It’s that season again… Race Time!

Seems like only yesterday I was in Whistler at the Olympics!

After a short vacation in April, I definitely contemplated finishing my biathlon career and attempting the world of books and academia. Although I had a great home Olympics experience, my personal results were disastrous and I was devastated.

But seriously who was I kidding? This “biathlon thing” is pretty fun, the fire is still burning strong and I definitely have some unfinished business!

So I took some time to myself, and made a few positive changes personally and professionally and began training for the next quadrennial.

And so here we are…

In Ostersund, Sweden the beginning of the World Cup season.

Last week I was training in Sveg, Sweden, the training location for Swedish star and super mom -  Anna Carin Oloffson-Zidek (and also our wax technician’s wife!). We had a great week recovering from jet lag and preparing for the first World Cup competition. We were actually staying in a small village near Sveg, called Lillhärdal, a town of about 500 people. Interestingly enough, this village has some dark witch history. In the year 1673, a young woman named Stor Marit was beheaded and burned. What followed was a hysteric witch-hunt within Sweden where over 350 innocent people were executed in the name of God for being the devil’s helper.

Beside practicing witchcraft (just kidding), we were invited to a friend of Anna Carin’s. They were doing an annual Christmas activity of peppermint candy making. Mmmmm… Basically a LOT of sugar, some water and only a spoonful of peppermint oil and a spoon of concentrated vinegar. That’s it!

Unfortunately, yesterday Tom had to see the dentist!

We arrived in Ostersund Sunday, and tomorrow the competitions begin! The weather is cold and frosty but being Canadians, well we are used to it.

Now let the fun begin!

Tomorrow (Wednesday) 15km Individual 16:20 (CET)

Friday 7.5km Sprint 17:20

Sunday 10km Pursuit 11:30

Watch live at www.biathlonworld.com

(and for more information and results)

This is a place to chat about stuff and for updated info on my progress towards the 2014 Olympic Winter Games and beyond! Feel free to drop by any time.