it was the THE SAMURAI. Congrats to Jared Inouye on making a gutsy move from the gate at the top of the course. Glad to see someone I like win today. I had a vision in the middle of the race that that was the place to go from. No kidding. It was weird.

I had more close calls in those last two laps than all year in the A group at RMR. It was scary especially on the downhill 2-3 accross on the final sprint. Guys were weaving at 40mph.....

Here's some more pics enjoy. My stats from the race were 50:00 minutes, HR avg 169/max 192, speed avg 26.1, max 40.6, climbing 1125 feet, and Cadence avg of 103. I was in a 2 man move for a lap and 3-6 guys for 2 laps. We had a little bit off the group but they pulled us back. Lap time when I was in that small group was 2:55 which is pretty good considering I was watching Burke Swindlehurst's breakaway group doing 2:45-2:50 laps for a while in the Pro,1,2 race.

Paul Dyrud (National team Long Tracker and Marco Bucci (ex speedskater).

Start of the Pro,1,2 race.

Burke Swindlehurst (the pre race favorite in front in Red) with Todd Hageman and Eric P. to the right, and Mike Hanseen to the left from Canyon Bikes at Olympus Cove.

Bruce Bilodeau calling the shots. Another Masshole like myself.
The Hornet

My coach (Mike Kooreman) with thumbs up......hour bike ride today coach....right Mike. It was a little hard for an "easy" week.

I think this is the 4 man break in the pro race. They had a minute at one point then it came down to 8 seconds at the end but two members of the break stayed away. Chris Hull hung on for 2nd and our resident pro Burke Swindlehurst showed us why he gets paid to ride.

Burke bringing it home.....

One lap to go....

The finish....

Props up to Chris Hull for being on the podium again with a pro racer in SLC. He won the downtown crit a few years back nipping Jeff Louder at the line. He gives the working guys some hope or is he using something at the hospital. Just kidding. He would be the least likely guy in the world to ever do something like that. He is a total pro on and off the bike as is Burke. Two clean riders there and from my last post...."I'd bet my life on that one." Great watching you guys today.

I mean the whole field by you guys. These are the guys I race with every week during the week at Weekly Worlds on Tuesday's. Three of my fellow Cat 3 competitors upgraded recently and hopefully I will join you guys soon. I felt like a quitter today when in the sprint someone chopped my wheel really bad on a straightaway with about 150 to go. I had to hit my brakes hard on the uphill but that's bike racing. I just cruised in for 30th. My HR was pounding out of my chest with all the craziness I saw in the last two laps.
- one guy with one to go clipped out I guess trying to take off. He went across the road sideways with one leg out to the side and almost kicked me. I had to swerve around him. I still stayed in the top 5-10 with some work after slowing bigtime.
-Guys were weaving all over the place coming to the backside hill.
-Up the hill dudes were fighting for position. Guys were trying so hard their bikes were moving all over the place. Bars were banging and guys were touching me. Please don't touch me.
-No one wanted to lead on the top and that's when Jared jumped and we all looked at each other. 5 or more seconds went by and I figured he might get it.
-Downhill was crazy as I saw guys almost hit each other at 40mph.
-Started sprinting and then got chopped. Wow I couldn't believe there wasn't a crash.
-I enjoy racing Master's or Pro 1/2s. Much harder but much safer. You still see some craziness but not like this. Guys know they have to work in the morning I guess and have seen more.

I'll bet my life

2008-06-04T11:23:00.001-07:00

I used to say this alot. Hope I don't have the oppty for it. What a great story. Our time is short here.

>

Weekly Race Report

2008-05-31T22:09:00.000-07:00

Tuesday night was weekly worlds. I felt good that night but couldn't get better than 5th in a field sprint for 5th place. More like a drag race from 5 miles out....felt like a tracker pull to me. It was a super fast night on the oval for the A group (29.8mph).
We had a pro bowler out bowling with all us amateur bowlers. I followed him about 15 minutes into the race when he took off. I dropped back to about 6th after being on his wheel. It was HR 160 to 200 in under a minute following him. I thought I was behind a motorcycle after about 1:20. Looking at my HR monitor post race I had to go 37mph then 32-34mph to stay with the breakaway group. He stood up and no one wanted to work. I should have just punched it but I looked at my HR of 195 and it scared me. I am taping over my HR from now on.

Louder got away again solo and all us amateur bowlers worked together to bring him back. I actually was at the front and someone got pissed because once I got to second position the guy in front of me picked it up and I limped back to the comfort of the draft. I was ready to do my 20 seconds of work at the front but this guy picked it up and I was toast.
It was all together coming down to the end but at about 8 minutes to go Louder got to the front again and took off up the track. Everyone was yelling but no one had energy? to follow him. I didn't want to ride around for 8 minutes at HR 200 so I stayed put. I was in perfect position right on his wheel when he jumped.
3 guys (Ryan Littlefield, Cameron Hoffman and Sean Hoover?) jumped and bridged up to Louder. The main field was hot the rest of the way in. Tough night when your final sprint is slower than a speed you reached earlier in the race just going with a move (36.8 final sprint). I felt like a punch drunk fighter who had gone 15 rounds by the end of this race. Good time though and great speed work.

Wed night was the DMV weekly race series.. I felt great for 30 minutes and was in the moves. This course is hard as you go up the "West Valley Wall" 25 times or so. After 30 minutes someone turned off the power going up the 45 foot steep hill. I had been working out in the mornings skating Short Track so it's just another workout. I have been surprised how good I actually feel because speedskating and cycling is like mixing oil and water for cycling. Last year I lost alot of fitness by November since the Weekly Worlds stop at the end of Sept. I rode around and only finished a lap down. It was funny just as I got dropped Vicky and Ryan Bedford pulled in the lot and them cheering me on kept me going. Ryan is training hard with the National Short Track team and doing RMR and DMV when he can.
No TT on Thursday. Felt better than last Thursday after doing the doubles of skating and bike racing at night. Skated friday and then the State TT was Saturday.

I signed up late for this as the thought of riding as fast as you can for 24.8 miles isn't super exciting to me. I've never been a great long TT guy but I am getting better.

I like the vibe at a Time Trial. People are friendlier and more layed back it seems to me. It's you against the clock and sort of pure. No hiding but it might as well be tennis as compared to RRs and Criteriums. It is like doing a different sport in a way but if you do stage races it's part of the deal. I'm not exactly the best stage racer but getting better.

It was a beautiful day Saturday and Elberta, UT is pretty. I wish I took more pics for this blog but I just type away and it's for me anyways. I'm going to try to take more pics of my travels. Anyways, State TT I was the 1st guy off in the Cat 3s. I didn't have speed on my bike but tried to keep my cadence at 100. I hadn't been on my TT bike in weeks and didn't have high hopes. I did want to shatter my time from two years ago and I did beat it by 1:35. I was hoping to get into the 56 minute range but no dice. I didn't really taper for this or prepare. Also, I just have regular wheels no disks. It was like an arms race out there with some of the equipment I saw. Enough excuses for now. One other thing I found out is that you should ride in the right side of the lane where the passenger side wheel travels. I was riding mostly to the right of the white line because I don't trust any of these Utah drivers. I hit some dirt a couple of times but the road was semi closed and anyone on it should know there were bikers. All my TTs at Salt Air I just hug the right side since I am always scared of getting hit from behind by some jackass going 80mph.
I got outta there pretty quick and rode the Alpine Loop on the way home. Went hiking on Sunday and have some great pics of that in the next post.

One last thing. My avg was 25.8482 mph. Check out this great calculator to figure out speed. Jessi Gordon had the fastest time and his speed was 28.6521 mph. Two years ago Richard Feldman lit up the 24.8 mile course with a mind boggling (for me) time of 48:34 and 30.6382 mph!

The Oval and Butt Cream

2008-05-23T17:50:00.000-07:00

I started skating this week and forgot how much that hurts. It's all good and was fun. It was like I never left the rink. Saw both National teams (Long Track and Short Track). Everyone is there getting their training in....even Apolo. I thought he would be doing some Hollywood movies or something. Chad was there as well as most everyone else except Chris Needham. Congrats on getting married! Ice is very early and good once you are done. Didn't really get a chance to talk to anyone but it's good to be back on the ice. Jennifer Rodriguez was there Wednesday when the Sprint LT team skated with Mike Kooreman's group. Great stuff.
Looks like my butt cream has some competition from DZNuts.

Some fun and seriousness

2008-05-22T20:59:00.000-07:00

Biff from Back to the Future.

Evolution of Dance

I was saddened to hear of the Senior Senator from Massachusetts diagnosis. I guess Lance was as well.

In tribute to the Kennedy family one of my favorite bands. I saw their incarnation as "The Zulus" over 60 times in the late 80s and early 90s.

DNFs and THE JACKASS

2008-05-20T21:32:00.000-07:00

Ok so the last 3 races I've done I've DNF'd (Did not finish). State Criterium Cat 3 race, Bear Lake Cat 3 race and now the RMR A race tonite. Mechanicals, mechanicals and lack of concentration. First race my seat post fell (actually Mark Chrysler's bike), next race at Bear Lake after about 80-85 miles my cleat fell off (not good). This was from putting on new cleats at 12:30am the night before a race. I was on call for work and worked late (11:30pm) the night before then was up at 5 to get on the road at 5:45 to drive upto Bear Lake.

We got there super early before 8am for a 8:45 start. After waiting in line for my pre registered number and then waiting to take a PBD (personal best dump) I had about 8 minutes to get ready. Figured my cleats were ok but it obviously was loose. I didn't warmup and we shot out of the gate at 30mph for a 100 mile race. It was so fast that we were actually catching the Pro/1/2s on the North side of the lake. After about 10 miles I made a big dig to follow SBO's super TT/strongman Aaron Olson to a move. I thought it looked good but the pack chased it right down. My HR was 190 on that one pretty early but it woke me up from the drive up and lack of sleep.
It's funny how I thought for sure that no breaks would work but apparently in the Cat 3s the group of 3 that were 1,2,3 stayed away. I've done this race 4 years and they start to blur together. This was the 1st year that the wind wasn't really blowing super hard. It seemed to pick up at the end of the race. Damn I was feeling good for the run in. It's a whole different world trying to sprint after 100 miles vs an hour crit.
After I dropped my cleat. I stopped and rode back around the other way to find my friend Rich who I drove up with. He was riding around the lake the oppposite way solo. It was a good ride to see the cows grazing and what God created up there in the Bear Lake area. In the race it was hard to see the scenary as there were some sketchiness and you had to be on your toes. One guy had a loud brake would grind on his carbon wheels really loud everytime he hit his brakes. It scared me everytime I heard it because it sounded like a crash. Unfortunately the times I have been around crashes I usually hear them in front of me b4 I see them so I was a little jumpy. I moved out of the asshole zone and was in the front 5 or 6 a bunch of times and some guy almost took me out swerving in like 4th position???
Tonite at RMR it was pretty funny. We rode around somewhat hard. There was a break of 3. We passed the B pack on their last lap then we slowed. We let them finish and slowed. It was hot out there and I had cotton mouth since it was pretty hard most of the time. I took the opportunaty to get a drink. Of course I just lost concentration for a second and hit that stupid pot hole and flatted. It was funny because one of my bike buddies said to me after the race "who was that jackass that hit that pothole after we rode by it for an hour". I was like are you joking. I was like dude that was ME.....LOL!

Horrible Crash & State Crit

2008-05-11T22:10:00.001-07:00

Saw this on cyclingnews and Toyota United site. If you read the bottom you will see that Fausto Muñoz Esparza was paralyzed from the waist down at Tour of the Gila. I am going to send this guy some $$$ and you should too as he has a wife and 3kids that he was supporting racing his bike.

Private donations are also welcome and may be submitted to
Wells Fargo Bank,
Attn: Fausto Muñoz Esparza Donation Fund,
1201 N. Pope Street, Silver City, NM 88061 USA.

Letters of support may be sent to C/O Thomason Hospital, Patient: Fausto Esparza, ICU/12, 4815 Alameda Avenue, El Paso, TX 79905 USA.

State Crit-

Still haven't seen any results on this race. Saw Turbo won the 1/2s. Don't know who won the Cat 3s cause I didn't stick around. I had fun in the Master 35 race. It was hard and fast. Thanks to my teammate Mark for lending me a bike for the races Sat. My bike broke after Tuesday's RMR. Did I mention that Tuesday night we avg'd 29.7mph. Yes you read that right 29.7. I couldn't believe it. That's probably why i was shaking after the race on the sidelines. It was an epic effort for me. It was fast. Funniest thing during the race Bill Demong was like what's up Brian while we were in the break. He was talking like you would at a coffee shop or something. All I could do was nod and sound like a blowfish trying to hang on. That guy wins World cups and a couple time Olympic Nordic Combined and has a VO Max of 90 something. Great guy too bad I couldn't talk to him. There are alot of talented bike riders here in this valley.
I was just riding around after the race after doing a couple of laps on the State Crit course at RMR. Somehow my rear derailleur was sucked into my wheels. The rear hanger bent bad and the frame is toast. $3000 bummer right there. That Scott frame was very comfortable for me. The Cannondale Super Six that Mark lent me felt great on Sat though. Lots of pressure riding in a crit with someone else's bike. I tried not to think about it though.
Chris Best, Chris Best, Chris Best got the W in the Master 35+ race on Saturday from Team DARE. Way to go Chris. This guy just came out for like his 2nd race of the year. He's a beast. He's a track guy and said it felt just like the track race out there. Lot's of jockeying and banging bars those last couple of laps. I was on the outside on the 2nd to last turn and the guy in front of me moved outside a bit forcing me onto the dirt. I opted to go straight instead of turning and was out of the race at that point. I was probably sitting 8th or 9th wheel at that point but you had to be at the front 3 to have any hope of winning. Chris led them coming out of the last turn and powered to the W.

My good buddy Paul Terry took a flyer with a few laps to go and had a pretty good gap. I just remember sitting in the middle of the group coming up the fast homestretch and seeing a RED dot off in the distance with a few laps to go and realized it was Paul tearing it up out there. I was hurting in the draft and could only imagine what it felt to be out in the wind solo off the front. We avg'd almost 26 on this course....there were a few times where we just were going like 16mph after some fireworks. I was off the front for a bit with McKone and that hurt. I know Rodney Smith from Contender pulled back one dangerous move early with a huge effort. Also, I heard Sean Hoover pulling a move back at one point in the race. It was good to see Scott Martin out there racing after hearing he had twins. I don't know how father's find the time to train. Especially self proclaimed Mr Mom.

Saw skaters Ignacio Lopez and Andrew Love there as well Saturday. Andrew placed 4th in the Cat 4s and Ignacio was 2nd in the Cat 5s.

Cat 3 race was a huge disappointment as I had a problem with my seatpost. It sunk down and I looked like I was speedskating out there with the knee bend that I had riding around. KK (Kirsten Kotval) said what's up with your bike. I was like it's not mine and my post slipped. Always tighten those things after you adjust them I learned that day. I debated for a few laps on whether or not i could stop and get a free lap. I figured I couldn't but KK said I would problably hurt my knees riding like that or I could stand for another 45 minutes. I stopped and Gary said I could jump back in but I would be a lap down. I adjusted my seat quick but now it was too high. I was going to ride but would have hurt myself with that setup so I just packed up and headed home. I was so bummed. I went to Contender to get my bike lined up from the fit I had there. Then I went to park near the Old Mill buildings near Big Cottonwood and I rode up Big Cottonwood to get out my disappointment. Worse things could have happened as I heard there was big crash in the 1/2 race. I made it up Big cottonwood in record time (for me). The wind blowing up the canyon I'm sure that helped. It was nice and scenic and pretty warm at the top. I rewarded myself with a huge Garlic Burger from the Cotton Bottom post ride. That made me feel alot better! :)

Ogden race

2008-05-04T22:11:00.001-07:00

May 1st was last Thursday and everyone around the world started their first day of training for the 2008-2009 skating season. I went for a ride out to Salt Air. I'm still just riding my bike for fun and not too motivated to start skate training yet. It's funny last year I really didn't do any skate training till August 1st so I'm ahead of schedule so far.

Now to IAAB....it's all about Brian as one of my "coaches" like to let me know. Ogden One organized a sweet race on Saturday with some of the best prizes I've gotten so far and I didn't win. The course was awesome. The start/finish straightaway was beautifully tree lined. I don't understand why we only had 15 Masters and 20 Cat 3s at this one. The climbers here I guess don't like crits? I was in Boston for East Canyon. Don't think I missed much cause I can't get over the wall. There's a plot to a crit and usually a couple of sub plots as well. Some people don't know how to read the program. Crits teach you how to race and how to get FAST. I remember Burke (name dropping) telling me last year that he hated crits when he started. He's obviously not a crit rider but he can read the program and GET Er Done for an ace climber. You get a feel for how a race is unfolding and what to do next. Team tactics make it even better. What makes it fun is that sometimes the plot takes an unexpected twist at the end.

Their was an unfortunate accident in my 1st race and I hope Jon Gardner heals up fast. It was good to see Clint out there and unfortunately this shit is part of the deal. Had a good conversation with the CLAW. I have alot of respect for that guy. He knows how to race hard. It was a stressful day doing what should be fun so I'm just going to leave it at that. I don't get paid enough money for this shit to be stressful. Crashes suck but are what we sign up for. Remind me of that when some jackass chops my wheel like a few years back at the E Center Crit when I hurt my shoulder bad and had some good road rash. Congrats to Gary Swain on his W in the Cat 3s. Pretty fast guy for an old man as is Sam Moore.

