Liz returned to the ice for her second Am Cup of the Long Track season, this time, alas only about six days out from her two week bout with the flu. Roseville is a truly beautiful facility, but it IS outdoors and -2 before wind chill is cold!!! Well the bad news is that the flu did a number on her energy level, and she seemed to run out of gas in her longer race. The good news is threefold: while Liz has not done much outdoor Long Track yet (one of the purposed of being in the Jack Shea Sprints in December at Lake Placid) her first 500 was the best she's ever done at that distance outdoors.
The second bit of good news was that while her time did not match her indoor personal best or season's best, it was right on target with her most recent indoor time trial at Salt Lake City, which I think isn't bad given the flu, the cold, and the low altitude. The third item of good news is that throughout the meet she held her corners very tight and well, and that I attribute to the change of equipment: adding EVO powdered metal blades. Finally I want to thank the Schweizer family of Mahtomedi, MN for showing up in force to be Liz' fan club at the meet! Here (above) are Liz' mom, Jane, with three of the Schweizers: Mark, Katie and Marin (the others were inside at the moment that I happened to snap a picture). Thanks for your support!!!!
