Last Friday I visited a RMT (registered massage therapist) for my shoulder and numbed fingers. Did I mention that my RMT and coach are actually the same person? The obvious advantage is that she has an in-depth understanding of my training, my conditioning, and my sport. During the session, SZ brought up a few observations of how an athlete's body feels different to a massage therapist. It was certainly interesting information but then today I realized something funny. As my coach, that massage session also revealed information on my conditioning. Weight training is a new addition for me this year and I am already into week 6. The fact that toned muscles feel different in her hands means if I slack off, she can tell. Wow.
Yesterday was my usual long hours of aerobic training. I went to the gym first thing in the morning to spend some time on the bike. I felt good but my day was far from finish. I rushed home for a quick bite before driving to the trail for some outdoor skating. The weather was still remarkably skating-friendly and I met up with a few friends on the trail. Unlike last week, I felt strong and skated quite well for this time of the year. From past experiences, when the mercury dips, my skating would feel sluggish. It was not the case on Sunday and I was definitely surprised. Perhaps getting stronger and developing more power really do help with skating in less ideal weather condition.
Indoor practice is also going well. My third indoor session had me facing my nemesis, echelon drill. Skating in such close proximity and so close to the cones are sure ways to get me tense up. Of course, when I'm tense, there's little hope for me to skate with any decent technique. In previous winters, that has always been the case and I was always frustrated with the drill. Something changed subtly at practice tonight. I was still uncomfortable and not skating as technically proficient as I could be during echelon. However, I had more confidence in leaning on my wheels. That translated to tighter corners and better control of my skates. I really hope that I can continue with this upward trend for my indoor skating for the rest of the season.
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