As soon as we were back from Park City, it was back to normal life for me. I had the reality of catching up on a week of school, while also getting through the next week while balancing school with sliding. It almost made me wish I could've just holed up in a hotel and focused on sliding. This is not feasible though, so I did my best to balance them considering our sessions were approximately 9am-noon, my main school hours as well. This is just what makes my life a little interesting and makes me glad that I can divide my time up between priorities. 

Anyways - I had to miss the first day of official training due to school, so I only had 2 training days - total of 4 runs before our races. I wasn't too worried, since this is the track I learned to slide on, but I was worried that the ice may have changed as I had not slid in Calgary since the second selection race. The first day of OT went amazing - two of my best runs I may have ever had down the track! On day 2, I decided to go with a more aggressive setup, in hopes of gaining speed, but alas it was WAY to aggressive and I was skidding everywhere and almost led to me flipping out of one of the corners. I have confidence at home though, so I knew to just refocus and think about my game plan from the race. 

Teammates waiting for awards! 

Race #1

This week fly by, and suddenly the first race was on Friday. This is where it all becomes a bit of a blur. I get there approximately an hour and a half before the 9am start time to get everything set up and then start warming up, but suddenly it was 8:45 and the forerunners were going off! I was 8th off the block, but I was not paying attention to any of the times, except the forerunners, to gauge the speed of the ice. This is something I take from figure skating, as I really just need to focus on myself and my plan. I reminded myself how cool it is to represent my country and managed a smile at the start line too. I matched my push PB, and had an alright run down the track, not my cleanest, but I managed a PB!!!! 

This was the best ice we had had all year. I didn't know what position I was sitting in, as the outrun was way too fast and I didn't even get to look at the place I was sitting in! When they finally posted the second run start list (which runs from last-first), I realized I was sitting in 5th position! The second run I pushed a PB, had a great run and managed an even better downtime! I had defended my position and would finish no lower than 5th. 

The thing is, I got so caught up in the moment, I kind of stopped listening to the commentary and times of my competitors. When we got back up to the top after sled checks with the whole top 5, my boyfriend told me I had ended up 3rd. 

My very first podium! 

I wish I had a picture of my face at that exact moment. My first international medal (in skeleton the top 6 get medals), and my first international top 3! This was crazy. It was met with a lot of enthusiasm from my teammates, coaches and rang throughout the day as my phone continued to blow up with congratulations from a ton of people. 

Thank you. 

This was a big moment for me, and to have people behind me means a lot. I should also mention, that 0.01 seconds was the difference between 3rd and 4th. I don't know where I picked that up, but I am glad I did! 

It was time to refocus, as the next day is a new race and today's results don't matter tomorrow. 

Photo Credit: Ron LeBlanc (check out his website here) 

Race #2 

Time to do it all again. Prove it wasn't just a fluke I was up there. It's funny how the day before, nerves were very little, as I had no expectations of my self, but today, the nerves were a little more as I wanted to prove I belonged in that top 6. 

Same routine - equipment set up, warmup, visualize, prepare. 

This time I was 2nd off, and I was glad for this, as I was ready to get the first run done. Surprisingly, I pushed my previous push PB from the 1st run the day before, but unfortunately destroyed a lot of my speed when I took a big hit out of a key corner. I was definitely disappointed, but the ice was slower and I guess this was evident when I was sitting 6th after the 1st run. This was the time when I felt like experience at home on the track really paid off. 

I tried something risky, since I took the big hit in the first run, I talked to one of my teammates and he gave me some steers and advice to help me through the next run. While I would never put a new steer in on race day on any other track, I trusted my instincts since I know Calgary very well. Second run, I pushed a hundredth off my PB, and settled in to my sled. I still took a few hits, but I just relaxed in to my sled, let them happen and buried my head and let it fly. Always feels good to see that "1" after my name. This meant I had defended my spot and would remain in the top 6 again. I was extremely pleased with this, but as no results are ever set in stone, I ended up moving up to 4th!!!

NAC 3&4 Team Canada (missing Madi Charney, who took gold in Race #3!) 

Both of the womens races were won by my teammates. Meaning I got to sing Oh Canada while standing in the 3rd and 4th spot. Truly a special moment - I won't ever forget my first podium. The best part is that I got to share it with both of my parents and my boyfriend. Again, the luxuries of racing at home. There will be many more to come I know. 

check out the results here and here 

I'm a pretty humble person, but I know that I worked hard this off season. To see hard work pay off, even just in that little bit, made every moment worth it. So worth it. This is just a little taste as to what is to come.