Jess Dear of RMCC lead out the sprint till the corner with about 300m to go. Sam Moore jumped early? (maybe before the corner?) and had a gap. I had to thread the needle between two guys to start sprinting. I don't know what guys are doing at the front 220 meters from the line going backwards??? It was a little dangerous then I thought I just had to catch Sam. I killed myself to get to Sam and barely passed him when I looked to my left and saw Gary surge right at the line and get me by a hair. Sprinting is a crap shoot and Gary was in the right position. Positioning is the name of the game in sprinting unless you can just blow people away. I got upto 36.9 in that one and it was all me since I didn't get on Sam's wheel and seemed like some headwind.

It was funny because Gary looked around then was like did I get it. I was like yes I think you won. He looked dumbfounded then delayed reaction started throwing his hands in the air celebrating. I don't know if I'm getting soft in my old age but I was truly happy for him. I don't like to lose no one does but I am proud of how I have reacted to getting 2nd in my last two races. More proud than winning. I read about Jack Nickalaus and how he has placed 2nd way more times than he won and he was a very gracious "loser". Congrats to my new bike buddy Gary Swain.

Oh yea I had some guy? run me off the road into the dirt in the Cat 3 race. We went past the start/finish line. I think there was a gust from the right I was on the left outside. This guy to my right moved over 1 lane. I yelled and he moved over another lane. I didn't want to bang bars again and went to the edge of the road with no curb then hit the dirt at 25+. I got back on the back of the group and was so wound up I attacked off the front about 200-300 meters. When no one would go with me I integrated baack to the field. Then Aaron Olson threw a hard attack and luckily i stuck on.

Some advice for racers reading this (myself included):
1. Don't look back. I don't think anyone can track a straight line and look back at the same time. You can look under your shoulder if you must look back. My Cat 1friend always yells at me for looking back on the oval at RMR. If you really want to see what's happening go to the side of the road away from the pack and look back. I did that in the Cat 3 race.
2. You can't change lanes without looking. You don't do it on I-15 do you. Don't do it in a bike race.
3. If there is clearly 2 or 3 lines don't be the guy making it 3 or 4 lines. I hate when guys try to fit between two lines. Don't ride on my hip pocket either? Ride to the side or behind me unless we are echeloning.
4. Watch your back wheel when you move around in the pack. I always look before I move around the pack but sometimes forget about my back wheel when passing someone. Bad habit from short track skating. Sorry to anyone i may have chopped this year.
5. Don't stand up in the middle of the pack. What happens when you do that is your back wheel goes back 6-12 inches and you give me a heart atttack. There's one guy I won't mention in the A group of RMR who does this all the time. If you do feel like doing this.....shift up 2 gears then stand up and your bike will not shoot back.
6. Don't sweep the turns. Hold your line and if you enter on the inside you exit on the inside. I had a problem on the 2nd turn of the last lap of the cat 3 race. I had too much speed and that turn had dirt. Sorry Cameron but shit happens too. Thankfully we got thru the turn ok Saturday. I like to stay to the outside on turns as I'm heavy and carry my speed better. I remember at Boise a few years back this kid who will remain nameless enters the turn on the inside (final turn). He exits the turn now on the barriers. Bob Walker had to stop because he entered the turn on the curb. I was behind Bob and I had to skid to a stop bounce off the railings and then sprint back to the group. Speaking of crazy shit. That race in the Cat 3s I saw guys going off into hay bails, hitting parking meters, guys pedals skipping in my spokes, guys shoving me to the curb....it was crazy. I had more close calls in that one race than 3 years worth of RMRs. The last turn i was back in 30th place praying that I would get thru it in one piece. We were like 5 accross with alot of guys thinking they could win and that can make things dangerous.
7. Don't break on the turns. The Masters were doing this every turn. I don't know if they just don't know how to ride or they were trying to help teammates up the road.
8. Don't sprint down the RMR oval zig zagging like you think its the Tour Day France. Just keep your head up and sprint straight. We don't get paid enough to go down at 35+.

File under aggravating things to do in a bike race:
1. You are near the front of the strung out field of the A group at RMR. You see yourself blowing up on the railing so you just slow down with 30 guys behind you. Thanks buddy you just rode 30 guys out of the race.
2. You are dropping out of the race and instead of just pulling over you just slow down and take a few more with you. Same as #1 almost.
3. You are yelling at others in the race because they are not racing the way you want them to. Keep your mouth shut and attack.
4. You race negatively to get the W. I think the negative racing frustrates everyone but it's part of the game. I heard that some guys were slowing down the field and actually punching guys who were doing that at one race this year???
5. One last thing. Please don't touch me to let me know where you are. I don't like being touched in a bike race unless it's by a hot chick. (my wife doesn't read this blog :)

Blogs and my blog

2008-05-04T21:03:00.000-07:00

I woke up. Ate a bagel for breakfast. Took my vitamins and secret supplements. Went training for 3 hours. Came home. Went training again. Had recovery drink. Did intervals later. Took a nap. Did some abs then ate a big pasta dinner and went to bed.

Raced the next day. I was feeling good at the start of the race. I covered alot of moves for my teammates. I would have went up the road if I didn't do all the work for my teammates. I got unlucky when the motorcycle guy got in my way and I had to serve around him otherwise I would have made the winning move. My training was going well till yesterday when I started feeling slightly sick. I think I might have had food poisoning otherwise I would have won. Also, my legs havent' been feeling good I think I might have Epstein Barr or some other illness. Otherwise I think I would have won the race. I'm glad my teammate won otherwise I would have won if I wasn't working for him. I like to blog about my races so everyone else can know why I didn't win. Just kidding but you get the idea....that's what alot of the blogs I read sound like. Oh yea and I wonder what so and so is doing. I also let you know about how many famous and fast cyclist I know.

I'm really getting sick of reading blogs especially cycling blogs. I don't have the time or motivation to keep up this blog. This is my 60th post and possibly the last one about me. I might post some funny shit that I find as I did a few posts ago. I know Pieter D. found one of them funny.

Dick Ring and Terry Longsjo talk about Fitchburg Longsjo Stage Race and Race report

2008-04-21T21:25:00.000-07:00

I am so lucky to call Dick a good friend. I could listen to him talk all night. Wow....i've heard the Kangamangus fixed gear story but never the whole story of his first day announcing. Wow what a wonderful woman Terry Longsjo is. I need to do this race before I die.
Ringer tells about some of my training secrets in this video. cool cool stuff here.

Another good one if you have time:

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/2004-fitchburg-longsjo-classic-part-two-of-four-aubuchon-hardware-circuit-race/2255258266

Race report from Tax Day. I felt good going up slight incline. I had a rider on each side and in the draft. Felt like I was in a nice lazyboy recliner.

U turn heading up to the steeper stuff dudes hit it hard. At 1km to go looked at HR of 190 and thought not good. From now on when I race I'm taping over my HR monitor. I do like to know my cadence and that's about it.

I got gapped when it turned up and wasn't that far back at summit. I hit the downhill at 50mph (i found out later) and still couldn't get back on. I was close for a few miles. So close that the wheel car and ref car stayed behind my solo effort. U turn to start heading uphill and then shortly thereafter cars came by and I was mentally done.

I rode around with two stonger than me guys Evan H and Scott Patten and we got close but it was hard and windy. I finished DFL but was glad i finished even after a flat. Lots of guys dropped out. I had an ego flat. I flatted after about 2:20 on the bike.

It was good that I flatted because I was cramping bad. I was walking for about 10 minutes while waiting. Helped my muscles loosen up. Sohmmy and another guy came by off the front. I got my wheel from the car. I took some time to get going then rode for a minute and the pack came by. The break had a pretty good gap with one to go at that point. I got on the back of the group and enjoyed the draft till the 1km to go hill climb. Rode around another lap and it was nice to hear some people cheer for my finish. Proud to finish DFL as I was to win the past two weekends. Horses for courses and that wasn't my course for sure.

One other thing for UTrider, I got a Gary Fisher Mountain bike off of ksltv.com for cheap. It's a 29er hardtail. I shredded the Boneville Shoreline Trail on Sunday entering from City Creek. It was a long ass ride exiting at DryCreek. It was awesome I only saw 3 people in a couple of hours. Actually I rode from Sugarhouse to West Valley (my work) then up to the Capital and to City creek. It was nice and didn't feel like a workout. Although getting up the BST from City Creek was hard. I had to hike a bike a few times. My skills are lacking but it was fun. Not sure how this will help me in crits and speedskating but it was fun. Legs felt pretty good after the Tax Day grind. That course was hard as you were either going up against the wind or down against the wind. Not sure how it was possible. Seemed the only place wind was behind was on the steeper stuff which isn't good for a guy weighing almost 200 pounds.

Gavia Cont

2008-04-17T21:19:00.000-07:00

Here's what the conditions were like

Andy Hampsten's account of the day:

http://www.hampsten.com/Bikes/ClassicRoad/5June.pdf

Whst's cool is that Andy said he was punching Max Testa and Testa said that it felt like he was tickling him that's how weak he was. That's an epic epic epic epic epic day for sure.

More classics from socalrider.....he has lots and lots of them!

one more (Team 7/11 profile). This has lots of shots of Eric Heiden. Makes you realize how hard the TFD is without dope and weighing 180+. Davis Phinney also had some issues that year. Great stuff!

Funny Stuff & Bike Fit

2008-04-17T07:25:00.000-07:00

Tough day on the job?

See more funny videos at CollegeHumor

My new dog

Had a bike fit with Max Testa at Contender. What a great guy and it was eye opening. I had my road bike pretty good but the TT bike was a mess. He put a little shim in my cleat since my left leg bows out a bit. I had some major pain after last Tuesday's RMR so I figured it would be good to see him.
Later that night I read an article about Andy Hampsten's famous W at the Tour of Italy in Bicycling Magazine. Check it out. Cool article.

LMAO

2008-04-10T13:27:00.001-07:00

I missed the boat on this one and maybe you have seen this but I was LMAO with my wife watching this last night. For those kids at home it has some bad language.

this is just as good.

One sign that spring is here. I just watched Tiger eagle the 15th in his quest for his 5th green jacket. He's even par and in perfect position as the tournament doesn't start till the back nine on Sunday. Sort of like a sprint finish in cycling. He might try to break away but after his bogey on the par 5 13th following 12 straight pars.....not today.

Got the W

2008-04-07T19:06:00.000-07:00

I won a bike race at the Hell of the North. Someone remind me in some other races how many things have to go right for this to happen. It's been two years since lightning has struck for a pack finish in the Utah Cat 3s. Peter Schotting's (see bottom of page) 10 week endurance program sure has helped my bike fitness.
Wow that's all I can say. If the race doesn't go severely uphill I have a chance. I haven't had a great history at Hell of the North bike race. First time I did it on normal tires I got 2nd in the field sprint for 3rd place in the Crash 4s in 2004. I thought this isn't that hard. Then did the Master 35s later that day and watched TCooke and Bill Harris go 32 mph on dirt and was off the back in under 30 seconds on the dirt. Wow so that's how fast people can go on dirt?
2005 - 5 or 6 flats in 2 races on normal tires. 2006 was the rain/snow edition and I was on my death bed from a crash commuting home (80 stitches in my face) that's a whole nother story. 2007 did the Masters race in 3 inches of rocks/gravel in dirt. That was the hardest race I'd ever done with McKone and Skarpohl driving it. It was like a 1.75 mile uphill sinking in and just grinding out at 20mph. You pushed as hard on your seat as you could and skidded everywhere and hung on. My butt muscles hurt so much last year that I could barely sit after the race. I jumped in the Cat 3race but was cooked.
So 2008 I didn't have much expectations. I was like why am I doing this race again. My wife asked me how much I could win. I said I might get a cool trophy.
I wore Continental Contact tires that Ryan at Contender sold me on. You will notice they are 28 wide and 500 grams! I got some weird looks at the start line for sure. These are listed under city/treking tires. They are bomb proof. I commute on them and they don't puncture on goat heads nor pinch flat. I know I had a top 10 right there...ie. no flats. I rode around the parking lot goat heads and all before the race with guys yelling at me. I ride these tires to work thru worse on the Jordan river trail.
I noticed though that a North wind was in the forecast and that meant a headwind into the dirt. That was one good sign for me. I got lost going to the race?? You would think I would have remembered how to get there. I went up I-15 and was scrambling to get back down to I-80 and to I-215. Get to the race T minus 30 minutes. Sign up and pin numbers at car. Jog to porto lockerrooms to change and 10 minute ride and at the line ready to go. No jels or food and only one water bottle that Marek Shon filled for me at the line. Obviously I was well prepared?? Texted my wife at the start line. I race with my phone and keys just in case I need to talk to someone during the race.
It was 10 laps of 5 miles each. Pretty tame for the 1st time up the dirt. There were some guys off early but not too far. I got into a 6 man move and no one wanted to keep it going with me there? I was like let's work...you got at least sixth. Hmmmm I would have worked and wanted to work. I guess everyone figured I would sprint them??? I bridged up to a couple of more moves then decided that nothing looked like it would go.

Peter and Eric Thompson were up the road for quite some time but the other teams kept them in sight. I'm sure it was hard out there with the wind. I just was hoping for a sprint and trying to cover moves. There were still some strong teams in the pack with SBO. I don't have the VO2 MAX of some of these other guys who can go uphill like bunny goats but I can generate power for 30 seconds.
I was a little nervous of the last turn into the finishing road. I don't like to take risks. Although the last Cat 3 win at Sugarhouse I had two years ago. Jonathan Gardner came down the hill at 45+mph and we hooked about 6 inches on the left side by a group of 6 riders. I was like if he can make it I can but that was scary. He led me out to the hill and I was in the sweet spot for that sprint.
I was checking the wind and timing of when i would sprint in the last few times thru the start/finish. You had 600-700 meters from the finish to the dirt. The turn was mostly dirt then the road had loose gravel so I didn't want to mess with a WIN hungry pack thru the turn. Luckily we were whittled down to about 15 guys. I just figured I'd stay in the back out of trouble and work my way up to the finish line. I just happpened to be on the SBO strong guys (Nathin Arnin and Aaron Olson) and they led me thru the field and I was on Nathan's wheel in 3rd place. It was a good position to be in. Jason Asay (all in White) jumped from the corner solo in a gutsy move and had a big gap on us all. I was patient and with about 400m to go I just took off. It was a cross downwind sprint so you could get away with a long one. It was a little far out but I got a gap. I passed Jason with about 150m to go and held it to the line. I grunted and groaned then took a peek back and thankfully had a gap. I was pumping fists and hands. I know in some places you can get DQ'd b4the line if it's close like California. I did have a gap and I hadn't had a win in at least 60 races. You like to enjoy the moment and i'm not trying to show anyone up. It's just a huge release of excitement.

Forgot one other thing that was funny. The Pro/1/2 group passed us and the ref was in a car in front of us neutralizing us. She suddenly almost stopped we stopped and I slammed into the wheel in front of me. I had one foot down sliding thinking I'm going down. Somehow I stayed up and saved it. Marek Shon said nice skating. So yes in the end this is a skating blog.

One other thing I forgot to mention is that I got this 34 pound trophy. Thanks to Sean Hoover. It's a cobblestone mounted to a base. Granted we didn't go over any cobblestones but you get it. It's similiar to Paris Roubaix's trophy. The wife didn't think it would look too cool in the living room. It was destined for the garage but I had a better idea. Dick Thompson has helped me lots with fixing my bike. He has it on display at Alta Bicycles. He's a custom Steel frame builder in Salt Lake City. He's in the same building with Steve from Flat Attack just off of I-15 at 5400S in the Top It Building. Give these guys business as they are the little guys of cycling. Tell them I sent you and check out the cobblestone trophy!
One more thing. that was a long ass post and i don't know why anyone would want to read about my silly bike races but a couple of people wanted the "race report" so here it is. It's all about me but thanks to Christian for putting on this event for us here in utah and great to see Terry McInnnis at the races. I had a great chat with him and he's a tough dude. He just said he's a stubborn bastard. That's good too.

Don't even know where to start

2008-04-01T08:39:00.000-07:00

It's been 16 days since my last post. I went from that DONE feeling, to depressed feeling, to listless feeling to renewed feeling during this time. I was so done after skating the last day of the Champions Challenge. I had big expectations for the 10k. I went out super hard (for me) 34 second laps. I had a good first 1/2 race (7:18) 5k then died to a 7:44 2nd 5k. It will get better next season with summer training with Peter Schotting. I finished with a PB by 20 seconds of 15:02. The 5k the day before was a 10 second personal for this season of 7:07.00. I died the last 4 laps of that one. It's funny i have some video clips of the race and I almost hit the pads with 4 to go.

I took 9 days completely off and did alot of work at work. It was like coming off drugs. I was restless, irritable, and generally lethargic. I slept alot and had not alot of energy. My first ride I went up Emmigration at AT HR in 34 minutes. The last part I just hammered and I had "legs of gold" that day. Boy what a break can do for you.

I'm back now to just having fun on the bike. If you can call doing an hour criterium with an avg HR of 180 fun in 30-40 degree weather. That race last Sat was one of the hardest I've done at RMR. It reminded me of the Dave Z Hurrican day last year. That's another story. Let's just say I was lapped by Dave Z, Louder and Bryson Perry at least one last year around this time.

