Love vs. Hate

Passion- it’s such a peculiar word. According to Webster’s dictionary online it’s a noun that means:

1. Any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling; as love or hate.

The definition continues further but that’s not applicable to this blog. You can Google it if you feel so inclined. But what is pertinent is love and hate.

This ying and yang is the quintessential paradox to an athlete’s life. Passion is what drives us to success. Passion is what drives us mad.

What is loved: the satisfaction of winning. It’s plain and simple that an athlete strives for gold and not much less. The feeling of power as you PR a lift. The surprise of the clock after a run when you thought it sucked. The feeling you get when you first pull on a race suit and realize- it’s game on. That same feeling of adrenaline that pumps through your body, makes you sweat and tingle, and puts your mind on a completely different level. The recognition for our accomplishments and efforts.

What is hated: the feeling of an off-race. 2^nd place or 4^th place. The third week of a 3-week lifting cycle- when 10 pounds feels like 10,000. Being fooled by the clock after a run where you thought it was the ride of your life. The uncomfortable jitters you get before the first race because everything is new and anything can happen. The feeling of the unknown and questioning yourself- did you do enough reps? What if you were one kilo heavier? What if you pulled 10 more starts? The sacrifices you make in being away from your family and friends. Airports. International charges on your credit card. Long days spent driving from one small town to the next. Making people understand that living in Europe for 6 months doesn’t mean there’s time to play. Being defined by our sport.

Though it looks like the negative list may outweigh the positives the grass is always greener on the other side. Ask any athlete what their life would be like without their sport and I’m not sure you would get a completely accurate answer. This particularly applies to Luge athletes.

As a senior in high school you’re supposed to make the huge decision about the rest of your life… what college are you going to? What major are you going to pursue? What do you want to be when you grow up? Well push those types of decisions up the timeline about 4 years, add in the college savings account (minus the degree because you’re forgoing that due to time restraints) and make sure that everyone in the family is on board with this LIFE decision because no one can do this alone.

While starting this Preston Griffall, US National Team Member just happened to hop on Skype and I wanted to know what his loves and hates were. He loves the racing, he loves the travelling, and he loves being pushed physically and mentally. He hates sacrificing the small things in life. He hates leaving his family and friends for months upon end. He hates knowing that every year that passes he isn’t getting any younger and those life milestones of college, jobs, girlfriends, marriage, kids, buying a house, etc… are still being put on hold.

We all sacrifice. It’s a matter of what you choose to sacrifice for. I retired because I didn’t want to put those life milestones on hold any longer. I did what I set out to do- make the Olympics. Do I miss it? I miss the people. I miss the travelling. I miss the simplistic life I led of sleep, train, eat, train, work, sleep, and repeat.

The key to happiness I’ve found though is figuring out what you’re willing to compromise less on. Make a choice, and own it. You may hate aspects but nothing is perfect. You create your perfect ying and yang.

"Capturing the Power" While Riding the Wave

Have you ever logged into Facebook and seen the SAME exact post by the SAME exact person 2 or 3 times in a row because they’ve linked their multiple accounts to post one status? I just got finished reading a blog on http://www.teamusa.org/ by a fellow retiree of mine; Steve Mesler, 3-time Olympian. I have always admired this man for his athleticism but more keenly his ability to pull his thoughts from his head and put them onto paper, which makes me think of a quote my boss said the other day “Megan, we are in marketing. We take nothing and make it into something.” Maybe what I'm feeling towards Steve is a bit more jealousy than it is admiration.

He has mastered this whole phenomenon of “Social Media.” Between his posts on the TeamUSA website and his former teammate Steve Holcomb’s, Katie Uhleander, Chris Plys, Erin Hamlin, and many more status updates, I am utterly perplexed as to HOW they’ve gotten to where they are in the communication world. MySpace, Twitter, blogs, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google Chat, Google+… what am I missing? Skype? YouTube channels? Who even knows anymore?

When it comes to social media I am the opposite of savvy; and maybe that is what hinders me. I shy away because I’m intimidated. However I will rationalize! Call me a tad bit traditional but I prefer the face-to-face conversations. I’m not quite sure what gives me the social anxiety but when someone introduces themselves then proceeds to act like they know me, my family, my career, what I did last night, and my future… I’m a bit perplexed and develop social anxiety equivalent to what some would call a “level five clinger.”

I damn Google. This is my personal opinion and after speaking with Emily and Erin Hamlin tonight both sides to the argument were equally validated. If not for social media, winter athletes (ESPECIALLY LUGE) would be the forgotten ones. Friendships that have evolved due to the fact that we can now Facebook one another when we’re in the general vicinity [and have the random catch-up session] wouldn’t happen.

