7th and 8th

Megan and I had a great time in Winterberg!  We placed 7th and 8th, and had the 5th and 4th fastest pushes  for both races.  Although she hurt her quad, Megan pushed awesomely, and I can't wait to see what's next for her as she continues her development.  Megan had many firsts, including the first time to Germany, and she had the opportunity to eat many new foods.  I felt like a big sister, showing my little sister the ropes.  She handled everything- all the challenges we faced- like a pro and I'm so proud of her.

Janis Kipurs was my coach, with the help of the Latvian team and their coaches.  Thanks to Janis, we made a connection with the Latvian team and was able to share video with them.  I learned so much on this trip about bobsled and driving and I owe a lot of it to the Latvian team and to Janis.

As for the races, from my perspective, the first race was a good race, the second race- horrible.  People have told me that I am too hard on myself, but I expected to be in the top 6 for the second day, and I had the ability to be there.  I drove poorly, which was more upsetting than where I actually finished.  If I drove well and still finished 8th- then I got beat, but I drove poorly and finished 8th- and beat myself.  Still reeling to return to Winterberg to fix my mistakes, but that will have to wait til next season.

As for now, I'm back in Lake Placid getting ready for the World Cup race here this week.  Thanks to Megan, I was able to qualify for World Cup and will now race as USA3.  I'm completely excited to be racing World Cup in just my first season, as it's quite an honor.  I'm nervous as well, my driving ability will really be tested now, but also excited.  I have no idea what to expect, except as always- to have some fun...so here we go- Lake Placid!

Winterberg!

I'm sitting next to a warm fire here in Winterberg blogging and trying to fight the strong urge to fall asleep. My brakeman, Megan Hill, my coach, Janis Kippurs, and I arrived to Frankfurt, Germany this morning at 7:30am, got our rental truck (which is a standard, meaning only Janis can drive lol), and made the 130km drive to Winterberg.  After a delicious lunch, Megan and I opted to take a nap- which was glorious, but left me wanting more.  We decided to get the blood moving a bit and did a warm-up, and then headed down to dinner, and now I'm sitting here trying to keep my eyes from closing as I don't want to be up at 4am!

We start sliding on Monday, we get 6 runs and then two races- not a lot of time to learn a new track in a new sled.  We are borrowing a sled from the Latvian team, something I am very thankful for as it's nice to be able to build a partnership between nations.  We pick up the sled tomorrow (Sunday) and set it up and get it ready to go for training on Monday.  I'm pretty nervous, but I have watched the point of view video for Winterberg a million times and have spoken to a few different drivers about lines.  Tomorrow we'll also go to the women's luge race and watch some sleds, as well as walk the track, to get an idea about what is about to happen.

I'm super excited to be sliding on a European track in my first year of driving, but the competition is stiff here.  Of course, competing against my fellow Americans is always stiff competition, but here- you have a bad run, it's over.   There's not many new drivers in this race, most of the drivers I will be competing against have been to Winterberg many times, where I have been 3 times as a brakeman, and never as a driver.  I'm excited none the less, but I have no idea what to realistically expect for a result.  I know my coach, Janis with a Soviet bloc background, always expects the win, but realistically, the first goal is to get down and qualify for the Lake Placid World Cup.  Of course I want to win, what athlete doesn't, but I am realistic and know it's a lot easier said than done.  That being said though- I'm up for the challenge.

So here we go...Winterberg...

GOLD in Calgary

Last week we drove up to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, for race #3 of America's Cup.  I am pleased to report that Optimus Prime (sled), Katelyn Kelly (brakeman), and I were successful and took home the GOLD!  This is actually only the second bobsled race I've ever won, and hopefully not my last.  My first run was super fast, and thank goodness it was because the second one was a whole 7 tenths slower!  That's not very consistent in bobsled terms, but that's what beginning driving is all about.  My goal for every race is always the same, to have two good consistent runs, and even though I won this race I didn't accomplish my goal of having two consistently good runs.  I have so much to learn as a driver, but I'm glad I still got the W today. Onto Winterberg, Germany!

Long Overdue Update

The season is here and a lot has happened!  We had two team trials in Lake Placid, and I won the first one. The second race I crashed the first run, but according to criteria I was granted two more runs and at least was able to finish the race, but I still finished last unfortunately.  For a new driver, taking the run after a crash can be a little nerve-wracking, and as you can imagine- it was not the smoothest run, but I made it down and that's what matters.

We then traveled out to Park City to compete in two America's Cup races.  My brakeman for those races was Katelyn Kelly, and we had some trouble at the start.  Katelyn was named to the national team as a brakeman, and I was fortunate to have her on my team, however, my push bar kept falling while I was pushing which unfortunately resulted in slower push times.  Katelyn did awesome though, and we were able to pull out 4th place finishes both days, each behind 3 Olympic drivers so I'm happy with this result.

Then the crazy occurred...

As you saw from my earlier post, my Olympic driver Erin Pac retired.  Because of her retirement and my recent finishes in races, I have been named USA 3.  This normally would mean that I would get to race on World Cup, however, I am not currently qualified.  In order to qualify, I have to race two races in Winterberg, Germany now, and then will hopefully return and race the final World Cup on the first half in Lake Placid, NY.  As exciting as it is, I am very nervous about how I'm going to make all this happen.  My biggest hurdle right now is finding a sled to rent in Winterberg, a task that is proving to be difficult.  It would be a huge opportunity to race World Cup in my first year as a driver, and I would really like this opportunity- so I'm trying to do everything possible to make it happen- which mostly means a whole lot of prayer!

In my absence, Jamie Greubel will race in the World Cup in Calgary as the USA 3 driver, and Jazmine Fenlator will race in the Park City World Cup as a driver.  I wish them the best of luck, as they are also both new drivers.

But for now, I'm currently in Calgary, Alberta, Canada- and it's cold!  Tons of snow- and we get on the track for the first time tonight.  Although crazy has occurred, I'm excited to learn this new track and get back behind Optimus Prime!

This season is going to be fun...

Sad Day

I know I haven't updated in a while about how the season is progressing, and I will soon- I promise- but I wanted to at least post the link to this article.  Today, my Olympic teammate, Erin Pac, announced her retirement.  Although we always haven't seen eye to eye, I had so many great moments with her in the sport.  I raced my first world cup, my first world championships, and yes my first Olympics.  Not only has Erin greatly impacted my career as a bobsledder, but she has also greatly impacted me as a person.  I have learned so much about the sport and more importantly, about myself, through being her teammate the past 3 years.  Although life for me in bobsled will continue (I have a race in the morning), I can't help but remember the past on this day.  Thanks for everything Erin.

http://bobsled.teamusa.org/news/2010/11/11/olympic-medalist-erin-pac-retires/39467?ngb_id=23 

Back on the Ice!

