January 2001

CHANG CHUN, China. - Talk about a crazy month! Between training for the upcoming speed skating World Cups and fighting the flu I contracted when I got back from the Asian World Cup, I am just beat. Training and sickness just don't mix well. Since I have been sick all I have wanted to do was lay around and sleep. If I didn't have the word "Olympics" floating around in my head I would have been perfectly happy to do just that. For every athlete the word "Olympics" or phrase "Olympic Winter Games" can be one of the most powerful motivations. Even if it is still more than a year away, time is counting down. I think the reason those words are so important to me is because I am a human being trying to reach a goal which so many people cannot attain. It's a path not easily taken or chosen but it's the one thing in my life that makes me the person I am. Getting past my sickness, I feel a lot more comfortable out on the ice once again. Speed skaters can lose their 'feel' for the ice if they are not continuously practicing. I have been getting my feet back underneath me the last couple days. This Sunday I leave for a World Cup event in Graz, Austria. I am excited to go but I am definitely not as strong as I would like to be right now. I guess I am just trying to get my feel back so I will just do my best.

February 25, 2001

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - I woke up this morning and didn't feel as refreshed from the weekend as I would have liked. During the first half of practice I felt horrible, my right skate felt like it had so much bend that it just didn't feel comfortable to me. I was losing my focus because I was getting frustrated with the way I felt. Trying to put the skate out of sight and out of mind was just not happening. Due to my frustrations I stepped off of the ice to put on a different pair of skates. It was a good move because I skated a lot better throughout the rest of the practice. Since speed skating is so technical I have been watching myself on tape. Utilizing my new television I can see all of my mistakes. Watching myslef  allows me to improve my performance a lot quicker. Right now I have to work on my technique, and improve my focus. I have to be more consistent with my arm swing. This is the hard part of Short Track, the constant focus on technique and mental attitude towards skating. It's what I live for.

February 26, 2001

This morning I arrived at the rink not as focused as usual. My warm-up was too quick and not very efficient, part of the problem was I didn't stretch as long as I usually do. The first part of my warm up felt very awkward to me, I once again didn't feel comfortable on my skates, and my technique felt a little off. Some things that I have to keep working on are to keep a strong focus, and not slip into a laziness pattern. I have to keep up the intense dedication and consistency of doing my own thing every morning. I also have to keep watching my tapes, continue my meditation sessions, eat healthy, and keep my confidence up. A positive self-imagery is very important in every athlete's life.

February 27, 2001

Yesterday I had a professional massage and man did it help. I felt strong this morning even though I had an extremely tough workout yesterday. Tomorrow I leave for the World Trials in Minnesota. This competition will select the top 5 men and women to skate for the U.S. in the World Team Championships in Japan, and then for the World Championships in Seoul, Korea. I am very excited for the trials this weekend because I believe I will skate well enough to qualify in the top 3. These events are nothing new to me but I still get a little nervous. It will be good to get the nerves out of my system. I am going into this competition with a great attitude. I know I am prepared. I have put in the hard work and now I can just let everything else take care of itself. Wish Me Luck! Talk to you soon, Apolo