There was 60 guys at the start, within 5-10 minutes there were 35-40 guys left. Alot of guys flatted. Yes maybe some of them were real but alot of them are "ego flats". Jeff Louder and some others were driving the break hard. I was in the 2nd chase group of 8-12. We were a half lap down at one point then we made up alot of time and got within 10 seconds or so I heard. All this summary of the race is 2nd hand as I couldn't tell you anything since I was staring at the wheel in front of me for an hour and 2 minutes. At one brief easy point I asked Robert Lofgran what was happening (8 guys up the road). I don't know who was driving our group because I was hanging on for my life. I was using every drafting trick I knew to stay on. My HR was 195 at times.
I told myself for the last 20 minutes I'll just do one more lap then I'll drop out. This went on for quite a few laps. Ryan Littlefield was in our group and he shot out of it like a cannon and I heard he just about caught the few guys who finished after Louder and Sohmmy. I guess when he did that with 1/2 lap to go that was when gaps opened as I was on the back of the 2nd group. Gaps opened and I looked at my HR of 192. I figured I would wait. The guys in front of me gave up and sat up. I was waving guys thru at 40 minutes (5 guys went thru) as I was not holding the draft. They went by and I said I'll just jump in for one more lap. Guys think I might be joking but I was cooked after the race. I might have finished 15th or so just drunkenly pedaling in at HR 188.
I am pretty fit from skating long distances since Jan 1. I have Peter Schotting to thank for that. He is starting a training group here in SLC. It's a great chance to train with a coaching legend.

Here's the press realease from my good friend Rich Gregorson who is our marketing guy:
A world class speed skating training group will be formed in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The 2008/2009, 48 week program, under the guidance of five time Olympic Speed skating Coach Peter Schotting, will commence in the last week of April 2008.
In preparation for the 2008-2009 National and International Championships, as well as in preparation for the 2010 and 2014 Olympic Winter Games

A limited amount of positions in this group are still available,
North American or International interested skaters in Junior, Senior or Master Class interested in this opportunity can contact with Skater Bio information
Email skating resume to pmb229@yahoo.com

Some great shows coming up in SLC. Frank Caliendo is in town Sat. Ministry is here april 11th. That's a blast from the past for me. some other good bands/concerts will be here as well.

How about this one from my favorite baseball player Spaceman Lee.

Why Quads are a Bad idea sometimes

2008-03-16T20:07:00.000-07:00

Check out the cluster#$@@# at 5:20 of this one. It's pretty funny.

Awesome Short Track Falls from Calgary. I'm not sure if the full pads with no boards in Calgary contribute to this "roller derby on ice".

Hope for Master Athletes Everywhere

2008-03-11T22:47:00.000-07:00

WOW is all I can say. I love this guy and he still rocks at AGE 60!!!!!!!!!!!

Quotes from the Zen Master & Chumps Challenge

2008-03-09T14:34:00.000-07:00

I have been training with Peter Schotting since Jan 1st and here are some funny things he has said.

Schotting on laps times. "Those are women's times."

0n tapering. "What do you want to do come to the rink in a rolling hospital bed."

On putting my hands on my knees when hurting while racing a 1500m today or 5k in the past or 3k in the past....."You see the protocol says ISU...that means International Skating Union not Rollerskating Union....that's not Ice speedskating" but my legs hurt and I'll fall..."we'll do more dryland next summer".

On warming down....."Go do 16 minutes of laps"

When I'm tired, "Why would you be tired we haven't anything."

Seriously though it's been tough but fun at the same time. I remember one day when I did a 1500m then a 5k. I skated a warmdown (10k) then got off the ice. He said now go run 8 laps on the oval. I did two laps then I went and hid in the bathroom for a bit. I started thinking I must be sick.... I'm actually paying this guy to torture me.

Why he's a great coach. Erin Anders was skating with us till he hurt his knee. He did a 3k and bombed after a lap (it's a 7 lap race). He did 3 or 4 laps at 33 the day before but in the race he went 34 1st lap then 37s...38...39?...then 37 at the end. Peter was like what happened you dropped anchor after one lap?? Erin does a little warmdown and sits down to take off his skates. Peter says to Erin where you going? "Keep your skates on. You are going to go out and skate 5 laps at 34/35 second pace. Not for me but for you. You need to know that you can do that even if it's right after a 3k race." Next time you go to race you will have the confidence to KNOW that you can do that. Erin goes out and does like 5 34s. That's a great coach in my book. It was a Herb Brooks moment for sure.

Today was dissapointing for me at the Champions Challenge. I had high expectations for my 1500m. I was 3 seconds off my Personal Best (PB) on a day when 36 personals were skated. I was paired with Josh Wood and thought for sure we would both do personals. He did a huge 4 second one and got 2nd place at 1:50 (1st USA skater). Great job buddy. I was with him at 300m then scratched around the inner turn & then didn't set up my outer turn real well. I gave him a good draft though on the backstretch then he was a 2nd ahead at 700m. I stopped skated as Peter said at 900m. Thanks to Andrew cheering me I kept skating. I heard you buddy. I had some issues and didn't really skate that well. I just didn't have great feel. What funny though is I did my first 1:57 EVER. I've skated 1:59s, 58s, 3 56s, 2 55s, and one 1:54 but never a 1:57. I guess that was the time for today. I know when I don't have high expectations I skate better. Earlier post "don't think just skate" or Give up and skate a PB. Hopefully that will happen tommorow. My 5k should be a PB by at least 10 seconds based on practice but no predictions here. I'm just going to skate and use the lap times as information.
Based on my practice times lately, if it doesn't come out in racing tommorow it will come out sooner or later.

SLC TTs & Weekly Worlds (RMR)

2008-03-08T19:40:00.000-08:00

Time trials went ok today. One crappy 500m and then a SLC Weekend TT PB in the 3k. I gave away 3 seconds on the last two laps in that one according to my coach. I have been training with Peter Schotting for about 10 weeks and it hasn't been easy. I'm just a once a day trainer compared to pros who are at the rink from 7-5pm.

My start today didn't have it (11.0) but I had an ok 3k. It was the best 3k I've ever skated in SLC by 3 seconds. Missed my personal by that much in my best Maxwell Smart imitation. It was after a hard week of training and some scary fast times in training. It will come out in the races soon or later Peter assures me. I have never been much of a practice skater but now I am with him. I wasn't even mad after a SLOW (for me) 500m. The slowest of the season. My body is trying to adapt to a new training load. I think next weekend at the Champions Challenge I'll get it going.

We really haven't done speed (400m tempos). I have done 1600m tempos. I actually did my 800m personal best in a 1600m tempo. It was cool to hit a 28 second lap trying for 31. I wish I had that skating feel I had in practice that day today during the race. I wasn't skating like I skated in practice. Once I slowed with two to go I was stuck in the middle not getting weight transfer. Don't think just skate. Don't try to go fast just SKATE. Don't think JUST SKATE!

I just couldn't get it going today off the start. From my first start in the morning till my race. It's funny though sometimes that's ok because as an older skater it takes time to warmup. Youth is wasted on the young when I see dudes just start hammering at 7:30 in the morning. I like to say I need alot of foreplay.

It would have been nice to have a pairmate but I think Ron Macky was at last call at Lumpy's.

The 3k I went out the hardest I ever have and survived. Peter pointed out that the ISU is on the pairings sheet which means International SKATING Union. Not the inlining union as I had my hands on my knees for the last two laps. I complained that I have never done as much as we did for pre race. He was like you don't think Heiden, Flaim, etc did those kinds of race preps. You think the Australians or Flaim always had "good legs" at a World Championship, World Cup, etc. I'm trying to mentally get in my head that I can skate with a "load" in my legs.

Funny
Another funny thing that I said to Peter is that I need more rest before I race. He was like, "what do you need to do be rolled into the rink in a Hospital bed with an IV before your race." He's tough and you can see why he's built World Champions. Based on my training we thought I could do 4 minute flat 3k today.

It's funny though we all want to know where we compare to everyone else. The race really is with yourself and no one else. Someone said to me that since you beat Marty Haire at Nationals that you would have been World Champion. You know what from my hockey days we used to say that the transitive property doesn't work in sports. If A beats B and B beats C.....A doesn't neccesarily beat C. I know that even with times of Long Track and consistent ice conditions it's hard to compare. But we as humans seem to have this crazy need to know where we or they stand?? That's why we compete and have competitions. If it's your day it's your day.

I have noticed that for me now that I have done speedskating for awile comparing means nothing. At the higher levels on any given day anyone can beat anyone to some extent. Unless you are at the meet with everyone else on that day you don't know. It's nice when you are like Sven Kramer or Shani crushing it day in and day out. You notice though that they took some weekends off and it seemed to have helped them this weekend. But that's why we watch and skate.

To RMR

The BMC boys tried to come to the local crit and rule the roost but local boys pulled it off. Ryan Littlefield's Contender boys showed the pros what Utah racing is all about. The Contender boys played their cards right. Word on the street is that Brent Cannon has good form right now as does Ryan. It looks like the Porcs got alot of placings in the top 10 and they are off to the team lead again. Will Ryan ride more this year? Hope so. I didn't realize till last year that he won the Crit Series a bunch of years in a row. David vs Goliath in a way but it's just Weekly Worlds or is it the World Championships. It's good that people take it seriously because it's a good throwdown for sure! We need more fans out at these races as it's pretty good stuff.

Ok so I do my warmdown at the rink and it's 11:15 when I leave for the RMR Raceway for the 1st bike race of the season. I saw Cameron Candelaria on his bike riding over on 56th West. There was so much traffic he past me 3 times. I get to the race with about 25 minutes till race time. I get changed get my number and maybe spin for 5 minutes.
I notice that two riders from the BMC Race team are there. Jeff Louder and Darren Lill (from South Africa) I found out later. I'm thinking this is great I haven't riden my bike much and these guys are coming of the the Tour of California. The usual suspects were out there as well and we were off in a shortened race. Only 35 minutes or so it turned out. There was snow on the track and they couldn't race the A and Bs together.
I made a promise to myself to not go in any breaks since I don't want to kill myself for skating next week. That was hard to keep when I saw guys taking off in front of me. That's right I forgot in a lactate haze that I went with Darren Lill from BMC early in the race hoping that I would get in a break. Some guys chased us down and everyone came back together. I looked at my HR of 195 and said I think I'll hide in the pack for a bit more. Then sure enough the real break happens. Those BMC guys probably rode 6 hours today and RMR was one piece of the puzzle. It's hard for us working stiffs to just have some delusional fun with them there. We can think we are riding in the Tour of California or something like that. I forgot how much I like riding my bike.

"The break" went about 10 minutes in after a couple of failed attempts. I didn't think that would last at first. There were 10 guys and most of the teams were up there and once they got a half lap on the 3/8 mile track it was over. Jeff Louder from BMC was there and the other BMC guy (at the time I didn't know who he was) was in the pack with us. Thru sheer luck I found myself on his wheel. I figured he would try to get upto help his teammate soon. Sure enough he goes. I hesistate for one moment and then kill myself for a little bit and get on his wheel. The minute I connect he sits up. Not like I could pull thru after that effort. He then goes back to the pack and I follow him for a long time. It was nice in the group and I was working on my spinning. The break was now 8 as two guys were shelled. The break of 8 was a half lap up for the longest time. We were going not super fast then fast a few times. At maybe 30 minutes I see Louder in our group and the break still behind us. Apparently, Ryan Littlefield and Brent Cannon from Contender Bikes made it up with him (Louder).

We ride around some more and guys are hammering with 3 to go....wow that was quick when your used to an hour criterium but just what the doctor ordered for me at this point. I was pack fill at the end but it was a blast. Contender got the W with Brent, Louder 2nd, and Ryan L rounded out the podium.

RESULTS HERE

There were some guys that went hard and got shelled in the race. I always wonder about that. A guys got to know his limitations. But hey I almost got shelled after two efforts at following breaks or bridges.

One other thing. Saw Kelsley Kooreman (Mike's wife) at the RMR oval. She has been riding lots and lots. She was going in a break with the B group men's and she got 10th. April Medley, Anthony Lobello and Mary Grace were there watching. Then I was off to spend time with the inlaws and family. What a great day today was. Thank you God for all the blessings I have in my life. Spent the rest of the weekend with Family:)

One other thing is that I just missed Team Rico's crash where you can read about it here. I posted a comment on his blog about it here.

Hockey vids

2008-03-03T21:21:00.000-08:00

Tonite i went after practice to help out a squirt team. I used to play hockey and it was a huge part of my life. Here's some awesome videos i found tonite....

This video actually makes me cry here watching it. I remember watching this game and just being in the 1980 rink (Herb Brooks Arena) is inspiring.

Forward to 2:18 to see why I skate.....many rinks were built in Boston because of this man. Thank you Bobby!

One More! Wow. My dad was a Boston Cop. He would work alot of Bruins games during the 70s. I went to some games and lots of Red Sox games back then. Red Sox games were empty back then :). He would be in the locker room with the Bruins and tell me how nice a guy Bobby was. He was a very humble guy with a God given talent. He would tell me that his legs were huge and the stories of these goals were even bigger to me. i like how he fakes out the wing AND cameraman at 2:59.

Apparently there's a new book out on #4. See why he was the best IMHO.

Props up though to the great one (Gretz) and Lemeiux.

Had to add one for #99. He was inspiring to watch growing up.

If anyone I played hockey with reads this shoot me an email. Paul Laubenstien, Marty Loughnane, Mike Novak, David Rennie, Brian Noonan, John Lovell, Brian Assad, Chris Spillane, and anyone else I can't think of right now from Archbishop Williams, UMass/Boston, or the Labatt's Blue Hockey Team and the Hofbrau House in Quincy!

Round Up

2008-02-27T22:03:00.000-08:00

Ok here's some quick news. Bokko is done for the year with shoulder surgery or something. The National marathon was this past weekend and I found some results here. 40 skaters looks like a small turnout. I would have loved to have beemed myself over there for that one.

Interesting post about the 1978 World Short Track event with results.

Go Marty.....wish i was there. Kick some butt!@

Highlights of Herenveen World Cup final here.

My video posted??? Hmmmmm.....i have lots more but time for bed.....

Team Pursuit at Balsega. ITALIA ITALIA!!!.

Get pumped for Short Track.....good music too.

I'm not in Germany for Master Worlds and not going to US ST Nationals. Gotta earn some $$$ and stay married....LOL!

I'll be at Weekly Worlds and doing the Champions Challenge, March 14-16th.

One more. I think this is the best from Herenveen Final.

Vote for Nunavut

2008-02-25T20:39:00.000-08:00

Where in the world is Nunavut.

What would it be like to live there? I wondered that as I watched this girl Sarah A's video. It really touched my heart and I can't believe she is not winning this competition. Vote for her. I bet she could use the cash and you have to root for someone who is from Nunavut.
I had never heard of it but I guess they have were seperated from the Northwest Terretories in 1999. I used to be an ace in Geography but 1977 Geography.

http://www.ingspeedskatingchallenge.com/video.php

You have to watch both videos in order to vote.

1500m Gong Show & 5 Second PB (Don't give up)

2008-02-24T21:36:00.000-08:00

I had a tough training week with lots of kilometers of skating. I raced the "tough man's" program on Saturday of 1500m/5k. 1500m was paired with Andrew Love. I had skated all week on one Maple Gold Steel skate on my right foot (thanks Mark) and my normal Maple Aluminum on my left. Got my broken skate (see last post) back from John Dimon Friday. I didn't have time to hook it up till Friday night. Probably should have waited till after the races but? The two different blades actually had felt ok all week??

You know what was funny is that Andrew smoked me in the 1500m. I was glad for him he skated a PB. He said he heard me coming in his mind last lap and that helped him. I was way behind but I guess my claps are loud. I was pretty fried with training, racing Wed, intervals etc.....

I had a decent opener (300m) in the 1500m then my left leg sort of gave out in the turn and I almost fell coming out of the turn. I stood up in the straightaway still had a ok lap of 28.6 then he went "over the top" of me....from Outer to Inner with 1.5 to go. He was slowing (but not the way Andrew usually slows) and I had to yield at the last minute to cross to the outer. I gave up at that point and went 2:01. Last lap I really gave up. I hate giving up in a race. First thought was I have a 5kilometer in 25 minutes. Then I was thinking I'm too old for all this training then trying to race....what am I doing racing with all this training load. Everyone else is more rested, why do I do this sport?......how in the world am I going to do a 5k in 25 minutes????? I should just go home right now and rest. My ego was bruised with one of the worst races in the 1500m in a while....but who cares it's a training race. You still want to do well.

I get my skates off quick, forget about the race (really had no time to dwell on it), jog......then get skates on again at the 5k start line. Get up for my 5k....no time to skate and hope for the best. I'm racing Liam Ortega (national team member and 20 years my JR). His personal is 6:49...mine 7:17. I'm ahead, I'm behind, I'm ahead....etc....I couldn't believe I was keeping up with him. My goal after the 1st race was to skate .000001 faster than my Personal Best. I told Liam this before the race based on how I felt. But once you are in a race whether it's a weekend TT or the World Championships of Right Now you are in a race. There's something special about forgetting about all your problems issues and life and just being in the RIGHT NOW.
Skating 33s and 34s depending on who had inners....I'm looking at 8 to go and thinking I'm so hurting....but i'm holding my lap times?......then 6 to go....hurting bad but kept building inner turns to stay even with him or ahead....i have a PB going just keep it going......4 to go.....how am I going to finish I'm thinking.....ok do 2 laps then you only have 2 to go. You can do 2 laps it's only about a minute. You can grunt out two minutes. I heard Jerica Tandiman's dad (Edwin) every lap urging me on. It's funny in a 5k there's more time to hear things....thanks Edwin that helped so much. There were others cheering but he was right in the middle of the straightaway where I was trying to relax as much as possible. I'm ahead with 2 laps to go and thinking I'm going to win this pair. I start putting hands on legs with 2 to go and drop to 35s.....what kept me going is I knew I had a PB.....he gets on me then flies by me with one to go....another 35....he ends on 34/32. I skate a PB by 5 seconds and I can't even let out a whimper as I cross the line because I am in seeing black with my hands on my thighs. I cruise around for two laps till I feel like I'm back on the planet.
A lot of people were cheering me on which I heard. I think people could tell I was hurting but I gutted it out. That was a great race! Moral of the story, "Don't give up". I guess the 2nd moral is "give up"????

