I'M SO SORRY

Here goes nothing... I'm so embarrassed about my journal this season. I could throw out a million excuses but the fact is, I feel like I've let a lot of people down by not keeping up with it. When things started to go down hill on tour I was having a hard time motivating myself to tell everyone how poorly I was racing. There are still a lot of unanswered questions of why I fell short this year and that's hard to admit... I really don't know what happened? I looked forward to every race believing that I'd catch my break that day but it never came. Unfortunately, the entire U.S. Women's team struggled a bit this year. We were only able to qualify 2 spots to the Games based on overall team points and because of our results, lost our 3rd World Cup sport on tour for next year. It was a tough season for everyone.

The only regret I had were the times that showed up on the clock... other than that, it was arguably my favorite season on tour to date. There were a few reasons for that... The biggest factor was having a united team lead by an awesome coach. For the first time we all got along and enjoyed our days together on and off the track. It was so refreshing! I had the help I needed sliding with our coach Orvie but for some reason I wasn't able to execute. I don't blame anyone but myself. I never felt like myself on my sled and my pushes weren't as strong as they've been in the past.

To make a long story short, I did not make the 2010 U.S. Olympic Team.

ICC RACE #1 CANCELLED

We had our first race yesterday in extremely unfavorable conditions. Winterberg is known for its excessive wet weather and it lived up to its reputation. I woke up a few times during the night and could hear the heavy downpour. It was on and off throughout the morning and just before our race it turned to heavy slush/snow/sleet (crazy wintery mix!). I was able to stay focused which was good because it’s easy to get distracted by the possibility of an unfair race in this situation. I drew #3 and had a decent run. The times were about 3 seconds slower than we had trained the previous day… YUCK! Parts of the track were comparable to a waterslide and the other sections had heavy frost accumulating. I had no idea where my first run would put me overall but I kept watching each slider come down get faster and faster. It was a bit frustrating because the mistakes I made shouldn’t have put me back as far as they did… the track was definitely getting faster as the rain/snow stopped. I finished the first run disappointed in 15^th place. YIKES, not good. I was hoping to grab a few spots with a solid second run but as I stood on the line, it started pouring again. This just wasn’t my lucky day. I ended up dropping a spot, really not good! From there all I could do was wait and see how everyone else did. The track conditions were deteriorating quickly and as each slider came down, I was moving up the ranks. I finished the race in 7^th place. On days like this there’s honestly nothing you can do… it’s all up to the weather Gods and your luck of the draw. The entire order flip-flopped from the first run to the second. It was a joke. I was glad I moved up so many spots but it was clearly an unfair race both heats. Several protests were filed by nations and the race was eventually thrown out. The jury decided to have 2, one-heat races today to make up for the cancellation. I’ve never had a one-heat race but I think it could be fun. I’m thankful that I have a second chance to slide well because yesterday didn’t represent any of our true skills.

I’m sitting here at breakfast and the weather seems to be holding out for now. The clouds are moving at a hundred miles an hour across the sky so anything could happen. The girls race in the afternoon today so it will be a coin toss by then. I’ll let you know how it goes.

CONGRATULATIONS TO MATT WHO TOOK 3^rd YESTERDAY IN THE MEN’S RACE!!!! YAY

Entire Men's Skeleton Team Chicked in First Race of the Season

Contact: Orville Garrett, Head Skeleton Intercontinental Cup Coach

(518) 523-1842

For Immediate Release

November 25, 2009

Entire Men's Skeleton Team Chicked in First Race of the Season

Winterberg, Germany – The US Intercontinental Cup Skeleton Team began their season this week, racing on the most adrenalin pumping Go-Kart course they had ever seen. Matt Antoine (Prairie Du Chien, WI) and Stokes Aitken (Salt Lake City, UT) were the heavy favorites going into the event, though Caleb Smith (Lake Placid, NY) and Coach Orville Garrett (Mt. Washington, MA) were doing some thick smack talking themselves.

In a surprise upset, none of the favorites came through; it was Keslie Tomlinson (Potomac Falls, VA) who emerged victorious, with a blazing fastest lap time of 44.17 seconds.

The Americans arrived at the venue after a gloomy rainy day in Winterberg, braced for the most grueling indoor Kart course in Europe. "The team has trained hard all summer for this, and hopefully it will pay off" said their coach shortly before the event.

Of her victory, Tomlinson first gave props to her crew. "It was a great day of racing, and I know that without my pit crew being on the ball, it couldn't have happened. Some people have questioned my superior engine, but I was just lucky in choosing the best Kart available." She also sent a shout out to fellow women drivers. "This is just proof that Danica Patrick should go to NASCAR. "

Antoine finished in second place, with a fastest lap of 44.51 seconds, and seemed bitter about his defeat. "I feel that I could have won the race, but due to the whack-ass starting formation, I was at a severe handicap."

