Wordless Wednesday::My Speedskating Rides-Marchese

Coach Paul Marchese's Short Track Skate made just for me!

Word"less" Wednesday::Upcoming Announcements

Chicago

Ok, I admit it. It is hard for me to keep my Wednesday's wordless!! I try and I try, but it is just too difficult! Heh. One of these days I will surprise you....and myself and keep it to just a photo.

Today is not the day! :)

A lot is coming up here at Mom Got Blog this week, so words are necessary.

Tomorrow we will have another guest post from the Crayon Wrangler! She has once again created a fabulous post, so please come back to read it and enjoy.

Friday is October 1st, which means we will welcome our new Blogger of the Month! I am so excited to introduce you!

This weekend marks the start of speedskating season. Yes! Skaters have traveled to Milwaukee, WI to compete in Short Track American Cup (AmCup) series races-look for the latest updates and a story or two about those skating fast and turning left.

So I caught you up through the weekend with lots of words. Maybe next week I will try to zip my lip.

American Cup III, One For the Record Books

This photo is courtesy of : weblogs.marylandweather.com/forecasts/

Little did I know that the post I had scheduled for yesterday would turn out to be one for the record books.

Short track skaters from around the country made their way to Dale City, VA through THE largest winter snow storm on record for that area. Terms like "Snowpocalypse" and "Snowmageddon" were flying through the air like the heavy, wet flakes that piled inch after inch on every surface, including the Prince William Ice Center's roof.

I finished my post and within an hour, started seeing reports on Facebook that the skaters were sent home...too much snow....bent beams. Then my friend Hans, who was a starter for this meet, called me from his hotel and asked if I heard what happened. I said I had and I posted his account on the blog. He was glad everyone got out ok and as a true upstate New Yorker, was headed out into the snow to find something to eat! (A side note here: we have had zero, nada, zip snow fall this year. Yeah, a few inches here and there, but all the "big one's" have just missed us and have stayed to the south. Maybe mother nature is giving us a little reprieve after freezing us out last year with a killer ice storm, but we are missing the snow! Who would think we would have to travel SOUTH to get snow!) :) I was glad to hear that Hans was ok and wished him safe travels home. Little did we know that as we talked on the phone, the roof was actually collapsing at the rink in which he just came.

Mike Looby's daughter Liz was skating at this meet and he has written a great post on the happenings as they unfolded yesterday. Check out his post on It's Not Too Late to Skate.

I am so glad that all got out safely and averted what really would have been a disaster.

Some of us have had this very conversation while waiting in the heat box."What would we do if we had to get out of here right away?"  I remember a meet where the heat box was set set up just outside the door we used to enter the ice. I was sitting on a bench that flanked a cement wall and could hear something that sounded like a sporadic "sizzle". You know when you hear something and you just can't place where it is coming from? I heard the bell (last lap indicator) and stood up to prepare entering for my race, placing my coat and sneakers in the bucket for the runners and forgot all about the noise. When I came back for my next scheduled race, I once again heard the sound, only this time I could place it, because the sound also had visual! In the middle of the cement wall was an electrical outlet box that was sparking bright white flashes and now emitting small trickles of smoke with each sizzle. The scary thing was you couldn't smell it. All of us sitting on the bench seemed to notice this at the same time and jumped off the bench (electricity and metal blades do not make a good combination) and all at once yelled at the heatbox attendant while pointing at the plug. Luckily, they were able to turn the power off that fed that outlet without disrupting the rest of the rink. That particular bench remained empty for the rest of the meet.

The last thing you think about when you are at a competition is being faced with a circumstance that would make you exit quickly while wearing your skates. I'm glad that the skaters that were laced up and ready to start racing were able to remove their gear and exit the facility safely with fellow competitors, family, friends and volunteers. There is a saying (among many) that one hears every now and then with this sport. "Never a dull moment in Short Track."

This story is definitely one that these skaters will tell for a long, long time. "Remember when we went to Virginia for the AmCup race and..."

Short Track Speedskating American Cup III, Long Track Masters Sprint Games & Vancouver

Photo by Jerry Search

Get ready for some fast skating this weekend on both the Short Track and Long Track ice!

Short Track:

If folks can make their way through the winter snow storm happening in Dale City, VA, they will be treated to the American Cup III racing series! Most of the competitors arrived yesterday, some just making the last flights in before mother nature blanketed the area in wintery white. Practice ice was held last night and skaters will be sharp and ready to begin their racing card today and tomorrow. A "good luck" goes out to all the skaters, especially to those from my club: Katy Ralston and Josh Cummings. I will keep an eye on results and post when available.