We started back on the ice on Friday, October 15- and it dumped snow!!  It was kinda surreal to be sliding and not be the brakeman.  Although I have driven before, this is the first time I have driven at the beginning of the year and for team trials.  It may be weird- but I like it!  I love the feeling of being in the front seat- and the different challenges it brings- and let me tell you- it brings plenty of them!   Learning to drive a bobsled is one thing, learning to drive fast- is a whole different story!  Every day you walk the track trying to figure out the perfect line- and even though you think you can be perfect- you never will be!  It's one of the most frustrating and satisfying things I've ever done- and I can't wait to see what the rest of the season holds!

My teammates (Jazmine Fenlator and Jamie Greubel) and I started at a lower start, and today was my first day at the top- and I even pushed.  Above is video of me and one of our new rookie brakeman, Katie Stoever, pushing from the top.

So much more to come- the season has begun!

Video from Push Championships

Here is the video from push championships and testing.  The power cleans are a little sketch, I was attempting a PR at 100kg and wasn't able to finish.  Check out the rest to see how we train!

2010 Push Championships

     This past week we completed our pre-season combine testing (a series of tests to determine our current fitness) and our annual push championships.  Coming off an Olympic year, I really wasn't sure what to expect.  My training hasn't been at the same level of last season, as I have spent a majority of the summer trying to figure out ways to finance this upcoming season, as well as making appearances with my bronze medal.  My training hasn't been as consistent as I would have liked, so I was very nervous to find out how I would test and perform this week.  Although I didn't set personal records in anything, I am pleased to report that I finished first for the second season in a row in the combine testing.  I ran a 3.88 in our 30m testing, not bad but still over a tenth off my PR, but still the fastest in the field.
     Additionally, this pre-season I haven't been pushing much, as my body has needed time to recover from any lagging injuries and also I haven't been in Lake Placid consistently enough to put it regularly in the workouts.  Once again however, I am pleased to report that I won push championships for the 3rd consecutive year as a brakeman, and also won push championships for the first time competing as a pilot.  I still have much to learn pushing from the pilot's bar, but I feel that this was a great way to start the season.  I can still pick up much more time pushing as a driver, but a win's a win.  Here is the write up of the event:

http://bobsled.teamusa.org/news/2010/09/23/meyers-and-langton-dominate-national-bobsled-push-championships/38677?ngb_id=23

Now it's just more training til the ice opens on October 15!  Can't wait!

Address!

Finally!  I now have an address where you can all send donations and autograph requests!  For all autograph requests, please enclose something for me to sign as well as a self-addressed stamped envelope so that I can return them asap.  For donations, all checks can be made out to me, Elana Meyers.  Thank you for all your support and I look forward to hearing from you!

Elana Meyers

P.O. Box 6131

Douglasville, GA 30154-6131

My life (currently) summed up in a quote

"Deciding to train for an Olympic team, no matter the situation, requires tapping into your deepest reserves of dedication, courage and sacrifice.  Not only must you be willing to put your personal life on hold, you need to tolerate treading your body like a machine and also risk enormous disappointment...You have to say to yourself, and to the rest of the world, I have a dream: I want to make the Olympic team.  Then there's no guarantee you will.  Emotionally, you're so exposed." 

This quote from Dara Torres' book, Age is Just a Number, pretty much sums up what myself and all other Olympians and aspiring Olympians go through in order to reach their dream.  Well said.

Verified Magazine

Here is a recent article about me from Verified Magazine.  Enjoy!

http://verifiedmag.com/2010/02/28/bronze-isnt-good-enough/ 

Swagga

USOC intern Riley Steinmetz recently posted a blog entitled "An Olympic Attitude", which discussed the attitude it takes to achieve greatness, specifically the attitude it takes to become an Olympic athlete (http://www.teamusa.org/blogs/all-access/posts/2171-an-olympic-attitude).  For athletes, we know the necessity of thinking positive in all situations and how it affects everything from our game-day results to even our daily training.  Those of you who have been long-time fans may recall me tweeting or posting facebook messages about my swagga- and losing it and regaining it.  Well, my "swagga" is my Olympic attitude.  It is the attitude that tells me I can do anything I want to, that I can achieve anything and nothing is impossible with a little hard work and determination.  My confidence has faltered from time to time, especially during an Olympic year when people are out for blood and will be quick to tell you when they think you're not up to par in hopes that you'll fold under the pressure, and in this year- the toughest year athletically for me- I indeed lose my swagga at times.  It always is tough to regain a positive attitude when you're at your lowest of lows, but it's imperative that you find your "swagga" and pull yourself out of it- and that's exactly what I was able to do.  I found my "swagga" right before the Olympics in Park City, and I was determined to win an Olympic medal.  And even though the odds were against us, I had my "swagga" back and I knew anything was possible.  Once was lost, was newly found and I knew great things were going to happen.  So hold tight to your swagga, cause it makes all the difference in the world.

Thank You David Dinger

The bobsled and skeleton community lost one of it's family members today. Dave Dinger was an amazing man who greatly impacted not only the development and success of bobsled and skeleton, but also the lives of many. He will be sorely missed. He may have lost his battle to cancer, but in his life he won the hearts of so many. RIP Dave Dinger.

6 months...

So today was an anniversary and a death of sorts for me- as it has been exactly 6 months since Erin and I won bronze in Vancouver.  So yes, I celebrate that great memory today, but also it is a death of sorts.  Ever since winning the medal, people have told me that the life of a medal is only about 6 months- and then after that no one cares.  Of course my family and I still care dearly, and I'm sure Erin and her family care as well, but to most of the public, there's other big sporting events that have happened and you are essentially old news- the appearance requests disappear and so does the so called "celebrity" status that goes along with it.  I'm ok with that, as I've stated in other blogs it's never been about being famous or anything like that, although I have greatly enjoyed the appearance requests and speaking engagements.  I've had a blast this summer traveling and meeting so many amazing people!  Although the next season is fast approaching and my medal may be "dead" to the world, I'll live the rest of my life as an Olympic Bronze medalist (hopefully multiple medalist, including gold :))- and it won't matter how famous I was during these past 6 months, what will matter is that I have accomplished a dream- a dream that began at the age of 7.  I still continue to dream and my dreams continue to grow exponentially, but today, I'll reflect on the past 6 months, remember all the fun and excitement, and then focus on those dreams that have yet to be achieved.