Aitken, in third place (44.57), was initially speechless when asked to comment on his blazing defeat, by a chick. "I feel ultimately responsbile for being chicked, I take full blame, there are no excuses for me giving her my lines. I just felt obligated to help her, being such a gentleman, unfortunately it bit me in the ass. But like the Canadian coach Duff Gibson says, 'it doesn't matter who has the lines, it's who executes them.'"

Smith (45.01) finished close behind in 4th place , blaming it "on the al-al-al-al-al-alco-.........tannins." (The athletes agreed afterward that alcohol levels should have been checked prior to the race.)

Coach Garrett (45.84) also participated in the event, hoping to maintain his standings with the team after his earlier victories in the Badminton Tournament. His 5th place finish, however, wasn't what he had hoped. "After realizing that my Kart was too loose going in and too tight coming out of corners, I knew I was in for a tough day. Unfortunately the sway bar couldn't handle the body roll that my gut was creating. Still, in the end I'd like to thank all my sponsors: Corona, Veltins, Corcorans, Irish Red, Skol, Copenhagen, OTB, the St. Moritz Casino, and of course, PBR."

Annie O'Shea (Port Jefferson, NY) had her eye on last place, kindly cheering and waving on the other athletes, but ended up losing that position in a bitter battle with Kimber Gabryszak (Yentna Station, AK). "When she refused to pass me on a particularly wide and slow corner, I knew I had some work to do" said Gabryszak. At the next sharp turn, she spun a 360 and drifted into a corner; O'Shea was not able to stop quickly enough and flew past (45.93). "Truthfully, Kimber just went too slow for me to stay behind her, so I saw my goal slipping away. Maybe next time." About her last place finish, Gabryszak (46.29) said she was "simply too distracted spinning donuts to remember there was a race going on."

All in all, it was a momentous day in history. "Let this go down as the day Mr. Formula One, Matt Antoine himself, got chicked." said Tomlinson.

This email was sent by the members of the Intercontinental Cup Skeleton Team., a member of the US Olympic committee. Our contact information is:



Colorado Springs Office: 

1631 Mesa Avenue
Copper Building, Suite A

Colorado Springs, CO 80906 

Fax: (719) 520-3212



Lake Placid Office: 

196 Old Military Road

Lake Placid, NY 12946
Fax: (518) 523-9491





(Written by: Kimber Gabryszak)

** You'll be seeing a bunch of these fun mock press releases throughout our European tour... they are all events that our team has created and used as team bonding activities. We've really had a blast together this first week and hopefully will continue to be entertained off the track!!

Tomlinson and Garrett Victorious in Winterberg German Open

Contact: Orville Garrett, Head Skeleton Intercontinental Cup Coach
(518) 523-1842
For Immediate Release
November 24, 2009

Tomlinson and Garrett Victorious in Winterberg German Open

Winterberg, Germany – Rain may have been pelting furiously on the rooftops but that didn’t deter the top Americans from walking away with the Gold. Orville Garrett (Mt Washington, MA.) and Keslie Tomlinson (Potomac Falls, VA) were victorious in an epic double’s badminton match today in the Winterberg German Open. The two game win over Caleb Smith (Lake Placid, NY) and Kimber Gabryszak (Wasilla, AK) lasted a grueling hour on the frigid courts of the Aktivita Sports Complex.

Behind by 6 points early in the first match, Orville bursts off the serve line using his beer gut to generate momentum. However, Coach Garrett claimed to use his curves in another manner, “I think my physique actually impaired their vision and we took full advantage of the opportunity” remarked Garrett. Tomlinson quickly became the most improved player of the even after picking up a racquet for the first time and swinging brilliantly to take the win 21 - 17. “Orvie and I had instant chemistry on the court… our communication struggled at first but instinct took over and we became an unstoppable duo.”

The second match kept the small nation fan club on their toes as the top Americans battled it out. One spectator described the competition as “a real nail-biter”. Caleb continued to side shuffle vigorously engaging his rotund calves but it was not enough to overtake Tomlinson and Garrett. “It’s good to know Orvie has a talent”, said Smith bitterly who regrets not taking his competitors seriously. Teammate Gabryszak became visibly troubled with every whiff of the shuttlecock but kept a positive attitude throughout her first major tournament. “It was a humbling experience, Orvie doesn’t look like much but he sure has a mean spike”, Gabryszak remarked. The second match wrapped up with a score of 21 – 16.

“It was a well fought battle fought by Kimber and Caleb but we out powered them in the end” commented Garrett and Tomlinson as they high-fived in mid air. This will go down in history as the biggest upset in badminton history.

