After the season finished this year, I was mentally and physically spent. From October to April I was on the ice, sliding and pushing hard and trying to learn how to drive. Not only was I on the ice for a long time this season, I also started training for the past season in May and barely took any time off. Additionally, I was traveling and trying to make the most of winning an Olympic medal- which meant quite a few appearances and special events. Needless to say I was exhausted. I went home after the season and did a few appearances but mostly tried to rest (although I had quite a bit of unexpected physical labor waiting for me thanks to my parents lol). I relaxed as much as possible and also finished up my graduate degree. In total- I took about a total of 5 weeks off.
After those much needed 5 weeks were over, I returned back up here to Lake Placid to start training again. I was out of shape and had put on quite a bit of weight (I naturally weigh more than my in-season competition weight). Now- out of shape is relative though. Was I still in pretty good shape for your average person? Yes, but was I in shape to push a 400lb bobsled down an icy track to one of the fastest push times in the world and then undergo 7-8 Gs of pressure down the track? No way! So now I have begun the journey of getting back in shape.
Believe it or not- getting back in shape is one of the most humbling things. The workouts at the beginning of a training program are difficult. After the first day, it gets harder and harder to do things like walk up stairs, lift your arms to brush your teeth, and even get out of bed! You shuffle around so you can minimize the need to lift your feet because it hurts so bad! Workouts make you want to throw up and you find yourself tired all the time. It's quite a humbling experience. Despite the fact that you've achieved one of the highest accomplishments in your sport, you can still be brought to your knees by the pre-season training.
I think this time is necessary for every elite athlete. Not just the getting in shape part, but the mental part that comes with getting back in shape. You have to push yourself beyond your limits. Acknowledge the existence of pain, and then overcome it. And then wake up again the next day and put your sore and tired body through even more workouts! It forces you to bear down mentally and challenge yourself, because you know at the end of the day it's these workouts that result in gold medals. At the end of the day, the mantra to get you through the pre-season training is always the same, "It's not where you start, it's where you finish." I strongly believe what I put in today will result in a season I can be proud of. So for now, I'll push past the nauseousness, the soreness, and the pain. Happy training!
After those much needed 5 weeks were over, I returned back up here to Lake Placid to start training again. I was out of shape and had put on quite a bit of weight (I naturally weigh more than my in-season competition weight). Now- out of shape is relative though. Was I still in pretty good shape for your average person? Yes, but was I in shape to push a 400lb bobsled down an icy track to one of the fastest push times in the world and then undergo 7-8 Gs of pressure down the track? No way! So now I have begun the journey of getting back in shape.
Believe it or not- getting back in shape is one of the most humbling things. The workouts at the beginning of a training program are difficult. After the first day, it gets harder and harder to do things like walk up stairs, lift your arms to brush your teeth, and even get out of bed! You shuffle around so you can minimize the need to lift your feet because it hurts so bad! Workouts make you want to throw up and you find yourself tired all the time. It's quite a humbling experience. Despite the fact that you've achieved one of the highest accomplishments in your sport, you can still be brought to your knees by the pre-season training.
I think this time is necessary for every elite athlete. Not just the getting in shape part, but the mental part that comes with getting back in shape. You have to push yourself beyond your limits. Acknowledge the existence of pain, and then overcome it. And then wake up again the next day and put your sore and tired body through even more workouts! It forces you to bear down mentally and challenge yourself, because you know at the end of the day it's these workouts that result in gold medals. At the end of the day, the mantra to get you through the pre-season training is always the same, "It's not where you start, it's where you finish." I strongly believe what I put in today will result in a season I can be proud of. So for now, I'll push past the nauseousness, the soreness, and the pain. Happy training!
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