***Update as of 2:30pm EST***
American Cup III has been officially canceled.  After warm-ups were completed this morning, skaters were getting ready to begin races and starters were taking their places. At this time a loud "Bang" could be heard from above and when eyes looked over-head, it was noticed that one of the support beams holding the rink's roof had bent and collapsed. The rink's occupants were safely evacuated. Upon inspection, it was found that the heavy, wet snow that has crippled the area had now claimed the integrity of the roof. For the safety of all involved, officials have closed the rink. Never a dull moment in Short Track!!

Safe travels to all!!

Long Track:

The 2nd Masters Sprint Games are being held in Milwaukee, WI at the Pettit National Ice Arena. Organizer Andrew Love has put together another top notch event that has attracted the fastest Masters Long Track skaters from around the world. The USA team is choc-full of talented skaters and will show that you can still skate fast, no matter what age you are. Good luck to Martin Haire and Masahiko Yanigahara.

Vancouver News:

Team USA Short Track and Long Track skaters have arrived in Vancouver! The Long Track Team has been practicing at the Richmond Oval and have stated that the ice is F-A-S-T and they look forward to racing! The Short Track team arrived yesterday and will have practice this morning. Both teams have been getting settled in their new "home away from home" and are very impressed with accomodations. Each team has gone through the "outfitting" of apparel that will be worn for opening, medal and closing ceremonies. The clothes have been provided by Ralph Lauren and Nike and these threads are sweet! The excitement is exuding from both first time and returning Olympians as they share these special moments. All are looking forward to meeting fellow athletes from around the world as they begin to arrive.

The world awaits to witness Vancouver's magic as Opening Ceremonies are only 6 days away!

A Speedskater's Take on "The Perfect Race"

I was grabbing a t-shirt out of my drawer to go run. When I realized which one I was ready to place on my back, I decided to snap a picture and share.

If you click on the photo, you will get the whole picture.

This is a shirt that I bought while I was in Milwaukee competing in the Short Track National Championship in 2005. I always try to buy something from a meet so I can support the club that is hosting and it is usually a t-shirt. It was my second Nationals competition and my first time at the Pettit National Ice Center. I never really paid much attention to the list of names. Whenever I wear this to practice, I tend to find skaters following me around. I get that feeling, like someone is looking over your shoulder and when I turn around I hear " Oh, sorry...just reading your shirt!" I've always said to myself I should check it out, but I forget and it gets shoved in the bag after practice, goes through the laundry and back in the drawer until next time.

The year before, in Cleveland, I was a nervous wreck. It was my very first National competition and I had never skated a 3000m, that is 27 grueling laps. I had butterflies for days leading up to it and thought I was going to get sick while sitting in the heatbox.  I lined up at the start and off I went. I remember skating cat and mouse with another skater; I'd pass her and she would pass me, I would pass her and so on. Our skinsuits looked similar and our helmet numbers were very close. We were lapped a few times by three other skaters, so as a lap counter, it was probably hard to keep track of who was who and how we would finish. As a skater, there comes a point in this race that you stop counting the laps because you are focused on just get me to the finish. When you are in the "pain cave" (a term very aptly coined by Andrew Love) you focus on who is going to end your suffering; you find your counter, search for the outstretched hand showing how many laps of pain you have left and make eye contact to make sure they are talking to you.

The lap counter was calling out our helmet numbers...you have 3 laps to go.....helmet number....you have 3 laps to go.....could I be ahead??? When I came to the last lap, the bell rang as I passed. Then it rang again behind me. We finished and I was immediately given a hug from my teammate (winner of this race) and fellow competitor who was waiting in the center of the ice. I remember her whispering in my ear-"I am so proud of you! You did it! You rock!"
 
I eagerly awaited the results and when they were posted, I stood there in complete shock. Next to my name was a big DNF (Did Not Finish). My teammate told me to go to our coach and tell him to protest. When the heat card was presented, there were a lot of erased pencil marks...you could tell that the counters were confused. You could literally SEE it. Shoulders were shrugged and that was that. I was devastated. My competitor was gloating on her 4th place medal. I learned something about myself that day-missing out on a medal was not what bothered me. Having a DNF next to my name, knowing full well that I suffered through that race and DID FINISH bothered me much more. My coach and friends tried to make me feel better by telling me their stories of losing overall National Championships on calls just like this. It was just part of the game.

