Are you kidding me???....Calgary weather!!

Can you believe this?? This is what is good about Calgary....when the weather changes for the better, we really get spoiled....last week I was on the deck (shirt on) enjoying my afternoon Greek coffee in +10 degree weather.......today, back on the deck (shirt off), enjoying +15 degree weather....is this really January? The last time this happened to me was in February 1988 when I played hockey in Belgium and we had a warm snap and enjoyed margaritas outside in the beautiful sunshine in shorts and t-shirts......what's this world coming to?!

I should add that I really really do feel really, really sorry for my wife and daughter enduring the -30 degree weather in Ottawa....should I add a "heh heh" here?...better not.....

I also included a bastardized version of my new old skates....you will notice the double tongue. I velcroed one tongue on top of the other so it compresses my foot and makes everything feel real snug....so much so that when I tighten them good for racing, I gotta race within 20 minutes cause my toes turn blue.....but it's working so far and it's gotta get me through the season.

I asked for a refund on my other boots as they really did destroy my right achilles and my left inner ankle that I have to wear padding on my feet even for normal shoes.....I am so pissed off cause I feel everything when I am skating....we'll see how that drama unfolds.

Anyways, I must admit that I am getting very tired here even though I know that the time will pass fast....already one race down and next weekend, I will be in Richmond at the new Oval racing the Canada Cup #2. No real fast times expected here as we will be at sea level which means slower ice but I'm gonna give'er anyways...and right when I come back, the following weekend is the North American Championship race here in Calgary which brings us into mid february already.....time will fly but still, this has now become a mind over matter situation for me.

I am presently in full back spasms and walking around with tender hip flexors on both sides. Even though I raced last weekend like that, it is not fun but my friend Advil gets me through my training sessions now. I know my body is talking to me and it's telling me that once the season is over...I better take it down south somewhere for a week to fully recover...heh heh.

The Dinos have already played 3 season games and won them all....8 more to go, then play-offs but who's counting right?!

My roommates decided to add a 4th person in the house for the last 2 months of my stay.....I am not really jumping for joy on that one but at least they will secure a 3rd person till the end of their lease since I will be gone by that time. The only bonus is that the rent will decrease.....I am also considering moving to the basement room cause that's where my bathroom is anyways so I won't have to stumble down the stairs in the middle of the night anymore. At least this change might take my mind off of other things for the time being....

Well folks, off to do some stretching and maybe catch a few more rays before the sun disappears....till next time,

Peace.

Canada Cup #1......DONE!!

Well folks, the first big race of this year came and went this past weekend and with it came new highs.....out of 5 races, I PBd 4 and equalled one.....I am really happy!!

The Canada Cup features 2 x 500m and 2 x 1,000m, and 1 x 1,500m for the sprint portion and that's what I did since my focus is on the 1,000m and 1,500m.

On Friday, I raced the 500m and PBd that and then the 1,000m and equalled my last PB and that was a bit disappointing as I wanted to crush that time.

On Saturday, I raced the 1,500m and totally expected to knock off 2 or 3 seconds but I only PBd by 3/10nths and that crushed ME but in all honesty, I must tell you that my back spasms are in full blown mode and I had stretched/sore hip flexors on both sides and by lap 2 (out of 4), I had blown up and was just happy to actually finish the race.....I totally seized up. Looking at my split times......I know I could have easily knocked off 2 or 3 secs off if I was in full health.

On Sunday was the 2nd 500m and 1,000m....well I PBd the 500m again which is really a bonus for me as I am not focused on that race but it is fun and fast....and then came the 1,000m and I just put my head down, bit my lip, and dropped the hammer and PBd that by a full second....was I happy you ask???......I can only imagine what coulda been but I will definately take that!!

One thing I haven't told you yet is that my new boots have become my old boots as they totally destroyed my feet, so I raced on my old my old boots with some modifications......I took the tongue from my new old boots and velcroed it on the tongue of my old new boots, just to create a more filling and tightness feeling around my foot and it seems to be working out......I call it double tonguing and although it sounds sexy, it looks very unconventional, as it is, and I am getting double takes but whatever.......the job has to get done!!

My next race will be in the new Richmond Oval at the end of the month for Canada Cup #2.....I can't believe I will race in the new 2010 Olympic Oval. The times will definately be slower as we will be at sea level but the whole experience is what I am after......just to capture the vibe, the spirit, and the emotion.....and see if I am welcomed there......

I am now on a 3 day recovery back home to see the family and to take care of a few work related issues....a welcomed break to relax and heal up.

In the pic is where the whole dream started (click on it to make it bigger).....skeleton school in Park City Utah.....the person in the pic is my friend Tim, who I didn't know yet, the little speck on the road near the bottom left is me walking up the hill.....well Tim eventually drove by me and offered me a lift to the top as he was going to skeleton schoool also......we ended up being sled partners throughout the 4-5 days there and friends for life....this is where it all started. Tim came across the pic after all was said and done, before we even knew each other......the writing was on the wall......

Peace