Snow, Rain and Shine

Sporting my L.L.Bean Downtek Jacket

For the past 8 months I have been living in sunny San Diego.  As the holiday season approaches it has been a unique climate change from what I have been used to.    I spent the majority of the past few years in the snow leading up to Christmas and became accustomed to the cold weather being an indication of the holidays.  I realized recently that I have not seen the snow since immersing myself in a summer sport and retiring from bobsled.  L.L. Bean creates a variety of reliable products that have kept me warm in the snow and sleet and now is keeping me dry in the California rain.  While bobsledding it was rare for a race to be cancelled due to weather.  In most cases I spend the hours leading up to the competition outside attempting to warm up for the race.  I was wrapped from head to toes in multiple layers and clipped yak tracks over my tennis shoes so that I wouldn’t slip on the ice.  One of the most difficult pre competition warm up sessions, I remember spending most the time sprinting with my eyes shut as to try and avoid the snow pelting in my eyes.

Today my training and training gear is much different than during my bobsled days.  Now living in San Diego I obviously do not run into the same snow problems that I had during bobsled, but instead deal with the occasional rain fall.  Recently we had a rainy day and I was able to rely on my In The Arena L.L. Bean downtek water repellent jacket to not only keep me warm but protect me from the rain.  The thought of running around in the rain did not exactly appeal to me, which made me laugh as I thought about snowy weather I use to be accustomed to training in.  As we suited up in our rain gear to hit the muddy field it brought me back to being a kid playing soccer.  Some of the most fun I had playing soccer was when it had just rained and I would find myself slide tackling my opponents trying to get the ball back.  Sometimes I think that those were the first signs that I had a future playing rugby.  I would come home soaking wet and muddy from head to toe.  I felt like I was showing off how successful I was based off how dirty I could got.  I loved the aggressive part of soccer and being able to tactfully take me opponent to ground.  The next time I find myself playing rugby in the rain I am going to channel the child hood version of myself and enjoy the opportunity to just play.  I of course, will then beam with pride as I march off the field covered in mud. 

My Teammates and I after a muddy training day

 

Go Kings!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Selfie time with the Family

Sisters (plus one)

Grateful for Friendship

I spent this evening with a few of my teammate watching the Women’s Premier Rugby League National Championship game.  We were cheering for the Berkeley All Blues, our former club team as they looked to take the National title.  Many of the ruggers I had played with and became close friends with when I played were Berkeley were on the field.  Although they lost it was so much fun to watch my friends and former teammates fight together for a National Championships. 

As we get close to Thanksgiving I couldn’t help but look around today and think how thankful I am for the friends I have made playing rugby.  When I moved to the bay area I literally didn’t know anyone, but my sister and brother in law.  I had to start from the ground up to rebuild my life and create a new support system.  I was overwhelmed by all the change in my life and struggling to cope.  Rugby has a very unique culture and is incredibly inclusive, which is what I truly love about it.  When I started playing rugby I had no idea that I would instantly gain a team full of friends.  The support that comes with being a rugby player does not just stop nationally, but is also internationally.  I know that wherever I go I will be able to find rugby players in that area and already have a common bond and an instant group of friends.  This Thanksgiving I am thankful for the friends I have gained and the bonds that continual get stronger.  I have proven to myself that no matter what road I take or what happens in my life I can always dig myself out and make the best of any situation. 

Boys and Girls Club Halloween Party!

When I first started playing rugby there were a couple things that I wanted to accomplish.  First, I wanted to make friends and get to know people in the bay area.  Second I wanted to have an enjoyable experience.  In the back of my mind I had hoped that I would be able to catch on to the sport quick enough to be given an opportunity to compete at a higher level, but that was not at the top of my goals.  Now that I am training full time for rugby at the Olympic Training Center it is easy to lose sight as to what I set out to accomplish and succumb to the pressures of being in a highly competitive environment. 

When I am looked back as a rugby player, whether I am released tomorrow or I make a team I want to be remembered as someone who was always kind, helpful and someone who was always able to keep perspective on the important things in life.  The reality is I have already accomplished what I have set out to.  I have made some amazing lifelong friends and I have been living an experience that I did not think I would ever have.  As long as I am able to remember those things I can get out on the field and just enjoy playing because I have nothing to lose.  As exciting as it would be to make another Olympic Team I am honored to be considered and even more honored that I was given a second chance to enjoy the experience.  Every day I work to keep myself accountable and wake up enjoying the opportunity I have been given to train and compete for Team USA. 

Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable

Throughout the past couple years of my life I have experienced a significant amount of change.  It is still strange when September rolls around and I am not packing my bags for a 6 month bobsled tour.  Every winter I was fully immersed into a cold climate and grew accustom to digging vehicles out of the snow each morning.  The things I miss the most about bobsled tours are a lot of the things that at the time I thought were tedious and frustrating.  I was faced with many uncomfortable moments and was forced to adapt on a daily basis.  I learned how to put snow chains on the tires of our oversized truck and grew accustomed to maneuvering and driving it through difficult terrain.  I was forced to adjust my competition warmups based on the weather and available warm up surface.  I became very familiar with being uncomfortable. 

When I retired from bobsled and moved on, I was surprised to find that what was considered to be ‘normal’ life was significantly more uncomfortable than I had ever thought it to be.  I once again had to adapt and learn how to provide myself with things that previously were given to me.  I had to earn money in a more conventional way and I had to cook and clean for myself again.  Many things that people considered simple were very difficult to adapt to.  I had spent close to a decade of my life living in a sports bubble and became very comfortable living that alternative lifestyle. 

Now, every day I tie up my cleats and push my limits on the rugby pitch.  I have many days were I still feel incredibly out of place and uncomfortable, but just like everything else in my life slowly I am beginning to feel better.  I think I am learning that putting yourself outside of your comfort zone is truly the only way to grow and challenge yourself.  I will be a better and more adaptable person because of the situations I have had to adjust in. 

Thank You Alaska Rugby!