The Pinnacle

After these past 10 days (yeah, it's only been 10! NYC seems like last month!) I'm ready to head back into the bubble. The little Luge bubble that puts me out of touch with reality for a while and lets me focus on sliding and competing and training. It's selfish but the reality of my life right now is I still have four more World Cups. I still have two weeks of training and then beyond the opening ceremonies I've still got to complete four race runs down the Whistler track.

It's hard to believe that I've been working for so long to make "THE OLYMPICS!" that it doesn't seem real yet. When you fill out a goal sheet or you're asked in an interview "What's your ultimate goal?" you always answer with "To hopefully make the Olympics." Well, now what do I say? What's the next question? Where's my next step? What's my next goal? I don't need to answer all these questions right now, but it's what I've been thinking of while being at home.

The reality of the Games is that it is the Olympics. It's a BIG deal, anything can truly happen. But when you're asked 'So you gonna win gold?' You sound like a pessimist when you scoff at the suggestion. The truth is I don't see myself as Gold medal material. My sliding hasn't yet attained the level of professionalism that I see in other sliders. I'm not being negative but rather just honest. Because on the flip side of that, I also didn't REALLY see myself as being an Olympian (I still laugh at the title! I can't actually use it to describe myself in conversation yet, WAY too wierd) especially after last year and not racing ONE single World Cup.

So I'm going to put my thoughts away and focus on next weekend's world cup in Konigssee, Germany. That is my first goal. I'm going to take these next 47 days one at a time, race by race, run by run and know that I've earned my spot on the US Olympic Luge team with just that mentality. I'm going to enjoy the opening ceremonies and focus on putting down four clean runs at the Games. Then I'm going to celebrate my 23rd birthday with all my family and friends in Whistler. Then I'm going to cheer on the rest of my teammates representing the USA in their respective sports. The rest of my life I can figure out afterwards...

Hectic Happy Holidays!

It's been a while since the last post and more than ever has happened. I'm sure all of you have heard that Megan has made the 2010 Olympic Team! This has sent our lives into a whirlwind. After flying back from Oslo to New York City we stayed overnight in the city because the Olympic team including Megan were on the Today Show. It was an exciting time for all of us. My parents and I watched from the COLD outside and Megan had her Today Show debut. We FINALLY got home last Friday. We were ready for a relaxing stay at home, but I guess when you have an Olympian in the family that is not in the plans. We had an open house on Monday and the support was overwhelming. It was great to see everyone and catch up. We also went to Maine to see our O'Donal side of the family. It was a quick trip, but we always enjoy them! We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Follow Me to Vancouver

“Track is Clear for Megan Sweeney.” The clock dings. “Here we go Megan.” Looking down the tunnel of a track that lies ahead. I know what I have to do. “Clear your head Megan, “Take a breath, take it deep. Calm yourself. He says to me,”’ Rhianna runs through my mind. Big breathe, let it out. Pull down the face shield in one swift movement and listen for the click. Two taps of my spikes on the ice and I pull up on my runners to make sure I have flexibility in my sled.

“You can see my heart beating, you can see it through my chest. Take a breath; take it deep cause when we play. We play for keeps…” I glance at the ice, notice the purity, calm my breath and PULL. “AH!” One, Two, Three paddles. Quick settle, “CALM YOURSELF” make sure you’re on the right but not TOO close. Cut it left but not too much, let it up, BE SOFT, hold the sled straight, take it out on the straight away, that’s it. Nice and easy, put your shoulders back, RELAX. Head back, feet up. Nice and easy Megan hold your right handle, go middle into Curve 5, let it up, take it out, be soft. That’s it, guide it into 6- let it go, let it go, RELAX in the entrance, nice and soft. Let it run, let it run, let it run… this is the longest curve EVER, okay nice and easy, guide it out, all the way out, roll back…

