Zen and the Art of Speedskating

One moment– Riders being called to the start line for a race about a week ago.

I did not realize this when I shot the picture, but think the fellow on the left is longtime speedskater/bike racer Mark Chrysler, who was a regular at the summer training crits.

I mostly did local training races, and when I tallied it up, I was surprised to find I had raced 20 times this summer and consistently placed very well. I did not think I would be fast this year at all.

Also it was very satisfying to feel part of the “bike trash” racing culture again for the first time since I got serious about skating 7 seasons ago.

Cyclists are certainly a different crowd than speedskaters, but the bike season is over, ice racing is here, and now I have several painful months of converting bike muscles to “static position skate muscles” (going from skate to bike is so much easier).

Last year I PBed in every distance but the 500 & 1000, let’s see what happens this year. I think I have a shot at a 1500 PB, maybe a 3k on a fast ice day, but probably no others.

Of course, I might have other priorities overwhelm my time. 1998 US olympic trials champ, and new dad Cory Carpenter recently joked with me & said “just sell your bike, you won’t be riding much for a while”.

However if it means I will end up with a kid as cute as Cory’s, then I will let go of the bike with a resigned smile, and the skates with a few fond tears.

Filed under: from the coffee shop