It's the start of October and the time has come again for me to start packing my big bag for the up and coming 2009-2010 winter skeleton season. It comes around faster every year, this year particulary fast as all I can think about is the 2010 winter Olympics in Vancouver, where the skeleton race will be in Whistler in Febuary.
I have trained very hard this summer in my physical preparation to get myself into the strongest and quickest form of my life, in preparation for the up and coming races where I will have to qualify my place for the Olympics.
There is a buzz in the air... I have just spent the last week on a pre season training camp in Bath, meetings about the up coming season, lots of information given and lists to make. The British team start their first week on ice in Cesana, Italy, where the first selection race takes place, nerves are high and so are the stress levels as I start to pack my bag hoping I don't leave anything behind!
I have been pre selected onto the World Cup team, so no selection races for me.. phew....!
My Silver in the World Championships at the end of last season was enough to earn my place.
After Selection races for the team in Italy we all head to Lake Placid, USA for a second race, before the chosen few head to Whistler, Vancouver, on the new Olympic track. We get to train for a week to familiarise ourselves again with this new fast, high G-force, extreme track. There will be alot of pressure on everyone to see how we all do and how we try and do. I have mixed feelings as I go back to this track. Last year we had one race on it to test it before the Olympics. I got a silver medal, so it did give me some confidence, but anything can happen so I will have to let you all know.
2009-10-06