Into 7 Megan, middle entrance let it up, from middle take it out, nice and easy all the way, DON’T let up. Middle into 8 no earlier! Let it climb in 8 over middle, let it fall and return back to neutral Megan NICE and EASY, BE SOFT. A little right handle, don’t let it drift away from the curve, don’t let it drift… let it up and ROLL OUT! Don’t get late into 10. Switch your weight down, quick steer! Let it loop, okay let it loop just a littttllleeee, tap and roll back! DON’T go late into 11! Let it up! Look for the exit! RELAX, RELAX trust yourself! Let it go, be ready for 12, CRAP! I’m too early, ABSORB the entrance, and keep your weight down! Quick steer! UNWEIGH- let the sled climb, trust yourself, trust yourself, tap it off the end! ROLL OUT! Curve 13! WEIGHT DOWN! HEAD BACK! SHOULDERS BACK! Quick entrance! QUICK pound of the right runner, HOLD UP!! Don’t let the sled fall; steer HARD, ALL THE WAY OUT MEGAN! FIGHT! Shoulders back! Pull hard on that right handle! DON’T HIT THE WALL!!!!!!!!! RELAX!!!!!!! Trust yourself….

Let the sled go, not too early into 14, not too early…. K, Let it up, don’t touch anything! Roll out and back, don’t get too early into 15, Roll down, steer quick, hold it up, keep yourself level, Take it off HARD, ROLL BACK! Stretch Megan, Stretch, head back and feet up. Run it, run it out, Stretch ALL THE WAY OUT! RRREEEEAAAACCCCCHHHHH where is it! Where’s the line, point your toes, DONE! Now where is it? Where’s my time, where is it!?!!!!!???!?!? You’ve done it, you’ve done it… Thank You God, Thank you. You’ve done it…. You’ve done it.

Rookey Experiences

Megan and I have had two races since the last posting. We raced in Nations Cup on Firday and in the fourth World Cup of the season yesterday. We raced in Lillehammer, Norway where the sun barely reaches the sky at this time of the year. Maybe that was a good thing though because Megan flew in Nations Cup and got 3rd! I also qualified for the World Cup with a 7th place finish.
Yesterday was the last World Cup before Christmas. Which sometimes makes it difficult for me to focus because all I can seem to think about lately is the food I'm going to eat when I get home. I have even made a list, how bad is that! The food in Europe can be really good sometimes, but it gets old quickly. Especially in Norway, I've had more boiled potatoes than I have in my whole life combined. By now all I want is a buffalo chicken salad. I know that it's only a week away and that is taunting me. But the food aside I pulled it together for the race. The highlight of the race for me was after my second run. I got off the ice pleased with my run and Marketa (our team manager) took my sled and told me to go to the leaders box. I was so surprised. I think I even let out a "REALLY?!?" Last race I came down in second place so I didn't get to stand in the leaders box so this was my first leaders box experience. Honestly it's a little akward. You just stand there watching the run of the person after you on the TV in front of you and while you're watching there's a camera about a foot away from you in your face. Then once they show you on the TV you realise how bad you actually look after a race, helmet hair and all. I now know not to take off my helmet while in the leaders box. I guess these are the types of things that you learn as a rookey. When all was said in done Megan finished 13th and I finished 16th. It ended a good day for the both of us!

Ice V. Diamonds- to be this girl's best friend...

Now don't let the title totally mislead you on this one, I am a true girly girl at heart and those shiny little stones will rock my world someday. When I'm rich. But until then, my rush comes from another form of ice; the cold, slick, frozen water kind.

I can still remember the feeling I got five years ago here in Norway one morning before training. It was the second time I had been here as a junior and we had a World Cup. It was really early and REALLY dark just before sliding. I was walking up the track just like I do before every session. I look at the ice, at the curves, do mind runs while I listen to my ipod, but mostly I just kind of zone out and let my body warm up. This particular morning though we were the first group to go and as I was walking up the track along the outside of curve 8 I heard the workers walk by spritzing the track. I continued up and came to the belly of curve 7, at first I was paying more attention to the big curve ahead of me (6) and following it down to the small straight away before the track turned into curve 7 where I then I looked down at the ice. The lights behind me hit the fresh spritzed ice perfectly. The only word that came to my head right then was SPEED.

The glisten from the light created this sparkle on the clear ice that just made me want to GO. It gave me those butterflies in my stomach [that I've been told happens when you're inlove... ;0)] and my heart started racing and my smile was uncontrollable. But the sparkle... that's what got me. The glitter of the light, the pureness of the ice, the cold air but this excited (and yet calming) feeling. That's what is exciting about Luge. This understanding that it's you vs. this monster of a track but in the end all you want to do is be friends!