Life as an intern

This summer I have been working tirelessly in my position as an intern for ORDA (Olympic Regional Development Authority) in which I have been recruiting bobsled and skeleton athletes.  Although my internship is not yet complete, this week we have in town over 40 new recruits trying out for bobsled for the first time.  I must say, I feel pretty excited that I contributed to this increase in recruits.  Now obviously, all of them won't go on to be Olympians (although it is unfortunate that everyone can't be an Olympian), it is exciting to see so many people excited about trying out my sport!  I can't wait to get all the recruits behind a sled to see what they can do!  They did their sprint testing today, and throughout the week they'll learn how to push among other activities.

Recruiting can be pretty frustrating sometimes- lots of work and often little return- and lots of people turning you down.  But this camp has inspired me to continue my work in recruiting- and I'm excited to go into the office Wednesday to get back to work!  I've learned so much about sports through this internship, and it's been a great experience- not to mention I work with great people at ORDA.  I still have a couple more weeks as an intern, but I'm newly enthused- and can't wait to do more work and find even more recruits!

The Source Magazine

Check out my latest interview with The Source Magazine, one of the top hip-hop magazines in the country!   Great picture thanks to photographer Michael Toles!

http://www.thesource.com/articles/23946/Olympic-Bobsled-Bronze-Medalist%3A-Elena-Meyers/274/Source-Sports 

Got Milk: A humbling experience

This week I was invited to the Refuel America Launch by Got Milk, an event to launch NBA player and USA Basketball player Chris Bosh and Apolo Anton Ohno's Got Milk Ads, and to promote the use of low-fat chocolate milk as a post-workout recovery beverage.  Not only is it truly a great post-workout beverage- the event was a lot of fun!  My teammate Jazmine Fenlator and I, drove to her mother's house where we parked my car and then traveled into the city.  Gotta admit- the experience was pretty terrifying!  I went to school in Washington DC and I've traveled all over the world- but the amount of people in New York City at rush house was a little more than I could handle.  Thank goodness Jazmine was there- she knows the city and was a great tour guide.

Anyway, we went down there, did the event, and then had a chance to tour the city.  We had cupcakes at Eleni's and also at Billy's Bakery, hot chocolate at Jaques Torres, and cheesecake at Junior's- obviously I was not on my diet for those few days.  We toured Times Square- and that's when I really began to enjoy the city.

Reflecting on the experience, I realize how humbling it truly was.  Yes, I have achieved much, as an Olympian and as a medalist, but standing next to Apolo Ohno, the most successful Winter Olympian in history, was a truly humbling experience.  In order to win the amount of medals that Apolo has won (8), I would have to continue bobsledding for the next 28 years, make each Olympic team, and win a medal in all of them!  Additionally, Shawn Johnson and Chris Bosh are no slouches either- both have accomplished so much- including Olympic gold medals!  I was not star-struck by any means, I have met many stars, but being around such accomplished athletes makes me realize that I have so much more to accomplish- so much more I want to do as an athlete!  I can't wait to get back on the track and back to work- so I can go after all my goals!  Thanks Apolo, Shawn, and Chris for inspiring me- Push Championships is less than a month away!

It was never about the money

One of the questions I often get asked is how much money do I make bobsledding?  The answer is- not very much- if any at all!  We can win a very small amount in prize money every year, but even that doesn't cover what we spend to compete in the sport.  Even gold medalist Steven Holcomb, who is quickly becoming the face of our sport in the U.S., has said he still has over $40,000 in debt from bobsledding alone!  So why if the financial rewards are so great and the return is very little, do we compete?

Well, when I was 7 years old I made a decision that would alter the rest of my life.  At 7, I decided to become an Olympian.  At the age of 7, I had no concept of money, but I made that decision and I have worked my entire life to get to where I am today.  To me, representing my country means more than the amount of money it takes to get there- it's a once (hopefully more than once in my case) in a lifetime opportunity, to go to the Olympics and fulfill a lifelong dream.  No amount of money can take away from that accomplishment.  No amount of money could be offered to me to take back that memory.  Some things are priceless, and competing for your country on the world's biggest stage is one of those things.  Every moment was priceless and I cherish every bit of it.

So these days I'm working at a burrito shop and trying to be as creative as possible to raise funds for the upcoming season.  Yes, money is tight, and I am still far off my goal, but I know that the ultimate goal of all this cannot be measured in dollar signs.  Although I hope to walk away from bobsled one day fully satisfied and with as little debt as possible, even if I leave with debt, I'll know it was all worth it...

After saying all that- feel free to donate! lol  Paypal button is on the right!  :)

Blog and You Shall Receive!

I blogged about it yesterday, so today when I was doing my multiple throws exercises and actually talking to my teammate Jamie Greubel- I looked down and I found one!  I found a four leaf clover- just looked down and saw it!  Who knew all I would need to do was to blog about finding one and I would!  Something so small but definitely made my week- God works in mysterious ways and uses the smallest things to make you smile- which in turn makes Him smile.  All the things a four leaf clover represents- good luck, good fortune, and hope- God has shown me once again that they are around us all the time!  I'm so happy I can't even put it into words- great day!

Four leaf clovers

Everyday when I'm training (I run every day mind you), I walk by patches and patches of clovers.  Maybe it's just my distraction from the toughness of the workout, but I can't help but look for a four leaf clover.  I like to think I do this because I always want to find the goodness out there- what the four leaf clover stands for- the luck and hope that is carried in a plant that has four leaves instead of three.  The four leaf clover does stand for luck though, and although I am blessed, I still get super excited when I find them.  So I guess for me a four leaf clover not only represents luck and hope, but also happiness- items that we all search for in life.  So what four leaf clovers are you searching for?  What do they represent to you?

Dieting- the new training

Happy August everyone!  Can't believe it's August already- the season is only 2 months away and I'm so excited!  Of course, everyone is busy getting ready for the season, but one part of training you can't forget about is dieting.  Now- dieting doesn't necessarily mean losing weight- dieting as this sense is crucial to training- and as a matter of fact- IS TRAINING!  Whether you have to lose weight (like in my case) or gain weight or just maintain your weight, watching what you eat and making good dietary decision will greatly enhance your performance.  Think of it like a car- every day we're working on the engine- making it stronger and more powerful, but if at the end of the day you put gunk in the gas tank- you're not going to go anywhere!  Dieting is the exact same way!  I struggle greatly with dieting- I love food and I love brownies in particular- but I know that watching what I eat will allow me to reach my goals.  Daily- I have to make my choices very wisely and sometimes its pretty difficult- especially when those around you are eating anything and everything- and when you work in a burrito shop- but I know I'll be at my best when I fuel my body the best, so I'm going to give it premium fuel!  Happy Dieting everyone!