Garrett went on to unofficially destroy his competition and showing off his superior skills in a two-against-one exhibition match. Kimber Gabryszak and Matt Antione hung up their raquettes and retired shortly there after.

This email was sent by the members of the Intercontinental Cup Skeleton Team., a member of the US Olympic committee. Our contact information is:



Colorado Springs Office: 

1631 Mesa Avenue
Copper Building, Suite A

Colorado Springs, CO 80906 

Fax: (719) 520-3212

Lake Placid Office: 

196 Old Military Road

Lake Placid, NY 12946
Fax: (518) 523-9491



(Written by: Keslie Tomlinson)

** You'll be seeing a bunch of these fun press releases throughout our European tour... they are all events that our team has created and used as team bonding activities. We've really had a blast together this first week and hopefully will continue to be entertained off the track!!

Late Night Jog...

Usually the drive from Frankfurt to Winterberg takes about 2 hours... somehow we stretched it out to about 4 today! There was a ¼ mile road closure that we managed to find an extremely long, scenic dead end detour... I never knew how many turns could get lost in translation when you try to speak German to get help! We certainly started off our trip with an adventure but it was worth it to see the gorgeous countryside. It was also a lesson to let the girls navigate next time! That’s right boys, I said it! haha

I’m all settled in my room for the week... I’m sharing a room with Annie and Kimber. We’ve got a great group of people on IC this year (including Orvie, our coach). We’re definitely not use to much help so we’re all really thankful to have him with us this season.

I ended up going for a run after our first meal (wienerschnitzel and french fries...SO GOOD!) I was the only one out jogging down the lit main street. It was kind of misting out which is typical weather here but not nearly as cold as it should be (I didn’t even need a jacked). I found myself so happy headed down the cobble roads checking out all the shops. A little window shopping if you will :) I was able to be right here in the moment enjoying every step and feeling like I made the right decision to come. It’s been a while since I’ve felt that content and I haven’t even started sliding. I was able to look around, feel good about myself, and appreciate being here. Maybe a little realization set in that this may be my last time in this awesome little town. Although, I must say it’s more awesome when it’s sunny but that’s a phenomenon to these parts! Haha

Just a little blip into my first day... I’m fading fast but I’m happy to have stayed up this late! Hopefully I’ll be able to get over this jet lag in no time.

We start sliding on Tuesday :)

Off to Germany...

Sorry I haven’t written much the past few weeks… I’m sure after my last post you’ve been wondering how I’ve been doing. Honestly, it was touch and go there for a while. Thoughts of an early retirement crossed my mind several times and I questioned my desire to keep pushing forward. The first week back at the empty training center it was difficult to find the motivation to even get out of bed. Basically I had a lot of soul searching to do. Week two consisted of putting one foot in front of the other to start taking steps towards a healthy decision that would be right for me. I started sliding again and struggled to enjoy myself because my times were less than stellar. That’s when the ceesaw affect set it… one day I wanted to buy my ticket to go on the ICC tour and then the next day I wanted to pack my car and go back to school. Not good. I ended up setting a date where I would make a final decision and dedicate myself fully to whatever that was.

I worried a lot of people that were close to me during the process. I didn’t answer many phone calls, I didn’t return people’s messages and I wasn’t my usual happy self trying to figure it all out. I didn’t want to get too many opinions because what ever I decided had to come completely from within without persuasion. I apologize for that... especially to my parents who I know struggled along with me.

What made everything incredibly difficult was through it all my 6 year relationship came to an end and I didn’t have my best friend to turn to when I need him the most... I'm not a fan of heartbreak especially with so much on my plate (very poor timing). I've never been one to talk about my personal life but it has been a difficult reality for me. Let’s just say I was not feeling myself the last few weeks. Wow, is this a sob story or what? I better turn this around quick before someone starts feeling sorry for me! Haha Someone once told me "no one ever wants to hear your problems so keep them to yourself" (unless it’s NBC trying to make a story about you for the Olympics… they love that stuff! jk)…I definitely believe that’s true. I can talk about it all now because I'm in a much better place with it all.... I've been able grab a hold of my perspective and I'm aware more than ever about the opportunity my future holds these days… I have a lot of close friends and family to thank for my quick turn around. You guys are awesome! I can’t tell you how much love and support came out of this tough situation. What doesn't kill you can only make you stronger. I’m seeing things more clearly and I honestly don’t believe that being on world cup first half was the route I was meant to take to the Games. I’ve said it many times before and I’ll say it again… everything happens for a reason.