Dick Ring and Lake Placid Continued

2008-02-19T20:59:00.000-08:00

The Ringer was in Lake Placid and we hung out. It was great to hang out with him and his friend Bill. They were old skate and bike buddies. Great story from Bill who surprisingly knew most of the guys I played college hockey with. He brought back alot of blasts from the past from my hockey days.
Great story about him and Bob Fenn being trainers or mechanics for a Six Day Race at Madison Square Garden. Packed house and all the riders were tired and sleeping. He and Roscoe were called to ride the bikes.
Also, Ringer gave me an update to story #1. Where these guys beat the crap out of him and a buddy while they were trying to skate.

http://boudieskate.blogspot.com/2008/01/dick-ring.html

Update: Ringer tells me that the first day on the ice in a out of town neighborhood. Him and his skating partner knew that something was up when a couple of kids dressed up from Catholic school came up to them. He says this one guy was up on a snow bank dressed up. Him and his buddy knew trouble was going to follow so Ringers looks his friend in the eye. Ringer grabs the kid by his tie and pulls him down while him and his buddy pound on him. As Ringer said, "we knew we were in trouble but Godamnit we were going to beat the crap out of at least one guy". The second day same thing. Guy comes up to them and Ringer and his buddy look at each other. As Ringer puts it they just swung at this guy from their outside arms as they stood facing this kid. They hit from from the left and right simultaneously.....they got the #$#$ kicked out of them again but as Ringer said, "we made sure we got one of them good"......LOL! Ah the old days.....i could listen to these stories all night.

I also met Dean Marini who was a high school teammate of mine on our hockey team. He was there for a hockey tourny with his son. It was funny I was warming up in the 1980 rink and he says "boudie"? I look at him and go yea. I didn't recognize him. He saw my first race. He couldn't tell who won....it was close. I love hanging in the 80 rink Miracle on Ice rink. When I first went to Lake Placid you would always see Jack Shea walking there every morning. What a great guy.

It was awesome staying at Marilyn Lyseks. Highly recommend looking up Lyseks in Lake Placid if you are ever there. We had awesome food and great socializing. I meet Eleanor Poore, Al Forsyth, Eleanor's mom, some hikers from Quebec (they snow shoed 10 hours on Sat!), and other who were with me (Mark Chysler, Pat Know and Mark's son Garrett). What an awesome weekend. Only bummer was seeing the Patriots lose Sunday night. Also met Liz Looby

DNS

2008-02-16T20:14:00.000-08:00

DNS means Did Not Start. I expected to see that on the SLC TT results today. I guess they had time to take me out of the pairings. The results are at the UOO Website.

I finished my warmup laps and next was accels. First accel I had Erin Anders on my back pocket. He just started speedskating a few months ago and is posting some impressive times. He's an old hockey goalie from the University of Minnesota and a working stiff. He's in charge of sales and marketing for a software company and a skater now. He's been a great training partner as well and new friend.

I'm about 65 meters into an accel (ie. 65 meters down the straightaway for you non skaters) when I fell down after pushing on my right skate. I felt like I was getting good pressure. I fall and was like that was weird. Then I think I didn't fall but I think I lost my skate blade. Now I'm sliding towards the electronic timing equipement at the end of the straightaway. I use my only blade on my left boot to steer to the right and miss the timing stuff. I look at my boot and stand up. I only have one blade now and Kreg Greer helps me off the ice.

My day is done. I helped coach some skaters and cheer people on. I thought I would be doing manaul timing but they had enough volunteers.

Andrew Love had a PB on the 3k and a pretty solid 500m. It's funny Peter Schotting said to Erin that if you are going to die you might as well go out hard. Andrew used that strategy with a 31.8 first lap and hung on to a PB of 4:22. Good effort for Andrew a 500m fast twitch guy. I saw his first lap and he looked relaxed but I knew he would pay which he did but it's a good strategy. Hopefully he can get along further and further in the next couple of weeks before he leaves for Master Worlds in Erfurt, Germany. I wish I could go but not this year as work is too busy to take 6 days off.

SLC ST World Cup

2008-02-08T22:20:00.001-08:00

Here's a great video from a 500m prelim that my buddy Rich filmed. You can hear me on the commentary. I was at the rink for a short time this afternoon. I was helping with "on the job training" of the block chasers on my end. I'm finally in "management".

so here's the lap! times. That's what two 8.4s look like. pretty easy sport huh?

Age Group Long Track Nationals 2008 Lake Placid

2008-02-06T14:15:00.000-08:00

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......

Week round up & Chad's back

2008-01-27T13:55:00.000-08:00

Skated alot this week and did some short track. Andrew has an interesting post on the Salt City Sprints (http://www.andrewlove.org/blog). Terri has some excellent pics of everyone in the albums......

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/ipickphotos/BrianBoudreau

Raced in the SLC Time Trials yesterday.

http://www.speedskatingresults.com/index.php?section=2&competition=732&page=info/competitiondetails.php

Everything I have been working on went out the window in the 500. Hate when that happens. Didn't skate relaxed (easy speed).
Couldn't get low off the start and legs were tired. I had a good 1st 6 steps off the line with Liam Ortega. Then couldn't keep up and I was in "chase mode". I don't skate well in "chase mode". I was not doing my own thing. Turn entry wasn't deep enough as I was behind. Coach Kraan said I was pushing back on the back stretch. Shitty set up of last turn and sort of gave up. Legs hurt big time only 250m into the race. Mentally was thinking how in the world will I do 3k in 30 minutes.

3k against Liam again. He took off and went over the top on the 2nd lap. I skated my own race and was in pain after a couple of laps. I kept it together for flat lap times and slight negative coming in.....one 32 and all 33s. The plan was for a flat race of all 32s but not on this day. I heard some people cheering for me. Eric Kraan said I have the best pain face as the last lap I had my eyes almost closed.

Paul Dyrud rocked a 3k as did Kreg Greer on the 500m. Josh Wood had a PB in the 5000m. It was interesting watching a Taekwondo tournament at the oval while we raced.

It looks like Chad is back. http://www.isuresults.eu/2007-2008/worldcup/hamar/

World Allrounds are just around the corner. Shani has chosen not to race b4 so should be interesting in Berlin. Chad was only a second or so off Bokko's 1st place in the 10k World Cup in Hamar today. After seeing his last 10k (1 minute off his PB).....good for him. 6th or 7th in the 1500 as well.

One last thing. Short Track Am Cup. Looks like Anthony Lobello got the W for the men and Jessica Smith got 3rd for the women. Good for them. I heard Anthony hadn't been training recently??? Haven't seen him in a while at the oval but who knows..... what a great skater he is in both Short Track and Long Track.

results are here: http://www.ohiospeedskating.com/

Other skaters of interest to me. Vicky Labourdette was 11th. I did some hard workouts with Vicky and Jessica. They are both fast. Matt Fergusion, Chris Creveling, Nick Frank, Jonathan Garcia and Sebastian Cano also were at many early morning ST workouts.

Dick Ring

2008-01-21T21:48:00.000-08:00

Speaking of the Ringer brings back alot of stories he's told me over the years. Here's a link with some old pics including him:
http://www.westhillshop.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=27

#1. He used to live in Brighton, MA....they didn't have ice in Brighton (Bawstin) so he and a buddy had to take the T over to Brookline to skate. They did a couple of laps on the flooded pahhk when some goons came up to his buddy and him. They said your not from around her and get the #$#$ out. They continued to skate. I remember Ringer telling me that this guy was standing on a snowbank and he knew there would be trouble. He said he made sure he got in a good first shot then they got their #@# kicked. But as Ringer said at least I did some damage....:).

They licked their wounds and next day showed up again in Brookline for a skate. Same guys same result....limped back home again.

Day 3, they show up in Brookline again to skate. These same guys are ready to whoop on them again when some neighborhood tough guy intervenes as they are about to get whooped on again. He says to them, "you guys must really like this skating thing huh." Ringer says, "you bet your @#$ we do. We are training for Nationals and the Boston Silver Skates". The goon was obviously impressed with the Ringer and his salesmanship and gives them the ok to skate.
Ringer says the funniest part is a month later they are skating at the Silver Skates in Brighton. The guys he says who just a few weeks earlier we're beating the S#$t out of them are now cheering for them as they race.

Another good one. Maybe this was when he went with Art Longsjo to Nationals as the chief fundraiser. He said they would always run a raffle with some turkeys for Thanksgiving to pay for their skating trips. He would go to all the workers and neighbors in the hood. They would raise alot of money for the trip and the "winners" he said were always the families that needed the turkeys the most. I asked so you mean you fixed the raffle? Not really.... everyone felt good about the raffle. What a marketeer even in his youth :)

That was like the time I had no idea about bike racing and how good an announcer he was. I said to him so do you get paid to announce these bike races?? He looked at me with that Ringer look and was like you think i'm doing this for charity.....u bet your a@# i do.....

Lake Placid Age Group Nationals

2008-01-21T20:43:00.000-08:00

I will be there! Some tough 40-49 year olds will be giving me a run for my money. These guys are either crafty, strong, fast or all of the above.

I got some emails and people asking me if I am coming to other Master meets. It's all about $$$$. If you want me to skate your meet send me some cold hard cash. I'm sure no one is reading this but if you have a wealthy friend who wants to see me skate it can't hurt to ask. Hey I can wish on a star. There are so many meets I'd love to do this year but the funds don't add up. Masters in Calgary, Masters International in MKE, National Marathon looks cool, ST old man Nationals, and the list goes on.

I had to pass on the Master Worlds in Erfurt since work wouldn't like me gone for 6 days. I still get fired up thinking about that one false start I did last year that ended my meet in Calgary. I learned in an All Round meet you can't win it with the 500 but you can lose it. That start rule needs to be CHANGED!! Everyone I talk to agrees but the ISU has there heads up there #$#$. One false start gives both skaters a false start??? Then I moved once and I'm gone. I've heard that it's all about TV...Dutch TV which rules speedskating.

Looking forward to going back to where it all began for me on the Long Track. There will be fun on the ice in Lake Placid. It looks like it will be cold for sure. Hopefully I see alot of old and new faces.

I talked to my good buddy Dick Ring and he will be there for the weekend enjoying the great outdoors. He's a legend of New England Bike Racing.

He is extensively quoted in the book Hearts of Lions. I would highly recommend it as required reading for any cycling racer. You will learn of the 4 velodromes that we had here in Salt Lake City as well as so many other things.

Hey Pimp if you are reading this I need my copy back.

Tagged

2008-01-12T21:42:00.000-08:00

I was tagged by polska.

1. I have been skating for 37 years. I was a goalie for my college hockey team UMass/Boston. The team has not been good lately. We were 18-10-1 my senior year way back in 88/89. Myself and the other goaltender (John Haley) were co MVPs. We had a great coach who turned our program around (Bill Stewart).
2. Lately i have been eating the same breakfast (Blueberry bagel with cottage cheese and Dunkin Donuts coffee).
3. My first bike race in Utah was down at RMR in 2002. I lasted about 10 minutes before getting dropped. No one was calling me a wheel sucking sprinter then.
4. During the day I pretend to be a computer programmer. I program in a Language called M
5. I am the youngest of 4 boys. My mom is 85 now and had me when she was 43. My brothers are all over 60.

Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon

2008-01-06T12:24:00.000-08:00

This is how I wish we raced here in America. That's a cool vid of Herenveen and how much the Dutch appreciate Shani and speedskating.

This is the Shani that I know. Here's an interview I found that was right after the Olympics. He's a skater and now a dad. I still can't believe that more than his WRs. You can see his love for skating even though he is a pro.

Here's the Teri's awesome pics from yesterdays's Short Track in Park City. I raced against my block chasing partner Jonathan Valdivia and Matt from Oklahoma. Matt's doing well for skating a short time. Great kids those two. They listen to me alot more than I would to anyone when I was under 20. It's great when they both ask questions and listen to me. I barely held Jonathan off for the win. He has improved so much so fast. See his progression video:

http://youtube.com/profile?user=javald

I made a nice pass in the 1000m right after he passed me. Hopefully he has the video.

I got the lucky 1 spot in the 500 and lead it start to finish. Jon was worried about falling as the ice was chipping out a little. I thought he might get me as I was having issues as well. 1500m he took it out hard with like 10 to go and it was a diefest. Only I died hard with like 3 to go. I mean HARD! Fun relay then a fun? 3000m.
It was great watching all the races. I can see the progress most everyone has made. It made me realize why I love skating not so much for winning but for the competition. It's nice when you win obviously. I could have raced Masters but mixed it up with kids less than 1/2 my age. I wish more skaters here came out for this. I had no idea who would show up. The year before I got 4th in SR men as most all of Mike Kooreman's New Edge group came out.

http://picasaweb.google.com/ipickphotos/UtahWinterGamesShortTrack

ST in Park City

2008-01-04T13:38:00.001-08:00

Come on down. Lots of fun. Last year Eric Heiden was there giving out the medals. If you haven't seen this new rink in Park City you need to.

WASATCH SPEEDSKATING ASSOCIATION & THE PARK CITY SPEEDSKATING CLUB present
Short Track Speedskating Event, Sanctioned by U.S. Speedskating

Location: Park City Ice Arena
600 Gilmor Way
Park City, UT 84060

Date: January 5, 2008

Time: 10:45-11:15 a.m. Registration
1:15 -11:30 a.m. Warm-up
11:30-11:45 p.m. Resurface
11:45-2:00 p.m. Races
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Awards Ceremony, Pizza Party

Entry Fee: $15.00 Pre-Register & $25 Day of Race Registration
Cash or Checks made payable to the Park City Speedskating Club
Send entries to Utah Winter Games, P.O. Box 718, Park City UT 84060

Awards: Medals will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers

Refreshments: All competitors will join in a Pizza party following the races.
Guest may join the Pizza Party at a cost of $10.

For Info: David Harris
(435) 658-4311 davidharris10@comcast.net
Michael Drews
801-561-7761 drewsxmi@xmission.com

WASATCH SPEEDSKATING ASSOCIATION &
THE PARK CITY SPEEDSKATING CLUB

AGE CATEGORIES

Pony……………. 10 years & under Master I…………..26 to 39
Junior……………11 to 15 Master II...………40 years of age or older
Senior……………16 to 25

Novice_________ Male___________

Open __________ Female__________

Name_________________________ Telephone__________

Address____________________________________________

State________ Zip__________ Birth Date__________________

Age__________ (As of July 1, 2007)

Equipment Required: All skaters must wear long pants and long sleeve shirts, gloves and helmets
(shin guards and neck guards are recommended)

Waiver and Release:
This waiver must be read and signed before the participant will be permitted to take part in the UTAH WINTER GAMES SHORT TRACK COMPETITION on January 5, 2008 in Park City, Utah

BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, THE PARTICIPANT AFFIRMS HAVING READ AND AGREED TO THE AGREEMENT. IN CONSIDERATION of my involvement in the sport and activities under the auspices of US Speedskating, the Wasatch Speedskating Association, and the Park City Speedskating Club,

I acknowledge, appreciate, and agree that:
1. I risk bodily injury, including paralysis, dismemberment, disability, and death, and while particular rules of my sport, equipment, and personal training and discipline may reduce this risk, this risk of injury does exist, as well as the risk of damage to or loss of property.
2. I knowingly and freely assume all such risks, both known and unknown, even if arising from the negligence of the releasees or others.
3. I willingly agree to comply with the stated and customary terms and conditions for participation. If, however, I observe any unusual or unnecessary hazard during my presence or participation,
4. I, for myself and on behalf of my heirs, assigns, personal representatives, and next of kin, hereby release, hold harmless, and promise not to sue US Speedskating, the Wasatch Speedskating Association, or the Park City Speedskating Club, or other sponsoring organizations, their officers, volunteers, staff, sponsors and/or agents (“releasees”), with respect to any and all injury and loss arising from my participation, whether caused by the negligence of the releasees or otherwise.
I have read this Release of Liability and Waiver Agreement, fully understand its terms, and sign it freely and voluntarily.