The Five People You Meet in Heaven

I just recently finished reading Mitch Albom's book, The Five People You Meet in Heaven.  I actually picked the book up yesterday at the airport, and finished it earlier today- and for those of you who know how slow of a reader I am- that is quite the accomplishment and should be an indicator about how much I enjoyed this book.  The book was basically about life, how every person on this earth is related- through all the love, sacrifice, pain, and anger.  The book described a different view of heaven, where your life is explained to you by five people.  I enjoyed this view of heaven, as it made you think who would your 5 people be and what would they tell you that would explain why you were here.  I guess the point is you really wouldn't know who your 5 people will be, as you have know way of knowing how many people are affected by your life.  I'd like to believe I have had the opportunity to positively affect many people's life, but truth be told, I have no way of knowing how, who, or even whether it was positive or negative.  The book also offered the main character a calming peace, and I must say I received one after completing this book.  The book reinforces the idea that every life on this earth is precious and no matter how mundane the day-to-day tasks may seem, you never know who's life you're changing.  So go out there and live- but live knowing that your actions affect many others, and that no life on this earth is without purpose.

Empress Magazine

I recently was interviewed for Empress Magazine!  The photograph is by Michael Toles Photography, located in Douglasville, GA.  He did a great job- and so did Empress Magazine!  Here is the link to the article: http://www.empressmag.com/interviews/getting-to-know-elana-myers-2010-olympic-bronze-medalist-of-the-us-bobsled-team

Enjoy!  Thanks for all the support!

Memory

Do you ever wonder why you remember somethings and forget others?  Like why you can still belt out the lyrics to every En Vogue song ever made and still remember your first pair of cleats, but can't remember the name of that super important person you met yesterday?  I used to think I had a great memory, but now I don't know if it's all the hits in the head I've taken over the years in sports (bobsled has definitely added to that) or the fact that I'm getting older (although I like to still believe I'm not that old- although the elementary schoolers tell me otherwise), but I don't remember things as well as I used to.  Even things like songs- I can't remember the lyrics as well as before!

Now yes, some of the things you remember may have to do with things like repetition and importance, but the question is always- why do we remember what we remember?  

Often you also remember the bad things that happened to you, the bad things people said to you, and the just plain bad people.  Why is it so easy to forget the good stuff and remember the bad?

I've created so many memories since my run to the Olympics and post-Olympics.  I've had a blast getting the opportunity to do so many different things, and meet so many amazing people.  I just keep finding myself wondering if I'm going to remember these times later when times get tough- because they do for all of us- Olympic medal or not.  

I'd like to think I can remember everything- that I'm going to remember the excitement and the joy of every single bronze medal moment, but I fear I won't be able to.  I suppose the important thing is to take advantage of those bronze-medal moments, because we all have them.  Remember the good times, and try to throw away the bad.  There's only so much space in there for memories, and I want mine to be good ones.  So the question I pose to you is this, what do you want your memories to be?  Go out and make them- and make 'em good!

SAMMY

This weekend I had the privilege of being the guest speaker at the SAMMY awards, hosted by USA Today and Body By Milk, the makers of the Got Milk? Ads.  The event was in Disney World, and I had a blast!  SAMMY stands for Student-Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year, and its award given to only 25 seniors nationwide, seniors who represent the best student-athletes in the country.  All of these students are incredibly well rounded and give so much back to their communities, it was an honor just to be a part of it.   The athletes receive a scholarship, a trip to Disney World, and appear in an ad for milk in ESPN the Magazine and USA Today.  Oh yeah- and did I mention I won this award in 2002?  lol  Not only did I speak at their welcome reception, I also got to know many of the student-athletes and attended shared fireworks and dessert with them and their families at Epcot.  It was truly a great experience and I had a lot of fun and everyone should look out for these superstars- cause they're amazing!

As part of my speaking, I created a poem about the SAMMY winners, and I promised them I would post it here on my blog. So here it is:

So you graduated from high school and thought you were done,

4 years of hard work, now look what you’ve won!

Winning a SAMMY award is a quite a big deal,

I’m sure you’ve pinched yourself, not believing its real.

There’s 25 of you all, so let’s break it down for the masses,

So we can applaud what you’ve done on the fields and in your classes.

SAMMY winners come from all over this great nation, our homeland,

Zak Aossey hails from Texas, where everything is grand.

Lauren Boden from Georiga, reppin’ the A,

Kansas is the home state of the one and only, Casey McVay.

Celeste Hoelzl hails from CT- home of my Olympic teammate,

Katherine Skinner from NY- my new residing state.

Mary Bennion from Oregon with a coastline so great,

And Eric Steingruber of Idaho, who’s zip code starts with 8.

David Daines of Utah, home of a bobsled run,

While Alexandra Geesey surfs in Florida, which sounds like lots of fun.

Can’t forget Ashley Vandolah of Montanta- I’ll be there very soon!

Lauren Peterson sings Beautiful Nebraska, as that’s her state’s tune.

SAMMY winners compete in all sorts of sports,

 You’ll find Annie Rempel starring on the tennis courts.

Tevin Hood and Ellie McCardwell hold it down for cheerleaders,

And 11 of you run track at various distances and meters.

You’ve got Nicholas Hadorn of motor cross fame,

Emma Lucken and Amanda Hall call skiing their game.

Speaking of games can you leave out Aleksandr Golovin with chess?

While Hannah Fitton proves she’s one of swimming’s best.

Leah Coats and Kyle Pollock spend their winters on wrestling mats,

While Stetson Thacker spends his spring swinging baseball bats.

James Matthew Mackovjak and Wynton El both enjoy a day on the pitch,

And Shelby Lawson proves that basketball’s her niche.

I haven’t covered everything about you as there’s so much more to say,

But I don’t want to ruin the surprise because you’ve got icebreaker games to play.

So congrats on your SAMMY award- this is a moment to remember.

And remember your time at Disney World, during your first college finals in December.


If you are a senior and would like to apply for a SAMMY award, visit http://www.bodybymilk.com/sammy_scholarship.php  

Team of the Year!

Every year we have a USBSF Annual Camp in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  This year we did a multitude of events, including yoga for four hours, the incline, water polo, wheelchair basketball, and visited with the Wounded Warriors of Fort Carson.  Every year, the event culminates with a gala, where awards are given based on performance from the past season.  A picture of Erin and I was put on the white wine bottles, while the Night Train (the gold medal team) was put on the red wine bottle.  Additionally, Erin was named Women's Bobsled Athlete of the year, teammate Jamie Greubel was given the Athlete's Choice Award, and Erin and I were co-team of the year with the Night train!  This perhaps was the last real celebration of us as a team, as now we become competitors.  Here's to the last four years!  Now to prepare for the next four!

