I’ve been slacking on up dating my blog. I wouldn’t call the last 3 weeks hectic but my Internet access has been spotty.
Anyways, Push Champs went well. I got second place and pushed much faster than last year. Although second place sounds pretty damn good, it’s not exactly accurate. None of the World Cup girls competed so I might have been bumped down a spot or two if they had. It was still nice to feel successful though and I had more fun this year. Last year, as a new person, I didn’t really know anyone and pushing the sled felt awkward. It was nice to hear people encouraging me this year and I felt strong pushing the sled.
The team’s first day on ice is on Monday the 9th! I’m pretty excited to get back on the track and feel like I’m making progress again, although I have been making some serious progress physically as well. I was put on a new work out program and it’s a lot different than anything I have ever done before. The change in workload has taken some getting used to. I’m exhausted at the end of every week. I’m told every day at least 30 times a day, that I’m weak. The new strength coach asked if I was training for cross-country all summer.
I thought I would have gained weight over the summer from training. I have gotten so much stronger I just figured my numbers weight would go up too. However, I stepped on the scale for my body fat percentage test and found out that I lost about 12 pounds from last season. Not sure how that happened. I should probably weigh myself more. But now I have to keep a food journal and give it to the strength coach (Brad), to make sure I’m eating right, and as often as he wants. Brad has me getting up and eating breakfast at 730am! If you know me, you know it would be a miracle to see me up that early every day. I get up at 8 every day. Close enough? The food journal/schedule also requires me to eat about 6 times a day. I thought eating that often would be hard to do but with the new workload and school, I feel like I could eat all day.
Unfortunately, I just heard today that I might not get my sled in time for the first day on ice. It may get here just in time, but it will be close. I’m not really happy that I will have to rush to put the sled together and pad it. I wanted to take my time and maybe get some help to make sure it was perfect! Luckily, a friend here said I could use their sled for a few days if needed be. Ideally, I would have liked to be able to start day 1 with me new sled so I have time to get used to it before team trials. But, as a new slider, a few days probably wont make that big of a difference. Since I’ve been off of the ice now for about 7 months, the first few days will probably, mostly consist of remembering what it is like to slide, remembering turns and steers.
School is going well so far, I’m almost half way through my first semester at Penn State. I only took 2 classes this semester so I could still work out and slide relatively stress free. After being here for 3 weeks I’m so glad I didn’t take 3 classes. It would have been too much to handle.
The weather here has been beautiful. 70’s and sunny, until today it dropped to 39 and were supposed to have snow flurries tonight. Crazy. Time to slide!
I miss attending college and the friends I left there. Every day I wonder what I could have done in college track, or what friends I could have made, but I am VERY happy here in LP. I feel like this is where I am supposed to be.
I’m anxious for team trials and so thankful that I was invited! I feel very privileged. Although I am unsure of where I’ll end up this season, I can already feel that this year will contain amazing moments for me and I will learn a lot. Excited to improve!
