It's finally summer training camp time!  Although we all spend our summers at our respective homes throughout the United States, we always get together for a least one training camp during the summer in Lake Placid, N.Y.  This week marks the middle of the summer and our only scheduled summer training camp, which lasts 10 days.   Along with the great training I'll be getting, it is always nice to catch up with all of my teammates who I haven't seen in a few months!

The summer camp started out with the usual physical testing - testing we do to see how close we are to our physical goals for off-season.   These goals are personal and vary depending on each athlete...but are always set in the spring with the intention of pushing athletes to their full potential.   I was happy with my results for the most part.  My flexibility and pull-up strengths are my main focuses for the summer training and my results were on par with where I need to be at this point.  I have included a photo of me doing the flexibility test where I need to reach 10" past my toes.

After the first day of testing, we have daily activities including weight lifting, agility exercises, balance work, start training (in the indoor facility), and wheel training.   Although most of this stuff is self-explanatory, I can't help but want to describe the wheel-training portion of this camp!   Because the track is concrete (and fairly smooth), we are able to go down the track in the summer by replacing the runners of our sleds with roller-blade wheels.    The end result is a sled that doesn't act exactly like a 'real' Luge sled but it is pretty darn close.   The downside to this whole thing is that in the winter ice is smooth and slippery; the summer-time concrete isn't quite as forgiving!  We all have a good time doing it though and it is a great way to have fun while training our position on the sled.

Our days are pretty busy.  Usually starts after breakfast followed by weights and core work (abs, etc).   After lunch we will do starts again , flexibility work and then off to the wheel training at the track.  Before you know it, its 5pm!   And since my back gets sore so often during these camps, I have a daily "ice bath" where I sit up to my chest in 40 degree water for 15 minutes or so.  Not even remotely fun.

The camp ends with a team barbecue where we all eat and play some yard games at a teammate's house (Brian Martin).  The yard game of choice is called "Kub" which is a Swedish yard game (introduced to us by Swedish teammate Bengt)  that is difficult to explain but really fun to play.  

By Sunday afternoon I should be back in MN and ready to kick in the 2^nd phase of my training that is higher intensity and more power-centered.   These summer camps always give me a great motivation boost heading back home and although I love Minnesota summers, it never hurts to remind myself of my main goals - to be one of the 5 fastest starters in the world.   

I'll be including some photos from this training camp for you to enjoy!   I can't wait to update you in a few weeks and tell you all about the final month in Minnesota before I get ready to come out here to Lake Placid.