Zen and the Art of Speedskating

Working on something else, I came across this image Jessica took of national sprint team member Rebekah Bradford, ripping through a 500m final inner turn during the last race weekend of the year.

If you can always have that knee in front of the toe, straights or turns, like she does here, you will go faster, as the pressure into the ice is instant.

This moment happened 15 days ago… but doesn’t it seem like the end of the season was a long time past?

I’m slowly getting back into easy workouts, slow & short cycling, yard work, a new-agey yoga class I am fond of.

Yoga is great for speedskaters in the off-season. We can do some things really well, other things are horridly difficult. I am really bad at Yoga, but I find it emotionally restful compared to the intensity of the rest of the year.

But mostly I am drinking wine in front of a roaring fireplace, and taking long walks with Jessica & the dog in the roller-coaster mountain west spring weather.

I don’t have a coach right now, but if I did, I think yoga, wine, and walks would be approved activities.

Sometimes you have to let the joints, muscles, & the soul, rest, rest, rest… & let the mind reflect on what you did last year, and contemplate what you need to do in the next one.

Filed under: from home