How to protect your lead:-)

2006 Turino 500m Gold medalist Wang Meng (in red Chinese uniform) in Asia Winter Game 1500m final, surrounded by three Korean skaters. After Wang was impeded by the leader, whom got DQed for doing it, two other Koreans passed Wang and got the Gold and Silver. This reminds me of the 2006 Anyang World Inline Championship, where one Columbia skater impeded Joel Mantia (and got DQed) and the other one went ahead to get the Gold. There is not much you can do about it (you can't disqualify the person that is not involved) so this will always be controversy.

Getting it

Yesterday we had a very tough practice. After doing a few one lap burn, we started the first ladder of the season. This is a endurance drill that starts from 1 slow lap, 1 fast lap, 2 slow, 2 fast....up to 7 slow, and 7 fast. I was very grateful to my teammate who paced in front of me when I hit 4 slow, 4 fast...it was amazing because I knew I definitely wouldn't have skated as fast (if not giving up at some stage) without it.

This was followed by a 12 minutes 2 lap relay. My team took alternating lead with another team (with my daughter in:-) and I got passed every time after my teammate gained the lead back. This happened for the first 4-5 tags. Then I felt I "got it", I was completely comfortable on my ourside edge for the left foot underpush. For the next 5 tags, I never got passed again. I think I got it, the elusive "lean on entry" into the corner. The feeling I got is that I was balanced on both foot during the whole corner and you are moving as if you are skating straight ways. No more short left stroke, long right stroke (or worse, stop stepping).

I think the suicide circles/diagnals we did recently have helped me a lot to get the lean, but I was frustrated that I couldn't do it properly during the suicide circles. However, I think it kind of prepared me for today. I can't wait for the Sunday practice to make sure that I still has it, and I need to do more of it to make sure my muscle will remmember it.

Double push

This year will be my outdoor year....only because my indoor progress has hit a wall:-) After I got my 4x100 frame late last year, I put some effort in doing double pushing. Last week when I went out on the trail again, it took me a while to get used to it. The trail at Coyote trail in San Jose is very smooth and almost without people, unlike shoreline near Mountain View. I think I need to put some more mileage on the outdoor. Click to check the trail I skated. Also I found something very interesting on the web on double pushing.

Meet #2

Just came back from the meet.....6 hrs drive from Los Angeles:-) This is the first time Ruri attended a meet in Southern California with all of skaters in her class attending. She placed second in standard, same placement as last meet, but this time competing with the better skaters who didn't come at last meet. So in reality she has moved up one notch. Right now, after two meets this season, Ruri placed first on the point sheet. She also lasted 14 laps (out of 20 laps) at the Freshmen and below open, passing a few freshmen girls, very impressive. A very good meet for her confidence. I'm looking forward to the rest of the season! Here is the photo at the podium.

I did not race but took a lot of video (my assignment from our coach) of the races by our team as well as another team under our coach. I'll put up some youtube links here once I get a chance.

Moving up

At the last practice of 2006 (we had a practice on 12/31 for 3.5 hrs!) Ruri officially passed me in the pace line. She stayed longer while I had to drop off. Again this happened twice this year already. I only lasted longer than she did in the last paceline because the coach decided to pulle the two girls out of the paceline. So I can safely say that Ruri has earned her place in the pace line behind me. but I'm planning to hold onto it for just another week or so. I still beat her on one lap though:-) This is kind of interesting. Usually kids can beat the masters on one lap but does not have the endurance to beat the masters for the 100 lap paceline. I guess Ruri really improved her endurance, which I think is a good indication that she is skating with good form. By the way, right after the skating practice, I was at Ruri's recorder rehersal for her merit scholarship performance in the concert hall. She played the "Variations of Sakura", which is a very technical piece and can sound rather dull if not careful. However, as I closed my eyes and listened, I can feel her interpretations and playfulness. I am really looking forward to the recital!

Next week is the second meet of the season. It will be at Grance Terrace near Los Angeles. Since it is a long weekend, so we are looking forward to some sight seeing after the race. I will not be racing but be video taping the race for the team.