150 meters of imperfection
Before I mention my disastrous first race of the year, here is Elli Ochowicz, showing dryland perfection. She has 10 years on the world cup circuit, and barring unforeseen catastrophe, will make her 3rd Olympic team in short order.
This is some impressive dryland balance & super deep sitting by this 3-time USA sprint champion– she was doing this with such slow motion precision you could have balanced a glass of fine merlot on her shoulders. Note the extended foot is off the ground too. Ouch.
There was “early season” racing at the Utah oval, and even though I know I should not be upset at how awful my 1000m was, as it is still September, but I’ve been working too damm hard to skate like I did.
On paper, I should be able to skate the 1:16.08 to qualify for Olympic trials in the 1000m. I’ve already qualified in the 500m, but I don’t want to be a one-dimensional athlete, even though over and over, this is what my body tells me I am. So I train hard for the 1000m out of bull-headed determination.
In the race itself, I rushed my start & first corner, had 3 major slips in the first 150 meters, skated my slowest 200m opener EVER, and my hopes for the time I needed disappeared before the race was 16 seconds old. It wasn’t my body, it was execution of technique under pressure. The final time hurt more emotionally than the intense physical pain of the race. 1:18.7
(insert appropriate 4 letter word here, repeated over and over… I am really pissed at myself, this is 6 seconds slower than my PB, and at least 3 seconds slower that what I expect from myself for a 1000m while under a training load)
I should have lifted on Saturday after racing, but the muscles where my hips join my back are completely shredded/sore/aching. So instead of risking injury in the weight room, I’m taking the weekend off, concentrating on family, and the mental/visualization/positive attitude aspects of racing.
So hand me that glass of Merlot, I need to picture that perfect race, over and over.
What percentage of speedskating is mental execution of technique under pressure? What percentage physical? If you are an athlete, be honest with yourself about this.
Now be honest with yourself about your division of TIME you invest between these two aspects of a racing performance.
I am failing right now.. The body is about 90% there, the mind is not. Just a couple of weeks to turn it around.
Filed under: RACE DAY
Sometimes I swear trying to get the brain and the body at their best for race day is just like trying to get all of your friends together for a long weekend AND have the weather co-operate.
Either scenario is likely to end with your butt sitting at home, dejected.
So pour a beautiful cup of coffee and breathe. I have no other advice, but maybe some of the stars who follow your blog will…?
ANDREW! I am sitting here thinking of how to phrase what I want to say in a way that you would say it to me…OK I can’t so I will say it like I would say it to one of my kids, or students, or skaters…sounds like you were trying to hard. DON’T over think it! Relax, if you have consistently skated that fast before, then you will be able to do it again. That brass ring IS reachable!
Enjoy your family, get only what you need to learn and then forget about the botched effort, don’t overanalyze or dwell!
Still in awe of you!
[…] 150 meters of imperfection […]
You just told me the other day how you are lifting mad amounts of weights. Did you know that your muscles are not capable of performing fast twitch motion when fatigued by max work outs?
Do not sweat the 1000m (or the 150m of the 1000m). Let your body recover, let it peak by lowering the workout load and increasing recovery. Otherwise do not be surprised when your body says “Oh!! (insert appropiate 4 letter word here) this”
Take care buddy!
Thanks Eric,
my main issue was one of execution, not physical… I am just finishing my 2nd, 6 week max strength cycle, you are correct that this kills speed. Max strength work is an essential foundation for speed, but it’s not speed…
But slips like I did have nothing to do with that. What I lack is visualization/execution, things that don’t “hurt” to build.
That is why I am bad at them.
I totally understand how you feel. I had the exact same experience with my TT at trials… my medicine was a HUGE sundae with NY triple fudge chunk, hot fudge, peanut butter sauce, and m&ms. Works wonders. (and unlike alcohol it doesnt hinder muscle recovery!)
I would say a race is 50-50 physical-mental. I’m not a pure sprinter or even elite, but I love the 500m TT (on a bike AND on ice) because it is absolutely a race of brains over braun–if you aren’t mentally ready to go at the starting line, you already lost the race. And its so technically demanding, even on something as simple as a track bike, that it’s also a race of technique over braun. Things get different for the 1000m; consider a ridiculously sloppy 1000m like Gerard van Velde’s world record as opposed to Catriona Ley May Doan’s 500m perfection. It’s interesting…
Hiii!
by accident i came on this website of urs..and its very interesting cuz im a big speedskating fan! great photos of Elli here!
maybe if u want u can check out some russian materials..Lobysheva website : www.lobysheva.webs.com
Greetings,
Marika