Here and There

Hello, yes it's been a while. I will be returning to blog writing soon. Especially since National Team Trials 1 will be coming up in less than 2 weeks.

I've been here and there with things, a few guest appearances on the ice with various Short Track groups, which were all really fun! It may sound funny, but it's almost more inspiring for me to watch those kids with all their energy and enthusiasm!

Training has been going well, which is good with Trials approaching.

I'll fill in the blanks more soon.

40.572

The World Record is 41.051 held by Korea's Si-Bak Sung.

This weekend I basically tied it in my Quarter final at Oktoberfest, I went 41.054. At the time I was pretty choked, as I've always wanted a time below the World Record (you know, somewhere in the 40 seconds). But needless to say, I was happy to finally have a 500 m time that is one of the fastest in the World.

I wasn't done there, later in my Semis I went 40.886!

This was exactly the type of time I wanted, unfortunately though, I realized that Cory Rasmussen (a teammate of mine in Calgary) holds the Canadian Record of 40.866... I joked with Cory after that race, he only had 0.02 seconds on me in the 500 m now, and that I was coming for him!

I was pretty tired at this point, we had skated two 1500 m's in the morning and two 500 m's (both World Record pace) prior to the Final - I was having trouble staying optimistic about getting another good time. A number of people approached me before my last race, and urged me to go for time, but I set it in my mind that I just wanted to win the race. Sorry, but this is how a real Short Tracker thinks!

From the start of the race Cory was putting a ton of pressure on me, I could feel him close behind me every corner. I managed to pull from start to finish though, with a new track I've been working on it allowed me to maintain my speed and defend at the same time (only set back, it's really, really tiring).

As I crossed the line, I was dead tired. I remember the corner after the line, how fast I was gliding around that corner. But, I thought the race had been pretty slow, it seemed to go on forever! I didn't think much of it at the time, but I sensed some stirring in the coaches box. All of a sudden there were screams from various parts of the rink. I was really tired and I didn't think it had anything to do with the race until I was called over by Jereon to the photo finish box, he had already run over to find the finishing time...

"New unofficial World Record time in the 500 m, 40.572!" - Announcer (teammate Tyler Derraugh)

Redemption.

I couldn't believe it. I almost burst out laughing! All I wanted was the win, but here I come out with the fastest time in the world in the 500 m.

After everything with Olympic Trials, it was good to bounce back with this. It's a little bittersweet, since it clearly means I deserve to be there at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Our group has been training really hard lately, a lot of laps and high intensity programs outside of ice. It's been really demanding physically as well as mentally!

So now I hold two Canadian Records, both leagues beyond what the World Records are (both the 1500 m and the 500 m).

Hitchhiker's

I've been reading the Hitchhiker Trilogy all over again from beginning to end. I tell you, the jokes only get funnier with age. Plus it makes a lot more sense this time around.

While I was in Vancouver for Olympic Trials, I was in the process of reading a book on "optimal experience". It was an awesome book, but it wasn't giving me any “down” time away from skating or trials. I would pick up the book and start to read and within seconds my mind was racing with things pertaining to skating and competing.

So I went out with my Dad one day in search for a few books that would take my mind off skating, and would allow me to have the proper mental recovery I needed (I still read the book on optimal experience each day of competition).

Somehow we got on the topic of Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy and ultimately I left the store with copies of the first two books. My Dad bought them for me as a gift (very nice of him), as I had read his copies back in high school and didn’t have my own.

I found it fitting to be reading them again. Not only because the books have a great message, but the new copies have those big bold friendly letters "DON'T PANIC" printed on the cover!

Ha ha.

Which considering the week I was going through, was the perfect advice.

I'm on book five right now, Mostly Harmless, it's a trilogy of five books. I'm sure it will make sense later people...

Back!

Sorry, I know I promised I would update on Wednesday but I ended up getting in later than I expected from Medicine Hat.

Oh well, I'm back now. Officially! I guess, because "back" for me means back to skating. It was the first time in a week that I've done anything even remotely active... and it felt great... I've been holding back mainly to rest my ankle and also because of my mouth. I got an implant in and a bone graft done on last Thursday.

Both my mouth and ankle are doing a lot better though. I still feel some minor pressure points in my boot while I skate, but there is little to no pain! I even went out a did part of The Euro's lactic capacity program today (only one set but I hurt!). Don't ask, I more or less just do things based on feeling of the moment. And I don't regret it.

As for the vacation, it was great. Although, I don't think it made even a dent at those vacations I've missed out on. I didn't really get away from the thoughts surrounding trials. While in Medicine Hat I ended up doing a couple of interviews, even an in studio one with Chat TV yesterday. Doing them always brings up suppressed emotions.

I made it up to Edmonton for a few days to see my Baba and Gido (Grandma and Grandpa in Ukrainian) who always spoil me and give me tons and tons of homemade gingersnaps! As well as my sister Shalon. Who by the way is a complete and utter nerd... I mean that in a good way, she's super smart (much like my parents, damn her getting the useful genes), and even has some published physics papers with her name in them. She's not even done her undergrad! So with out a doubt, a nerd...

The funny part relating to all this, was some how I found myself stuck at one of her friends houses. Except, all the four of them talked about was work (nerd work), school (it's summer so... nerd) and scientific nerd shtuff they had heard or were in the process of reading up on... I think there was a moment of tension when someone brought up the finer points of string theory...

Cough, cough, yes exactly...

I was trying to be polite, but after about an hour and a half I couldn't take anymore... I started to drift off, I think at that point I turned around and attempted to pass out on the couch.

As for HOME, it was great! I didn't go outside of the house that often, other than to see my Grandma. Most or all of my friends from back home have either left or... Well I don't exactly know what happened to the other ones. That in itself may be the reason. But, mostly I stayed at the house, reading and relaxing as much as I could. Which was key. Being with my parents for more than a day was also important. They come through Calgary every so often, but it's never an extended visit. Which is what I really needed. My Mom even contracted me to bake a cheesecake for when my Uncle and Aunt came to visit! Of course I took all of the leftovers and am in fact consuming a very generous piece whilst I type. YUM!