Return of the LIZard!!!

Over the last few posts, I've talked about the races in this, Liz Looby's first full season of competition since her 2010 accident.  Over the winter, she'd been a little discouraged, and wondering whether and when she could eclipse the PB she set in November, and wondered if she can recover enough from the injury to be truly competitive.  The goal had become to get to qualifying time for the Olympic time trials coming this fall.

Objectively, from my perspective, things looked reasonably good:  since switching to the Evo blades, she seemed to me to be able to control the injured leg better in the turns.  The time trials she'd been running at the Oval, from November to mid-February were pretty consistent within a tight band.  Most encouragingly, her 500 time at AmCup III in Roseville had been in that same tight time band, notwithstanding the fact that is was outdoors, at four below zero before wind chill, and at the lower altitude of Minnesota, and raced within a week of her bout with the flu.  I was looking forward to seeing what might be possible at AmCup Finals in March, on her home ice, indoors, in Salt Lake City.  As it turns out, we didn't have to wait that long!

8:30 AM, MST.  Utah Olympic Oval.  500 meter Time Trial.  Starting in the outer lane, three time Olympian Allison Baver.  The same Allison Baver who, when Liz was just starting out, provided the first set of real short track competition blades we'd ever had, which Liz wore in her first Nationals and for a long time after.  Starting in the Inner Lane, Liz Looby.  It's a fast pace.  They are both moving hard, arms engaged....Liz in the inner looks like she is leading into the turn, but its the inner so hard to be sure....switch lanes, around the final curve and coming at the camera, Liz outside, Allison in both pushing hard all the way to the line.....and it is Liz!  42.91, a personal best!  Allison 43.10 a season's best!  And both of them are below the Olympic Time Trial qualifying time!!!!

The start
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B97M-NK0xAKQazE5b3RKTTNBbWM/edit?usp=sharing

The curve

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B97M-NK0xAKQeDM1Q2x1SkU5LTQ/edit?usp=sharing

The Finish!
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B97M-NK0xAKQd1lOU0dwLWFaNFE/edit?usp=sharing

I can think of no better confidence booster, no clearer way for Liz to internalize that she can aspire to top level competition again!  We're so proud of her and of how hard she worked to do what no one thought possible.  And there is no better time to thank everyone who helped her from Tom Conley and Ellen Mularkey and others on the ice that day, to the doctors, nutrition experts, chiropractors, acupuncturists, Biomodulator operators, trainers, coaches, friends, teammates,  family members, University of Utah staff and administration who's good will, prayers and friendship have helped her back to this point!  Thank you all!

So THAT's What the Outside Edge Feels Like

The process of trying to get into some sort of condition for the speed skating season (about 30% physical and 70% mental) goes slowly but surely.  A major part is getting more comfortable on skates with the help of my figure skating coach, Alexandre Chichkov, who has been nothing if not patient.  He's a former World Juniors Champion (You Tube has films), so a head case student like me must be frustrating.  Anyway, this past Thursday, after my lesson, I was practicing, concentrating on position and the feel of the blade.  All of a sudden, nearing 270 degrees in the arc, a revelation:  so THAT's what the outside edge feels like!!!

The practices since Thursday haven't been quite as close, but I'm focused, and skating, and feeling the ice...

Meanwhile, the real athlete of the family is making great strides in her recovery, and I think she'll show people something in the coming long track season, starting with the Desert Classic in August.  The past two Saturdays, Liz Looby has biked on Big Cottonwood Canyon in Utah, and this weekend made it to the summit in Brighton, Utah!  She has worked so hard to recover from the injuries in October 2010 that it is easier and easier to believe that her strength and her belief in herself and her dream will get her to the Olympics.

American Cup (Long Track) Salt Lake City March 2-4. 2012

Liz made her post-accident return to competition this past weekend, and met every goal she had set for herself, notwithstanding the residual issues relating to recovery of nerve function.  When I said "She's Back" in the last post, I had no idea how far she had come.  Her own words at her blog "The Speedy Ice Effect" are better than anything I could write:

http://theunstoppableleftturn.blogspot.com/

She's BAAAAAAACK (and so is Liz's Dad)

It has been a while since there was all that much to report.  Liz has continued with her therapy and training, and was able to do a 500 meter time trial in late October.  We're still watching to see how much the tibial nerve regenerates, but by Christmas the item at the top of her wish list was new Oakley goggles!!!

The comeback took a really good turn today (a left turn, of course), when Liz took the ice at the Utah Olympic Oval for 500 and 1000 meter time trials!   I should mention that several months of back and knee problems for me are starting to resolve, to the point where I've been on figure skates for a few weeks.  So, early this morning I went through the snow to the rink, and while not quite ready to trust my back to the speedskates, did figures for an hour or so, sending positive vibes to Utah.  I have decided to believe that it helped:  Liz had good starts, and pretty decent results in both events.  As a result, she will return to competition next week, at a US Speedskating long track event at the Oval.  I could not be more pleased, or more proud of her achievement!

Jerry Search took photos today:

As you can see, she got the Oakley goggles!  Anyone who knows us both will know with absolute certainty that she did not inherit her crossover from me.  The elder Looby has some catching up to do.
Here is what Liz reported to me about times:
http://speedskatingresults.com/index.php?p=17&s=10140

Evolution of a Long Track Skater

For our family, time stood still on October 3, 2010, and for a long time afterwards, after Liz was seriously injured in a 1000 meter short track race during American Cup I at the Pettit Center in Milwaukee along with Katy Ralston.