So until the day that I can 1. afford to buy my OWN diamonds or 2. find a rich husband who wants to buy them for me... I'm going to stick with my ice. It's what makes me happy (and sad and mad and frusterated and yet I couldn't imagine my life without it right now... like a typical relationship I guess!) at the end of the day. It's one of my best friends.

World Cup Debut

This week we were in Altenber, Germany. Everyone jokes that there is nothing to do in Altenberg because from what we've seen it's pretty much the truth. The one pro to Altenberg is the Doner Kebab place that we go to (just about everyday). They have the best doners in the world! I had 5 doners over the course of the week. This is a big feat because each doner is about a foot and a half of A LOT of food! But it's so good you have no choice but to finish it. Our team has made friends with the owners. They are three really nice guys who I think secretly laugh at us because we are in there so often. But we can't help but resist the amaizing doners! We even made a stop on race day.

Race days on the senior circuit are very different from those on the junior secret. This was the first race in Germany so it was the first race that I saw a major difference. People actually come to watch the seniors, it's crazy!! I had the best time during the guys and doubles race. There was a band that sounded really good and looked even better in their clogs and mini capes. I also bought some noise makers at a stand and Kate bought an American flag and it was so much fun. I love race days! (Even when I'm not the one racing).

Yesterday I did race, and it was my first Senior World Cup. I was third off and was shaking at the start because I was so nervous. There were cameras in your face and it was just crazy competing with the best sliders in the world. I always count to three before I pull off and this time the count was a little longer. I wanted to stay in that moment for as long as I could (30 seconds before I would get disqualified). It was an awesome feeling. Megan is a little more used to this excitement so it was a breeze for her. She had two solid runs and ended up in 17th. I was expecting to come in last, but had two pretty good runs which landed me in 13th. I'd say that Altenberg was a success overall, especially the doners, they never fail!

Clarification

It's kind of late here so I'm going to make this quick. I just had to clarify that Megan was the one who wrote the post about the undies. I do have my own weird race day quarks, but that's for another post...

Magic Undies

So the Sweeney family has a mantra- "Oh we're the Sweeneys from Grandma's house. We're never very neat. We never wash our underwear..." I'm not going to continue that song but to set the record straight I DO (and I repeat DO) wash my underwear. At almost 23 years old I'm still getting the A-Okay from my mother about posting this blog but I decided to let you into the mind of an athlete. And sometimes the ridiculousness that includes truly believing you've got magic underwear...

I was getting ready this morning, in the SAME thing I get dressed in for every race. Year to year this might change slightly based on the new schwag we've recieved or the crappy last race that I had in the former stuff which is no longer bringing me good luck... but this year I've switched things up ONCE in Calgary. I put on a black sports bra, not my regular hot pink one. I put on these awesome "weigh-in underwear" that were hot pink and black plaid from Victoria's Secret! I felt so bad ass... ready to go and WIN this race! But they weren't my normal white and hot pink cotton underwear from the GAP that I got in Lake Placid, NY one weekend that I had rushed up to camp and forgotten possibly one of the most important articles of clothing to some... my undies. And I'm pretty sure I did anything but win that Calgary race.

These underwear that ask over and over again "Naughty or Nice?" set my mind right. I pull those babies on and it's game time. It's sick actually if I step back for a minute and think about what I'm saying to you! Slightly embarrassed at my confession. But you know what? I'm okay with it! So I'm going to continue to get dressed in the same thermal top and spandex from CWX, the same ugly white socks with red, white, and blue stars all over them, my earrings, and my "Infinite Potential" bracelet complete me. I'll pop a piece of Orbitz Wintermint gum in my mouth, throw in my iPod and I'm ready to rock! But it all starts with the magic undies... ;0)

Reaching Another Level

SSOOOOO much has happened since even Emily last blogged... and it's all happened so fast that honestly, I haven't even had time to download my pictures but we will get them up this week since we are now in Altenberg, Germany! It's located 2 hours from Prague, Czech Republic. It's located directly on the border and the highlights here are the Half train station/ Half Doner Kebab restaurant that, until we got caught stealing internet and the police MADE our current hotel get it, was the only place you could receive internet. There's a super market, and a little mini-shop located across the street from another hotel that we stayed at called Bjorskis. It's one of those small, has EVERYTHING corner stores, that smells like rotten eggs when you walk in. Again, to make that clear, THAT's a highlight! Oh, and there's the track! But in all honestly, there are a TON of walking trails all over and it's actually really beautiful countryside. We're also only about 45 minutes from Dresden, Germany.