Here’s where I stand today. I’m hanging out in the Newark airport getting ready to fly to Germany. My decision was to dedicate myself whole heartedly to the first half of the ICC tour. I've worked too hard to give up on my dream of going to the Games just because Plan A didn't workout in my favor. I’m so excited to go over there and give it everything I have. I believe I have nothing to lose and the door of opportunity to take a world cup spot after Christmas is getting wider every race. It will be a fight but I’ve never been more ready to accept the challenge. I don’t feel any pressure and I’m ready to enjoy every aspect of these next three weeks in Europe! My confidence in my sliding ability is back where I wanted it to be after forerunning the World Cup race this week in Lake Placid. Plus, what could be better than to embark on this journey as determined, revived, single woman?! Haha bring it on!

Thanks again for your support ☺

PHOTO: From a recent trip to Stratham, New Hampshire to visit retired teammate Marci!!! It was the trip that started to turn things around for me...You're the best!!!!

Rough Trials... Things Don't Always Go Your Way.

Well, here's the candid Keslie. I'm sitting in the middle seat of my southwest flight I had to book last night. My mind is blank because I'm so tired and my body is shutting down from all the stress I've been through the last few weeks. I've experienced almost every emotion in the past 24hrs there's almost nothing else to feel. Everything from crocodile tears to being appreciative that I've even made it this far. There have been some moments of being incredibly angry and pissed off as well (I'm not going to lie about that). I just can't tell you how disappointed I am at how these races turned out. I keep telling myself that it would be harder if I missed the world cup team by just a few points but let's face it, I wasn't even close. My sliding and mental edge have been off since I stepped on the ice this season. It just doesn't add up after I prepared so well for every aspect of trials this summer. It seemed like no matter what I've done or tried, the stars are just not aligned for me right now. There have been so many questions and "what if's" going through my head but I may never know the answers. I keep telling myself that everything happens for a reason but this is a tough one to swallow. To top it off, I watched my best friend walk away and retire after not making the World Cup team (a decision she had made going into trials)... That wasn't easy either.

I'm going back to lake placid to gather my things and drive my car home for the winter. (it may be the longest 9hrs of my life) I have a lot to think about and some tough decisions to make about my future. I'm not giving up on this season but I've come to a cross road where I think skeleton has already given me all it has to offer. I've seen both the ugly side and the glorious side. I’ve have the opportunity to surround myself with those who work hard and those who just get by… I’ve been inspired by the process and I’ve been hurt by it. But most of all, I’ve seen the world and have felt supported by so many people that I am so thankful for everything skeleton has done for my life.

The top 4 men and women are headed to Whistler as I type… A goal of mine that was not reached. In a way, I'm not too disappointed because I did have that opportunity last year and I'm confident in my ability there. Anything can happen so I would never count myself out yet. I'm almost thankfully that I have some time to rest now before I head to Europe in 3 weeks. I may stay in lake placid and work on my sliding for a bit... I can focus on getting myself healthy and strong in a non-stressful environment. I might even be able to sell my old sled to a development slider and pay for the first half of tour. fingers crossed!

On a side note... The sliders going on the ICC tour got together last night to discuss travel arrangements. I actually got excited to pull myself together and give it my best over there. I've always been better in Europe anyway...heck, I’ve spent enough time there! Sorry if this post has been all over the place… I guess it just resembles my feelings at the moment. I’ll keep you posted with some of my decisions the next few weeks leading up to the ICC tour.

Thanks again for all your support!

I'm In Park City!

Hello All,

I’m in Park City this week for race #3 and 4. It’s absolutely beautiful here. I’m sitting on the deck of my hotel room with a clear view of the Olympic ski jumps and the snow capped mountains. (Yesterday I even got to sport a bathing suit out here and catch some rays... so nice!)

So far this has been the toughest trials I’ve ever been through. Not that I thought it would be easy but I believed in the training I did this summer and my start times have struggled more than ever. I’m not sure why this is happening… perhaps my body composition has changed so much that I’m awkward running in my own skin. I’m not sure I’ll ever know the answer. Or maybe there's just some small technical problem that will reveal itself over time. I just haven't felt like myself sliding and I'm working on getting back into the groove. Unfortunately, it's not something you can press so I'm hoping it comes sooner rather than later!

I finished 4^th and 5^th in Lake Placid. The track never seemed to click for me this early in the season. My runs felt great and my lines were solid for the most part... the times just weren’t where I had hoped them to be. Trials are only half over and anything can happen here in Park City. However, as of now, making the World Cup team seems like a far stretch. They just gave Katie Uhlaender a medical waiver onto the team (after 3 knee surgeries this summer) leaving only two spots up for grabs. Right now my goal is to be the 4^th girl they take to International training in Whistler next week. I’m not writing anything off… I’ve been on the upside of unpredictable situations more than once before. The last two years I was given the opportunity to race in World Championships at the last minute so anything can happen!