But there’s also a rational that has to be brought to the table along with moral standard where you DO NOT share your entire day’s activities with the world. God only knows, I don’t want your itinerary (i.e. “Going to the grocery store” or “random night tonight”) to be blowing up my Blackberry. But I also think that retreating into the black hole of what we athletes affectionately call the “BioDome” aka the training center, and this mysterious place on earth called Lake Placid, isn’t healthy. We need to stay connected and share our stories… but to what degree?

I spent the last year in what I like to call, therapy. For me, that was giving tours to the guests of the Utah Olympic Park in Park City, UT. When I first started, I remembered how for years I was drilled through media training to not use the word “DANGEROUS” because it would give the wrong connotation to our sport. But after 2010 games… how does the public perceive us as anything but dangerous?

This question doesn’t apply to specifically the sport of Luge. What about the mass amounts of people who believe that Skeleton is more dangerous than Luge (and yes, I am bias. So YES I proceeded to tell them otherwise!) or those US bobsled athletes who crashed in 4-man? What was the mix-zone like for them in 2010 post-Luge race?

Don’t get me wrong about the direction that our communication and social media has taken. I am a helpless Facebook stalker when I want to be. But the question is; without it, where would we be? And without it, how would I be able to stay in touch with my sister, family, best friends, sponsors, coaches, fans…YOU name it? It’s a part of our culture whether I like to admit it or not. I am still utterly perplexed by it. Hence…this blog.

Life Goes On

When I was younger, my Dad made a comment that has just stuck with me... "Well I'm not growing up but I sure am growing out!" (as he laughs at himself.) The daughter in me rolls my eyes and makes some snide comment like "Ugh, whatever. That's so stupid, you're old. It's what happens," Simultaneously vowing to myself to NEVER let that happen to me...

For twelve years of my life I worked out a minimum of five days a week for at least 4 hours total. I was in my own kind of "Biggest Loser" camp- but not. I wasn't trying to lose weight- I was trying to gain pure muscle (imagine me saying that in my deep "Manly Man" voice with a little AARR at the end). That set my standards for being in shape pretty high. So what I'm trying to say is that outside of my current reality, I had NO idea how hard it was to stay in shape.

It's been almost one year since I've retired from Luge. And this is what I've noticed... my arms still look huge. I still get comments on the size of my thighs (which have no correlation to sliding, that's a gift from my parents). I think my hip bones are permanently shifted (from carrying my sled) so that my right one sits higher than my left. I can now wear some jackets because I don't have the back of a body builder. Butseriously, what the hell is this jiggle?

I feel fat in places I didn't know existed; in the crease of my elbow, right under my arm pit, around the backs of my knees. And I thought fat was supposed to feel squishy? Like a nice little pillow! No? Mine makes my muscles feel like I can't stretch anymore. Almost like there's a piece of cardboard stuck between my hamstring and my calf whenever I squat down.

I'm not saying that I hate my body, in fact I've grown to love certain things. No matter who you are though the grass always seems greener on the other side in some respect; unless you're playing mind games and lying in order to convince yourself- which I've been known to do on occasion. It's not bad! It's just DIFFERENT.

I voiced some of my concerns to my girlfriends who laughed at me, naturally. But the comment that stuck out to me was "WOW! you mean you're feeling "normal"' whatever the hell that means? I thought I had an idea, but quickly discovered I was being extremely naive.

Here's what I've deduced this whole thing to. I'm a control freak, except for when it comes to food and wine (again, another great gift I received from my parents!) But for years, I also ate like I was going to burn 5000 calories a day and I hate to admit it but now-a-days typing and staring at a computer just doesn't quite get me to 5000. At the end of the day all I want to do is sit on my couch, watch the news, and drink wine while eating crackers- when at the end of the day I should hop my squishy bum on a bike and pedal my little heart away!

Steve Holcomb tweeted/facebooked/whatever other social media he's got going that "Sweat is just fat crying" and it gave me 1. a ridiculous visual in my head and 2. incentive to make my fat cry. So like one of Lulu Lemon's mantra's I am pledging to myself to "sweat once a day" from here on out. Who's with me?

It Doesn't Get Easier

I thought that by retiring I would eliminate one stressor in my life. I would be able to sit back and finally be able to enjoy watching sliding. But as I sit here on my couch sipping coffee, sending e-mails and texts back and forth, attempting to Skye my cousin, reading the Team USA press release about a close friend of mine (http://skiing.teamusa.org/news/2011/03/03/the-lone-bahrke/41220?ngb_id=3); NBC sports on the television in the background, and I'm crying.

Emily won silver today in Lake Placid at the 2011 National Championships held at Mt. Van Hovenberg. My family is there along with a group of extremely enthusiastic and supportive friends loudly cheering on mature comment pertaining to my homesickness; "i also know that no matter where you are in the world you're going to feel like you're missing out on something because of who you are and who you know. so its just a matter of who you want to miss out on less. it sucks, but its the downside to having so many friends."