Par-Tee!

Recently, I was invited by Ted Hall of Channel 11 News to a Par-Tee, a pre-party for a golf tournament for the American Cancer Society, Swing Fore a Cure. The Par-tee was a blast, I met a lot of amazing people, and I even donated some items to auction off. The little girl who ended up winning the autographed helmet and picture I donated actually heard me speak at Cogburn Woods Elementary and was very excited about her winnings. Best of all, all of the proceeds go to the American Cancer Society!  Great event and I was honored to be a part of it. Hopefully I can go again next year!

Advocare and losing 16lbs!

Ok- so in order to compete for bobsled I need to weigh about 170lbs. I am naturally a bigger girl and can put on muscle just by looking at weight- so this is a rather difficult weight for me to reach. I weighed 168lbs when I started high school- so getting down to 170lbs is going to be quite a challenge- but I'm up to it! In order to help me kick start my weight loss, I am going to do the 24 day challenge by Advocare- starting sometime next week as soon as all my products get in. I'm very excited to start the weight loss process and can't wait to see the results. With Advocare, it's quality insured which means I won't test positive for taking their products and they produce results! I'm so excited, but I'm inviting all of you to join me in my weight loss. Here is the website that explains more of the process:

http://web.mac.com/teamadvocare/BigBelief/24_Day_Challenge.html

And this is the website that you can use to purchase products- but as always you can contact me if you need more information or help:

https://www.advocare.com/10064308/Store/default.aspx

Happy Weight loss! I'll be sure to update with my progress!

Latest Article on TeamUSA.org

Hello everyone! Just wanted to post an article about me on TeamUSA.org. The article is about all the different things I do to make money and fundraise, and also about how the USOC helps it's athletes out by providing things like training centers. The article link includes a video and a photo gallery, so be sure to check it out! Brandon Penny did a great job on this one, and it was a pleasure meeting him during my week in Colorado Springs at the training center (I'll post more about the trip as soon as I get my pics downloaded). At any rate, check it out!

http://www.teamusa.org/news/2010/06/07/meyers-appreciative-of-the-support/36402?ngb_id=3

Here is the video BTW:

Autograph Requests

Since winning the bronze medal I get quite a few autograph requests. I want to give all my fans and followers a chance to get an autograph. I have been doing several autograph signings here in Douglasville, but many of my fans don't live in Douglasville. If you would like an autograph, please send a self-addressed stamped envelope and something to sign (picture, newspaper clipping, piece of paper, etc). to the following address:

Elana Meyers
USA Bobsled
196 Old Military Road
Lake Placid, NY 12946

Please note: if you do not include a stamped return envelope I will not send you anything back! As I've stated on other blogs, unfortunately I do not get paid and cannot afford stamps to send everyone something back. Also- I do not have pictures to send for general autograph requests, I will sign pictures you send, but again, the printing of pictures cost money- which I do not have at this point. Hopefully someday I will be able to honor all requests by sending you a personal picture from me, but I apologize as I cannot at this time- but you can still get an autograph! Just send me a letter and follow my instructions!

I look forward to hearing from you!

As always, no donations are required for an autograph but greatly appreciated and accepted :)

All about the Children!

Children are some of the coolest people ever! Winning the bronze has created some pretty unique opportunities, some of which have included getting to work and speak with children. These probably have been the most fun of all my adventures, as children tend to ask some pretty interesting questions. I have visited with the Atlanta Vipers 10&U softball team courtesy of my former hitting student, Bella, chatted with the softball team at Lithia Springs High School, I have spoken to many schools (in no particular order): Sweetwater Elementary, Dorsett Shoals Elementary, Beluah Elementary, Bill Arp Elementary, Chapel Hill High School, Alexander High School, Mason Creek Middle School, Chestnut Log Middle School, Mundy's Mill Middle School, Austin Middle School, and the Douglas County Performance Learning Center. I have spoken to several after school programs, including those hosted by the Atlanta Youth Project in the Walton apartment complexes, and I have had the opportunity to meet many children at events such as Olympic Day at KidsGym and the GA Kite Festival. I was a guest on the news broadcast of Chapel Hill Elementary and was interviewed by two aspiring young journalists, whose nervousness was cute. I was welcomed by my alma mater, Arbor Station Elementary, where I received a very warm welcome cause as they say "Once a bear, always a bear." I was inspired playing with the children at Egelston's Children Hospital, and was truly touched by these children. I was honored to speak at the opening ceremonies at Cogburn Woods Elementary School's Olympics and spent three days with the students of Eastside Elementary for their field day and also spoke at their 5th grade reception. All of these encounters have been so much fun and these children have truly made winning the bronze medal more special and I am honored to have been able to share my experiences with them.

I've been asked many questions, "Are you married?" "How much do you get paid?" "What else can you do?" "Do you ever get spiked?" "How many trips have you taken?" "How much do you bench press?" "Is there a Santa Claus?" "Do you ever get scared?" "What was it like to be at the Olympics?" "Is that medal heavy?" "What was it like when they put the medal around your neck?" and so on...some questions more amusing than others but all very welcomed! I have had the greatest time being asked all these questions and hopefully I provide pretty good responses!

At any rate, I have been blessed to have been able to share my medal with so many of the youth, hopefully I'll be able to work more with children and who knows, maybe I've even inspired a few to go on a reach their goals. Although working with all these children has made me want children even more now, children of my own will have to wait at least another 4 years. it's more crazy moments with children I get to return to their parents! lol

Oh btw- if you have pictures, please post or email to me- I don't have pictures from any of these events, but it'd like to add them to my personal collection! Thanks!

Pretty Cool Moment in my Life

So when I won the medal, one of the things I was looking forward to most was coming home and connecting with the Egleston's Children's Hospital in Atlanta to arrange an event where I could meet some of the children and show them my medal. Well the day finally came and I had a blast playing with Wii with some of the children, even though I don't think bobsled was their most fun game. Anyway, while I was there I had the pleasure of meeting a young boy and his Dad who were actually from Douglasville! The boy (I don't have permission to use names so I'm not going to- to protect the family's privacy) and his sister attend Arbor Station Elementary (my Alma Mater), although because of his illness he has not been able to attend for some time. When I met his father at Egleston, he told me that although he had to take his son out of school, the next goal was for him to be healthy enough so he could come hear me speak at Arbor Station a month later.

So yesterday, I entered the gym in Arbor Station to the applause of many children and parents, and all I could see was a sea of faces. But then, I looked over to my left and I saw him- there he was just sitting in the chair listening to me speaking- he made it! I couldn't help but keep smiling at that point- I was so excited! I was so happy that he had made it to come see me speak- I couldn't help but keep looking over at him and smiling. He came up afterward and we took pictures and smiled his gorgeous smile, but I'm pretty sure I was the one who was most excited. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera for the picture (so if you're reading this and you have a picture of us or me with any children, please send it to me), but it's truly a moment I'll remember for the rest of my life.

