Holiday Clarity…

Posted on December 21, 2007

In order to be heard clearly, I thought I would post…  this.  A message.  A shout out.  A head’s up.  Encouragement. Support. Clarification.
Call it what you will, but to Toronto Speed Skaters with any interest of improving:

1. Come to practice.
2. Show up with regularity.

There is no question, indoors will make you a more skilled, stronger, fitter, more efficient, more proficient, and simply better skater.  But this is the product of a full season of hard work and effort.  Those that attend regularly showcase these improvements made.  Before it becomes ‘too late’; become part of this group.  This option is disappearing.  The group as a whole learns, improves, grows, matures, and finally, moves on.  This process is of a long term course and can even be held back by those that attend intermittently.   Please, don’t allow the gap to become any larger.  From here, the process of joining or rejoining the group or closing the gap quickly gets harder and longer, then finally impossible.  So, get up and join us… before:

‘What are we doing?’  ‘What does that mean?’  ‘What do I do here?’  ‘How many laps?’  ‘What’s a relay exchange?’  ‘I don’t like relays; they scare me.’  ‘I can keep up for a few laps, but…’   ‘I am completely out of control.’

And a question to those with a real intention of improving; is off-skate training supplemental to skating, or skating supplemental to your off-skate work?  Which seems more appropriate to you?

Finally, to those skaters that show up with regularity, motivated, eager, earnest, and committed; you are awesome, I love you, and thank you.  You are the success of our efforts.
Now, in the spirit of the holidays,

My nephew Mattias as ‘Robin’…

My nephew Sebastian as ‘Batman’…

My nephews…

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