Zen and the Art of Speedskating

But the dawn is breakin’, it’s early morn
The taxi’s waitin’, he’s blowin’ his horn
Already I’m so lonesome I could die

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you’ll wait for me
Hold me like you’ll never let me go

‘Cause I’m leaving on a jet plane
I don’t know when I’ll be back again
Oh, babe, I hate to go

Leaving on a Jet Plane is one of those songs that can just cut right to the bone, even if you don’t like folk music. My parents listened to a lot of Peter, Paul & Mary when I was growing up, so this particular tune is practically engraved into my DNA.

Thinking of this song hit me hard today. I am packing for US Masters National Championships in Minnesota. I must admit to being in quite the funk about leaving home & Jessica so soon after getting back. Yet I know myself well enough to know that once I am at the races, I will be happy & full of funktionslust.

* Funktionslust is an old German term that means delight in your abilities & delight in doing what you do best. Most athletes (& artists too) seem to be funktionslust addicts.

I trained very hard for US Masters Nationals in the past, peaking specifically for that weekend; I had imagined being able to call myself National Champion at something. However my imagination smacked up against the reality of tough pack-style competition, in my previous 2 trips to this race, I ran headlong into the previously mentioned Brian Boudreau.

Here are Brian and I in the 2002-2003 season Masters Nationals, in Butte, Montana, about 220 meters into the 500m. I used to skate “between” my skates, & never bring my knees together to properly drive into each stroke. Dave Tamburrino calls this “riding the horse”. It hurts my eyes to see this picture now.

And here are Brian & I last weekend, 3 years later, about 50 meters into the 500m. I am a completely different animal now than I was then. Now I am much more “over” each push, and even though there are still flaws in what I see here (the elbows should be bent more when 50 meters into a race, my skate is not pointing directly down the ice) it makes me happy to see that 3 seasons of busting my tail have had some effect.

Derek Parra has an interesting comment in his book “Reflections in the Ice” about being thankful to your competition. Basically he says that tough competition inspires you to train harder & become better, and you should be thankful that they are there. I am thankful to Brian in that through competing with him, and preparing as hard as I can to be competitive at his level, it has made me better.

Ugh, I am blogging instead of packing. After the intensity of this last month, it’s hard to get excited. I am even training through this race so I can reach other goals later in the season.

I have received several emails recently from people who say that this blog inspires them. It’s wonderful to hear and never fails to simply astonish me. I never know quite how to react when I find that my own madness is somehow contagious.

Such an odd thing, inspiration, funktionslust (as this cool poem describes) or pursuing anything with 100% of yourself. Maybe I will inspire someone to work hard and kick my butt! Maybe I will meet them this weekend at the races, one never knows…

Filed under: from home