Participant’s Signature ______________________________________ Date _______

Parent or Legal Guardian (if skater is under 18)_________________________________

Participant’s Name (Printed) ______________________________________

MEDALS

Complaint Free World

2008-01-01T20:55:00.000-08:00

This non-profit organization contemplates the positive impact of a complaint free world. Suggesting that people try to remain complaint free for 21 days, and after that, they say, uncomplaining behavior will turn into habit. Cool concept!

http://www.acomplaintfreeworld.org/index.html

Back to training

2007-12-31T22:29:00.001-08:00

Lessons learned from US Champs. If you get sick 3 weeks b4 races get a good training week in the week before then taper. I basically did race prep for 2 weeks. Carla Langenthal and I chatted about sub par performances and her story was similiar to mine. Sick 3 weeks out from trials and race prep for 2 weeks. No real training since figured it was too late.
Don't change equipment within a few months of competitions (although I've had boots that worked right away?, blades maybe not after this weekend). Don't skimp on endurance workouts during the season. Skating is a combo of strength, technique, endurance, speed and power. I had great endurance coming off the bike but didn't do anything since september. I'll just have to ride the trainer although i'd rather put a gun to my head.
Got in some good endurance training today with Peter Schotting's coaching. He is a legend in the sport and you can tell he's a professional coach. Skated with Izzy's dad (Al Izykowski), Erin Andrews and Mark Chrysler. Peter Schotting is a wealth of knowledge that I am excited to start working with here for real in SLC. Saw the Short Trackers on the hockey rink today. Apolo was there as was Ryan Leveille and other short trackers. Met Glenn Koshi from Bont. Really cool guy from Cali.

Bummer that after yesterday's races I was feeling great and today woke up ready to race again. Feel like I could race the next couple days as well. Rumor is that Catherine Rainey and Chad Hedrick trained thru the US LT Champs. I asked my pairmate Dan Beck yesterday after the 1000m how the race was. He said he was so tired and had a crappy opener. That's probably because he wasn't as well rested as me coming in. Looks like he skated a PB on Sat on the 1000m. I knew with my opener of 18.03 that 1:13 was going to be hard to get but I kept fighting.
Happy New Year. Quiet night for me at home with the wife.

US Long Track Championships Day 4

2007-12-31T19:49:00.000-08:00

Switched to my trustworthy Maple Aluminum blades for today. I was talking to Roscoe (Bob Fenn) about switching blades so close to a big competition. He said you guys don't need trainers you need psychologists.
The 1000m is a good distance for me. I remember when I first started. Joe Franz who was an awesome skater and inliner said that I will be a good 1000m skater. Weird how he knew. And Paul Marchese said I would be a good crit rider then too. I had no idea what a crit was (criterium bike race). Funny thinking about that.

I used the 500m as a warmup and wanted to skate relaxed and technical. I did that and it felt good. Bummed I didn't go faster but boy was I consistently slow (for me) on the 500m 38.36, 38.38 and 38.40 i believe. The last one was relaxed and much less effort and felt better on my old blades.

I like what Andrew said about his results Sat.....

"Even so, I popped off a great (for me) 500m today, 37.12, in some pretty slow ice conditions. That time was much faster than I thought I would skate this year.
It’s only good enough for 16th place of the 34 sprinters. But in the race vs. myself, I am quite satisfied. Long track is weird like that. "

Ditto for me today in the 1000m (1:14.2?) , it was only good for 20th place but in the race of me vs me it was ok. I have gone 1:13 three times and 1:14s now twice. I was really thinking that I would skate a PB (less than 1:13.51) but it wasn't to be. I was thinking 1:12 or 1:11. I am a "weekend" warrior as some skaters have said to me. Funny story before racing Saturday, I texted Andrew at 10pm about the changed start time and said I was doing laundry, folding clothes, and cleaning cat litter
:( . He texted me back saying he was doing the same....lol. That's the life of a married "grown up" speedskater.
That made me smile seeing that. If you don't know what a typical day of a Long Track skater is here you go. The latest start time we had was 10am....move everything up for earlier starts (9am on regular Weekend Time Trials).

7am or much earlier : wake up (remember I'm the last minute type. I think the extra sleep is worth more than a couple of more minutes warming up)
- Eat small breakfast, Get everything together for the day. Food, drinks, etc and take all my sharpening stuff, bender, gauge, etc.
7:40am leave for rink
8:05am arrive at rink
8:05-8:35 get moving (jog, spin) stretch, yoga, etc.
8:40-9:20 (sometimes 8:50) warmup on the ice with slow laps, drills, do some accels (250m from 500m start line), roll starts (from a slow roll do a start for 40-100m), standing start and anything else I feel I need. I need to warm up slowly on the ice and it helps to get on earlier so I can jump on a few accels with skaters. I was lucky Sat to jump on Kip Carpenter for a couple. Sunday Andrew led me on one once I was fully warm. The first day I got too excited and jumped on an accel to early. I need to warmup slowly.
9:20-9:50 relax in the lockerroom with legs up. Hopefully not sharpen but many days I was grinding away.
9:50 National Anthem (stand at attention and be grateful that I live in the greatest country on the planet, even though I'll be the first to criticize the current administration). It drives me crazy at Nationals when I see skaters "warming up" during the National anthem. I just want to slap them on the side of the head.
10:00 women's 500m. do some running starts off the starters pistol. turn cable with the Trainer and watch races. Cheer for skaters i know.
10:15 get suit on and come up from the tunnel and do some jumps, dryskate jumps, sprints.
15 minutes before race get on the ice and do an accel and roll start at the very least
5 min pre race sit on the bench and relax and get ready.
Race

sometimes do warmdown laps sometimes not. Get off the ice and spin then chill out till the 1000m in 2 hours. Eat and drink something. Repeat stuff above about 45 minutes from my 1000m.

After 1000m skater cool down laps then get off the ice and do a 20 minute running interval workout to flush lactate and stretch. Talk to some people and relax then leave the rink at 2-2:30. Total time at the rink for two race 6-7 hours. It's tough when you are doing laundry at 10pm at night. I have to be thankful to my wife who makes alot of this happen. I don't know how I will do it when we have kids. I'll have to get them into speedskating.

US LT Trials Day 3

2007-12-29T20:42:00.000-08:00

Downer for me today. 2.5 seconds slower on the 1000m than two months ago. Why? Too much rest after being sick, new blades, weight gain, not enough endurance training, just had a bad start (slip off the line), .6 slower start, too much Short Track, not enough Long Track, too tight.........why why why.
I've heard someone say that after a bad race you have 30 minutes to analyze it then that's it. Well today I've been thinking about it all day. Enough.
I just hooked up my old blades which are 18 inches and more balanced than the new Maple Lasers I have. I'll get em tommorow for sure.
Highlight of the day today. KIP CARPENTER! He was pushing to stay ahead of Tucker on the inner then fell HARD. Tucker got by without incident. Kip cut his ankle. I'm not sure who stitched him up but he had 6 staples and a few stitches in his ankle. He reskated like 5 minutes later. He might have been out of a job with DSB but Kip is a warrior. He went on to rip a bloody 35.1 then win the 1000m. Wow that's the story of legends that he can tell his grandkids.

p.s. - I just read andrew's account and he mentions Kipper. Sohmy also said Elli killed it which she did. I didn't have much time since there are only 24 hours in a day. Kip's story seems to be the top one of the day. If this was the Olympics you would have seen a 10 minute human drama story about it for sure. I congratulated Elli on kicking my butt yesterday and really for skating PBs. I know her skating well. She was very happy. Good for her. She has worked so hard for so long and her personals were from way back in 2003. That shows the hard work is paying off. Sometimes too much hard work makes you go slower as well. I asked her what did it. Of course, she has no idea. This sport is so hard and weird. Kip said one time that you do all these things to skate well but when you finally pop a good one it's hard to know exactly why. I agree.
As I said before there are a hundred stories and we tend to focus on the winnenrs most times. The other story is the number of Short Trackers kicking it on the Long Track. Look at the results they really made it harder to get top 10 (Cat 1) at trials.

US Long Track Champs

2007-12-28T18:13:00.000-08:00

I'm alive, moving, have shelter and breathing so things are well. Skating has been a struggle the past two days. Results are up on usspeedskating.org under results. I skipped the 10k today.

Funny story today. I skated my 5k yesterday in a world of hurt for the last 5 laps. I had my hands on my knees and was pushing whole straights like this and turn for like half the race. It was tough and embarrissing. I blew up hard but gutted it out. I got a few comments from people today how they liked my pain face yesterday. What kept me going was knowing i had a shot at a PB. I missed my PB by 2 tenths!!! The time I did 7:17 b4 was in 2003. I opened in 34s then the last 6 laps went 33s and it was easy!!! Not this race!

Anyways, Tim Hoffman who respect so much as a skater was telling me how that's happened to everyone. He said he died at Oly trials 02 from 30s to 37 and was blown with hands on legs. He said Derek Parra had a world cup 5k where he was ahead a half lap then blew up and lost by a half lap. Made me feel better to hear that. It happens to the best of them I guess. I still don't know how I skated 7 32 second laps in a 3k back in early season without a problem???? Wish I could do that now.

Hopefully, the weekend will go better for me. I'm paired with JP Kepka tommorow on the 500. That just got me pumped for tommorow. I hope JP can get some good power on the Long Track. I see he raced low 38s way back in November. He has alot of pop so I expect him to go alot faster than that. My PB is 37.4 and I would like to see a 37 something tommorow. I just have to focus on the process and the results will follow. My turn entries I really need to fix up for tommorow.

Here's the sched tommorow.....
Saturday, 29 December 2007

Warm-up 8:15am - 9:05am

Resurface 9:05am - 9:30am

National Anthem 9:35am - 9:38am

Races Start 9:45am

Distances:

500m Ladies 11 pairs

Timing Change

500m Men 4 pairs

Resurface 20 minutes

500m Men 14 pairs

Full Resurface 25 minutes

1000m Ladies 12 pairs

Timing Change

1000m Men 4 pairs

Resurface 20 minutes

1000m Men 15 pairs

START LIST
MEN 500 m
UTAH OLYMPIC OVAL SAT 29 DEC 2007 START TIME
WR 34.03 WOTHERSPOON Jeremy (CAN) 9 NOV 2007 Salt Lake City (USA)
TR 34.03 WOTHERSPOON Jeremy (CAN) 9 NOV 2007 Salt Lake City (USA)
Pair Lane No. Name Nation
1 I 124 HALL Maurice USA
O
2 I 148 SLIVOCKA Joseph USA
O 106 BEDFORD Ryan USA
3 I 115 DEFRANCO Nate USA
O 142 OCHOWICZ Alex USA
4 I 130 KUCK Jonathan USA
O 140 NAHRWOLD Paul USA
5 I 118 EATON Caleb USA
O 146 RUSK Walter USA
6 I 129 KEPKA J.p. USA
O 108 BOUDREAU Brian USA
7 I 127 HOTCHKISS Matthew USA
O 113 CREVELING Chris USA
8 I 116 DUCKER Laurence USA
O 137 MARK Alex USA
9 I 152 SWIDER-PELTZ Jeffrey USA
O 104 BARRETT Colton USA
10 I 134 LOVE Andrew USA
O 131 LAWRENCE Robert USA
11 I 138 MARSICANO Trevor USA
O 147 SHANAHAN Matthew USA
12 I 105 BECK Daniel USA
O 133 LOBELLO Anthony USA
13 I 123 GREER Kreg USA
O 151 STEWART Donald USA
14 I 149 STEIN-STEWART Mike USA
O 144 PEARSON Nick USA
15 I 112 CHOLEWINSKI James USA
O 145 PLUMMER Matt USA
16 I 107 BLUMEL Mike USA
O 121 GOFF Tyler USA
17 I 102 AUSSPRUNG Brent USA
O 141 NEEDHAM Christopher USA
18 I 110 CARPENTER Kip USA
O 120 FREDRICKS Tucker USA

: SSM010101_C51A 1.0 translation for PRNDATETIME FRI 16:51
SPEED SKATING .
START LIST
MEN 1000 m
UTAH OLYMPIC OVAL SAT 29 DEC 2007 START TIME
WR 1:07.00 KOSKELA Pekka (FIN) 10 NOV 2007 Salt Lake City (USA)
TR 1:07.00 KOSKELA Pekka (FIN) 10 NOV 2007 Salt Lake City (USA)
Pair Lane No. Name Nation
1 I 133 LOBELLO Anthony USA
O 148 SLIVOCKA Joseph USA
2 I 132 LEVEILLE Charles USA
O 124 HALL Maurice USA
3 I 129 KEPKA J.p. USA
O 137 MARK Alex USA
4 I 115 DEFRANCO Nate USA
O 146 RUSK Walter USA
5 I 118 EATON Caleb USA
O 140 NAHRWOLD Paul USA
6 I 104 BARRETT Colton USA
O 142 OCHOWICZ Alex USA
7 I 127 HOTCHKISS Matthew USA
O 134 LOVE Andrew USA
8 I 152 SWIDER-PELTZ Jeffrey USA
O 113 CREVELING Chris USA
9 I 131 LAWRENCE Robert USA
O 143 ORTEGA Liam USA
10 I 106 BEDFORD Ryan USA
O 130 KUCK Jonathan USA
11 I 105 BECK Daniel USA
O 135 MACKY Ron USA
12 I 116 DUCKER Laurence USA
O 108 BOUDREAU Brian USA
13 I 122 GORMAN Jonathon USA
O 147 SHANAHAN Matthew USA
14 I 112 CHOLEWINSKI James USA
O 151 STEWART Donald USA
15 I 138 MARSICANO Trevor USA
O 149 STEIN-STEWART Mike USA
16 I 145 PLUMMER Matt USA
O 121 GOFF Tyler USA
17 I 102 AUSSPRUNG Brent USA
O 141 NEEDHAM Christopher USA
18 I 120 FREDRICKS Tucker USA
O 107 BLUMEL Mike USA
19 I 110 CARPENTER Kip USA
O 144 PEARSON Nick USA
Legend
No Starting Number I Inner Lane O Outer Lane
WR World Record TR Track Record
Page 1 / 1

sorry i just have the men....

500 M final US Short Track Champs

2007-12-24T21:21:00.000-08:00

500 Meter A Final - thanks to Rich G for the vid

Just found this vid....changes my view of the pass b4 the apex. That's why there are 5 refs out there. I'm thinking this was a good call now? Guess I'm a flip flopper....lol.

Please leave your comments. I still think that it was a great pass to the apex. After that it's a gray area but some people think it's black and white. The gray area of short track i think is what drives many people crazy and even causes them to go Long Track.

Here's Jon & I with the rest of the corner water crew. It looks like we are just sitting on the job but we are resting while the race is still slow. It's funny one of my co workers wanted to know if I was having fun. One of the refs overheard and said people think we are just having fun out here. It's actually work.
I went out for blocks 3 times in the relay. I felt like I was getting ready for a push as I really had to pick it up to get out of the way. I did some accels to get out of Jordan and Apolo's way as they were getting ready to come onto the track. That was a rush for sure. The refs complemented Jon and I on a job well done. Actually, I complement everyone from the skaters to the volunteers for a job well done.

Day 2 - "That's Short Track"

2007-12-22T21:44:00.000-08:00

Things were hectic today. 500 meters all day. The ice was a little variable today. We were laying a bucket of water each race. The men's semi final was run and we had too much water there because the ice wasn't freezing as well. Also, we started panicking because we noticed the water was running towards the boards. Yes the ice was sloped on our end towards the boards a tad during one point. No one realizes how many things are happening at once during a meet. It looks like everything is staying the same but nothing stays the same in life. The ice temp can change a little, the building temp can change, how people are feeling change, even the timing equipment can change, the starter's gun didn't go off for Anthony Lobello and he got a false start......nothing is static for sure.

The second mens semi we cleaned up the ice and that was I think were JP Kepka set an american record. It's hard being a volunteer crew. I don't do this professionally for sure. We were in a rhythm after the water race. We used less water and just didn't dump a bucket. Men's races needed more for sure. You should see the ruts after they race!!! One race I had to fix 4 holes in the ice on our end alone. Full contract racing out there. We were only using the middle 3 tracks after the heats and going from the last one back to the first left a lot of water on the inside. We have like a minute to sqweege, move blocks, lay water, sqweege again and look for divots and clean up slush.
We saw it once they starte racing and it was too late. Jordan and some others were soaked. Sorry! We watched it later and were dialed in after that. Not much time between races to do everything we need to do. Enough of my day.

Racing was exciting. First time I think that Apolo was DQ'd in an American race. Jordan Malone was DQ'd too in the final and I didn't see it. JR Celski was DQ'd in a heat and that was his day. I don't have any comments other than "that's short track." I've been doing this for a while and I still don't understand the calls. Yes I know there's impeding, cross tracking, etc. We need instant replay. Watch some of these World cups and tell me the top skaters don't move around a bit in their races. Everyone is deep tracking, Chinese tracking, etc etc. The funny thing today in the 500m final was I don't think there was any contact?? I'd like to see the video. You have 5 refs out there so they should get it right but I think there should be a camera above the rink. It would analyze your track and if you veered more than 5 % your Deked. But on the other hand, the races and calls are supposed to even out over time. Does anyone know where the results are from this meet? How could I forget? See them here....... I won't even say it....you know what I'm thinking right?

http://www.ohnozone.net/

US Short Track Champs

2007-12-21T23:22:00.000-08:00

Tonite I block chased on the ST. It was quick racing and fun to watch in between picking up a few blocks and laying down the water on the track. Gotta be careful out there as things happen quick. Highlights from today. Jeff Simon winning the 9 lap TT...1st time in 11 years Apolo has lost domestically?...apolo winning the 1500final with authority. It's funny in the A final, I was laying down one bucket of water each race per the refs. I thought we needed a bit more. Apolo asked me to put more water down b4 the final.....why not? There were some ruts still. He usually races from the back but tonite he hovered in 2/3 spot might have been shaken after losing or because there were 7 in the final. Lots of DQ's and contact like I said. I guess the C final only 2 raced because the points aren't worth it?????? Apollo was hovering around 2/3 spot most of the race. 1.5 to go he surges ahead then wins what looked like by a tad. My angle was facing the finish line. After the race my friend had video of the race. I watched it and there was a good gap. He threw in this surge with a half lap to go and got a 10 foot gap so quickly. Amazing. He's has that extra pop that others don't. The kids are pushing him and the depth is really deep. He hasn't raced in a bit and appeared rusty in the TT. Looked on tonite. What a relay team they will have when the dusts settles in 2010. There are so many good skaters thanks to Apolo. ST has taken off since 2002 in the US.