We slid our first two runs in Park City this morning. I was a train wreck my first run with the timing of my steers. It seemed like I had forgotten how to drive double oscillation curves and I swear my sled was a wall magnet. Luckily, I was able to find the rhythm my next run and everything fell into place. It really gave me confidence that I can do well here. That is if I don’t kill myself in the outrun first! Haha Don’t they know skeleton sleds don’t have breaks? The outrun is so fast without any snow in it and it’s REALLY challenging to stop before we run out of ice… Dragging our toes as hard as possible is something we typically try to avoid but its our only hope of slowing down safely here. It was a scary ride after the timing eyes today! haha

Anyway, just wanted everyone to know that my spirits are high… New track, new races, new attitude.

PS: I have a kitchen in my hotel room! SO Excited! Anyone have any easy dinner suggestions for me?

Frosty Ice... yuck.

The internet is horrible at the training center right now so it won't let me post most of my pictures. Bummer. But once I head out to Park City I'll be sure to upload everything.

Sliding has been going well. It's going to be a very challenging Team Trials. I would say that any of the top 6 men or women could grab the 3 world cup spots... it depends on who shows up on race day. The weather has not been on our side the last week but the forecast promises a drop in temperature the next few days. We also need to get rid of all this rain... the track frosts up really bad with all the moisture in the air. Moisture + Warm Air = SLOW FROSTY TRACK. Not our favorite sliding conditions. Hopefully we'll have a realistic training day before the ice speeds up for the race. It's hard to get your timing and drive lines down when your speeds are 10 mph slower than normal. However, we're all in the same boat and it's out of our control so there's not a whole lot to worry about.

Other than that, I'm keeping myself busy around the training center. Tinkering with my sled, getting in the gym, doing some occasional sprints and hanging out in the dining hall (our social gathering spot). Pretty much just trying to stay healthy and preparing for our races. The training center is like a dorm setting so we're all very cautious of NOT getting sick... I think I wash my hands at least 5 times a day. So far so good... I hope it stays that way for everyone.

My biggest problem at the moment is that I'm addicted to scratch-off tickets... Don't watch the show "The Lottery Changed My Life"! Every other day I walk down to the corner store and buy a $2 ticket. So far I've won -$14. I don't plan on continuing this routine after trials but it's keeps my roommate and I entertained for the time being :) haha

That's all for now... I have to go workout.

1st Day of Sliding 2009!

Ok, I'm SO sorry I haven't written in a while. I have a few entries that are in the works from when I first got up here to Lake Placid... I'll try to post them later this week.

Today was our first day on the ice! YAY... so much fun! It has been raining all week and there doesn't seem to be relief in the forecast. The moisture in the air causes the ice to get frosty so the track is a little slow right now. For the first few days... I have no problem with slow ice to get use to the track again :) Even at the slower speeds, I was surprised how fast the curves seemed to come at me. I've definitely been off my sled for 6 months.

The first day is always my favorite because there's no pressure. You're only job is to get comfortable on your sled again and have fun. I would say the morale in the start house was pretty relaxed. I'm sure as the races get closer people will get more up tight but today was full of laughs, nerves and "OMGs". haha. We only had one spill today that I know of. He's ok... just a little ice burn on lower half (ouch). It happens to the best of us.

I'm exhausted and need to get a good night sleep... I'll be sure to keep up with my journal now that the season has started. Everything happens really quick this year. We only have 9 days of training until our Team Trials races!

Meeting the Neighbors :)

Yesterday I had the opportunity to meet some kids in my neighborhood and show them what Skeleton is all about. I wanted to share my story with my neighbors and give them a taste of what I do. It was a great afternoon playing with the kids, showing them my equipment and pulling them around on my sled. They seemed excited about everything... I had so much fun!


Thanks for coming out!!

Stay in touch :)

Quick Trip 2 Lake Placid

Lake Placid really is a special place. Every time I come back, there are a few things that stand out and make this tiny lake town feel like home. I usually describe it as a great place to “visit” but it can lose its charm after living there for a while. This quick trip back I was able to enjoy everything I love about LP.

In the summer, Eric and I try to get up early and take a swim in Mirror Lake as often as possible. It’s just a great way to start your day… to be the first person to disturb the glass-topped water is a cool feeling in the morning. I’m not going to lie, it’s not easy jumping into a cold lake when you’re half asleep but that’s half the fun. To see who takes the plunge first is always an entertaining battle, which often ends up in me being thrown off the dock ☺

Another summer memory I have is going out for Mountain Mist Ice cream. It’s an old-fashion hangout with the best soft-serve around. I go for the vanilla-chocolate twist, half dipped in sprinkles ☺ It has to be eaten on a tailgate in the parking lot to get the full affect, which we've definitely done a few times while I've been back.

