New highs!!....Big improvements!!......New skates??

The last sanctionned race for this year, the Can-Am, took place this weekend and with it came new highs for me.......6 races..............4 distances..........4 new PBs.

On Thursday, I raced the 500m and the 1,000m.........the 500m I PBd and the 1,000m I pretty much matched my last PB so I wasn't happy with that........but redemption is sweet.........

On Friday, I raced the 500m again for fun and speed and mantained my PB and then I raced the 1,500m which I PBd by over 2 seconds.........really happy with that.

On Saturday, I was only supposed to race the 5,000m but since I was disappointed with my Thursday 1,000m........I asked if they can squeeze me in that race and they did..........so I PBd my 1,000m.......redemption is sweet.....and then I raced the 5,000m, not quite knowing what I had left in me, but I PBd that too by over 5 seconds...........I don't know where that came from but of course I was very pleased with my overall performance.

PBs will start to get harder to come by as I get closer to World Cup times and now I have to look at my equipment. My coach, and others, have been really adamant that I need better skates......custom moulded skates, like everyone else, so I can feel the ice better and have better support so I can hammer those turns..........they truly believe that I will gain time by being more in tune with the ice........and these boots will fit my feet perfectly........the downside.............that's $1,260 I did not calculate in my budget, which will be depleted after December anyways.

Well, the promise I made to myself last month when this skate issue came up, was that I would wait to see if I progressed enough after the last race, this past weekend, to make that decision of spending that money on skates or not......I guess I will have to now.......my appointment has been made for Monday to custom mould my boots.

As it stands right now, I am 2.5 seconds off the 500m time, an initial improvement of over 4 seconds, 2.5 seconds off the 1,000m time, an initial improvement of over 6 seconds, 4.5 seconds off the 1,500m time, an initial improvement of over 20 seconds, and 35 seconds off the 5,000m time, an initial improvement of over 25 seconds...........my main focus has now become the 1,000m and 1,500m distances and it could very well be the skates that make that difference........of course, I would love to qualify in all 4 distances........since I am here right??

Believe it or not, even though I feel like I have been here forever, this race and the last race 2 weeks ago, marks the beginning of the skating season.......we are just starting........of course, I may still do some weekend races.

Anyways, all the base training has been pretty much accomplished.......December will be focused on technique, the main element to shave off time, and getting used to my new skates........

On another note, the Dinos have now moved to 8-2 on the season with one game left before Christmas break and that game will decide who is in first place overall........talk about a mid-season grande finale.....

Well, that's it for now folks.......crunch time has officially begun......

Peace

Mid November.......already??

Well, not much to report on this week besides that it was a tough training week. We decided not to weekend race and just power through the week......lots of laps, speed work, and intensity. This was my first week of the new training regiment and it was good.....especially the extra day off mid week!!

The Dinos won their 7th game of the season this week for a record of 7-1. The team is really starting to learn and pick up on more things which makes them a better, solid team and they are working hard.

This headache.........3 weeks of migraine headaches, continuously........I had to go to a walk-in clinic finally. I understand the whole pressure thing but when Chinook is gone, so should the headache go, but it doesn't, and that is my concern.......we'll see what comes out of this.

Next week is the last sanctionned race for the year in Calgary.......the Can-Am race. I have loaded my racing schedule with 5 races.......Thurs the 500m and 1,000m.....Fri the 500m again and the 1,500m......and on Sat, finish off with the 5,000m....ouch!!
Needless to say, I am anxious to bust my past PBs........

Well, we got our first snowfall today, which felt like Christmas, and tomorrow they are calling for +7......go figure.....welcome to Calgary......

Until next week......Peace.

Break?....what break??

So, I managed to sneak a couple of days back home last week as my daughter was playing in a hockey tournament and I wanted to be there for her........tie her skates, tape her pads, and just cheer her on but waking up at 6am, which is now 4am for me, was not what I expected......before I knew it, my butt was back on a plane heading back to Calgary........

I thank my beautiful wife for cooking different stuff which is totally a treat for me.....and also her parents who made me my favorite Jamaican curried goat....thanks Mr. and Mrs. T.....

First day back on the ice today and I can feel the altitude slowly seeping back into my system as I didn't have the endurance I normally do but at least I know from experience now that by the 2nd day I am usually back on par.

Phase 2 begins now for the next 8 weeks with one sanctionned race next weekend and the rest being weekend races and training.

If things go according to plan, the New Year will give me 5 more sanctionned races to obtain my goals......I may have to buy some custom made skates but I just don't have that in my budget.

Speaking of budget, I can last till year end now as it stands but after that, I would be 100% on my own dime.......that's gonna hurt!!

In the pics, my parents at the arena who actually came from Montreal to see their grand daughter play hockey......and to see me of course.

Me and Meli before game time.

Meli scamming me in poker and Go Fish.