Now I've met many people throughout my travels, many celebrities and stars, heck- I even met the president- but none have touched me quite like this little boy and his family have. He truly is blessed with a loving family and he is a strong fighter and I only hope that someday I can have children as wonderful as this little boy.

Do you get paid to bobsled?

Nope. The short answer to a question I often get asked. As an amateur sport, we are not professional and therefore do not make a salary like professional athletes. We do have the opportunity to earn stipends from the USOC, however, those stipends can be cut off at any time (like they were after the Olympics), and those stipends are not much- especially considering how much we as athletes eat (I probably spend the majority of my money on food lol). There is also the chance to win some prize money, but again, not enough to support even having house. The additional problem with these types of funds is the fact that 1/2 of it ends up going to taxes- so then you only end up with half of your meager earnings anyway. Income from bobsled is dependent on our ability to find sponsors, which at the moment is very difficult in this struggling economy. Unfortunately, I do not have the luxaury of being a full-time athlete like professional athletes, so I have to work- small jobs usually, a personal trainer, a substitute teacher, and even this summer I'm hoping to get a job in a sandwich shop- Did I mention I'm a bronze medalist? So no, the majority of Olympic athletes are not living the high life- ballin' with diamonds swinging from their necks- but we continue to compete (and even train harder than the professionals who do get paid) because we love our sports. Times are tough even for elite level athletes, so for me- that means many long days in hopes of continuing to compete for my country. GO USA!

Update

WOW! It's been quite a while since I last posted! I have been extremely busy this month, trying to make all the appearances possible and I don't think I've said no yet! I'm extremely exhausted- but I've had a blast. The medal is wearing down, and the appearance requests come less and less frequently these days, which just means it's time to get back to training! I have already started training for the season and for the next four years- which I'm very excited about. Still a few more appearances to make, but I'll be spending a good majority of the summer in Lake Placid, NY, at the Olympic Training Center up there, as it gives me an excellent opportunity to train and save on costs, as well as work like a mad person! I have been working as a substitute teacher here at home- which is fun, but of course as the school year nears an end- so does the work. I often get asked- "if you're an Olympic medalist, why are you substitute teaching?" It's one way to pay the bills at the end of the day- and I suppose that's what we're all trying to do- Olympic medalist or not. I'll post more about my adventures over the past month- cause they've been a lot of them and I have so much to share- but for now- just a quick update to say hi blog world!

Converse ATL

Thanks to one Jennifer Hutcheson (aka Mami2Mommy on Twitter), my boyfriend (yes the one I'm not naming and yes he was in town last week) and I attended several events hosted by Converse. First, we were invited on Friday to Atlanta to pick up a fresh pair of converse (each of us got a pair) to wear to the Converse Tip-Off party that night. Friday night, we attended the Converse Tip-Off Party, met tons of really cool people and even walked the red carpet- twice- once with Jermaine Dupri! Saturday afternoon we attended the Converse Band of Ballers, a 3-on-3 basketball tourney where the players were various vocal artists. Following the tourney, we then attended the after-party at Dallas Austin's place, where we were given another pair of fresh converse shoes! We had a fantastic weekend and Converse really allowed my boyfriend to enjoy the A! Nice showing!

Celeb status and the BF

So my medal has granted me somewhat of a celebrity status. Like I've said to my mom, it's like I'm a mini-celeb though, people who know who I am really know who I am and get very excited- but then other people have no idea who I am and have ABSOLUTELY no idea- so it's really hit or miss- which is fine- I don't have a problem with it, and I've been enjoying the opportunities I've been given because of this status. Hopefully my status has allowed me to reach other people, I've spoken to many schools and children, even some churches, but I can never be sure if I'm really having an impact- but I'm having fun in the least!

Anyway, back to the topic of this blog, so if you haven't seen it on my facebook or caught it on twitter yet, yes I am in a relationship. Posting this on facebook caused quite a stir- which I didn't think it would- just wanted to use it to profess how I feel about my boyfriend. I also got a lot of questions about him specifically, and tons of questions about us. Don't get me wrong- I don't mind the questions at all, but I do want to preserve the privacy of my boyfriend, which is why I haven't put his name or his picture anywhere. No worries- he's a very special guy and he makes me happy. :)

Changing Drivers

Since the Olympics, many people have asked me how teams are made in bobsled. In the U.S., the teams are created by the coaches. Living in a democratic society, the coaches try to create the best combinations in order to win gold and come to their decisions based on several factors, one of which is drivers input, and the decision is made by a group of coaches. For the Olympics, I was paired with Erin Pac, even though I raced in the first World Cup in Whistler and the 2009 World Championships with Shauna Rohbock. Much controversy has surfaced as a result of this, but I have no hard feelings against Shauna or the coaches for not racing with her during the Olympics (I suppose most of you may think that's easy to say now- but it was true even before we won the medal). Most of this past season I raced with Erin, and Michelle Rzepka and Shauna had great results as a team leading up to the Olympics, so it was only natural that I race with Erin for the games. Circumstances caused for their to be a switch in brakeman, part of which was my hamstring injury for the majority of the season, but even when the switch was made I had no hard feelings toward anyone for the change. Switching drivers is common in bobsled, but I had raced with Erin more than any other pilot in my 3 year career, so being put in her sled for the Olympics was more of a homecoming really. Shauna was one of the first people I hugged after winning the bronze, as you can see in the picture above, and she was great to Erin and I throughout the entire process of winning the medal. Like I've said before, I've got some pretty great teammates, even if we aren't always in the same sled.

AT&T!

I believe in giving a shout out to those who help me- and I would like to give a special shout out to Derrick from AT&T in Douglasville- Derrick- you rock! During the Olympics, my phone bill was ridiculously high! Although I welcome the phone calls and texts and thank everyone for all the support, cell phone service is not cheap and needless to say, my phone bill was outrageous from just those two weeks! AT&T was able to help out, and although they couldn't make all of it disappear, they were able to greatly help me out- which is super awesome because as I've said in previous post- I don't make money bobsledding and the money to pay for the cell phone bill was coming out of the money I need desperately for this upcoming season. I've been an AT&T customer for some time now, and now with their help, I can continue being one...so THANKS AT&T!