Anthony Lobello who I have trained with alot had some tough luck. I know someone hit him but not sure what happened. He won the B final handily. Skating ST with him day in a day out I see what an amazing talent he has. It blows my mind that people can pass him. You should see him dance around the track training. He should rock tommorow. He got 3rd in the TT and he does 1:24s just chillin. He did a couple already in practice this year. Keep fighting other New Edgers Anthony B, Nick Frank and Robert Lawrence.

I'd never seen this Celski kid skate. Really smooth. I didn't see the womens TT but how about Reutter shattering the world record and winning the 1500.

B group 1500m final 2:11?? I'm not sure who won that but it was fast. Was that right???? 2:11. Lots of contact in the A men's heats. I can't see anything on the ice level. I don't know how a human can really call this sport with all the angles and how fast it is. Why don't we just go to camera's above the track and in the corners and center ice????
Apparently the webcast was ok. Did anyone see me out there? See you in the morning. It was under 2 hours which was great.

www.usspeedskating.org/livefeed.php

My buddy John Diemont saw me and told me to wiggle my ears. I did. Did anyone see that???

SLC TTs Today & 48 Bike Races

2007-12-20T15:58:00.000-08:00

Summary from today.....
I think Chad Hedrick went 36 something but Andrew Love had him at the 100 with a 10.3.......the 1500 Chad Hedrick and Trevor Marsicano raced and went 1:49/1:50. Not sure if they were "going for it" or training. Looked like training. People said the ice was slow.

Paul Dyrud looked like he had a good 3k as did Pat Meek. Not sure who else did what. I raced Pat Meek in the 500. I stumbled off to a 10.7 or so and held him off barely. I wish we both went faster. Pat's a great distance skater. It wasn't bad for me but a second off my PB. Things are going according to plan though even though there is no plan.

Skated with Robert Lofgran at the oval. He's a bike stud and super strong. Not a bad speedskater as well. http://www.lofgrancoaching.com/
It reminded me of bike riding seeing him. I realize that I put a lot of hard work in for this skating season. 48 bike races....That's right I just looked at my training log and I did that many from March 24th to Sept 18th. Good thing I took 9 days off between skating and cycling. That's why my buddy Pete Dykstra called me the "crit machine". I like that and I like crits. Thankfully I didn't go down....knock on wood. The Tuesday night Worlds at RMR (Rocky Mountain Raceway) was a staple.

http://www.utahcritseries.com/Content.aspx?id=1

Great training for a cheap price and all guts and glory for bragging rights only. I think I won a couple of $10 gift certificates to Canyon bikes for a couple of preems. Big $$$. Did a few mountainous (for me) Road Races and the Big CottonWood Hillclimb. I have to say the Big cottonwood hillclimb was one of the best races/fundraisers I did all year. It was a good vibe, good food and good people. I know I'm ready to rock next week at the US Championships and am looking for reasons why in some ways.
Practice races today at the oval it was the Zen and the Art of Speedskating blog vs Flyin Brian blog on the 1000m. Head to head. I've raced Andrew a number of times in pack style but not sure we have ever done a metric race? He would have smoked me on the 500. It was nice to just be racing the clock with him to push me off the start. As Andrew says it was the "World Championships of RIGHT NOW" :) We have become good friends this past year training alot together so it was different today. I actually hoped we both went 1:13 or better today but it was a couple of clicks slower. It was a super close race and I passed him the last turn when he had the piano on his back. I'd easily give Andrew the W today for a huge personal next week when it counts.

Not only did I eke out a victory in the 1000m vs Andrew but more importantly this blog apparently has a higher lever of sophistication. My blog reading level

Get a Cash Advance

Andrew's blog's....

Check it.... http://www.criticsrant.com/bb/reading_level.aspx

I haven't seen the lap times but I think it wasn't that bad of a die for the sprinter stud Andrew Love. We were even or actually i might have been ahead at 200m. I was like yea baby that must have been a good start but Andrew slipped a few times he said on the opening turn. I had good focus today because I couldn't have told you what he did that first turn and i was on the inner. I thought he would possibly go "over the top" of me and I wanted to really get it going. I guess our openers were only 18.0? Too bad. He had a good first turn that I'm sure the Trainer sessions that we have been doing helped.
The 1st lap he was ahead 10 meters maybe but aparently talking to him he got a super draft on the backstretch. I was really surprised because I have pretty good turns. I have to work on my turn entries for next week. They weren't good. If you miss the entry then you have to wait till the apex to get back on track. I had Scott Koons check my blades. My left didn't feel too good out there. Only my 2nd time on the new Maple Laser Steels (17.5)...excuses excuses. He said that it's hard to skate with the left bent the wrong way in the middle. I'm looking forward to getting that fixed up. Thanks Scott!
Andrew was pretty far ahead at the backstretch and I didn't think I would catch him. Funny thing for me was I had a meeting at work from 11 - 12. I raced the 500 luckily at 10:50 or so. Got on the meeting via conf call spun then got my skates on and sat on the bench just a few pairs b4 my race. I answered some questions on the call with my skates on. Put the phone down and about 1:15 later I was back on the call. Now that's working remotely. I worked last night till late to get my project done for work but on this call they wanted more and more and more which is like any business users. It seems like my life is unmanageable but that's the great part about it. It all works out somehow. I am very grateful.

I was thinking at the start line that there was no other place I wanted to be than right there in that moment. That's a powerful thought. I didn't think about the call for work or about anything. I had the blank mind state I would call it. It was good. I starting thinking/judging my race at 200m when I checked to see where Andrew was. Well I couldn't miss him he was right next to me. Got focused again and was thinking again at 1 lap to go (shit he's way ahead? How'd that happen?).....then thinking again on the backstretch.....Andrew doesn't look like he usually does? He wasn't dying I think till the last turn.... last turn I just stayed down and grittetd it out. I'd be curious to see our lap times.

I saw my good friend Marty Medina from Rochester speedskating club. He's a fellow tech geek with his own company and a many time Old Man Nationals champ.....
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/1/692/2B3

Tommorow is the US ST Nationals at the Oval in SLC. My bike buddy and Deseret News writer friend has a great entry here....Crit racing at the oval. It's going to be a throw down (Friday 6pm (1500), Sat 11am (500), Sun 10am (1000m - 3k - relay). Should be awesome. I'll be block chasing. Last time I did that I was with Steve Hallisey 11 years ago. How you doing Steve? Miss you guys at Baystate.

http://irideiwrite.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/crit-racing-at-the-oval/

Yes it is a crit on skates and that's why I like short track. Marty was asking me if I was going to do Master Nationals in his age group. I don't know why he would be concerned. He schooled my last time in Madison two years ago. He's got a bag of tricks in his repoirtaire on the ST. I'm a straight line skater with a few tricks. I hope to get to Old Man Nationals in the LT and ST this year and race my age group. Man I'm 42. I don't feel it.

Tapering & High Altitude training & Best Burger in SLC

2007-12-16T16:27:00.000-08:00

I've been sick most of the week after coming back from Pittsburgh for work. I ate very well on the company dime Sunday thru Friday. My new boss was here from Scottsdale. He's a cool guy who went to high school with Tom Brady.
I hadn't put anything on paper for the taper but I am someone who needs a mental and physical taper of 21 days so things are going according to plan. Even though there is no plan. US Long Track championships on the 27th is my next competition. They asked me to block chase for the US ST Champs next week and I think i will. It's going to be a throw down for sure. I did it last time in 1996 Boston when Appolo won at 14 years old. It's very intense and you need to keep focused otherwise you can really get hurt.

I found some good articles on tapering which I already know but needed to hear again. One thing I'm going to take from Sue Ellis's one is to lift closer to competition than I normally do. Nothing long mostly max stuff to keep strength. I don't like to do huge weight since you move slow. I don't know what my max squat is but I've been doing 475 with 3 sets of 10!!! I love lifting. I believe Box squats are the way to go. i do the max strength and the speed day. Andrew Love is a big box squatter as well. (http://www.elitefts.com/documents/box-squat.htm)

2 x 2 @605 (i don't use belts....best abs wo you get is pulling 450+ off the rack) this isn't me...just gives you an idea of a solid box squat

http://ezinearticles.com/?Running-Advice---The-Importance-of-Tapering&id=484591

http://www.ellismethod.net/files/Tips/March06.html

The running article explains the taper well by a speedskater....When asked about the secret to her successes, triple Olympic speed skating champion Yvonne Van Gennep remarked, "There is no secret. It just comes down to training hard and then putting on the handbrake."

I put the handbrake on super hard because of work and sickness but I'm sure it's for the best. God puts things in my life which I don't understand till later. One great thing is I had a PB at work this week. Making huge progress on my projects. Life is a balancing act and I find that i have 3-4 balls I'm juggling (skating, work, wife and family). One mentor told me the key is when one ball is in the air is to not look at or think about the other balls. Great advice but i don't always do it well.

I did do some high altitude training yesterday while most of my competitors were racing at the Oval.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=6qT1Y8VUkDA

http://www.speedskatingresults.com/index.php?section=2&competition=405&page=info/competitiondetails.php

I went up to 10K feet at Alta and pointed the boards downhill. What an awesome day that was. Just be careful driving down as it was a standstill (see ksl video). Some lady plunged off a cliff in Little Cottonwood and luckily got caught up in trees. We had a long ride down then topped off the perfect day with a Garlic Burger and some drinks at the Cotton Bottom.

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=2338093

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=cotton+bottom+salt+lake+city

If you are in SLC. The Cotton Bottom should be your first stop. Don't be scared by the fact its a dive bar that bikers sometimes frequent. I'd actually never eaten inside there. Here's some details on it i found.....

The Cotton Bottom Inn, actually a tavern, is located at 6200 South at the base of Big Cottonwood Canyon inside a low building with a wood-shingled roof. Outside, a faded wooden sign features a bunny rabbit hoisting a beer.

Inside is a dimly lit beer hall with an L-shaped bar. The room, just large enough to hold a pool table, is packed daily with a crowd of ski bums, tourists and grizzled locals.

Then there is the garlic burger. Served on one-third of a toasted French loaf baked daily on special order for the inn, the Cotton Bottom’s garlic burger comes with tomato, lettuce, lots of onions and a bag of chips. Cheese or no cheese, your call. You don’t so much eat a Cotton Bottom garlic burger as have one melt in your mouth. The garlic flavor is subtle; the home-made patty comes off like layers of a meatloaf. Best, the Cotton Bottom doesn’t overcook its hamburgers.

The famous burger came to the Cotton Bottom courtesy of Helen Chlepas, a former inn employee who took over ownership of the bar 40 years ago by paying the lease as foreclosure was looming. “She went from being employed to the boss on the same day,” said current owner Tony Chlepas, who has managed the inn since his mother’s death in 2003. Tony began working at the Cotton Bottom in 1976, dropping out of Westminster College to help after an arson fire damaged the building.

The Cotton Bottom had a “big burger” before Helen Chlepas, said Tony. She “added her little Greek touch” and the garlic.

“It’s the simplicity of it that makes it good,” he said. “It’s all just really good, fresh ingredients. Not any one single part of it dominates. You just taste a little bit of everything.”

The burger makes the business, he said. “Everybody likes to come in and have a burger once and a while. You get a craving. You’ve got to have it.

Pittsburgh Speedskating

2007-12-10T20:32:00.000-08:00

I'm in Cranberry, PA for work. I am an amateur skater. Had a great time doing a workout with the club here. By coincidence I googled the rink they were skating at and it was right next to my hotel. How weird. I stopped by and watched practice led by Korean Coach K. He ran a very good practice then I joined them for dryland after. I learned some new things. The Korean style warmup/stretch routine and some other technical things. This club is lucky to have a professional coach here. Check em out here.

http://www.pittsburghspeedskating.org/

Light the Fire Within

2007-12-06T22:16:00.000-08:00

The relay team heading the parade following Amy Peterson. Rusty Smith, Ron Biono, Dan Weinstein and Apolo Ohno

Me and Derek Parra at the Opening Ceremonies.

Danny and me at the Opening.

After talking with Andrew about his Mexico experience I found this on youtube (see bottom of page). This was such a spiritual experience. Mitt Romney said the presence of God was there....i agree. I learned some things watching this video. I didn't know that Glenn Close said, "None of life's storms can darken the human spirit, once lit by the fire within."
This was one of the best moment of my skating career. There was Bruce Rowley leading us, Lexi Riley, Paul Olson, Kyle Brown, Mike Harms, me in the back of the pack getting a draft and someone else who is slipping my mind??? That was a long long time ago but watching this tonite gives me goose pimples reliving that night. I haven't watched this or listened to the music in a long long time.

We were part of an Emmy award winning show! The opening ceremonies won the following:

Nomination and Winner:
Outstanding Art Direction For A Variety Or Music Program
Outstanding Choreography
Outstanding Costumes For A Variety Or Music Program
Outstanding Directing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Program
Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multi-Camera) For VMC
Programming
Outstanding Music Direction

I remember that day was very very cold. Getting there in the morning there was a snow storm. I remember warming up and talking to "Jumpin Joe". He is a local SLC skater and former bronze medalist who does the flip at the end. He was very concerned because there was alot of wind that day. One of the balloons that an airialist would hang from popped the night b4. No time for a custom replacement. He was concerned about doing jumps and quads with a big wind.

I saw Derek Parra, Danny Weinstein, Jason Headstrand and Bart Schounten after we performed. Also, got a shot of the relay team. What a night. I got pictures with Jim Shea, Matt Lauer and Al Roker from the Today show. What great people they were.

The show was amazing considering we had dress rehearsals Mon and Wed and hadn't had a clean run. We lost Lexi on Wed night to a collision with a figure skater and the rehearsals the week before were a nightmare. Camera men getting run over on the ice. The camera guys who would get the on ice shots showed up at the last minute. Talk about a crowded ice and small. We did do one right hand turn as well as I remember. We had some crash into an ice chard guy and take him out from behind.

So the Friday night real show at the Opening Ceremonies seemed like a crap shoot. 60,000 fans and a few billion on live TV. I know the choregrapher Sara Karahara and the producers were stressed the last week. Amazingly, everything went off without a hitch. There was a spirit there for sure and with all the Utah Indian tribe together it was awesome. I shook G.W. Bush's hand just before we went out as he came off after the World Trade Center flag.
I put my politics aside that night but here's an interesting story. I was at the CT speedskating camp in Lake Placid after Christmas in 2001. Jack Shea (32 500m Gold Medalist) spoke as the torch went thru LP. It was cold on the oval and there were at least a thousand people there. He spoke mostly how the Olympics represent peace to him and how we were going to goto war with Iraq and how wrong it was. Unfortunately, he was killed by a drunk driver a couple of weeks later.
Derek held that flag then I got up in the morning (noon) and cheered him on to an amazing 5k Silver. KC Boutiette though led it off with a gutsy 5k with a bad back. People forget about that. I believe that gave everyone confidence.

Mexi-Kraan in Mexico

2007-12-03T19:35:00.001-08:00

Check this out!!! this is so cool. Watch the video. I talked to Kim Kraan today. Sebastian Cano, Chris Creveling, Jessica Smith, Jonathan Garcia, Arnin Ruelas and Andrew Love were in Mexico as embassadors of our sport.

http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/12034591.html

http://www.reforma.com/

http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/465001.html

http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/coberturas/esp173.html

Team Skating 101 & World Records

2007-12-01T21:56:00.000-08:00

Koreans show how you team skate. Notice how they look to make sure who is passing and 3rd place protects the top 2. Nice.

So ST WR on the 1000m is hard to get because you never see anyone really go for it off the line. But here it looks like the Koreans were going for it. Part 2 of Team skating. Watch the Canuck Hamelin show how to deep track. That looks like a borderline DQ in my opinion. FYI, at the oval this morning rumor was that Apolo skated a 1:23 1000m TT on Friday morning. He will go 1:21 in the 9 lap TT at US Championships on Dec 21st is my prediction.

Final lesson on team skating.....watch the pass at 3:06 by Song. Game over there. I'm not criticizing them for this. They have guys that are making finals and if I was coaching that's how you want to skate it.

here's a fair team fight.

Yea baby!!!!!!!

Also heard today that Adam Callister from the New Edge kicked it on Thursday morning. Skating 7 laps tempos in the low 10s including a 10.0! Way to go Adam!

Cool videos (crashes) and Electric Eye

2007-11-28T17:54:00.000-08:00

Can someone tell me how to get the videos in my blog not just a link? Here's some crash videos after I have seen and heard (SSSHHH....BUHHHHHHHHHHHHH) about a dozen crashes on ST the past two days........not as much SSSSHH on short track vs long track......