Walking down Main Street on a busy sunny Sunday afternoon is near the top of my list as well. When I have nothing to do on my day off from training and I don’t want to sit in my room at the OTC… “Downtown” is the perfect place to be. I’ve walked through every store a hundred times but they never get old. I typically never buy anything but it’s still fun to look. The other day I stopped into a popcorn store that has great antique pictures and realized I’ve never tried their popcorn…. It was a fantastic realization because it may be my new weakness in town! Haha

Besides the town itself, I also love training up here. It was the best decision I made to come up and use the push track. I’m feeling a lot more confident and comfortable pushing the sled, especially over the crest. It’s not exactly the same as running on the ice but it’s the closest I can get until I go back to Calgary next week. That’s all for now ☺

Wind Tunnel Testing

I made an unexpected detour to Lake Placid this week. I thought it would be in my best interest to use the push track before the next trip to Calgary. It’s been a great visit and I also had the opportunity to spend time in a wind tunnel for the first time. Three of us tested the aerodynamics of different sled positions, helmets, speed suits, etc. It was an extremely helpful tool and yet another unique experience I can add to my list.We used a facility that has worked on projects such as refining the aerodynamics of military fighter jet parts, analyzing water particle flow with elite swimmers and tons of commercial products. Let’s just say we worked with some really awesome “geeks”. Most of the things they talked about sounded like an entirely different language, which then needed to be translated multiple times over! Haha I loved math and science in school but these students and aerodynamicists are on a whole different level. They may have thought what we did was cool, but trust me, we were twice as impressed with their skills.

Basically, this team built a special platform for us to do our testing. We laid on our sled in the path of a 70 mph constant blast of air. We could see a computer screen that showed us the graph of the drag we were producing and a live video of our position. When we’re in the tunnel, we couldn’t hear anything so they were able to use written communication through the computer to talk to us. I was in there for about 20min and I was so exhausted afterwards. Holding your position for a length of time with wind pelting at you head on is tougher than it looks. It was a long, tiring day but very productive. I’m walking away with some useful information and a bunch of ideas for the next chance we get to do this.

Calgary Push Camp #1

It's COLD UP HERE! I'm not ready to see my breath when I walk out the front door... It's a high of 50 today and rain, which is a little different from the 100 degree weather back home. It must be getting close to the season :)

I’m up in Calgary for my first of two push camps. Our team comes up here to train at the Canadian Olympic Park during the summer. Why here? Well, they have the only indoor ice facility in North America and it’s the best place to practice our starts.

There’s a small group of athletes here, which has allowed for a lot more reps on the ice. I had some trouble the first day pushing. I couldn’t get the feeling back of running on the ice and was pretty frustrated. Unfortunately, I got down on myself too quickly and was extremely disappointed in my attitude. I wasn’t expecting to blow up my personal best pushes on the first day but I also wasn’t prepared to be as far behind my normal times. I’m in the best shape of my life… stronger and faster than I’ve ever been but it just wasn’t transferring to my pushing. Bottom line, I wasn’t comfortable and had no rhythm.

I left the ice-house disappointed but not discouraged. I knew it was the first day and it would take some time… just how much time is the question?

Yesterday I had a better game plan going into our session. Attitude was at the top of the list. I can’t get upset the minute I don’t perform up to my expectations. That’s why I’m here… to practice, to figure it out, to put the puzzle pieces back together and be persistent until I get the feeling back. I believe it will come. In a way I was lucky the timing was broken because I was able to focus on getting comfortable again. I pushed 18 times over a 2 hour session and things started to click. Best part, I had fun the whole time even though my right side was so sore I can barley walk straight (a typical pain that comes along with not pushing for 5 months). It’s a little reminder that our bodies aren’t built to run bent over and twisted to one side! Haha

Today will be a big test. I’m not looking for stellar times, just an improvement from the first day. My soreness will probably inhibit me from taking an excessive amount of runs so I need to zone in on a few specific issues. As for now, I need to hit the gym. Here are a few pictures from our time away from pushing… We're having a good time :)

(Eric and Caleb getting the grill ready for our surf and turf feast)

(Stokes hanging out in the river)

(Caleb did a fantastic job marinating our box of shrimp)

(Eric and I full and happy)

To The OConnor Kids...

Hey!!!

It was so great to meet you at the pool! I just wanted to share a few pictures of when I was on the River Bend swim team. Back then we were called the SeaBears but I can imagine that Stingrays are a bit faster in the water so I like the new name J Keep up the good work with all of your sports… and have fun! Summer is coming to an end soon so good luck in school this year (it’s always fun being one year older and one grade higher)! Stay in touch!