LASIK...or not

So I was connected with this program called LASIK For the Gold- it's a program created by a group called Eye Care 20/20 located in East Hanover, NJ, and they do free LASIK surgery for Olympic athletes. Pretty cool program, especially considering the vast majority of us would not be able to afford LASIK on our own (because most Olympic athletes do not make ANY money doing the sport they love- me included), and considering how important vision is to compete at the elite level. My driver for these Olympics, Erin Pac, had it done so I owe a lot to Dr. Silverman and his staff- a bronze medal! So I was all set to go have my LASIK done, got to East Hanover and had everything ready to go, until I had the pre-op appointment. It was during that appointment that I learned I was not a candidate for the operation because I had super-thin corneas. With my contact prescription, they said the chances of that happening are 1/100,000, which of course means I was the one. Although we were both disappointed, Dr. Silverman and staff were still awesome and even gave me a pair of glasses- good thing cause I'll have to wear them for the rest of my life! lol I still had a blast in East Hanover, so if you're ever in need of LASIK or any eye surgery (I wasn't eligible for PRK either), contact Dr. Silverman- he's good people!

Here's a link to a recounting of my visit:
http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20100406/COMMUNITIES/100405144/1005/NEWS01/Olympic-bobsledders-say-thanks-to-E.-Hanover-eye-doc---even-though-one-can-t-get-surgery

Sliding Season is Officially....OVER!

The sliding season has officially ended- well for me at least. In Lake Placid, the track is scheduled to stay open until April 15, but with the warm weather they've been having- who knows if that will actually happen. For me though, the season ended with my final run on Friday- driving and pushing from the top! I ended on a pretty good note, which I was extremely happy about and it leaves me excited to see what the future holds. Driving is so much fun- it's great and I love it! I have a lot of potential because of my athleticism, so it will be exciting to see what will happen next.

Driving brought with it a whole new slew of stressors: finding brakeman, sleds, runners, and making sure everything was taken care of. Although it was extremely difficult and I had way more drama than I should have had, it was nice to have my own "team"- Team Meyers. Katie Turner, a former field hockey player and graduate of American University, came up from Maryland to brake for me for two weeks. Even though our race was cancelled and turned into a "scrimmage," it was great fun and Katie was a great sport about everything- hopefully she'll train hard this summer and return in the fall- here's hoping!

I learned so much this past year- from the politics that go into an Olympics to how to navigate down a track to how to make sure you have a sled. So much work to be done for the future, but for now- I'm going to let my body recover from 6 months of sliding! WOO HOO! ALL DONE! Hanging up the spikes for a minute...until October...

Photos from my adventures

Took a while, but I am finally posting some photos from my recent adventures! Enjoy!


Tony Kornheiser, Michael Wilbon, and I on the set of ESPN's PTI (Pardon the Interruption). Tony gave me a shout out and showed my medal! Oh yeah, and getting to watch the filming of the show was pretty cool too.


Hershel Walker and I. Herchel was a brakeman for my current coach, Brian Shimer, in the 1992 Winter Olympics. Two of Georgia's finest brakemen :)


Jennie Finch, Michelle Smith, and I. Jennie and Michelle are two of the greatest pitchers ever to play softball and are both Olympic Medalists.


NASCAR!!! Need I say more!

Medal Ceremony

The medal ceremony was one of the happiest days of my life so far. I actually cried! Didn't think I would- I always say I don't have tear ducts because of my lack of ability to cry when I want to most- but I cried like a baby on this day- Erin hugs me to cover it- well done! But in case you missed it, here is the link to the video: http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/assetid=18d08c0a-0ce9-4113-964b-4218cf992feb.html

Driving

The media circuit has slowed quite a bit (I'll update on that later), which has given me time to get back to bobsledding! As many of you know or have read, I am trying my hand at driving now! I drove a little at the end of last season and am doing the same this season, except this season I will hit two tracks. I am currently out in Park City, UT driving and will go to Lake Placid, NY, on Thursday to do more driving and prepare for a race- America's Cup on April 2- which I'm completely stoked about!

One of the toughest things about being a driver however has been finding a brakeman. You wouldn't imagine how hard it is to find brakeman that can commit to sliding for a few days. I have been emailing hundreds of colleges looking for athletes, but am striking out. I've been able to find some, but not enough- which makes it impossible to learn how to drive! We (Jamie Greubel, Jazmine Fenlator, and I) have been rotating driving and braking- which has been crazy and resulted in me taking 9 runs the other day...9 RUNS!!! Usually you take two and as a World Cup brakeman- usually you take 6 per week at most- and I took 9 in one day! NINE!!! Crazy stuff but that's what you have to do when you can't find brakeman.

I'm excited to see if I can actually do this- so we'll see. I love it and enjoy it quite a bit- so we'll see what happens. For now, if you know anyone who could be a brakeman- send them my way!!! I'm desperate!!!

NASCAR- Atlanta Motor Speedway

One of the coolest things about winning a bronze medal in the Olympics is being invited to events to make appearances. This weekend, my pilot Erin Pac, myself, and gold medalist Steve Holcomb and Steve Mesler, are guests of NASCAR at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Although everyone else had to fly down from their respective homes- I get to drive around the corner to experience my first NASCAR race!!

For those of you who may not know, bobsled has quite a bit of ties to NASCAR. Racer Geoff Bodine created the Bo-Dyn program and creates and designs our sleds- the medal winning sleds you saw in Whistler! With the support of Geoff Bodine and other NASCAR sponsors, we are able to develop the fastest sleds in the world- complete with AMERICAN MADE TECHNOLOGY!!! Our sleds are 100% AMERICAN and 100% FAST!

It already has been quite a busy weekend and the best is yet to come! Another day at the track awaits...I'll post all about it after!

Dating While Bobsledding

One of my greatest dreams in life aside from winning medals is to one day have a family of my own, you know, a husband, children, white picket fence...well maybe not a white picket fence but a house on the beach wouldn't be so bad :) Anyway, as much as some men don't want to admit it, the real point of dating is to try to find that special someone to share the rest of your life with- that someone who will love you when you bring home a Bronze medal or when you come home battered and bruised from a horrible crash or when you lose your job and the money's gone- someone who will love you through thick and thin- and a kind of love that you can't even put into words. That's the kind of love I want to have someday, a love that's forgiving and loving and true, but in my line of business (although bobsled can be business but it's also play!), dating is very difficult. I've had the great opportunity to meet some incredible men! Simply incredible! Men that will make some women very happy someday, however, that woman won't be me. It's unfortunate yes, but I meet someone incredible and then two weeks later I'm off again, trying to stay in touch, doing what we can, but nothing ever really working out- which is definitely understandable- it's very hard to feel connected to someone who is never around. Even dating other bobsledders is difficult for the same reason- in season you are so busy doing what you need to do you don't have time for dating really, and then the season ends and they go back to their respective country. Don't get me wrong-I love what I do! I've met some amazing people and I'm very grateful for what I've been able to accomplish and I wouldn't change a thing. I know my prince charming is out there somewhere to sweep me off my feet, someone who will be able to stick with me as I travel around the globe doing my thing- not an easy task I assure you. Until then, it's back to work and dreaming about my future family.

