Spring Update!
After failing miserably at keeping everyone up to date on the adventures of my season as well as time off, I am striving to get better at this blogging thing!
Most of all, I have had some pretty great experiences lately that make me appreciate my life and the people who are part of it. Being able to share this incredible journey is something I value and am passionate about. So I hope everyone enjoys my musings.
I had the opportunity to share my stories and experiences with a group of girls and their dads at a father/daughter banquet in Lowville, NY (and some moms, to be fair). Myself being living proof of accomplishing so much coming from a small town in upstate NY, I am very passionate about encouraging others to never feel as though they cannot achieve greatness based on their background. Seeing all of the ambitious young athletes, musicians, students, etc., and their dads there supporting them, inspired by what I consider my everyday life is what makes the tough days easier. It makes the sacrifices more than worth it and the success that much sweeter. I can confidently say I am training and competing for every one of those girls, so they have a clear road to their dreams, not an overgrown path that seems to have no direction. Obstacles will be there, I always make sure to reiterate that. But getting through to them that it’s all worth it is the main goal, and it seems to resonate pretty well, which is so fulfilling. Every time I get an opportunity like this, I immediately go on tangents of thought and cannot wait until I have the time to pour my ideas and ambition back into the next generation of boundless talent from small towns! So thank you, everyone who has allowed me to inspire others!
Before that time comes, I have a few other things on my plate….
I started classes towards my BS in Technical Management (focusing on sustainability management) again at the end of March, right as my season ended. Perfect timing to switch my focus from physical to mental demands! It is always very nice to keep my mind busy, as well as getting thoughts away from the extreme focus of sport. After being in a purely luge bubble for six months I’m pretty sure my psyche takes a sigh of relief when I open a textbook for the first time.
That lasts a whole…2 weeks, maybe. Then I am already wishing for painful workouts instead of pages of reading and homework assignments. Regardless, I am so thankful to have the opportunity to gain an education without jeopardizing my career. Even though I’m good at whining about it sometimes!
Aside from flexing my minuscule time management muscles with school, it has been nice to relax a little bit and enjoy some time off. My little brother Sean and I went to visit Ryan (big brother) in Salt Lake and scored big on flying in just as they were being dumped on with snow. Jackpot! I was ecstatic. Unfortunately, my legs could not keep up with my excited mind since my skiing days are virtually non-existent now. So taking it easy was the name of the game. I proceeded to struggle with walking for a few days. Small sacrifices I guess.
It really did get me thinking how nice it is to have facilities at hand to recover from my hard workouts and injuries, etc. I will never again take sports medicine for granted, and have gained a new respect for contrast baths and cold tubs. As I get older (not sure how that happened…), I am slowly realizing the reason all of the older athletes preached the whole warm-up and recovery things when I first came around. I now take back any witty “old man/woman” comment I ever made.
Before too long, it will be time to dive right back in and with more drive and passion than ever. It is a huge year and these few weeks away always get me pumped up to get in the gym, be sore, and make gains like never before. I am currently thawing out my winter body while in California for a couple of events, but am already counting down the days to get back to Lake Placid and turn spring maintenance workouts into those preventing me from easily using the stairs.
