So I believe the last time I left off I was wrapping up fall training and doing some final preparations for the race season, so lets talk about how things have followed.
Back in November, and early December, I had no idea how the season was going to go. In my last blog I mentioned how my fall training was slightly sub-par, but I was still confident with the work I had done in the training season. With that said, training on my own for almost every single workout, I truly had no idea how I would match up to anyone else. I pushed all of my intensity workouts pretty much to perfection, but I still had no idea how fast everyone else would be when it was time to actually race.
With that said, I was a combination of super nervous and super excited going into the first races in Canmore. I did my best to put results out of mind and just go race, go remind myself how to truly push the limits and get back into racing. And despite only having just over one week on snow prior, the races went quite well, some awesome efforts and a lot of fun getting back into the feel of racing.
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| Crossing the line - 15km skate mass start |
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| 10km classic interval start |
After Canmore it was back to Ontario for the first set of university exams, and even worse, back to no snow. There was a pretty dull few weeks before the next set of races (asides from an awesome 5 day family trip out to Silver Star B.C.), and unfortunately found myself in a bit of a trough ... just felt like I couldn't get into my rhythm in not just training, but just lifestyle in general. Was dealing with a bunch of life stuff that had me feeling like I was just running around like a chicken with its head cut off, felt like I was slightly lacking in purpose, super confused.
The plan for skiing was to head down to U.S. Nationals on new years day for a few races before heading up to trials. But with the instability of my routine, I was debating in my on just staying home for a little longer to figure stuff out and passing on the trip. At this time I was quite unmotivated and the vision was just super blurred.
But evidently, I made the trip. It consisted of much hesitation (which I kept to myself) but I took the approach towards the next step of the season as a search for clarity. I felt like I needed to chase a target that I could find the drive I normally had. I decided I needed to qualify for one of the trips to Europe at trials, A: World Juniors, or B: Junior B-tour. And to be ready for that U.S. Nationals was the best way to prepare. The races in the states were great to work out some kinks, it was primarily just awesome to put on a bib again and go race, not knowing the people beside you, and just racing for the sake of racing. It was awesome.
After U.S. Nationals, we were off to Thunder Bay for World Junior Trials. I was kind of heading into trials with a split-mind state of mind. Part of me was super focused on the mission, get those spots to Europe. The other part was just excited to race, to put on a bib and leave it all out there. I think for me this was a great combination to have going into the weekend, the perfect balance of focus and fun. For those who don't know the selection process of World Juniors, there are 3 races at trials, and if you win one you get a spot on the team, and they then select the next 1 most consistent person. I wound up 10th in the sprint and 2nd in the 10km classic interval start. On the last day the planned 20km Skiathlon was cancelled due to the -25ish temperature. I was pretty disappointed when we found out, I was not sure if my results from the past two days would be enough to qualify me a spot on the team. Then after about an hour or two, I got the news, I had be selected to go to Worlds Juniors. When coach Ron told me, it took a while for it to sink in. I knew I was capable of doing it, but knowing and doing are two very different things. In my mind I just kept repeating to myself, "you're going to world juniors ... you're going to worlds juniors? .... you're going to world juniors." It was crazy to reflect back on the season, in the beginning where people thought I was quitting skiing and were just filling with so much doubt in me, then putting them in the back of my mind and just pushing through until I made it, until I proved them wrong. And to get to that point was crazy, so rewarding. At the same time I have taken the time to still recognize that World Juniors does not define how successful I will be as a skier, it is more of a personal landmark. Earning this qualification was more for myself, to motivate me and support the ideas and concepts I stand for.
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| Team cheer - no one is too cool for team spirit |
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| 10km classic grind |
After the eventful weekend, there was a weekend off from the Noram circuit, but then the week after that it was off to the Mt. St. Anne Noram, and Easterns weekend after that. Through this block of time school got a little bit crazy (complete chaos). I felt pretty mentally zonked going into this next block of racing, just from school work and other busy life logistics. But what I have come to learn through all of this is that part of being a great skier, athlete, or just successful person in general, is the ability to just show up and perform. Regardless of exterior influences, I knew I just had to show up, put on my skis, and perform at my highest level possible. I think this a crucial skill to bring together, but also an extremely hard thing to do. A concept that Ron talks to us at hardwood is the idea of flipping the switch. That we should learn how to be either completely relaxed, and then be able switch right into race mode shortly before the race begins. This took me a while to figure out, but I believe I am beginning to understand it. I know a lot of people (including myself) who get extremely tense and stressed the night before and morning of races, and we underestimate how much energy this takes out of us. This season I have been trying not to engage into race mode until very shortly before the start. I have my race plan, I know what I am going to do, then I put it in the back of my mind and continue along without a thought of the race specifics. Once I head up to the start-line, that's when I bring it all back into my mind. This approach has helped me keep relaxed before races but also during races, it prevents me from getting ahead of myself, helps me hold my technique and pace myself better. This came together quite well at a few races, Mt. St. Anne was a solid weekend of racing, but things really together or Easterns. Easterns weekend I simply not able to just focus on the races, even if I had wanted to. I would race in the mornings, but then in the afternoon into the evening I would buckle down on essays and study for/write midterms. This was perfect practice for switching my mindset in and out of race mode. I was ecstatic to be on the podium each day of the weekend, especially on the last day, in the 20km classic, where I took my first Noram victory as a Junior Man and to be top 15 in open men. This may have been one of the best races I have done result-wise, but also effort-wise, technique-wise, and tactically. A lot of components really came together. I owe a lot of credit to my team. Although I moved to Ottawa, there is a reason I still ski for Team Hardwood. We are one of the best teams in the country. We have athletes racing in the midget category, to athletes my age, to alumni racing for training centres and beyond - all working together. When I was racing I had a roaring crown cheering me on all over the place. After races I had many people comment on how intense the team was and how adamant they were about supporting me and the rest of our teammates. This reminded me how I don't just race for myself. I race to make the people who support me proud, to inspire people (not just for skiing, everyone), and just have a super positive impact on the communities I am involved in.
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| little man, big hug |
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| Team victory |
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| Podium |
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| Return of the Jackson |
Rj