Anyways here's the scariest LT fall I've seen and it's Tyler Goff. Mike Blumel it looks like posted this one and a couple others.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osPrtcAO2yg (it looks like the inner pair entered the turn too tight and not deep enough)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYM-Kr3_X7k (wonder what happened....looked bad)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-L6ln2d2fQ (ouch)

Has anyone heard about the timing debate at the last world cup in Calgary. Well the Zebras gave the W to Shani in this race. Shani won this race by .02. What do you think? They are saying that Kuipers skate was OFF the ice???? It makes you question whether the computers are always right? I guess it's better than the last sport I did which was hockey. Sort of like the HAL 2000. The Electric Eye is always right....we put alot of faith in computers and this is scary. Makes you question timing for sure. The finish line judge said at the SLC WC that the refs take the time off the whatever part of the skate is on the ice. Shani would have tied Jeremy there if he kept his foot down he said.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYdcYW8R-ic

The Electric Eye....my high school musical taste.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVS6-sTZRhk&feature=related

Back to the Grind

2007-11-27T11:47:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving holiday was great. It started for me Wed morning when I hit the alarm button and went back to bed skipping ST practice. Visited the wife's family in Green River, Wy. Had great food, watched alot of football , slept alot and got back on my bike for a couple of short cold cold rides back in SLC and slept some more. I forgot how much I like riding my bike.

One thing about training hard which new people including myself back then don't realize is you need to rest for positive adaptations to occur. Stress (training) is the stimulus for growth but rest is when the growth occurs. I remember back in 2001 November seeing Catriona Lemay during the Can Ams. She was telling me how she had 4 or 5 days off and this was a couple of months before the Olympics.

One other thing that needs to be repeated. "The least amount of the most specific training which brings about continous improvement". That's a good motto for training. If you are going slower take a break or change something up.

My favorite show on TV is tonite. You really need to see Frank Caliendo. You can find some of his stuff from the 1st show last week on youtube. He's so talented. Here's a summary of the show. I don't get excited about much on TV but this is so funny. He had a great sketch about Jenna Bush's wedding night and her father's advice.

http://keithp23.blogspot.com/2007/11/frank-tv-to-hit-airwaves-this-week.html

As far as training goes, we are so lucky here to have some of the best skaters training here in ST and LT. Last night i had ZERO motivation to go to the rink. But once I got there I felt better. It was great to see familiar faces checking in (Leann sp?) and the building has a positive energy.

As I walked in the track/ice, I saw Apollo doing killer jumps with Izzy, Simon Cho (i remember that kid in Pittsburgh ST Nats when he was 4 feet tall doing perfect pivots), Alison Baver with Jimmy Jang taking them thru the rounds. Mike Drews was doing his sprint work outs. Anthony Lobello was on the bike doing something. Anthony said that he is in the US Championships and should do well. He did a 1:26 9 lap TT with what looked like 14 second laps. He is so talented. The drive, passion and work ethic of those around me got me motivated. I played hockey my whole life till I was 29 and I need to see others training. I'm not one for solo training but have gotten better on the bike with it.

Skated some laps on the LT last night then this morning got up early (it's still dark out before we get on the ice). It's really cool to see the sun rise thru the windows and glisten on the ST ice. We had a huge group as ST National guys/gals who aren't in Holland are here. Apollo showed up which was cool. I think I last skated with him in 96 in Boston at a club session there when Pat Wentland coached him. I just remember noticing how much pop he had in his legs back then.

We had a 9 lap TT on the docket but I passed on that one. Jonathon did a 1:35 a PB by 3 seconds. I raced 3 times last week (ST Ogden, LT club pack, and 9 lap TT). I felt like I just did a 9 lapper since that was the last time I skated ST.

Anthony Barthell fell early and seperated his shoulder. Heal quick buddy. He is one tough dude. Jessica Smith fell head first but was ok and Tina Koenig took a fast fall during 13 lappers. I think there might have been another couple of falls too. I didn't see Tina's as I was in the back of a huge group including Derek Parra's skaters. Chris Creavling and Sebastian Cano are leaving for Mexico with Mexi-Kraan for some rink opening. Sounds like fun.

Derek was back from spending time with his daugher and Florida and he said he wasn't feeling good. I wish I didn't feel that good as he is a weekend warrior skating before work. He's one our stronger guys. He doesn't have the gold card because he is weak. All I know is I hung in for a bit then jumped in the last few laps and Apollo was finishing them at 9.2. They were taking the first one out at my top speed which is 9.5. Those guys were working hard. You couldn't notice it during the skating (they look so relaxed). Relaxing is the key to speed.

One other guy who is in town is Chris Weaver who is the new development guy for US Speedskating. He was doing the same thing as me.....skating before work. I asked him how he was (great dude) and he said how could I not skate with ice here in the morning.

Mike Kooreman kept it all together this morning with Jimmy Jang coaching the others. Oh and Mike's wife Kelsey was on the bike when I got there with local bike stud Mike Sohm. She was still riding when I left like 2.5 hours later. That's cool and sums up my morning. Thank God for all the blessings in my life.

US Jr ST & Silver Derby

2007-11-17T22:26:00.000-08:00

Good luck today and tommorow to Oval SSC members Jerskater and Jvalid (Jerica Tandiman & Jonathan Valdivia) as they are competing in the US Jr ST Championships in Bay City. If anyone sees results let me know.

http://youtube.com/user/javald

We had the Silver Derby in Ogden today. It was an intimate gathering. Teri posted photos here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/ipickphotos/SilverDerby

It was super fun and the ice at the Ogden Ice Sheet is the best. It was fast, hard and grippy. I skated a PB in the 3k which was cool and had a fast 500m. We had two kids from the Ogden club and the usual suspects (Mike Drews, Tim Peck, Teri, myself and Adam). It was 5 races in 2 hours which was cool (1000, 500, 1500, 3k demo relay and 3k). Thanks to all the volunteers, coach Leif and Jay Glad for putting on this event for the 16th time. I love ST.

One kid from Odgen fell in the first race. he didn' have gloves or knee pads and came off the ice crying. Tim gave him some knee pads and I had extra gloves. He raced the rest of the day and had a smile on his face. That made it all worthwhile for me. You could see how excited they were when we did the relay. The last race was the 3k. The starter told the two kids it was 27 lap race. They asked if it was in relay format???? The starter told the kids that it was all 27 for one person. The kid had a puzzled look.....i'd have to agree to that. 27 laps? Yes 27 laps is a long way.

Ice to Inline camp?

2007-11-15T19:53:00.000-08:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=5nXZt1SWzcQ (Steel on Pavement)

Here's the real WHIP (Wheels to Ice?) program. It's been a pleasure to get to know some of these talented skaters. They have a great coach in Derek and he's made some huge gains with his skaters. I know there has been some negative feedback on this program but at least someone is getting extra funding. It's really brought alot of new faces to the ice here in SLC.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=8Bd6JcBB54k (Whip Program)

Gold Medal Contender for US Women's Long Track

2007-11-14T21:54:00.000-08:00

I don't know if you have heard of Cris McCann but I hear she is making huge progress towards a Gold Medal in Speedskating for 2010!!!! Check her out!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=4XEdls3DoP8

and the US Preview at PCTV

http://youtube.com/watch?v=cKqfX546QOc

Keep Improving

2007-11-13T22:39:00.000-08:00

I just found this site from the yahoo skate group (http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/Speed_skating/). Jeremy says some cool stuff on being a speedskater. I would ditto alot of what he says and it surprised me to hear this. I was expecting the usual blow by blow boring interview. Listen to it here (link below):

http://speedskating.ca/Audio_clips.cfm

Haven't listened to any others. I have to go to bed as 6am comes early.

As for this past weekend I could write a book about the skating at the World Cup. There are 100 people with a 100 stories and the best ones aren't always about the winners. But we as humans focus on the winners. Sometimes you learn more about yourself and a person when they lose. In any one speedskating race there are alot of losers if you define winning as 1st place.

World Cup Day 1

2007-11-09T21:47:00.000-08:00

My memories for today.

500m - Wotherspoon 9.59 opener wow i know that's fast for him. I focused on him the lap and watched his skating. Effortless speed. Enters 2nd turn so easy.....thinking he's not going for the record in my head. Looks too easy. His last outer looks good.....looks to be getting powerful pushes passing me. But he's not going fast (easy speed)......maybe 34.2/34.1.......what that was a 34.03....24.44 lap......wow.

First WR that did not have a benefit of an American draft on the backstretch. Actually what makes this one unreal was there was no draft at all. Great to see him back on top of his game. I was expecting a WR after 34.3 in a Calgary weekend TT.

Two Koreans Lee's both looked fast. Those fast moving short guys look alot faster than the long lean legs of Jeremy's effortless pushes.

I didn't get to the races till 7th pair. Kip had a good one but I missed it. Should be an interesting season on the 500m. Where does Wotherspoon go from here. 33? It's his first real race in a while. Good for him with his last two Olympic experiences. It appears that he just skated which I've talked about before. What attracted me to this sport before I could do it was how effortless the best make it look. That was one of those races that look easy.

1500m highlights - Bokko new Nor national record. Personals for the Norwegians all (Sverre, Christian and Michel). the young kid Stian fell hard. he's not skated ever at Calgary or SLC till last week.

Fabris - opens his own pace against pairmate and goes 26.2/26.4/26.6 To anyone who has ever done a 1500 (any human) this seems superhuman.

Wennemars/Davis battle.....great race. I look at the WR/TR.....WR doesn't change but TR does.....hmmm what happened. OMG he equaled the WR. strange.

Morrison surges coming out of the 3rd last turn on the inner and really puts the hammer down coming in.

Women's 1000m - I love the way the Chinese girl Wang skates. So nice technically. She swept the 500/1000. Good day for her.

Press Conference on the SLC World Cup

2007-11-09T10:12:00.000-08:00

Update: The isu website is up! http://www.isuresults.eu/2007-2008/worldcup/saltlakecity/

Jared Eborn writes about the oval and the lack of organization of the "press conference". They let the press know an hour before that there is a "press conference". Also, he has an entry today about an autograph session of the ST Team Sat night. There was no mention of the B group skating at 9am on most days and it looks like the isu.org website is down as well. No pairs or start times to be found anywhere and you wonder why we have only "our own fans" as my wife says.

http://irideiwrite.wordpress.com/2007/11/08/skinsuits-and-killer-quads/

Martin Hangii

2007-11-05T20:43:00.000-08:00

Some info about a World Cup skater I met at the oval last week. He hopped in during some of our laps. We raced on Saturday. He's a great guy and postive person here from Swissland. He is 38 years old and an ex hockey player and didn't start skating till he was 30. Wow can we have anymore in common.

We talked about our 500 on Saturday and we both were "tight" as he said. The time didn't matter he said as how we skated.....very tight and forcing it. How do you relax in a 500. The first thing is to loosen that jaw and RELAAX. I thought for sure we did a high 37 since I didn't miss any steps but when you don't have power in each push you go slower.

I'll be cheering for my new friend on the 1500 and 5k for the Swiss team this weekend. He said he's still trying to get the ice feel since he hasn't been on the ice that long. We take for granted here what others have to wait for. Quebec's Gaeton Boucher oval just opened this past weekend and Lake Placid's Bunny Sheffield oval will not open for another few weeks.

From Googling him, we talked briefly in the weight room before I skated Monday night. He is an inliner and I would assume strong since his forte is the longer races. He was obviously a high level inliner since he skated for Rollerblade way back in 2000. Here's a pretty impressive result.....

http://www.chez.com/rollercourse/results_paris.htm

Shani Davis will not skate SLC World Cup

2007-11-04T15:27:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: SHANI IS HERE AND WILL SKATE!
(Jared Eborn from DesNews has a good take on this)

http://irideiwrite.wordpress.com/2007/11/07/shani-will-skate-after-all/

http://www.shanidavis.org/

from Shani's website......any comments on this?

Shani will not skate Salt Lake City World Cup

10/30/07:USS Executive Director, Bob Crowley: "It has been decided that the two individuals that you requested to receive coaching credentials will receive an access credential to the Utah Olympic Oval for the World Cup event in Salt Lake City. They will not, however, receive on-ice or locker room privileges."

10/31/07: Since Shani does not train in a U.S. program and USS requires Shani to pay his own travel expenses to world cup events, I informed USS of Shani's withdrawal from the Salt Lake City World Cup.

11/2 Update:USS' reasoning for not allowing Shani's coach access to the ice and locker room area at world cup.Guy Thibault: "Maria [Lamb] made the national allround team. She accepted her position on the team but asked that Tom [Cushman] be on the ice for world cups & world championships. That request was denied back in August.The tickets will limit you to the bleachers area. The accreditation [that USS has offered Shani's coach] gives you [the coach] access to the side of the rink and the tunnel.I [Guy Thibault] didn't state that there was no policy [regarding private coaches]. I [Guy] said that there was nothing written that says we HAVE TO grant the [on ice] accreditation.I [Guy] didn't propose a new policy (at least not yet). Our philosophy is to limit as much as we can the access to the ice and support our actual coaches better."You or Shani will need to officially decline his position at the World cup in SLC for us to invite the alternate. Until we get a official NO in writting [DONE 11/1], we can not contact the alternate.Posted by daviscil.

Salt Lake City Weekend World TTs

2007-11-03T22:08:00.000-07:00

The World is in town and skaters from NED, SWE, GER, RUS, KZK, NOR, FRA, BEL DEN, SWI,FIN and USA raced today (12 countries). Results here.....

http://www.olyparks.com/uoo/competition_results.asp

http://speedskatingresults.com/

Highlights today in racing was seeing Bokko fail in his WR attempt on the 3k but skate a 3:40. Man that was great and this kid is flying right now. Expect big things out of him this year. Pechstein skated a 4:00 like clockwork as well. Kipper (Kip Carpenter) won the 500 with some fast looking turns and the other Norweigians Sverre Haugli and Oystein Grodum had what i would assume were good 3k's.

My pair mate who I didn't see after 200m was Pascal Briand who skated a French record on the 3k with a 3:49 only to see it beat by his countrymate two quads later with 3:46. My legs were feeling tired today.

Did I mention that i got passed by all 3 guys in my quad skating a 4:17. Last time that happened to me was back in 1996 in Roseville during a 5k when I opened with the fastest 1st lap (with KC Boutie, Matt Kooreman and Dave Paul). Limped in with a 9:15 i think back then.

I wonder why my legs didn't feel good?

Let's see skated all the races last 3 day weekend (500x2, 1000, 1500, 5k, and 10k) took one day off. Then trained all week with the Norway guys, plus weights, and dryland.

Then couldn't take Thursday off cause I felt so good on the ice. Skated with fast old man Boris Leiken and his inline cronies. Blew my load bigtime Friday ripping out fast laps. Oh yea did I mention I'm on antibiotics as well for a cellulitis infection in my thumb. Excuses, excuses. Champions don't make excuses but that's the truth.

Warming up today Mark Chrysler asked me how were my legs. I responded tired as we did easy laps. I hate to verbalize that and was hoping for the magic cure for tired legs warming up. It never happened. A month ago 7 laps of 32s was easy today 33s/34s were hard. My muscles actually hurt bigtime during my 3k. Proud I could keep a flat race with how I felt today. The timing was screwed up during my 1st two laps. Thought I was doing 32s but really was 33s then 34s and high 33s last two. At least it wasn't a bomb like my 5k last week. I did a 32, 33, 34, 35 then punted. Peter Schotting said you should do more crappy 5k's before your 1000m. I don't think he's seen that before with the level of skaters he's coached.

Afterwards, the cooldown laps felt good though. I got a lot of training in the bank this week though for later. I know the deal after doing this for a while. This was supposed to be a rest week for me but I'm keeping it going because I'll probably be shut out of working out with NOR next week on the World Cup ice.

I'd rather not talk about my races as I wasn't too happy with them but it's part of the process for me. Weights, trainer turn cable and some dryland after. No secrets to going fast other than hard work followed by rest.

Highlight memories from today: Seeing Enrico Fabris skating around the oval. I've always like his technique. Man that guy skates LOW. Doing cool down laps during the last pair (5k) he was actually drafting off ME for laps at a time...hmmm. Then I think he got bored and took off. He looks so good. I saw a Green guy from TVM come flying by while I was on the bench. I thought it was a sprinter because he looked so explosive and FAST. No it's Sven Kramer the distance guy....wow. Later the Koreans were training and those guys all look soooo low and explosive.

800m PB/Skater Bowling/Apollo on the LT

2007-11-02T13:34:00.000-07:00

Day 6 of my Norwegian Fantasy Camp.

We are racing tomorrow so today is a prerace workout.

There are not many secrets to race prep. You do some warm up laps, some accels, some rolling starts, maybe a standing start.

I knew we would do some tempo laps today as well, and we did an 800m. Andrew has a picture of the last turn. That's me in the back with a pretty good left push.

Skating Short Track with the New Edge and Mike Kooreman has helped me so much, I am skating faster than I ever gone before.

This 800m was new personal (in the draft) 25.3/25.5 even though we had to put in some sick moves to wind our way through the crowds at that speed.

Ok so I have a fast 800 in my legs now we are going to do a 400m flyer. I know that Michel or Chris are going to lead (Christoffer Rukke & Mikael Flygind Larser).

I figure this is going to be sub 25 since the ice is better today and grippier. They are dialing it in for next weekends World Cup. The World Cup circus is in town now.

We now have double or triple the number of skaters on the ice now since the resurface. On the warm up laps after the break, we get passed twice the outside by Dutch team then Utah FAST team doing something (i heard 28).

Coming into one corner we are like 6 across with skaters in the inner warm up lane, skaters in our lane, the Dutch in Green suits on the outside and some group passing us in the inner comp lane.