When it came time for Nationals in Milwaukee, I was focused. I was focused on one race and one race alone. I had trained all year for this 3k. There was going to be no doubt what-so-ever that I crossed that finish line. In a recent Olympic commercial spot, Apolo Anton Ohno speaks of a perfect race. He describes being so focused that time seems to slow down. This was my perfect race. I could hear nothing but my coach as I came into the turn telling me either go "deeper" into the turn or "good". I could hear breathing behind me. I lead my competitor for 25 laps. With two to go, my coach kept saying "pick it up- now, now!" With one lap to go, she passed me and I could not answer it. My legs were wood. I could barely walk off the ice to sit on the bench. She came up to me, still breathing hard and said "Wow! You trained hard this year-that pace was fast- I did all I could do to hold on!"  I did not win that race, but I consider that one of my perfect races. I improved my time from the previous year by almost 2 minutes and there could be no denying that I finished. I committed to skating a better race than the year before and I accomplished that. The slight nod and raised, impressed eyebrow from my coach, spoke volumes and that is when I felt as if I did win.

So, what does this have to do with my t-shirt? Well, I finally looked at all the skaters. If you look close at those listed, you will see many names that are competing in Vancouver, including Apolo who is only 15 competitor's away from mine. Some have remained in Short Track and some have moved on to Long Track. They have made an Olympic team! After years of hard work and many, many competitons, I hope that their journey this February will allow them (medal or not) to experience their own "perfect race".

Dear Ice, I'll Love Ya Tomorrow

My view before heading out to the rink.

I missed my morning workout yesterday because I had not one, but two sniffling, coughing, "my throat hurts" kids home sick. I completely empathized with them, for not too long ago, I was inflicted with the same exact thing. So, I gladly catered to tea making, Gatorade pouring and any- food- you- feel- like- eating- making.

Today, one sucked it up (they have a game later- and they don't want to sit out) and went to school, the other remained home, sounding a little better, but still having that glassy-eyed look. After getting "sicky" settled, I decided to head to the rink to make up for yesterday's absence, even though I really didn't feel like going.

I showed up an hour into the two hour session. Better late than never. I laced up my skates and walked through the doors into the cool rink and thought, I do not want to be here. But, I continued to walk toward the ice, through the hockey box and opened the heavy door. I stepped onto the ice, carefully took my blade guards off, closed the door and pushed off to glide to my warm up laps. As soon as I finished my warm up, I knew how the rest of this hour would go. Today was going to feel like a "maintenance" day. Get the laps in and get out.  I really hate days like these. I mean this is the sport I love, it should never feel like a chore.

But, you know what? Sometimes, it just does. I'm ok with that because I've learned that no two days on the ice are ever the same.

Tomorrow will be a new day to work through laps and I will love every single minute of it!

Petra Acker, "The Sweetness" Factor

L to R: Sam Marsicano, Kelly Pugliano, Petra Acker & Josh Cummings

This photo feels like ages ago, but it is only a few years old. Sam, who used to be our much loved babysitter is now in college and a breath-taking beauty. Josh is now taller than me and is one of, well, most likely, the nicest young man I have ever met and should be on the watch list of up and coming skaters. Rounding out this photo with me is Petra Acker, a true talent in both discipline's (short and long track) of speedskating.

When I first started speedskating 8 years ago, I would go to a local rink and practice almost every day. Skating and offering advice was the world-known speedskater, Howard Ganong. Hanging out in the middle of the ice, looking bored and sitting on a big white bucket was Howard's granddaughter, Petra. She was very shy, but always said hello before going back to playing on her bucket. Who knew in a few short years she would be globe-trotting to Poland and China as a Junior World Team member!

It seems around this time the three of us-Josh, Petra and I were introduced to a well known coach in the speedskating community; Casey Wager. He had retired from the sport for many years but started to show up at the rink to lace up his skates just to "get some laps in". After a few months, Howard had talked to Casey to see if he would mind showing Petra a few exercises to do on the ice so that she didn't seem so bored. Casey obliged and realized he had a diamond in the rough; Josh and Petra have always been two peas in a pod-the best of friends-so when Casey helped Petra, Josh was learning as well. Now Casey had two diamonds and out of retirement he came.

