Think about it.

Hey!

Today was rather interesting. And good! I got my address for where I'll be staying while I'm in Vancouver for the 2010's. This morning's training was really good. Partly because I was so focused during the warm-up but still made it fun. You don't want to be too serious during practice, but you still want to have that tunnel vision. Once you get to a higher level like Nesbitt or Wotherspoon, you'll see the difference to the approach they take in warm-up, as to our approach.

It's like painting. Everyone has a different style in painting one thing. Or like looking at one object from a different perspective. Or adding extra detail to that painting. Being a perfectionist has it's advantages but also has it's disadvantages. I find myself focusing on one thing for weeks at a time and if it doesn't work in a race, when I think I am prepared for it, I get quite frustrated but then I have to look at the different things I do right, instead of focus on the negative.

When I do race, it's quite interesting because my sport psychologist got me to look at things in a very different way..

I'll finish racing and if I had a bad race, well first off, I NEVER look at what I did wrong.

Here's how I approach it:

What did I do right.

What can I improve.

Lets go to work. What's next.

Another thing I have been working on, not only inside the oval, but during everyday life/every where I go, is to pretend I have already been at the Olympics and that it's just my second time around. To not be starstruck when I see the national team, but instead be a part of the team. Hence the name of my blog- I've been here before. It's just my second time 'round.

Walk it

Talk it

Think it

Act it

So I'll leave you with one more thought and then I have to get on with my homework, or there will be consequences at school. (kidding)

What you think might be your worst race, will actually be the best opportunity to bring the best you've EVER given.

-Alex Ianculescu-

Racing.

WOW. Surprisingly weird, I am very excited.

Went to sleep at 230 am last night, and woke up at 8. Got to the oval at 9am, instead of 830. Ice warmup felt great and starts were super!

Racing, that's different.
My 500 time was 42.11. 30.6 lap time, and 11.49 start. Not impressed.

1500 on the other hand, was SO good. Laser focus and tunnel vision. Had a 28 start-slower than usual, and 2.11 finish. Great feeling throughout the race, no pain. Felt strong and low, and pumped the arms. Good focus and powerful. So happy!



Richard Maclennan had an outstanding 1000m race- beat Mike Ireland. Now I am so positive that anything is achievable and it doesn't matter if you have experience or not, and race someone that's so good, because you can still beat them. Richard proved that theory today.
Congrats- you're amazing!

On my way to Banff now. TTYL

Alex.

Got out ALIVE!

So. 3 essays! DONE! Well almost. Still have one more to write. I got out of school alive though. Am at the oval now- had a new offset on my long track skates and needed to test them out before tomorrow's racing.

I found that my right skate constantly touched the ice in the corners...the boots. And so I had Crispin move the blade over like in ST.

And it feels SO good!

Tomorrow's races are going to be quite exciting... but for some reason not really looing forward to that 1500. 500m, 4th pair, Outside lane (bonus), with Brianne Tutt. 1500m, 9th pair, Inside, with Steph Bergeron.

Gotta write that essay, and then dinner out tonight.

Gotta find an outfit!!!

Alex

Things I did this summah.

spent time with one of my bestfriends
Saw Tony Robbins- front row. Met the man himself too.
Had a BBQ with the Korean Long Track and Short track national teams
Ate some good stuff with Elia in Wasaga

Team bonding at coach's house
Went home to Toronto
Bought one
And two.
Busked on Canada day and made 200.17$$
Went to the MMVAs and saw my future husband Chad.

Training this morning was the b.o.m.b. Felt so good and strong. We had lap intervals. Started out with 6L-8L-12L-8L. By the time we got to 12 I had SO much energy and wanted to go to 15L, but I would have gotten yelled at. So today I didn't really push the limit. And that made me mad. I find a thing a day in training where I do push myself. We were supposed to do the laps @ 37s but did them at 36s, and I couldn't help myself and threw in a 34 and some 35s in there too just for kicks. Of course, people got lactic and got mad. Whatever! That's life.

And today I wore a dress for he second time ever, this year @ school. Got a lot of comments; people were surprised I actually dress like a girl too sometimes. Well I do outside of skating and school when I'm not on the go. Like tomorrow night's dinner I just might dress up.

Afterwards, I went to the oval and picked up my rollerblades and skated home in my dress thingy-ma-bober. Got a few strange looks. My muscles were pumped cause of the weather and they were flexed the whole time. Looked kinda like a body builder in a skirt. You get the idea. I uploaded a pic. You can't really see how shirt the dress actually is, cause it's from a weird angle but it's 30cm above the knee. So it was awkward.

Coached tonight- went well. Did flyers. Now have 3 essays to write. Sleeping tonight- not a chance.

Training tomorrow-

Meet at 7:00am Bike Sprints 3 x 10" R-3' 2 x 3L warm up + 2 x 250m accel 1-2 x 30m roll start 1-2 x 50m stand (can do after tempo) 400m tempo 2 x 3(600:600) aerobic intervals R-6' 20' jog & stretch






Saturday races-

500m 1500m 20' flush on bike right after 500m 30" high aer, 1' easy









I'm kinda really happy tonight ;) Was weird on coaching ice cause someone stole my oakleys and I was thinking about it. But a hug made it better. Ah.

Love,.
Al

Homework these days.