Zen and the Art of Speedskating

Image yourself on the first day of a new job, current job or past job, imagine the care and thought you take as you dress in the morning, and as you follow unfamiliar directions to get to work. It’s probably work you have done before, and maybe even work you are already very good at. But it’s a change of scenery, new people, new workflow, and there are always “new-job” jitters.

Well, I got up this morning at 7, with the distinct nervousness connected with heading to a new job; I dressed carefully and with the appropriate attire & care for my new occupation. Old worn Raleigh bicycle T-shirt that once was my dad’s, well used workout shorts, beaten up running shoes that are a month overdue for the trashbin, a dun green baseball cap (inscription “Northshore inline marathon”) with a visible salty sweat stain on it placed backwards on my head. two puffs of albuterol and I was out the door, munching a banana & drinking my first Gatorade of the day.

See, today I start training with the high 5 speedskating team, for the first time as a Salt Lake City resident. I take this as seriously as any full time paid occupation, and you need to be on time for work & ready to perform. I used to drive to my old job at eCornell, cup of coffee in my hand, and calm myself, going over the mental checklist of whatever XML, HTML, or content organizational challenges were ahead of me. Today, although the cup of coffee during the drive is the same, my mental checklist as an athlete is quite different, (the knee is doing great! The altitude is still hard!). But the end goal is the same, to arrive at work and to be ready to give it the best I can give.

4 hours later, my car returns to the driveway, I let the dog out and collapse on the porch, munching a cheap burrito & smartfood popcorn that tastes like the best things I have ever eaten, I am happy, content, work went VERY well today. My boss/coach is happy with the improvements I have made since we last met 5-6 weeks ago, especially my gains in skate position flexibility (one of my weaknesses). It does not matter how I “stacked up” compared to the 5 other skaters who were training with us today, as I race against myself, and against myself, it was a good day at work…..

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