The first of the family to really begin the recovery was Liz herself,  insisting on an immediate return to Salt Lake City, and showing both strength and humor by going to a skaters' Halloween party three weeks later, in full leg cast, as Nancy Kerrigan!  Around that same time, she returned to the Utah Oval to train and rehab as well as possible.

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By late October, three weeks post-injury, Liz was on an exercise bike at the Oval (photo on left), still wearing a leg brace, and trying to move on the running track in a technique she called "agility crutching."   By January, 2011 she was mentally ready to test her leg on ice at a public session at the Oval, as seen in right photo, accompanied by teammate Jerebelle Yutangco, doing a uncannily accurate impersonation  her Dad's "low" skating position!  About the same speed, too.  Liz continued her physical therapy (of various sorts), her treatment with a Tennant biomodulator, nutritional supplementation, chiropractic and acupuncture, and also continued her classwork at the University of Utah.  Along the way, she made a decision to move to long track, and she entered the summer doing bike work with the long-track skaters at the Oval. That decision to switch disciplines prompted this from one of Liz's first coaches,  Marty Medina of the Rochester Speed Skating Team:  "She looks great on the Long Track.  It is definitely where she needs to be."  Did I mention that  Liz, Jerebelle and Katy Ralston (who had fully recovered from her injury in the same accident as Liz) went skydiving in May, with Andrea and Elaine Dehnke rooting them on?

On July 13th, nine months from the accident,  our friend Jerry Search found Liz on the 400 meter track at the Oval, clap skates fixed to short track boots, to provide a little more ankle support in the absence of regenerated nerves, and took this picture:

There is a long road ahead to full recovery, but say what you will, this proud Dad thinks he has been watching a profile in courage.

The Younger Generation Inspires Me

Just 26 days after her accident at American Cup I in Milwaukee, Liz returned today to the Utah Olympic Oval to get on with her return to strength.  I'm in awe, as I have been at her courage and generally good spirits over an awful and painful month. Here she is doing "one legged spinning."  I could not do better to illustrate her strength and spirit than to quote what she put on her Facebook page tonight. 


  "Liz Looby I did my first workout in 3 weeks today at the Oval! Abs, upper body, and leg lifts. Plus some agility crutching. Got that part on video. :) I also weighed myself, lost 11 lbs of beloved muscle :("


When one of her friends asked what "agility crutching" was, Liz said  "The coach sets up cones on the track we have to run around and past...I just did it with crutches, and a lot slower :P"


It's really nice to draw inspiration from the strength of your own child.   I've been fortunate to have that feeling with each of my kids.  Way to go Liz!!!!  I'm sure the "beloved muscle" will be back soon!

A sign of spirit: she went with her teammates to a Halloween party as Nancy Kerrigan!

Look Who's Starting Her Comeback!

This photo was taken of Liz and Mike Kooreman (Sue Ellis in background) by Jerry Search at the Pettit Center in Milwaukee on October 2, 2010 at Am Cup I, the day before her accident in a 1000 meter final.  She's working hard at her recovery, so this picture really represents the very start of her recovery!

2009 Desert Classic in Salt Lake City, Pt. 2

Thanks to Teri Willingham for allowing use of the photo below, taken during the 1000 meter time trial in Salt Lake City on Aug. 22 where her 01:37.4 gave her the opportunity to go to the Olympic Time Trials. Teri took the two to the right the following day, showing Liz in a heat, and in her trademark lime green. While I am at it, I want to thank the coaches and members of the Rochester Speed Skating Team who have taught this sport to us both, and instilled in Liz a real passion for it, especially Marty Medina, Jim Cornell, Tim Doherty, and Karen Veronne, Gerry Savoie and Tom Rossborough; to Mike Kooreman and Derek Parra and most recently to Coach Jun-Hyung Yeo, whose passion is really remarkable, for bringing her so far in this past year. In the second day of the Desert Classic, Liz achieved a second PB for the meet, with an 00:47.8 in the 500 meter final. One has to wonder, however, if the speed of the weekend has any relationship to the Ramen eating contest of last Thursday? If so, I probably must thank Simon Cho for joining her in that little exercise in moderation! Finally, I would like to thank Andrew Love and Brian Boudreau for sending their first hand observations to me; and to Marty and everyone else who touched base by email, phone or Facebook to help share my excitement over Liz's meet...once again, I have seen the evidence of what a terrific group of people work in and around this sport. Now, the parents' moment savored, it's time to look ahead. I will end by quoting the note from our favorite starter, Jeff Golz, who conveyed congratulations with a simple "I guess we'll see you in Marquette!" I guess that's right!

E Makes Olympic Time Trial Times 8/22/09!!!!!

Flash from Salt Lake City and the Desert Classic! Liz did her time trial today with Vicki Labourdette, and she said she felt really crazy and good coming off. And no wonder!!! She beat her former 1000 meter personal best by nearly two seconds and at 01:37.4 has gone under the cutoff time for the Olympic Time Trials next month in Marquette MI!!!! Three and a half years ago she'd never even worn a speedskate! What a wonderful day!! PS the photo is from Nationals last year, because I don't have the good luck to be in SLC today to see!!! Only 48 hours ago she came in second in a Ramen eating contest to Simon Cho, so maybe its good luck to load up on noodles???? Check Liz' blog (link off to the side of this and get a first person account!) Postscript, Aug. 26, 2009: Andrew Love posted an article today on his blog entitled "Qualified" which features Liz and her teammate and our friend Anthony Barthell, who also qualified for Olympic time trials last weekend in SLC. It's a very thoughful and insightful piece about the emotion and meaning of reaching a special moment in sport, and I commend it to you highly. The link is over in the right hand column of this blog or just double click http://andrewlove.org/blog/