Day off the ice after 1,2 km Thursday

Looong update incoming.

Enjoying a morning and a day off the ice by taking it easy starting from morning coffee in my new HQ 40miles(54km) away from Milwaukee in slightly rural area. I like it a lot to be a bit away from all people and hustle. Finnish soul longing back to woods? Definitely, but they do it here too!

Yesterday was a nice day since I visited Milwaukee county zoo and I can't even remember when I had gone to a zoo last time. For some reason I found the primates most exciting, maybe share most in common with them compared to other animals over there.
Yesterday we went on ice in the afternoon and after Wednesdays stair running you could guess that calves and buttocks still remembered it a day after. Ice was really frosty since they polished it about an hour before our session and I had to rethink for the first hour how does one actually skate when it does not glide at all. Session included progressive 3 lappers(1,2km). This means that you start with a good lap and then cut second or two from the next ones away. We got a new skater friend to pull few laps for us and the session that felt hopelessly slow in the beginning got some new dimensions at the end, atleast for a sprinter like me. But I already can feel it that don't die as quickly as before.

So on with today some school work during the day and bowling in the evening. Tomorrow racing before 9 o'clock in the morning!

Wednesday tempo

Life is learning, so is skating.
You'd never think of going to do tempos after training 10 hours in two days. Even I thought "this is mental I can't do this" but then you surprise yourself and do okay, feeling even better than before going to the training!
So few fast laps today both 27,9 with which I'm comfortable. No way not happy but that was the best I could do today. After session some stairs really sprinting. It was a while since doing that but it got me loosen up.

Today I visited a place called Holy Hill with Ken, the man of the house I'm staying at. It was a really unique place. One could see the church from 10 miles (16km) away on a high hill on a clear weather as today. We drive there through cornfields and woods(the forests out here are a lot close to what they look in Bayern).
Tomorrow also a change of the HQ to a new place a bit far off from towns in more rural area. I really enjoyed and I'm extremely grateful of the time I could spend with this nice couple in a small town area up northwest from Milwaukee downtown.
First races coming up on Saturday stay tuned and good luck to my friends on their journey to Inzell for competitions!

Two session Tuesday

If somebody started a business to rent apartements right from some skating venue, I'd take it. Today first time on ice 9 in the morning and second at 4 p.m/16. Dryland before first session my legs already killing me but I'm relying on my coach with my full heart. On ice Fahrtlekk one lapper, one-and-half lapper and two lapper, then double that. Same in the afternoon without dryland. Today I felt so much better than yesterday and the technique was wayyy better. Did few 30 point laps smoothly just gliding since the ice was really good.

Because of skating two sessions within 3 hour recovery there was no sense in driving back and forth where I'm staying right now so I got to go and spend the day at my coaches house finishing what they had left from Thanksgiving. I could make the Thanksgiving a habit wouldn't mind at all eating that stuff again.
But it was nice talking with him and learning lots of new about him as a person, not just as a coach.

It got colder here for few days atleast so I'm feeling really homie. Tomorrow just jogging in the morning and afternoon ice. By the way did you know that down in Helsinki we are at the same longitude as Alaska :P

Bring it on!

Tough training today. Won't lie about that. More mentally than physically that Finnish "mörökölli" tries to come out of the closet when you're a bit tired but it's just something you have to fight off, since it will not make one any faster. Also this is why I'm here not to have just fun or be on a holiday. There are warmer tropical places to do that.
Still training was actually just easy laps. Some 20 laps in all about 35-36 sec each.
In one video that's on youtube, it's called Terje Håkonsen first descent. Look it up. There someone is talking about Terje and about the mental toughness he has that he needs to be able to excel on that mountain.
And that is what sports comes to about everytime when you go away from your comfort zone. When you work and go to that place in your mind no body else can see and try to find the strength and will to make that uncomfort zone of pain and fatique your comfort zone.
And that's what I train also everytime. How to transfer that mörökölli into speed and strength.

I'm loving it. There's no better way to live for me. Stay tuned!

