Learning as I go......

So today I finally decided to cook my skates in the oven as they are heat mouldable. Straight out of the box they were fine but I started to get some pressure points on the ankles so now that's done and I'll see if it will make a difference.

In doing so, this meant that the blades had to come off so there's a new adventure for me. Eventually, they were gonna come off anyways cause I was on a pair of used blades and now my new blades are in so I will attempt to do it all myself......a learning experience in progress.

Since the end of August, training has been steady. I have so far been able to travel to Calgary every week and skate twice at week at the Oval. I am now a member of the Calgary Speed Skating Association.....go figure eh? I can either drive to Quebec city for 5 hours and skate outdoors or fly to Calgary in 4 hours and skate indoors on the world's greatest ice......easy decision.

Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, are cardio and full body weight workouts. Tuesdays and Thursdays are speed skating specific leg workouts. Saturdays are for runs, bike, hill running, and weighted sled pulling. Sundays, as the Man himself would have it, is a day of rest which means taking care of stuff around the house, cutting the grass, etc, and of course, sharpening my skates for the upcoming week.

I have not timed myself since the end of July and club races start in October......only a race time can qualify you. If things go well enough, I will try to qualify for the next level up by December and then maybe continue in Calgary for Jan, Feb, and March. You see club level is C (where I am at and where everyone starts pretty much). The next level to qualify for is the Link program which is B, (which where I want to be by the end of March and possibly as quick as December) and there are specific times for that. The level after that is the National level which is A.

My only 500m was a 43.83 and to qualify for Link I need a 41.10. My only 1,500m was a 2:19.64 and for Link I need 2:11.10 so I think both times are realistic to achieve.
I am training hard and I have new and better equipment. I look at my first pair of skates that I was so excited to get and they are not even used more than two weeks and they look so old.

Anyways, my knees hurt but they are holding out. I have a consultation coming up soon and although I know I will need surgery, I just want to know if I can hold out for awhile.....like a couple of years....heh heh.

Anyways, back to the skates I go....hope I don't put the blades on backwards...

Peace

Hill running with new meaning.....

Well, well, well, lots of things to catch up on.....first of all, my Saturday hills took a twist for more power and I am now running them with the sled I built with weight on it (total of approx 50-60lbs altogether). I am only running the 30 degree slope but holy smokes batman, what an incredible workout. I run the 4 hills as a warmup, then I run with the sled 4 times up and down, and then I run it again twice more but backwards without the sled....yet. Thank God Sunday is a day of rest. And who is my training partner again???.....my beautiful daughter, and my wife was the photographer this time.
I was planning to move to Calgary this September but I have modified my schedule somewhat in that I will travel to Calgary every week for two ice sessions as I have joined the club there now as of last week. I already feel more comfortable in this sport and by next March, I will see my progress, if any, and make a decision to go for it or not.
My bosses at work fully support this new endeavour and allow me to take the time off that I need when I need it......that is amazing!!
My family supports this also.....again, and that means alot to me. That is one of the reasons I didn't want to move to Calgary just yet.....family......and my daughter's first year of hockey.....can't miss that, and of course, grade 1......homework!!
So I am training 6 times a week and I feel great although both my knees are hurting, not from speed skating but I guess kinda like the shoulders......wear and tear, but I have an MRI appt this Wednesday to see what's going on.
I have not timed myself again but that can wait 'till December probably, hopefully by then I would have shaved off a couple of seconds.
My new skates are great and I am learning each time I hit the ice.....still haven't fallen and I don't even think about that anymore.
Not many people know what I am up to but the ones that do are a great encouragement and I appreciate all their comments and support. I have already worked on the new t-shirts that I will be selling to raise money when the time comes and it looks nice.
Until the next adventure......

Peace