Transitions

I read somewhere that in a 10-kilometer race a skier makes over 1,000 transitions. These transitions can be as clear as switching from a stride to a double-pole or a V1 to a V2, or as minute as setting the wax pocket a split second earlier to compensate for a patch of icy snow or leaning slightly further into a steep section of climbing. But if physicality only accounts for 1,000 transitions, psychological transitions certainly add a few zeros to the final tally. From changes as big as forcing a bit of a mental respite on a straight downhill, to quick impulse twitches: "Who's passing me? Where's the lap lane?"

In the grand scheme of things, we all pay attention to, and work towards perfection of, the big transitions: "How can I make myself more powerful in my double-pole? What music will get me the most pumped up?"

I've shook enough hands now that I think I can announce it on a public forum: I am going to be the Assistant Coach of the St. Lawrence University Ski Team next year. In keeping with the previous descriptions, becoming a coach instead of a racer is a large-scale transition...maybe even a skating-in-a-classic-race-sized switch of roles. But along with the logistics, contracts, housing and lifestyle changes comes a long list of minor transitions that have led to this, and that will continue to shape who I am as a coach and leader.

A few nights ago the school hosted a banquet and awards ceremony for senior athletes and their coaches. This was not the first in a long string of dinner and award type events my class had been told to attend. I never felt very connected to the previous ones, listening for hours while SLU's higher-ups talked about how great WE made THEM look, and practically prodding us for cash with a scarlet and brown flagpole.

But this senior-athlete banquet was different. It was funny, personal, and sincere. And I'm not just saying that because we all left with expensive gifts. It's no surprise why, really. I've been wary of the SLU bureaucracy for a while now. You know, that image and who-you-know game of appeal and Nantucket-snobbery that no doubt comes with those associated with this University, and the many other comparable ones across the country. But the athletics department has, for the most part, always seemed more honest; the little brother who actually brings an apple for the teacher, while the older brother just passes notes and flirts with her.

It's also no secret that when you measure effort, time, dedication and energy, I've put more time into athletics than anything else at this school. To some that may seem shallow, but it's the truth. I wouldn't change anything I did in these last four years when it comes to the ski team, and I like to think that by allowing me to coach at this school, Ethan and the powers-that-be recognize that dedication. I'm incredibly glad for all SLUSKI has given me, and this is my chance to give back.

This job signifies a big transition in my life. I can tell because my interview the other day ended with the word "salary" being tossed around, which is quite an affirmation that you're in the real world, kiddo (however minuscule that salary may be will be revealed soon). But it also means lots of minor transitions...how am I going to help create the best team I can? By taking advantage of ALL the transitions out there. By becoming a walking book of coaching knowledge, sure, but also by making an impact in any way I can, no matter how small. Those tiny technique changes along a course? Those mental blips and quips and snippets in a race? They're important, more important than we take them for, and they add up to a pretty big number.

History repeating

Freshman year Bogden and I went out for a ski on the golf course when no other snow was around. The season was over and we just went out for kicks to ski around on some fairways, jump off some sandtraps and make halfpipes out of ponds. You can even watch a video HERE.

2009

It's hard to think this was almost half a decade ago...

It snowed yesterday, and as we were lounging around on the couch Reed, Austin Hart and Eric knocked on the door. They dropped off the camera they'd borrowed when they went out skiing on the golf course. Later that night I picked up the camera and looked at the pictures. I turned to Bogden and held the screen out.

"Holy shit dude...history repeats itself"

2012



Also slightly freaky is the fact that Eric and I are almost wearing the same thing, as are Austin and Bogden...

Thoughts on Glenn's Boston Marathon

So, the Boston Marathon was the other day...it's a pretty big deal.

Glenn Randall, former NCAA champ and many-time Carnival winner for Dartmouth, decided to switch to running from skiing a few years after he graduated. He ran a 2:20 marathon 6 months later. Then, he led the opening part of the Boston Marathon this year and bonked a little bit...

I saw a link to his blog and read his thoughts on it. I actually had no idea he led the race at all before reading the post, so his account was the first I read of the race. I made a lot of connections with Glenn's feelings and emotions on the race. I drew a lot of parallels to my last Carnival at Stowe this year: The idea of taking risks, doing well, ultimately not succeeding, and coming away with something from the experience. I've struggled to write the story of my last race for my book/essay collection I mentioned a few weeks ago. It really hit home that Glenn had a lot of the same sentiments I did regarding his race at Boston.