I was like the "Auntie" of the group. Helping them along, and offering advice or support whenever they needed it. In turn, they helped me out by making me chase. The kids and I would do the technical items that were given to practice and the laps that Casey would dish out. It only took a couple of seasons for both Josh & Petra to outskate me. I remember the first time I realized it.  We were doing passing drills and I could tell they were holding back. "Keep going, Kelly." Josh would say in an encouraging voice. "Yes, come on, Kelly." Petra would echo as I tried to make my way to the front. "Don't go slow on my account!" I would say. So this day they both turned on the gas a little and started to put some distance between us. All I can remember saying is "You little stink-pots!"

My first season as a competitive speedskater I skated in the Novice class. There is a great story here, but I will save for another day. I came to the last meet of the season and decided that I wanted to skate in my age class, so that is what I signed up for. I thought "I've been skating all season-I can do this no problem". Did I get humbled, real quick. I had never skated a 1500m before and I maybe skated a 1000m once during that year. I remember thinking "Oh, my. How am I going to finish this." but worse; I was mortified that I was lapped, not once, but many times. Funny, thinking about this now because the 1000m and 1500m are my favorite and best distances to skate!

The following year, Casey had us skating this meet and I remember that it was the first time Petra had competed. She was a nervous wreck and I thought she was going to literally get sick from the butterfies in her stomach. Her mom and dad tried calming her down, but it wasn't working. Sometimes, to talk to a speedskater, you have to be a speedskater. Petra's mom asked if I could talk to her. I remember her expression and I shared with her the story I just shared with you. I assured her that she would most definitely be spared the mortification of being lapped because she was good enough NOT to get lapped. Then we came up with a handshake and a mantra for her to focus on. We gave eachother a sliding horizontal "five" and I said "It's all Sweetness. No matter what, have F-U-N! Now give me some sweetness!" We did this before every race that day.  It seemed to work in both of our favors-neither one of us were lapped and we both medaled!

Last season, Petra earned a spot on the Jr.World Long Track team and traveled to Poland. Before she left, I wished her well and held out my hand and said "Give me some Sweetness!" Her face lit up and she exclaimed "Oh, Kelly! Yes! I forgot about that! Yes, Sweetness!" and she placed her hand on top of mine as we gave eachother a horizontal-five and then a big hug.

Petra has matured into a beautiful young lady. Poised and confident to take on the world. I am so lucky to know her and I could not be more proud.

Petra returned yesterday from Taipei City, China after competing on the Junior Short Track World Team. After checking the results, I say she did awesome. Click here for article on US Speedskating and to see full results. I'm sure that the road to an Olympic Games will be very near in her future. A long way from the center of the ice and a big white bucket.

Rest assured, not only does Petra have the "It" factor, she has the "Sweetness" factor.

Cold as Ice

Lately, I feel as though this is what the skating rink is crooning to me:


"You're as cold as ice
You're willing to sacrifice our love

You never take advice
Someday you'll pay the price, I know

I've seen it before, it happens all the time
(Oooh-oooh) You're closing the door, you leave the world behind
You're digging for gold, you're throwing away
(Aaah-aaah) A fortune in feelings, but someday you'll pay

You're as cold as ice
You're willing to sacrifice our love

You want paradise
But someday you'll pay the price, I know

I've seen it before, (oooh-oooh) it happens all the time
(Oooh-oooh) You're closing the door, you leave the world behind
You're digging for gold, (aaah-aaah) you're throwing away
(Aaah-aaah) A fortune in feelings, but someday you'll pay

(Cold as ice) You know that you are
(Cold-cold, As-as ice) As cold as ice to me
(Cold-cold-cold, As-as-as ice)"- Foreigner

I have been slacking so bad in showing up for skating practice that it is beyond not being funny. I had grand plans for this season to get back to Nationals after a two year absence. I worked my tail off in dryland sessions and rode my bike endless miles to prepare for what I figured to be my last competitive season for a while.
 
As much as I would love for my family to share my passion for speedskating, they don't. My kids have their own interests; baseball, cheering, dancing, intrument playing and tae-kwon-do that it keeps them busy doing things they enjoy, as it most certainly should be. Most of these activities happen at the same time that my evening practices are scheduled and I have been left with making choices. As you may have guessed, I have been choosing to support my kids in their endeavors and letting my skating take the back seat.
 
Since skating is something that I absolutely love to do, I still get my fix. I am lucky in the fact that there is morning ice available for me to skate. The only problem with this is that I do not have pads up to protect from falls-(hitting hockey boards at high speeds only leads to broken bones) and keeps my practices limited to slow, steady laps and technical work. It's also, well,  kind of lonely. There are mornings where I am the only one on the ice.
 
