February 22, 2011 - World Champs!

Until the powers that be figure out that we should have a skate and classic sprint at the major championships instead of alternating, my chances to perform in my best event remain rare and precious gemstones. I look forward to these events very much, often for years.

But now that it's here I just can't wait for it to be over! Let me explain... I am grateful to be here and healthy and I'm so excited, nervous and focused that I can hardly stand it. Luckily, going through these moments and managing the pressure (coming from no one but myself) makes me feel a mixture of wanting to vomit and totally loving it that I like to describe as "intensely alive."

On Thursday afternoon I get a chance to make every stride count and lay down some aggressive yet smooth skate sprinting that will satisfy my insatiable inner challenge machine for a while. At least until the next big race... the beauty of which is that there are in fact lots of them (just not another skate sprint at world champs until 2017 - eek).

I feel pretty ready after a decent day in Drammen on the weekend where I was 9th in the qualifier and 14th after the heats. The Oslo course has more hills but also a shorter finish which is all good stuff.

Thanks so much for checking in and cheering me on,

Chandra

P.S. How do you like my lucky pom pom on my race toque? My creative teammates Peri and Brooke whipped those up in their on-going afternoon craft frenzy. They have a fever, and the only cure is more crafting! So awesome...