After my 13th finish in Nations cup I was set for a great start number (#3) in the morning. Unfortunately it didn't help me very much and I ended up 22nd. More than sub-par. It's hard to go into a race and know that yeah, I'm the 22nd female in the WORLD! but on my end... that's second from last. Not so exciting, especially when I had (what I thought) were two good runs. I was more frusterated and dissapointed than mad. But I moved on. I was ready to race in Altenberg! BUT... there were other plans.

That night we were told that since Emily and Kate hadn't been from Womens start in Altenberg the race-off was to be Monday morning at 8 a.m. and then we would run back to the hotel, pack our sled boxes and rooms up and make the 6 hour trip north to Altenberg. SO that's just what we did. The race ended up Julia Clukey, Emily Sweeney, Megan Sweeney, and Kate Hansen. Which essentially means Kate and Emily have switched spots for the next two world cups. And that gives us the chance to POSSIBLY qualify over the next two weeks, but if that doesn't happen then there will be another race-off AFTER the Lillehammer, Norway race to determine the Olympic team.

We are taking it one day at a time. One start, one run, one finish at a time. It's tough but both Emily and I know that whatever is meant to happen, will. We have faith that if we just keep ourselves together and push hard it's all going to work! So keep us in your thoughts and prayers this week and hope that we make it down the Berg safely!!!!!

Sweeney Success!!

This week we were in Igls, Austria. Although Megan and I could not be with our family for the holiday yesterday we did have our first Thanksgiving together in 9 years, which was pretty cool! We both raced Nations Cup today and it was a good race day for us both! Megan qualified for the World Cup race tomorrow with a 13th place finish. I finished 9th, but could not qualify for the World Cup because I am only racing Nations Cup. It's a little frustrating, but I knew this could happen going into today's race so I was prepared for it. After the race today Megan and I went on a walk through the quintessential Austrian countryside. It was the perfect end to an exciting day. We are both now ready for tomorrow-- Megan has her sled ready for the race and I'm resting my voice so that I will be able to cheer loudly! Wish us luck on our endeavors!!

Across the Pond

So Emily is supposed to be writing this blog... it's her rotation... but I'm going to instead! We are sitting right now in the Frankfurt, Germany airport awaiting our flight to Munich, Germany. It's been a LLOOONNNGGG 9.5 hour flight from Calgary, but it was pretty uneventful. We call the planes from Calgary our Luge "party planes" because it's essentially filled with our entire Luge circuit. So it's fun, it's tiring, it's weird to see all the teams in that setting. Usually it's good to try and sleep to adjust our bodies but I only managed to sleep two hours... and Emily said she didn't sleep at ALL! Fortunately though, there were movies.

So, what happened this weekend was a bit bitter-sweet for me personally. You always 'take two steps forward and one step back.' I didn't end up qualifying for the World Cup race. My run started off wrong when I cut my sled too deep into Curve 1 which sent me skidding. In Calgary that lost time is almost impossible to gain back. So long-story-short I didn't end up qualifying but instead got to hang out with my sister, mom, and dad! We just hung out, watched some races, and did some shopping. It was the perfect surprise for a send-off to Europe! And with them they brought a card from the students at Suffield High which was SOOOO cute! It was greatly appreciated! We have pictures... and once Mom and Dad figure out how to download and send them to us... they will be posted!

So I'm about to run out of battery life but once we get to Austria and start our race week again Emily will fill you! Until then, keep us in your prayers!

Much love

RACE DAY!!

Today is Emily's first Nations Cup race! Mom and Dad are coming in tonight late as a surprise, and I'm hoping to qualify for the World Cup on Saturday! Wish us all luck! More to come....