If you can't tell by now...I'm definitely a romantic :)

Hats!

I'm sorry the hats have not been as easy to purchase as planned! We are reorganizing the structure that will hopefully make it a lot easier. Thanks for your patience- I'll post all the info when I can!

Fundraiser- Beanies/Touques/Hats- or whatever you call them!

As Winter Olympic athletes, many of us are not professionals and because our sports are relatively small on a national scale, we usually don't draw big name sponsors and have a hard enough time getting any sponsors at all. Bobsled is a very expensive sport, for example, when I go next week to Park City, Utah, to start driving, it will all be on my own dime- especially cause I currently have no sponsorship contracts. In order to help me raise funds to cover these expenses, I will be selling beanies or touques or hats or whatever you want to call them on ebay. The headwear will also be autographed personally by me, for each buyer. Hopefully by various fundraisers and working multiple jobs this summer I will be able to fund everything I need on tour next season. Being a bobsledder often costs more than you'll ever have the opportunity to make, but I love what I'm doing so I'm going to do whatever I can to keep doing it- including work multiple jobs and fundraise like crazy. This one is the first of many- so buy your hats now!!! Here is where you can purchase them on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120538653573#ht_500wt_1182
Check it out! Note: the photo says Dad of Elana Meyers but yours will say Friend of Elana Meyers.

Closing Ceremonies!

Closing ceremonies were amazing! The Olympics were definitely great, but the season it long and I was excited to go home for a brief second. Here are a few pictures with some of the athletes during closing ceremonies:


Shani Davis with Erin and I


Lindsey Vonn, the anti-Lindsey Vonn (Erin was called it in an article- we're confused as to what it means), and I


Figure Skater Rachel Flatt and I

Medical Staff

One of my coaches once told me you're only as good as your medical staff. I learned this Olymipcs that he was truly correct. The difference is not the type of training athletes do, we are all essentially doing the same type of exercises, just in a different order. The difference lies in the medical staff supporting you- which medical staff can keep you healthy the longest and get you competing and training the most days out of the season. I learned that fully this season, after nursing a hamstring injury all season as well as Erin's hamstring injury during the Olympics. Our medical staff has worked so hard to get us and keep us healthy and they deserve more credit than they'll ever receive. There's so many medical professionals that worked with us this season- so thank you all for all you do- but I did want to recognize the two that were with us the majority of the season- Dr. Jason Ross and Byron Craighead. These two were the glue that held the entire US Bobsled team together- you guys are awesome and thank you for doing your job so well that we can do ours. I for one wouldn't be walking around with the Bronze medal on my neck without you.

Why are you blogging in the middle of your Olympics?

Yes, you're probably thinking why is she blogging when she has so much to do with her Olympic competition going on? Well- it's probably because I've been up since 4am!!! After we got done racing we had some media to take care of and then had to prepare our sleds for the race today. Then we took the 30 minute trip back to the Whistler Athlete Village, grabbed a quick bite to eat, did our laundry, and then got some treatment to fix up our aches and pains to get ready to go for today. I feel asleep rather easily, but took a sleeping pill just in case, and then woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed at 4am!! I've been trying to watch movies online (Personal Best, a movie from 1982- before I was born lol), but then I ran out of time (these things are timed when you're watching for free- 72 minute limit), so now I've been twiddling my thumbs trying to fall back asleep but it's not working! So I opened my facebook account and saw all the well wishes and the messages of support- it really means a lot and I appreciate it greatly. All my family, friends, and aquantinces, and even people I don't really know- you guys are making this a wonderful experience and I thank you very much.

Also, the other reason I'm blogging is I'm trying to keep everything pretty much the same as I would for any other world cup race or even a world championship race. It's two more runs and a lot can happen, so I need to stay calm and relax a little. Erin and I can do this, we just need to be confident but still be on our A game. 0.13 from gold is not a lot of time, and Erin, Pinky, and I, plan on making it up...so here goes! 2 more runs! GO PINK! GO PAC!

Joannie Rochette

I am amazed and awed by Joannie Rochette. The Canadian figure skater tragically lost her mother the other day, days before she was set to compete in the Olympics. We were racing yesterday, so I didn't see the performance live, but I saw the replay and I was amazed. She was crying at the end of the performance, and I started tearing up to- if I wasn't so ridiculously exhausted to know up from down, I probably would have been balling my eyes out. My family is so important to me and to be able to not only compete, but compete at the highest level (she sits in second going into the next skate) is nothing short of amazing. I can't imagine what it must be like to lose your mother, let alone at the world's biggest stage and still being able to compete! God is truly looking over her and with her at these Olympics, and that makes me want to cry even more. Her mother is an angel watching her every skate. I know I should cheer for the U.S. but just this once, I hope she wins gold...so I say to Joannie Rochette- GO CANADA GO!

The Hamstring Monster

The Hamstring Monster has been stalking team USA all season long and the Olympics is no exception! Todd Hays initially was sidelined due to a hamstring injury before his career ending crash in Winterberg. Valerie Fleming spent the entire Olympic season trying to over come a hamstring injury to try and make the Olympic team but unfortunately, the hamstring obviously didn't want to go to Whistler. And of course, me, as you all know from my previous blogs, I've been dealing with a hamstring injury all season that has caused some setbacks, but I still raced and made the Olympic team and felt prime and ready to go for some fast pushes when the hamstring monster decided otherwise!

My pilot, Erin Pac, just recently was attacked by the hamstring monster. Unfortunately, she is in a great deal of pain and unsure what percentage she'll be at for race day in one day's time. At this track, the push is especially important and we need every hundredth we can to win a medal and the hamstring monster wants to make this as difficult as possible. Coming into these games, we were one of the fastest push team in the world, but a hamstring injury will most likely slow us down a bit. A slower push greatly decreases our chances of a medal, but I'm not losing hope! Erin is a trooper and I know that she'll do everything she can to push as well as possible, and we'll work with it and compete. We still have a chance, the race has yet to begun, and there's always hope, as long as you still believe and I do. I honestly do.

So hamstring monster, you may think you have won yet another round, but you didn't realize that I know just who to call in this instance...WHO YOU GONNA CALL??? GHOSTBUSTERS!!! THIS HAMSTRING MONSTER IS NOT GOING TO TAKE OUR OLYMPICS!!!