Wow this is fun.

SSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHH BBBBBBUUUUHHHHHH!!!

I hear someone go down behind us.

Someone must have got freaked out with that many people. One of the Norway guys says this is fun with so many people.

So we are off in the 600m (one lap tempo). I hit the first turn with big speed and don't set it up too well. The ice is really rutted and I didn't enter deep.

Always error by entering deep (go for the outside lane) vs entering too early. I take a step and

SSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I'm down sliding on the ice at high speed.

I look up and I'm heading towards two of the best skaters in the world (Sven Kramer and Carl Verhaijen and some other Dutch guy in Green).

We make eye contact and I can see the white's of their eyes as I'm marking up the track trying to slow down.

They hustle up and do a quick roll start.

BBBBBBUUUUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

i hit the pads. Luckily I check everything and I'm ok. My elbow hurts but thank God no one was hurt.

I knew those guys were on a good one and they say it was 24.8....maybe next time.

Mark and I had a good laugh about that one afterwards....you really had to see the look of fear on those guys faces as I was sliding towards them at mid 30mph pace.

I remember seeing Shimizu fall at a practice before SLC World Cup a few years back head first fast and a Dutch Girl jumped over him as he slid by her and hit the pads.

The new rules at the rink are good (stay to the inside going slow) but not everyone follows them.

One other thing that was cool at the playground (as my wife calls it). Apollo made his appearance on Long Track with Clap Skates. Check him out. He's having fun that's what it's all about!!

I'm pretty sure that's Jordan Malone in the picture as well. Some of the other STers were out there.

I was hanging with E (Ian Baranski) and he told me to be careful out there as I'm an old man! Ian said that he was more freaked out than warming up for a ST World Cup with all the skaters out there.

Apollo was like no way dude ST warmup at World Cups are crazy. Apollo said he was freaked out going fast on the claps but felt good going slow. He looked comfortable

I saw him race Long Track way back in 1997 in Lake Placid and I mentioned that to him. I did forget that we weren't on claps back then. He and Danny Weinstein raced the coolest pack style Long Track I've witnessed.

I remember the 1000m which one of them won by a whisker. Nothing like some good Pack Long Track outside at Lake Placid on a clear sunny day. That's what heaven would be for me I think.

Apollo agreed that Pack LT is fun.

One last thing that Peter said to me leaving the rink is he expects to see a Personal in my 500m. I hope so too but I need to just focus on the process and the results will follow...ie. focus on my technique, sitting low and generating pressure.

I was joking that I could have taken out the Dutch team for him. He said they won't need that. They will do it on the ice. A true champion and pro coach.

Norwegian Fantasy Camp

2007-10-31T17:48:00.000-07:00

My buddy Mark Chrysler hooked me up with the Norwegian National team here on the ice and I got to train with them Sunday, yesterday and today. Tuesday did lots of easy laps with them. Skated behind Claudia Pechstein. Had no idea that she have been at the top for so long. She won a gold medal in 1992! Wow that's 15 years on top and she has won I think 9 medals total. A total pro on and off the ice. http://www.desg.de/skater.php?anzeige=skater&skater=797
http://www.claudia-pechstein.de/

She was in the draft with the All rounders pulling us on long laps. Bokko, Grodum, Henri and Sverre Haugli. These guys are like skating robots. They go 34/35s for 16 minutes on end. You just dial in a speed and they hold it. Pechstein was sitting in like me and it was like being in a bike race just sitting in the draft. I haven't done a lot of mileage on the Long Track so it was just what the doctor ordered for me. These guys are so funny when the time is up they mock sprint with bad technique for the imaginary finish line at the end of sets. It's probably good to keep things light with all the training they do. They are all very humble and welcomed me into their group. I told Peter that it was like fantasy camp for old guys....the skaters didn't understand. Then he explained how old out of shape executives/white collar guys pay like $5k to train with ex pro baseball players. They got a good laugh out of that one. Another funny story is one of the skaters had a haircut and they were laughing about it because he paid 60 euros for it in Hamar. They asked me how much for a haircut here....i said $7-9...lol. But that $75 US haircut looked good on you..... Peter told me 9am tommorow leaving.

Today- Walked in the rink asked Peter whats the workout....oh 12 lap tempo at 28s....what? I was like Ooh My God I better warmup. Reality set in that I'm in a pro training group at that point. What do I think they are doing easy laps everyday? After warmup laps and an accel we were off. Spinters Rukke and Michel did 3 laps then did a 25.5...i was thinking off going with them but they were off like a bullit train.....the 4 all rounders were banging out 28s. Grodum pulled the first 2 then bokko led and i was gone after 4-5. They did a WR 12 lapper in 5:39!!! Look out for Bokko this year he is a beast. I think he finished on 27/26? That was it. Peter said Bokko's doing a 3k this weekend in WR 3:36. Should be interesting. What a day and this was after at least 100 laps yesterday and weights last night.

Cool link to see Pechstein's Olympic races and Eric Heiden's 1000m from Lake Placid.

http://www.olympic.org/uk/utilities/multimedia/gallery/results_uk.asp?entid=104&MediaType=vid

Things I've Learned

2007-10-30T11:47:00.000-07:00

I was checking out the blog roll and this touched me at lunch today.......

Things I’ve Learned...

- No matter which path you choose to take in life, even if it is the wrong one, you will always end up right where you're supposed to be.
- If someone doesn't change the first time they say they're going to, chances are they aren't planning to at all.
- You can only get by on charm for so long. After a while, you better know something.
- Don't waste your time with fake friends. After a while, you will realize who the fake ones are. Once you do, move on.
- Never expect anything out of anyone. If you do, you will be let down the majority of the time. It's better to be pleasantly surprised.
- No matter how thin you slice it, there are always two sides.
- It's much easier to react than it is to think.
- Always leave loved ones with loving words, even when you're angry with them. It may be the last time you see them.
- You can always keep going long after you think you can't.
- Either you control your attitude or it controls you.
- Sometimes a good cry is all you need.
- Learning to forgive takes practice.
- There are people who love you dearly but just don't know how to show it.
- Sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down will be the ones to help you get back up.
- Sometimes when you're angry you have the right to be angry but that doesn't give you the right to be cruel.
- No matter how much you care, some people just don't care back.
- Maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've had.
- No matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.
- It isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.
- No matter how bad your heart is broken, the world doesn't stop for your grief.
- Our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are but we are responsible for who we become.
- It takes years to build up trust and only seconds to destroy it.
- It's not WHAT you have in your life but WHO you have in your life that counts.
- Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.
- No matter how many friends you have, if you are their pillar you will feel lonely and lost at the times you need them the most.

Give Up and Go Faster (A New Personal Best)

2007-10-29T14:06:00.001-07:00

Sat night watching the Red Sox win again I spent 3 hours tinkering with my skates for the magic formula. I hate messing with my skates but something had to be done. I had been not skating up to my potential the last two days and something was wrong. I was not rocking the turns I was trying not to hit the blue pads in the turns. I noticed that my blades were not quite centered with the new custom boots I had. I moved both blades a few millimeters to the left (significant). I still don't know the best way to set up your blades on new custom boots because it's so hard to see the center. I had a few coaches look at them and they said it looked right. What I did Sat night (because I was desperate) was to use a T allen wrench and center that over the middle of my achilles tendon which I marked on the boot and make sure the blade was lined up with that (also used a level to make sure T wrench and boots were perpendicular). I also found out on Friday after my 500 that my diamond stones were toast. I had sharpened alot Th night and really had no edge Friday morning in warmup. Thankfully Mark Chrysler noticed that my stones were gone and I used my black stone!! for 10 strokes before my 1500 and then polished with my blue, red and green diamond stones. Talked to some other skaters at the oval (include Izzy) and they said Diamond stones only last for like 3-4 months. I'm back with the traditional stone stones. Some times the old way is the best way and alot cheaper. This is such a process that you would think after doing this for some time I would have figured out my stones were crap. Don't ignore the obvious. It's the same in what I do for a living (programming).

Anyways, as in life, I finally let go and raced my own race on Sunday. I had been trying to go fast and trying to beat people the previous days and today I just skated and let it happen. Man it's funny what happens when you just go with the flow of life. Good things happen. I equate it to if you are in a river and trying to swim upstream and you keep banging your head on the rocks. If you have spirituality which I heard yesterday is believing in something other than yourself. I see the mountains and the beautiful valleys and know that I didn't create those. Someone or something great than me did. If you just accept lemons and make lemonade with them life will be alot easier. I've learned as I get older to try to "go with the flow". It's the same for skating around in circles fast. We had a delay of 4 minutes they told us after John fell. Then I did a lap it's like hurry up your up and it's 2 minutes later. You can't always have everything the way you want. God gave us control over one thing in this life and it's our thoughts. So it's important to keep you though process pure and on what you want in your life. Also if I just get my ego out of the way I will go fast. "Don't think just pitch" like in Bull Durham and wear a garter belt....lol. I can tell you it's such a good feeling to just shut that brain off for 1:13 in my 1000. The only thoughts I had was at the end I was leaking oil really bad trying to get to the finish line. The key to 1000m races are those final two turns. If you can really build speed the 2nd to last turn then survive the last turn you can get a good time. I was just thinking stay down....stay down and finish your turns. The very last one I almost fell in a lactate haze. It's funny because Teri had a picture of me and I asked her if it was during the race because I was standing straight up. That pic was of my last turn and I recovered quick and just kept pushing to the line. There no better words than to hear from John McClennan "and that's a new Personal Best for Brian Boudreau". I hadn't heard those words in a long time. Thank you God for the blessings I have in my life.

PS- one other thing that made this a special race was my wife was there to see me. She hasn't come to many bike races or skate races. The last bike race she saw I won $80 then the one before that I won $200 for 1st and she won a bike in the raffle.

Teri's photos are here and Andrew posted a great video that gave me goose bumps watching it.

http://www.ipickphotos.com/

http://andrewlove.org/blog/?p=497#comment-63687

I guess the moral of this post is that good things come to those who wait. I really wanted to throw my skates away after racing Saturday.

Also, change is hard but a neccessary part of life. Change is good but I always don't like it. The boots have been an adjustment for sure and everyday my body feels different. It's funny how even in a long track meet things are constantly changing. It's small changes but change nonetheless.

US Single Distance Champs

2007-10-27T15:21:00.000-07:00

Here's my observations after two days. These kids are flying on the 500m. Brent Ausspring got the short end of the false start rule today as he false started only once and was DQ'd. That rule sucks and I believe is not fair. We should go back to the old way 2nd false start and you are out. I had this happen to me at the Master Worlds last year as I falsed once and was out of the overall. No fun at all. Brent would have punched a ticket to the world cup most likely with a fast race today. Chris Needham was his pairmate and it was going to be a good race. Chris had a faster 500 than yesterday after all the commotion. I'm sure it wasn't easy with the DQ and not having a pair mate but who knows. I know he had a slip on Friday and I hope the RED SOX cookies I gave him helped. This sport is so weird sometimes. You win some and you lose some and it evens out in the end. It looks like Chris missed out on the 1000m World Cup on Sunday by .01 seconds but I'm not sure if he will get to do some 1000s anyways???

The 5k was hard for a lot of skaters today. The Swiss guy made it look easy but there were a lot of guys carrying refrigerators on their backs for laps at a time myself included. I just wasn't feeling it today. I looked up with 9 to go and was hurting then I mentally was out of it. Going a little bit over you threshold can really hurt on a 5k. I went for 32s and embarrassingly did 38/39s at the end. I was ready to pull it in a couple of times but thanks to everyone who cheered me on. It wasn't easy today. My new boots have put my blades in a different position and I have been struggling with that physically and mentally.
Chad won the 5k with a 6:32. I'm sure he's not happy with that but I'm sure he will be skating a lot faster at the World Cups. He's just getting back into training again I think and he's got the heart of a lion so I wouldn't count him out. There are a lot of new faces for the US team and good luck to everyone.
It's funny but not really funny..... that when you are not near your personals or how you feel you should be skating you can get really frustrated. There were a lot of disappointed skaters I'm sure and some happy ones (who skated PBs). It's hard to sacrifice so much (in training and time commitment) then not skate your best when it counts. I find for myself that if I just let it happen it happens but when I force it it doesn't.

Park City Short Track Races 10/13/07

2007-10-21T00:27:00.000-07:00

I posted the vids on Youtube. Bear with me as I feel like a begginning skater with dull blades and no technique in my blogging ability. I don't know how to edit videos and I don't have the best blogging skills. I wanted to post these for all to see but they haven't been editted. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/user/boudieskate

I will be adding more videos tommorow as it's getting late here. My technique and equipment will improve as I keep posting. I can only hope to achieve the blogging ability of the Zen Speedskating blog.
Interesting day today at the oval watching Long Track races. I was watching behind the scenes up in the timing booth. It takes an army of volunteers to make it happen every week. They truely are professionals in everything they do and THANK YOU! I talked with John McClennan and he is a Massachusetts boy. He is the announcer that you hear every week at the oval and of http://speedskatingresults.com/ fame. He is on top of his game week in and week out at the oval. He went to RPI in NY and was a huge hockey fan. He was at the game I started at RPI way back in 1989. He likes the Grape Vine and Coaches corner. Here's some clips for you John.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRm_K9OpYbo (Women at Hockey Games)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tQsE3BIcKo&mode=related&search= (Neely was the best and Don your the best. Keep fighting in the game!!!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3FwRoBoYuM&mode=related&search= (Amen!!)

I was doing the Irish jig tonite watching the Sox crush Cleveland......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu43lbTrvOQ&mode=related&search=

New Edge Short Track

2007-10-19T22:24:00.000-07:00

Frank TV (can't wait)

http://www.tbs.com/video/0,,109601346709,00.html

Fall at 9.8

Club ST practice & Guy Thibault

2007-10-12T10:02:00.000-07:00

A little late in posting but last Tuesday night I had the pleasure of skating with the club ST. It was nice to not be hanging on for my life with the New Edge ST in the morning. We did some flyers early. Had the pleasure of skating with Guy Thibault (US Speedskating Director). It's great to see an ex-Olympian skating out there. I think he's just skating twice a week but he can bring it. He did a super smooth 10.4 flyer first one then I led a 9.8 i think. Might have dropped him but not sure. He must have got reved up after that one. We did some laps then he put the hammer down in a flyer and did a 9.9 and dropped my ass as I wasn't expecting it. It's like a race horse coming out of the barn after a long layoff. He didn't miss a beat. Pretty impressive on some blades that weren't glued on all the way. I asked him when he skated ST last what were they doing for fast laps. He said 8.7/8.8 but on the old 100 meter track. He said the last time he skated ST was in 1984 when he broke his leg. Then he switched to Long Track and made a couple of Olympic teams I think. It's great to see him skating with his kids after work and still laying it down. My back has been bothering me so I didn't do starts but Andrew Love was on the ST blasting off the start and Guy would pass him everytime at the 1/2 lap close but effortlessly and so smooth. You could tell this guy had done ST a few times before. So cool to watch great passing on the Short Track....Not that Andrew is slow either. I love skating ST.

Teri's photos from the last 2 weekends

2007-10-07T20:52:00.000-07:00

Chad on the 3k

1000m 1:14 (awesome time for me in Sept)

500m (not bad for the 1st one)

I went over the top of Catherine Rainey (US 3k women's record holder) on the 3k. The 3k has never been my best event but it's nice to be in shape from the bike. That was probably my best 3k ever (flattest split times) and weekend TT PB (personal best).

New Boots!

2007-10-07T19:27:00.000-07:00

I am now officially out in blog land. I've been reading lots of blogs on cycling and skating and now I have one. I'm not sure how much I will be updating it but it will be used for my athletic achievments and failures, how I'm doing and what's up with my life. I think it will be used mostly for friends and family to see what i'm up to. I also want to make it more of a picture blog.

Bear with me as I learn how to use this but this post seems ok.

I wanted to get this going because I got my new Long Track speedskating boots from Bruce Kohen at http://ssboots.com/ . I am so pumped. They are so cool looking and they feel great. He makes the coolest boots IMHO. I went thru 3 other custom boot makers in skating before I got some that I would skate on. Van Horne made me a great set in 2001 and they have held up great. I have been on SS short tracks for a month or so and now I got the Long Tracks. He nailed the fit so perfect. I've heard this from others in SLC as well and I really wanted to shout from the rooftops about this so I figured I'd blog it. Here are the pics......see above/

I skated on them for 30 minutes Friday night break in period. Then I went out and raced on them Sat morning at the Weekend TTs in SLC. I did a pretty good opener 10.7 on them and almost fell in first turn just because I have moved up my clap hinge. Then later I did a 3k and rocked on them with about a total of an hour skating on the boots. My feet have no hot spots and the fit is PERFECT.

Here's the results from Sat (500m & 3k) I did.

http://www.olyparks.com/UOO/SpeedSkating_results.asp

Mike Stein skated a PB and got in the 36s in the 500. Paul Narwold broke 40 with a PB (personal best).....that is a milestone for sure. Hope I helped him giving him a fast opener and I know he had a birds eyes view of my "great save" in the corner. I heard that from a few people. You don't realize how fast you are going till you almost take a header. There were a bunch of PBs this weeekend as well. Congrats to all. Keith rocked it in the 500 and 3k with two PBs. Hotchkiss 3k PB as well. Lisa 2:30 is fast for those "huge" legs of yours. Caleb I just saw your 1500 time. That's a good one for sure. Keep at it.