I've finally been given a taste this season as to what it was like for my family and friends who supported me for so long; waiting in anticipation for final results, feeling the joy and relief when the time sheets finally appear and Emily's name is near the top, but also the extreme sorrow you feel when expectations haven't been met and you can hear the disappointment. That's the hardest emotion to deal with hands down!

I realize that things will not get easier from here on out as the next Oympic-quad begins and the Russian Games start creeping closer; so I've decided to start blogging on Emily's behalf. One because I need it as therapy to write out these frustrations but also because Emily has started having some AH ha! moments of her own... maybe not as ridiculous as my magical underwear! But ones that are noteworthy in themselves.

Post-Games

So I'm here in Hawaii... and to be honest I told Mom that I wasn't going to deal with anything Luge until I was on the mainland... I didn't want to hear about the Olympics, talk about the Olympics, see anything Olympic... but I can't escape it.

The VERY first thing I did when I woke up this morning was check the results from today's Junior National race. Emily WON!!! I was SOOO excited... then I saw her times... 2x 44.8.... I have NEVER gone below a 44.7 in a race, in training, nothing before in my life... no bueno! It's exciting to see the program's future excel like that but for personal [and I mean VERY! personal ;0)] reasons I'm not that excited to be off my sled for the past 2/ going on 3 weeks!

But to be honest, the Olympic Games were more than I had anticipated. Things came at me from all angles and at all speeds that it was sometimes VERY hard to process. I wouldn't trade my life or experiences or accomplishments for anything but to try and put into words the roller coaster of emotions that were brought on by the Olympic Games is truly something that I cannot do.

I'm leaving my fantasy world in two days and heading back to reality [which scares the living $*!+ (for better lack of terms) out of me] and into the future! Whether I'm ready or not here we come! Here's to the next weekend and here's to what the future holds!!

One More Week!!

So to say the least, things have been quite hectic. I'm laying in bed right now in Park City, Utah about to get ready for the day of double sessions, lifting, video, EATING, and trying to cram as much into my social calendar as possible before Monday. But you know what? I'm enjoying EVERY possible second of it. Yesterday we had kind of a small media blitz at the track and I was being "tag-teamed" by 3 different media and the PCTV guy said "Well! You're pretty happy and smiley and that's very apparent!" and I replied with a laugh, "Well, can we look at where we are? I'm heading to the Olympics, my sliding is going really well, I'm going shopping after this... I'm pretty sure there's absolutely NO reason to be angry!" And it's true!

It's crazy to think that in ONE week opening ceremonies will be taking place in Vancouver. Three days after that I will be racing, one day after that I'll turn 23, and then in most respects... it's all done with! I can just soak in all that the Olympic Games has to offer. Time is a very peculiar thing. It sort of boggles my mind... 60 seconds are in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour, 24 hours in a day... yet SOMEHOW that never seems to be enough. SOMEHOW my entire WC season is done... SOMEHOW I've managed to live 23 crazy years of life and yet in a weird way I feel as if this might just be the beginning and there's a huge world FULL of opportunities out there. I'm just afraid that time is going to be my enemy in experiencing it all!

Over the next month however, I'm going to try my best. I'm going to enjoy the journey and live vicariously through all of the pictures and stories and memories that everyone else has from the Games! So for just one month, time isn't going to matter.

Ciao Italia!!

Italy. The land of my vices... chocolate, espresso, wine, siesta, and high-end fashion (specifically shoes!) I honestly do not see how anyone can be mad when they wake up in Italy. I've attached a few pictures taken from the balcony of my hotel room. It's absolutely gorgeous here!

Our days go as follows: 7:00a.m. breakfast. Leave for the Track at 8:00 and slide at 9:00. We usually take 3 runs and by the end of that I feel as if my body is going to explode. We are at altitude here and between the lack of oxygen and the intensity of the track I can feel my heart pulsing through my body! Around 11:00 we are back at the hotel and it's Cappuccino time/video. Lunch is at 12:30 and every other day we switch between weight lifting or a second session of sliding. Around 5:00 we are done and I usually throw in my ipod and go for a walk around town. 7:30 dinner is followed by a back treatment from our trainer Jimbo and then it's time for bed! I really do live the life! Especially this week... ;0)

Being in Italy though has kind of put a perspective upon the Games for me. It seems like forever ago but it was only 4 years that I was at Opening Ceremonies in Torino and then walking through the security checkline at the track to watch Erin, Sam, and Courtney compete in the 2006 Olympics. Its completely surreal to know that in 22 short days I'm going to be the athlete. I'm going to be the one actually walking into that stadium, competing on the Whistler track, sporting the red, white, and blue all over the TV. I cannot wait to feel the intensity that is going to be exuding from athletes, coaches, and fans alike. Maybe it's the extra strong espresso that is making me buzz but I'm starting to feel alive...!!!