Day off

Resting day and Finn meeting. Met some new people. I'm finding it a bit shame that more people are not into getting to know their background on being Finnish. But that's for that I enjoyed to see people that try to keep it up.

Not thinking about skating today at all. I'll have time for that next week!

Superman day after thanksgiving

THIS update is a day late, since network did not work yesterday properly.

Two sessions today ending with a result: I'm done. Tomorrows day off will come to a shouting need. 2,5 hours on ice and some dry-land workout afterwards for 1,5h. Dry-land included some explosive squats, leg press, slideboard, jumps, bike sprinting and one-legged squats, I will feel it tomorrow in my thighs.

Today I skated probably my fastest 3000 meters ever, during warm-up laps. Of course on inner lane and my fastest time is only huge 4.38 seconds but it's starting to feel really good to just go on ice and skate from the bottom of your heart. I'm starting to learn a new word out here: consistency. Skating hall or really good outdoor ice are the things that make it possible. To train day-by-day concentrating on the right things to improve and take steps of becoming better all the time. Shaping off small errors from technique and improving skating physique in general. Training outside all the time and still be able to improve requires also lots of burning desire and sisu. And sometimes it might even require gaining some animalistic qualities that pinguins and polar bears have been developing through centuries!

Tomorrow I'll go to a meeting of Milwaukee Finnish-American society which is quite exciting. I might even get to speak a bit of Finnish. Also locally a big football game will be on when Superbowl favorites Green Bay Packers meet last years winner New York Giants. Maybe my huge interest to football came during early age when I would have wanted to try out the sport. Don't even know where I had got the whole idea. But finding my own sport from speedskating I really enjoy following football daily as there's always game going on somewhere.

Thansgiving number 2

Today back on ice and training. Session held some easy 700m's and the ice was so good after cold night that you didn't need to work at all, we'll see if the small overkill on speed today costs tomorrow as it will be a double session day, one ice and one dry land. Also some turn cable after ice training to get some more power for corners.
The weather took a turn to colder temperatures with breezing wind which promises good ice for weekend and coming week as it takes away the excess humidity.

Thanksgiving survived and it was fun to meet people and eat alot. Ending the holiday with a streak of horror movies.

PS. Today I found out that there are actually guys in world cup using progressive rock so I'm not giving up on using them yet.

Thanksgiving day

Thanksgiving, turkey, food, thanksgiving football, eating till you drop, black friday. All something new that we don't have back home so it's pretty neat to be here at this exact time.
Also no training for today. Just enjoying a stroll outside. Usually there should be snow but they say it's one of the warmest Turkey days in many years, 60F, that's +15 in Celsius and bit of wind.

It took a bit more than a week to get into good sleeping rhythm, now there's no trouble of sleeping until seven in morning and get good recovery during night. Tomorrow back to work 9 in the morning and after that I'll be having another Thanksgiving dinner with another family which will be lot's of fun. Supersize-Jarmo coming up ;P

Food wise during the whole trip so far I've had to visit an all-American burger restaurant only three times which is good. I still haven't recovered completely from last springs trip to Canada when a small "burgerholism" took control of me and my two skater companions. During a three week trip we had McDonalds atleast once a day not to count few visits to A&W which is another big fastfood chain in Canada (the burgers there are way superior to Golden M).

This post went way over my intention of keeping posts short but it also contained lots of unnessecary information. Maybe another day I write a bit on the county of Milwaukee and Waukesha.

Also tsemppiä kaikille kotopuolessa, koettakaa jaksaa sen sateen ja pimeyden keskellä!

Milwaukee on with the boot camp

Second day in Milwaukee. Two visits done at the Pettit ice center. Yesterday the ice had a crust on it because it was so humid and warm outside so after skating on most perfect ice in Calgary it was a bit tough to begin with. But it was solved the same way as entering Calgary, just skate and get the good feel of the ice, and it worked.
Today while skating in the morning I was doing well with the ice, due to recovery week only some easy laps (that's 3x250m and 6x800m interval over here), good cool down and rest over Thanksgiving.