Near the end of his post, he mentions negative reactions to his race at forums and message boards. I did a quick search and read up on what people were saying. I was absolutely blown away...I'm not really sure what I say here other than I can't believe some of what people were saying about Glenn, some even going so far as to say they could tell he wouldn't win "from his build" and calling him "fat boy." Are you kidding? In a race dominated by foreigners, running fans in Boston see a young American competing at the front of the race and the best they can do is slander him? Get a grip, people.

If anything, this also brings to light just how easy it is for us to criticize and yell at competitive athletes for how they choose to race/pitch/shoot/pass/slide/ride/hit, etc. We're lucky to have people like Glenn post his own accounts of the event...if Rondo misses a layup he has millions of people screaming at him for being an idiot without a seconds reflection on just how hard the guy worked to even get on the court.

So what I hope people take away from this is the idea that maybe we all should take a deep breath and maybe put ourselves in someone else's shoes before we jump to conclusions about their performance in sport, especially if we (like many posters on Runnersworld forums) compete in the sport ourselves.

I'm glad Glenn wrote about what happened, and I hope more people can read what he posted and take as much away from it as I did.

Here's a link to both Glenn's blog and the forum discussing his race:

GLENN's BLOG

RUNNERS WORLD FORUM

Training Not Training

The other weekend Teo, Bogden, Ryan, George and I decided to head out on an adventure, camping out in the woods and bagging a few ADK peaks. Only a few weeks ago, this would have been training. And maybe in some ways it still is, but it's no longer relevant. As Carl Swenson says, with perfectly appropriate ambiguity, "there is a time for this, and this is that time"

Sometimes you can't enjoy little things like bridges and rivers when you're running instead of just hiking. But those little things are out there. We're used to getting up and getting down with the relentless tick of a heart-rate monitor guiding our decisions. But when you get to the top and slow down enough to enjoy the world below you, who cares about time Sometimes training is like straining to climb a mountain with only a few cables to help you...and sometimes even when you're not training you still need the cables. But the urge to go fast and let loose is never really gone when you see snow, mountains, sun, and a trail you can't NOT sprint down.

Gothics->Armstrong->Wolfjaw

Last year during a backcountry ski trip at this same time the mountains had over 3 feet of snow. This year there were only a few inches save for some drifts at the summits. Still, how can you beat this view?
The men of Townhouse 603... ...and with Teo (Ryan took this one)

Moving forward

When Springtime comes this blog goes on a short hiatus it seems. The weather was killer for about a week, mid-70s and sunny, and everyone was in May Mode...and yesterday it went and snowed. Most of the reflections and contemplation about the season are over with, at least for now. There's certainly enough to ponder for the rest of my lifetime and I'm glad for that. Now, suddenly, the last few weeks of college have snuck up on me with all the subtlety of Northug schooling Hellner in that certain finish in Oslo...

So where does that leave this website? I'm still not sure, exactly. If you asked me my dream future I would tell you this: Coach at SLU and/or BSF in Bozeman for the next two years, but train hard enough to be more than competitive, jumping in all the races I can and taking names even though I'm a coach (read: Holly Brooks) before taking a post with the USST to travel around Europe helping American skiers kick international ass.

It could happen, right? In all seriousness, I am trying to coach next year, so if you know someone (or are reading this) around the Bozeman, Montana area...drop me a line or even just leave a comment.

In the short term, I'm actually utilizing this blog quite a lot. It's been a great resource for me (and hopefully for others, too) but for the last few months I've been using the posts and stories on this blog to work towards a greater goal. I got approval for what SLU calls a 'Independent Senior Project' last semester. In addition to allowing me to only have a measly 3-course class load (whatup Modern Canada 204!) the project has allowed me to focus most of my time on a project of my choice. I don't want to reveal too much before I have something more concrete, but can you say 'Blood, Sweat and Skiers: The Book'? Right now it may be nothing more than stacks upon stacks of essays stuffed into a strange manila folder I bogarted from library's Government Documents section, but I am not lying when I say this is probably the most ambitious project I have ever attempted, and I've thrown myself wholeheartedly into it.

So, if you're a coach and you're looking for some help...drop me a line.
And if you're a small independent publisher who is looking for something about skiing...drop me a line as well.