I miss my team. I miss the conversation while lacing up the skates, I miss the joking around in between sets, I actually miss my coach telling me for the umpteenth time to "PICK UP YOUR FOOT" in my crossover. I miss racing! I miss it all.
 
 
 

 
 








Maybe training to get to Nationals this year was not the brightest idea. Being an Olympic year, the event schedule is all out of whack to accomodate trials and qualifying competitions which makes meets I would normally compete in either non-existent or earlier/later in the season. I may have to compete in more long track this season, which is not a bad thing, just different.
 
So, dear ice, I will not close the door and leave our love behind, but will leave it ajar and hope you will welcome me back with open arms when the time is right.

Long Track World Cup 5/ Jr. Short Track Championships

This weekend is a busy one for speedskating! Get ready to see some REALLY fast skating.

In Long Track:

ISU World Cup 5 is being held in Salt Lake City, UT and will be covered by Versus. Scheduled times are Saturday and Sunday from 11pm-1am (EST) and repeated from 1am-3am (EST). Check your local listings. Big thanks go out to Versus for covering another speedskating event!

Be prepared for lighting fast skating; yesterday, records were being broken all over the place!

In the Ladies 500m race, Jenny Wolf (GER) skated 37.00! She set a World Record (WR), National Record (NR), Track Record (TR), Personal Record (PR) AND Season Best (SB)! Whew! Wang Beixing (CHN) skated 37.14 setting her own (NR), (PR) & (SB). Lee Sang-Hwa (KOR) was only hairs behind with 37.24 also setting a (NR), (PR) & (SB).

USA claimed a new National Record with Elli Ochowicz skating a 37.74 also giving Ochowicz a (PR) and (SB). Heather Richardson (USA) skated 37.95 setting a new (PR) and (SB)!

The 3000m race was also held yesterday and these ladies were flying as well! Top three (USA) skaters:
(14) Jilleanne Rookard 4.05.05, (15) Catherine Raney Norman 4.05.26 and (18)  Nancy Swider-Peltz, Jr. 4.06.25!

In the Men's 1500m race, the track was smoking as well! Shani Davis (USA) keeps getting faster! He skated a 1.41.04, setting a new World Record (WR), National Record (NR), Track Record (TR), Personal Record (PR) and Season Best (SB)! Chad Hedrick (USA) was second with a 1.42.19! Third went to Mo Tae-Bum (KOR) who skated a 1.42.85 setting his own (NR), (PR) and (SB)! Trevor Marsicano (USA) skated his own (SB) or 1.43.88.

The 500m also proved to be fast with Lee Kyou-Hyuk (KOR) skating a 34.26 setting a (PR) and (SB). Yuya Oikawa (JPN) set a (NR) with a 34.27 as well as a (PR) and (SB). Another National Record was set for Mika Poutala (FIN) coming in with 34.31 also giving him a (PR) and (SB).  Tucker Fredricks (USA) skated a (SB) with 34.43 and Shani Davis (USA) was close behind with 34.85, another (SB)!

If you miss the times while watching racing on your local Versus channel, you can check out all racing results on SpeedskatingResults.com.

In Short Track:

Junior Short Track Championships are being held this weekend in Green Bay, WI.

1000m Time Trials were held yesterday and everyone is off to a great start!

Ladies:
1. Mary Grace, 2. Petra Acker, 3. Sarah Chen, 4. Morgan Izykowski, 5. Rachel Skrocki, 6. Katherine Ralston, 7. Rachel Stewart, 8. Andrea Dehnke, 9. Kendal Pumphrey, 10. Alaina Fiorenza, 11. Sarah Burg, 12. Katie Welsh, 13. Jerebelle Yutangco, 14. Sally Chea, 15. Jacqueline Chen, 16. Kristen Santos

Men:
1. Robert Lawrence, 2. Cole Krueger, 3. John-Henry Krueger, 4. Julian Wood, 5. Gilbert Claude , 6. Jonathan Sermeno, 7. Daniel Fiorenza, 8. Michael Burdekin, 9. Brett Perry, 10. Adam Callister, 11. Andrew Astalos, 12. Christian No, 13. Matthew Ferguson, 14. Ian Quinn, 15. James Rodwowsky, 16. Landon Hatfield.


To see updated results be sure to check out UpToSpeed on the official US Speedskating website!

I wish everyone the best of luck!