Yesterday two visits to T-mobile required for working phone plan but now it's functional. Also the weather is not bad, they're still playing golf on November! But that is quite exceptional during this time of the year. We went also to visit Miller Stadium today which is home to Milwaukee Brewers, the local baseball team. It could probably fit four to five of the stadiums we have back in Oulu!

Also if interested in American Football there's a good match coming up on Sunday, Green Bay Packers(the team Milwaukee people support alot) playing against New York Giants last years Superbowl winner!

Leaving Calgary

After such a great week in Calgary I have packed my bags and I'm ready to head to the US.

If ever comes a time in ones life that you feel like nobody is interested in who you are or what you do. Book a trip to States, you'll sure feel important. But I didn't mind going through all the customs service. It's a new thing and I find it fun to see how things are handled over here. And their interest isn't decreasing when you're travelling in tights wearing surf shorts and a hoodie, style I borrowed from my Finnish skater friend "Daddy J" (inside joke but I'll reveal it to those who want to know). But the flow is beginning to show in appearance since few workers thought me to be a snowboarder.

I'll sure wish I can visit Calgary again soon after getting to know new, really good people who welcomed me stay and spend time with them.

Also be sure to follow next Sunday as Calgary meets Toronto in Gray cup finale of the whole Canada football championship! Not kidding these guys play football in subzero.

Found a pretty song to fit this exact time and place, listen to it. http://youtu.be/otoWoq_5gBY

Calgary day 7

Races are over for this week. Thousand meters as last distance I could feel the fatique in my legs before the race, good warm up not to pull anything. At the start of the race my blade dipped after 20m so I had to accelerate again which costed me speed from the opener (17,8) and first lap (27,6). I finished with time 1.15,36 which is only 2 tenths from my PB. I didn't die enough in the end but again good to know I can do better.
Tomorrow I start heading South to Milwaukee through Chicago, I get to see one of the biggest airports in the States. Then I take a bus all the way to Milwaukee. It should be about a two hour ride. Also no training for tomorrow just good streching to recover from these races. And I will get my first touch on ice in Petit skating center by Tuesday. Wednesday morning some more ice, then on thanksgiving some easy training and mental preparation to eat myself to bulb two days in a row, watch out :D With tanks full of energy we will continue on Saturday. Stay tuned for updates, I will try to get my data packet worked out by Tuesday.

Calgary day 6

I could go, "GAAH crap holy *****" but I won't. Happy with the third day 500m good opener 10,2, really sharp outer corner coming out to the backstrech "like a raped ape" good pursuit on back straight and going in just good for last inner. Then second or third push, tumble, pressure gone, loosing it came out same time as pair but with slower speed. Finishing 37,9. Good things: I managed to stay up, going below 37 is just normal inner turn away, skating is getting better and you can only get better.

Good to take it easy for the rest of the day and concentrate on going fast tomorrow on one thousand meters.

Also good luck to all my friends beginning national competition season at Seinäjoki!

Calgary day 5

Race day 2! 500m inner start 37,8 100m open 10,2 so no improvement. 1500m 1.58,7. Today I had some feelings catching up for sleeping good only until 3 a.m. 1,5k wasn't that bad, I let my speed go down too much after opening 24,3 which slowed the time accordingly.

Also outer corners were weak today driving in and out too wide. But getting much more confident taking each turn so good times will roll.

Have to say it has been quite elevating to have a sun shine everyday over here after rather dark and rainy autumn back home. Two race days left and tomorrow only 500 meter race and we may be hitting to a local movie theatre with some awesome new people I'm slowly learning to know from the group I'm going to be skating with and see the new Twilight.

Last I need to compliment Japanese junior world cup team for yesterdays 3k skating atleast two of them went under 3.50 seconds and the best time was only 3 seconds from the junior world record 3.42, tough guys!

Calgary day 4

Racing time! Today was the first day of Can-Am meet. I skated only 500m and did a time 37,74 with 10,1 hundred meter opener, not bad a little less than two tenths from my record. But shaking a bit in both corners though for the first time in my life I actually knew what to wait from the last inner curve and I did it. Problem was still that I wasn't leaning my weight enough front/deep enough as the curve progressed so I could not get maximum speed coming out. Tomorrow I get to skate a bit more as I'm racing 500 and 1500 meters. Same as before, snow bath(today in a plastic bag), food and good night sleep. Last night I managed to sleep until three without waking up so maybe next I'll be able to go until five!