2009 Women’s Skeleton Athlete of the Year

Last night we had our big annual gala to celebrate the year. The USOC in conjunction with the USBSF put on a fantastic event. All of the athletes, staff and board members got dressed up to celebrate a successful season and enjoyed a little socializing and delicious food J

It’s rare to see our bunch not in spandex so, like always, I was busy running around taking a ton of pictures. This night was extra special for me from the moment I walked in the door and literally saw my face on a wine bottle… how cool! Our federation made special team bottles with each world cup athlete printed on the label.

As the night went on, it came time to give out the awards. Women’s Skeleton was up next and I was excited to see who it would be. They reveal the recipient with a slide show of pictures of that person and when my face came on the big screen… I was truly shocked! I was on the World Cup tour for such a short time I never thought I would have made that kind of an impact. I guess the feelings of disbelief, excitement, and honor were the perfect combination for tears of joy. What an amazing and surreal moment for me. I had to start my acceptance speech with… “I was just told there’s no crying in Skeleton…” haha.

Wow, what a night… I’ll tell you more about it later but I have to be on a bus to the running track in 10min! They keep us on a busy schedule here at our team camp!!

On My Way To C. Springs….

I’m headed out to Colorado Springs as we speak… I have a National Team Camp at the Training Center, which happens to be the headquarters of the U.S. Olympic Committee. Last year at this time I was just finishing up Spring Quarter at Northwestern and flying from Chicago. I was nervous how the week would go because I had been living and trining on my own and suffered from multiple nagging injuries. It was apparent when I arrived with everything from my testing results to my confidence. I remember breaking down in tears with my coaches and feeling so far behind… This year is a whole different story. I feel like a completely changed person after being home this Spring.

I was apprehensive about living at home this summer but it was one of the best decisions I’ve made. Originally, it was only suppose to be for a month but training is going so well I’d be crazy to leave. Here’s the scoop…

In the sports psychology book The Mental Edge, Ken Baum makes a great point. “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten”. I was stuck in a rut living at the training center and wasn’t fully aware of it until I moved home. I felt like I was in the shadow of my teammates that were naturally a little bit faster and a little bit stronger that me. We all work hard during the summer so it seemed like even when I was making small gains to be proud of, they were making the same improvements. I could never fully focus on “me” since I was comparing myself to everyone else. It also didn’t help that I often got the impression our coaches saw me as a less developed athlete as well. This was something I struggled with mentally for many years. Something had to change in order for me to take my training to where I knew it could go. I came home and tapped into a basic resource that has changed my entire body… Nutrition. I cook almost everything I eat which was never an option at the training center. Though never having to wash my dishes was nice, I’m so happy I’m finally learning my way around the kitchen (yay!). I’m working with a new coach that I have so much trust and confidence in. I trained with him several years ago when I first wanted to get involved with skeleton so we were able to just hit the ground running. I also have my own room and a comfortable bed so my recovery and ‘down-time’ has been priceless. I can’t tell you the last time I didn’t have a roommate for this length of time. So, basically, I’ve created a complete overhaul so I won’t “get what I’ve always gotten”. There was definitely an adjustment period and I’ll continue to tweak my routine as time goes on. I feel like I’m much more aware of the big picture with my training at home and I’m really happy with how things are progressing. I’ve always been an advocate of the mental side of things… I think the opportunity to remove myself from my teammates/competitors has made a huge difference. Like I said earlier, I’ve been able to focus solely on myself. What can ‘I’ do to make myself better, not, what is ‘everyone else’ doing to get better. I definitely miss having friends to train with, a state of the art gym to train in, and a sports medicine facility… but home is where my heart is right now. In all my years of training as an elite athlete, I’ve never been so happy. I have a new confidence about my ability, a new perspective of “the big picture”, and my excitement and energy level is through the roof. There’s a lot more work to be done and I’m thankful for that time but I’m already anxious to get back on the ice. I know that no matter what happens… I honestly did everything I could to be my best…. There’s definitely a sense of ease that comes with that realization.

With all that said… I’m really excited for this camp. I’m not going to try and impress anyone, I’m not looking to compare myself with anyone, I don’t want to get involved with any gossip or drama that often follows our team… I just want to have fun and show the coaches my progress… because we all know there’s a lot more summer training left when I get back home!

Something To Be Proud Of...

My journal has always been a way for me to share my life as an athlete and keep everyone updated throughout my career. Well, the “411” on me is that I’m really enjoying being home in Virginia and Summer training is well underway . I’ve been spending my spare time learning how to cook, talking to local youth sports teams, Cub Scout troops and grade schools. Being active with the community means a lot to me and I hope to continue to take part in activities and remain involved.

