Taking One For The Team

This past Friday we had a bit of a last-minute change to our training session. And it reminded me of a sport-related principle that isn't often seen in the competitive world of athletics.

Right before the final check-in time for the session, two of our athletes let me know that they couldn't make it up in time. So there we were, three athletes with a four-man sled ready to go. As the clock marched forward, we desperately tried to find another athlete who would jump in with us. This is difficult at the last minute as all the other athletes who are up there are heavily focused on their own training schedules and needs. Totally understandable.

About fifteen minutes before the session was to start, Chad, one of the skeleton athletes, said he would be willing to ride with us and still take his skeleton runs down the track. I was so grateful as by this point I was starting to feel a bit nervous and frustrated.

The point I wanted to make, in gratitude for Chad's willingness to help, is that in the end he had to skip his planned skeleton runs down the track so he could ride with us. And we had some decent times, ones that I was very happy with. Like I said, its not very often that you see an athlete in any sport who is willing to give up what they want in order to help another. It was the perfect example of "sportsmanship."

A special thanks to Chad for helping Team Holm get their training in on Friday night and for helping us get some great times!

On a side note, we must have impressed the coaches as they kept saying that I was making the driving-coaching too easy for them. They had nothing to advice me on!

And to make matters even greater, after the session we were officially asked to Forerun (hill test) for the FIBT World Cup race to be held on the track in mid-February. Stay tuned for details and times!