Jack Shea Sprints, Lake Placid Feb 26-27, 2011: Defeating the Demons

I'd never competed in a long track meet.  I had never raced on the outdoor oval at Lake Placid.  It had been fifteen months since my last short track competition, when I'd reinjured myself, and I was nervous.  It'd been four and a half months since Liz' injury at Milwaukee, and as illogical as it might be, that made me more tentative about racing.  That being said, as January progressed, I was feeling good, and in relatively good condition.  I'd been working with both an acupuncturist and a figure skating coach to try and improve balance issues, and overcome fear.  I was really anxious to try long track.  I knew that until I actually re-entered competition, there would be no way to put the fear of injury behind me.  First, I signed up for the Nordic skating competition at Lake Morey, Vt., but that was cancelled due to the impact of January snow on the lake (see my Feb 5 post).

The Jack Shea Sprints at Lake Placid became the new goal.  They were close.  They were sprints.  They councided with the Empire State Games, in which a lot of my teammates were competing.  The field, in my age group was small (because so many of the best Masters skaters from the region were heading to Calgary for a Masters meet).  And there was the lure of the 1980 Olympic Oval itself, and its setting in the Adirondacks, center of the universe.

There was only one way to lose:  by not finishing at least one race.  All I had to do was finish one heat, and I'd have two major victories:  overcoming the fear factor; and having the experience of trying the long track in a competition.  I had a restless night, dreaming about Liz' injury, getting myself wound tighter than a coil.

Saturday, February 26th.  The temperature was seven degrees Farenheit at practice time, but the sun was out, the wind was slight, and it was a beautiful winter day. Practice could have gone better (the bolt attaching the mount to my blade came loose.  I was trying clap skates, and learned  the hard way that getting the weight too far forward is not a great idea).  Rattled, even more than from the rough night, I switched to my short track blades, despite the disadvantages for glide and corners.  Talking to other long track rookies, I realized that the heebie-jeebies were a shared phenomenon.  The gang in the warming hut, old friends, including five of my Rochester Speed Skating teammates, and new acquaintances, gave great positive vibes. Time for the first heat, a 500 meter race.

A couple slow laps in the warmup lane, feeling the ice, enjoying the mountains, and there was the starting line. I'd be racing Bill Keane of the Taconic club, another newcomer to long track.  We shook hands, chatted and waited our turn in the sun. The starter, Hans Hoefgen, told told us which lanes to use, then told us both to just go out there and have fun. The kind words helped.  Skaters to to the line.....ready....BANG.  The first half lap was toward the small but enthusiastic gang, then around the first turn, near the arena.  Amazingly, still upright, and still going.  The turn into the wind, and along the length of Lake Placid HS, with the High Peaks in view.  Change lanes.  The cold air hitting the lungs.....much tougher than indoor ice, but exhilarating....the second turn.., past Hans, and down the last straightaway to the finish.... well behind Bill, but still up and moving; then a slow lap in the warmup lane, to breath, calm down, and savor the real victory: one heat was done, and pleasure had overcome fear!

Second heat was1000 meters, this time paired with Carole Blair of the Quinte, Ont. club.  Another friendly new acquaintance, who'd race ahead of me for the rest of the meet. This time the cold was really getting to my lungs, and by the start of the final lap, I was feeling a little wobbly.  On the other hand, I was PUMPED! Another complete run!  Day one over. Spirits much higher.  No worry about sleeping well.

The next morning, there was a little snow on the ice, but it was a little warmer...a balmy 14F before wind.  The sun peeked, then disappeared for a while.  The 500 this time was more familiar, having been on the ice,  but I'd gone back to the clap skates and didn't feel comfortable.  Maybe practicing with them would have been a good plan.  I'd also decided to use a face protector, but scrapped that by the time I did my warmup laps--it was just pushing air up and fogging the goggles.  I'd decided that vision was more important than warm lungs.  Even unsure on the skates, the absolute pleasure of day one was there in spades.   Before the 1000, our official, Hence Bollinger, got the ORDA folks to bring out the Zamboni.  That turned out great. The sun came out, the ice was as smooth as glass....the conditions were perfect for a slow, old rookie to have an absolutely fantastic time.....and I did...and I loved the cheering from my fellow skaters coming down the final straight.

Turned out, the weekend was a huge victory in so many ways:  overcoming the bad case of nerves; having my first long track competition; ending the 15 month no-compete drought, and finding myself smitten with this different aspect of speed skating.  The goal for next season?  Some actual practice on clap skates, followed by as many competitions as I can manage. And in the meantime, talking up the Jack Shea Sprints to everyone who will listen.  Long track is great!

Thank you, Linda and Christie Sauza, the volunteers, the Lake Placid Speed Skating Club and the Oval staff for a great event.  Thank you, Hence Bollinger and Hans Hoefgen.

Reality check:  my figure skating coach, Alexandre Chichkov, was at Empire State Games with some of his good figure skaters.  He'd been watching out the window of the arena at the long track races.  His comment the week after?  "As soon as I saw you, I knew it was you.  Your kick was good, your arms were good, but looked like a shorttracker, but your glide......no one but you puts your second foot down that fast.  Learn to trust yourself and you'll go three times as fast!"