(Local Softball Team Coached by Jim Keys - Nike Field @ Forestville Elementary)

I don’t have much to report about my current events so I thought I’d take this time to write about something you may not know about me. I have two older brothers that I admire more than anything and I want to share their stories. They are a big part of who I am today...

I have to start by saying things weren't always "peaches and cream" between the three of us siblings… I spent most of my younger years resenting what my dad called “the pecking order of life”.
My oldest bother (Eddie) would pick on my middle brother (Rob) and Rob would then turn around and take it all out on me. I, on the other hand, had nobody younger to boss around or annoy. I imagine the youngest kid in most families can relate to this dilemma growing up. I can honestly remember counting down the days until Rob went away to college! Now I look forward to the seldom chance we all get to be under the same roof… funny how that works out! (This picture happens to be my brother's way of babysitting back in the day... hanging me by my overalls on the swing-set until my parents got home... definitely funny now!)

The Skeleton world knows my parents well. They have been to several of my races in Lake Placid and recently made the trip to Whistler for my 2009 World Cup Debut. Sadly, neither of my brothers have seen me slide due to their busy schedules, family commitments and living in California makes it difficult to get away. I understand considering they have both followed in my Dad's footsteps to serve in the military and are active Majors in the Marine Corps… A job that definitely deserves a standing ovation in my book.

(The 3 of us at Rob's Wedding '04)

I want to send a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS out to Eddie… last month he became the first Tomlinson kid to get his Masters Degree from the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, California.

(Katy, Sarah, Eddie & Chase just as Ed got home from his deployment overseas)

Since then, the military has relocated him back to Virginia so hopefully we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other! He’s been married for 12 years and had two awesome kids (Sarah & Chase). Eddie is the musician/artist/comedian of the family so it’s super fun to have him around. He is always providing the background music in the house because you’ll rarely find him without a guitar in his hand… I challenge you to find a song that he doesn’t know how to play.J His artistic talent is also incredible and we look forward to seeing the next masterpiece he'll hang on the wall!

Although Skeleton may brand a slider as a risk-taker, Rob has always been the daredevil of our family. He turned his passion for remote control cars and airplanes into an aspiration of becoming a pilot. After graduating from the Naval Academy in ’97, he hung up his track & field spikes and pursued his dream of flying jets. He now sits in the front seat of an F/A 18 and resides in San Diego, California with his wife and new baby, Ashlyn. Rob recently returned home from his fifth deployment overseas in the last 7 years to a rambunctious 6 month old little girl. Luckily, he was there for her birth but was shipped off a few short days later… It was a priceless family reunion when he landed back at Miramar Air Base. I don’t know many people as modest as my brother. We recently found out he was nominated to receive the prestigious award of “Marine Aviator of the Year”. I’ll admit, I don’t know half of what he does but he definitely has some amazing stories if you take the time to pull them out of him.

(Rob taking off in Seattle, headed back to San Diego)

(Caroline, Rob training Ashlyn to be a Navy Seal @ 6 months... haha)

I can’t even tell you how proud I am of Ed and Rob. I’ve always looked up to them despite the taunting and teasing in our younger years. My one hope is that they will get the chance to see me slide next year… that would mean the world to me. As for now, I can’t wait for the whole family to be together at my cousin’s wedding next weekend in Georgia. Plus, they always look so sharp in their dress uniforms! I'll be sure to post some pictures!

Watermelon & Strawberry Lemonade

This is my new favorite Summer Beverage so I thought I'd share...

Ingredients: (Makes about 4 generous glasses)

4 cups cubed seedless watermelon

3/4 cup fresh strawberries, halved

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1/8 cup fresh lime juice

1/4 cup sugar (may need less depending how sweet you like it)

1 cup water

1 hand-full of ice

(Adults may want to add a little spirit of their choice)

Directions:

Throw it all in a blender and stir it up!

Cheers!

HERNDON FAIR 2009

I grew up in Northern Virginia and have called the same place “Home” for most of my life… I can’t believe that today was the first time I went to the annual Herndon Fair. My mom and I spent the afternoon exploring vendor tents, listening to live music, enjoying festival food, and spinning on carnival rides. It was so much bigger than I had expected and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect… I even broke out the sunscreen!

I had to stop at The Herndon Observer Newspaper tent when I saw them there. They wrote a really nice article about me in last week’s paper. I’ll scan it and post it on my website soon. Here I am getting my first tattoo by an adorable Observer volunteer … it didn’t hurt nearly as bad as I thought it would! haha

It was nice to get out for the day and have so many things going on. It was a bit like sensory overload since I’ve been hiding in the kitchen the past few weeks. Speaking of food, my favorite purchase today was a mini marshmallow shooter, which will definitely come in handy when both of my brothers come home next month… It was a “must have” J