Calgary day 3

Todays program held an easy ice training in the morning. Just few excels after yesterday's hard day. Then just resting and eating rest of the day, except I had a new treat for me this afternoon. When in Rome, I sat in the snow wearing shorts and covering my legs with snow for almost 20min to get the lactate moving. That is one thing they utilize here often before races. Surprisingly it wasn't as hard as you'd imagine. In the evening my legs feel quite good and ready for tomorrow's racing. I'll begin with just 500m and races take place well before noon. Now of to bed to get that final recovery from training and good night sleep to be confident in the race.

Calgary day 2

Looong day, spend 9 hours over at the university where the Olympic oval is. Did two training today, still improving. Two tempos 28,6 and 29,0-30,6 two lapper not that good yet but skating is getting a lot better memorizing and learning the new stuff. Other session was just easy technical skating and still feeling good which is a huge surprise. I'm kind of feeling that this style of training is doing good to actually skate a lot when I'm on the ice, warm-up, do something fast, few laps easy, do something fast and then just few easy laps at the end. Can't wait for tomorrow rest of the evening just resting and piling with food to recover! Also had the best 1000m outer line start ever today. Tomorrow will be just easy skating once in the morning and I'm in for a treat at the afternoon since I will have an ice bath, that'll make my day!:P

In Calgary day 1

I arrived here yesterday around midday, sun shined and there was full winter with -10 degrees Celsius. I got picked up from the airport by my friends at whose house I have the unique opportunity to stay during my stay in Calgary.
No jet lag by surprise compared to last time when it took three days to stop looking like a zombie, first night was a bit restless but I managed to sleep well.
Arriving on Sunday I wanted to hit the track on early Monday morning since I will be competing first time already on Thursday, but because of the local Veteransday the track did not open until nine a.m. I met the coach who I will be working with during this North-American camp and we started working on my technique right from the start on ice. Now it's three o'clock local time and I'm leaving for todays second ice. Going to write some more about this whole camp and today's training later.

On my way to Calgary

First flew to Frankfurt yesterday evening and after some searching found a way to the airport hotel. The hotel was good and quite cheap for an airport hotel, room for one night + breakfest + shuttle back to airport cost 63€.

Now waiting for flight to leave in 1,5 hour. 10 hour flight ahead going to catch some sleep first since it is two o'clock midnight in Calgary when taking-off. Tomorrow should be first day on ice so be back then. Happy father's day for all Finnish!:)

Qualifying races Inzell

So first races out of season 2012-13 down and first 4 races during one weekend. I skated the traditional sprint weekend including 500 and 1000 meters both days. As it was the first competition the technique and routine are still finding their ways.

First day

500m 38,99

1000m 1.18,21

Second day

500m 38,18

1000m 1.19,5

Well this was the first race and have to admit that none of these times were what I went for but that's sport, you keep on going until you're exactly where you want to be.

Suomeksi: Tulipaha luistelua kauden ekat kisat, tuossa ylyhäällä näkkyy nuo tulokset molemmilta päiviltä, eikä niistä kauheasti jääny jälkipolville kerrottavaa, mutta täytyy olla tottakai iloinen että sai kisakauden avattua ja luisteltua kisoissa ehjiä vetoja. Katellaan miten hommat jatkuu kun vajaan kahden viikon päästä seuraavat kilpailut vedellään Kanadan Calgaryssä. Two weeks from now I'll be competing again in Calgary, Canada. Get back after that!

Blog back on

I'm leaving to States at the beginning on November 2012 to train and compete in Calgary and Milwaukee. I will be staying there until Christmas. This type of training camp abroad is totally new to me so I thought about sharing the experiences through this blog. Trying to keep the updates short so people will have energy to read it regularly and update it as often as possible. Hope it's nice to read. Made it in English just to train my own language skills and to be able to share it outside Finland too. - Jami