Flip or Fly

It has been decided that I have a love hate relationship with the track in Konigssee. After a week of training it was a little rough going into the race, but what can you do. Over the week I finished about five out of nine runs on my butt. I am being literal here -not facetious at all. I flipped off of the last curve before the timing eye five out of nine runs. When I did have a clean run and finished on my steels instead of my butt I had some decent times. Therefore I decided that Konigssee is a flip or fly kind of track.

So come race day I did both. I flipped (every run) and I flew (by my self standards). I raced team competition which is when each country takes one junior girl, guy, and doubles team and combines all three times. Each person takes only one run. On that one run I flew! My trouble spot was out of the last curve before the timing eye (there are two more curves used for bobsled and breaking). I made it through and was so excited that I completely forgot to drive the last two curves. I barely made it through the first one then as I came out I absent-mindedly sat up to break. I quickly found out that this was not a good idea. I went from the top of the curve to the side of my body very fast. But at that moment it didn't even matter. I had flown where it counted and flipped where it didn't. The junior women singles race went a little differently. Lets just say that I crossed the finish line both runs on my butt. No flying was done in that race.

Tomorrow the junior and youth boys have their race. Then we will drive to Munich for the night then to Oberhof. We are planning on getting to Oberhof in time to see some of the senior race. I personally can't wait to be united as Dos Sweenos again!

European Flair

So these past two weeks have flown by and we only have 3 more left in Europe for the entire season! It's sooo crazy! I'm not complaining by any means, I love Europe, but more than Europe I LOVE America. So I've decided to list the things about Europe (which I've noticed these past two weeks especially!) that make it so unique. Here goes:

1. We arrive at 7:30 a.m. into Munich airport and they've already got the fresh bread, cheese, and MEAT upon MEAT upon MEAT ready to be served...

2. NO ONE takes American Express

3. I've slept two hours over the course of 24 and after one sip of coffee I'm ready to take on the entire day! Until two hours later when I literally fall asleep standing...

4. Fireworks are legal in Germany for three days and THREE days only... imagine a child having the freedom to buy and set off their OWN fireworks (and legit ones! not just these puny little sparklers) in the middle of town with no consequences. Now! Imagine that child 20 years down the road, drunk, and celebrating the year 2010 along with thousands of their closest friends who also have a "Free Fireworks!" pass... it was war.

5. Rules? What rules? Do what you want, but know that whatever you do is your own fault. There's no suing in Europe.

6. ALL WATER IS CONTAMINATED. Not really, but they like to tell you that and proceed to charge you for a bottle of water... Order one Liter of water it is 7 Euros. Order one Liter of wine its 12 Euros. Order an entire "Normal" (which means it's about the size of a Medium delivered pizza in the US) and it's 6 Euros... so eat, drink, and be Merry! Just forget the water....

7. Sidewalks don't mean anything. They are just an elevated part of the road. Which means you walk wherever you want, whenever you want. You're the pedestrian! You've got the right-of-way.

8. If there's an excuse not to work, it's taken. I was severely misguided in thinking that Americans were the first to jump on the bandwagon when it came to giving National Holidays or lunch breaks or paid vacations, but these guys know how to live! And it's not just individuals; everyone and I mean EVERYONE capitalizes on time off.

9. Vegetables? Was ist das schiez?

10. My favorite! Bathrooms... first off you pay. Whenever you stop at a gas station or a restaurant you pay 50-euro cents to use the restroom. When you're at a hotel (like where I am now) your toilet, sink, and shower are enclosed in ONE room. No shower curtain, no recessed drain, just a showerhead stuck on the wall. That is if you actually HAVE a shower and not just a tub with a shower hose attached...

I'm sure that when the Europeans come to America they notice special quirks of ours... but these are just mildly amusing to me lately and that is what makes Europe so intriguing time and time again....

1+2+9+8+8+2=30

Bradley+Flight+O'Hare+Flight#2+Munich+Drive= Finally in Igls!! This was perhaps the longest traveling experience I have had, but we finally made it. I'm now with the junior team and we have a training week in Igls, Austria. Junior World Championships is here at the end of January so they have a week of just training for the big race. Yesterday we slid for the first time and that was the first time it actually hit me that Megan and I were not traveling together anymore. I was getting ready and it came to the point for someone to zip my suit and Megan wasn't there. She always zips me! It was a sad realization. But I one of my fellow juniors stepped up and got the job done. It has also been weird going from the Senior team to the Junior team. There is a complete different vibe. The seniors have a lot more freedom in the schedule, but they also know exactly what they need to do to train and race. The juniors have a structured schedule and are still figuring out their routines.

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!!