Labor Day Weekend 2011

Labor day weekend is time for you to reflect on your family, Friends and the military that have laid their life down for us.  I am grateful to all the men and woman that makes the United States what I am able experience it today.  If it wasn't for them I could not be spending these beautiful sunny weekends with my family. 

This past weekend I was very fortunate to have my family in town.  My brother came down with my mother and his daughter, Almendra.  It was so nice to escape the gym a little bit and reflect on the wonderful family that I have. It is so nice to just enjoy their company and not have a care in the world.  It was also nice to have my niece who is now walking everywhere and anywhere. 

Even though everyone took Monday off, I sure was not allowed. I did my typical 2 and half hours of sprinting, lifting and cooling off.  After a full workout I was exhausted and ready to just relax with the family. 

A day in the life of Anja's workout

As promise I have some pictures and video of my work out that I have been doing for the US Skeleton team. Every day is a constant battle which I have to do but as I tell anyone who ask, "you can do anything you put your mind to....you have to reach inside and dig deep."  That is the one thing I want everyone to know is that you need to shoot for the stars and if you fail you will land on the moon.  

There is a first time for everything....

I have been extremely lucky to be doing what I am doing.  I sometimes think that I am not doing anything that no other person would do. 

After a week of training I think, WOW...Did I really do all that.  I actually worked out about 2 hours a day and worked at the office for a full 40 hour work week. That is a total of 50 hours of my week.  I get exhausted just thinking about it. 

Well recently I have been contacted with some really good news.  My training center the RDV would like to feature me in their quarterly magazine.  I was shocked that they actually wanted to write about me! I mean really who wants to know about me?  Well since the blog has become a huge success, I guess a lot of people do. 

Couple of weeks ago I went to the photo shoot and had my first interview ever.  I was able to share my story and tell them how I came upon this crazy journey, I call my life.  After my interview, I realize I did have a interesting way of living.  I have never thought of it that way before. I have always worked out but never really had a goal to shot for.  This is my chance to prove that I can compete with the best of them.

Last week I received an email from Sprint asking me for yet another interview.  This time for our company website and their ad "All together now."  I am not sure what that all means but I now that I will find out soon enough.  From the sounds of it I will be featured on our company website and have people cheering me on.  :)  This just motivates me to get further in this process.  US SKELETON TEAM WATCH OUT......ANJA D is READY TO SHOW THEM THE BEAST!!!!!

Skeleton Testing

This past week I had to see how far I have come since the training camp.  As I have said in my other blogs every person the US team is tested in something called the combine test.  This testing is combination of lifting weights, running and tossing a ball as far as you can throw.

Most people think that I do all the testing every time I train but I actually been working on my form.  The running form was the one I have been concentrating on the most since that is my weakness.

If you haven't seen a runner get ready for their sprints it pretty much looks like a horse that is stumping on the ground in an exaggerated way.   This has help me shave off a couple of seconds off my sprints which I really needed. 

Just yesterday Josh put me through the testing.  I was a bit nervous because here is where I find out how far I have come.  To my surprise I had broken my personal record in all the events.  I was now squatting 195 and clean lifting 115 pounds. 

Josh my trainer is not that concerned about the lifting part but working on how to even walk straight.  I apparently favor my right leg because I had an ACL surgery on my left knee.  Outside of the gym I am now working on walking straight.  :) When you put everything together I am hoping to be the next girl called to represent the USA.

I am well on my way but I have a ways to go.  It has been very encouraging to see everyone following the blog and also my facebook page.  Going to the gym is the easy part staying motivated is the hardest part. 

My welcome home after my training camp debut

Aside from being exhausted and worn out from training nearly 6 hours a day, I was excited to come home and just sit on the couch.  That is after all where I started right?  I think at one point your body says okay it’s time to shut down for just a second so that we can start again from scratch. 

I decided that I would give my body a two day rest period and would start on Monday.  That Monday I packed my gym bag along with my work stuff and headed off to the office.  To me it was a normal work day but to my Sprint office it was a day that the athlete with good news.  I was shocked to see my desk covered in RED WHITE AND BLUE.  I was the real American hero I have always dreamed of being. 

Above my desk was the Olympic rings framed by American flags and patriotic balloons.  Right next to my keyboard was a box of Wheaties with a make shift picture of me doing the skeleton.  One of my favorite things was the poster size picture of me holding my helmet surrounded by all the pictures I took on my trip up to Lake Placid.  To add to thoughtfulness they bought an assortment of fruits and vegetables knowing that I am a health fanatic.   They did this all to celebrate my accomplishments at the training camp.

I have to say I am not as creative as the people in my office to have come up with such a things.  It definitely brought a tear to my eye.  To see my Sprint Team get together and do something for me was beyond words. 

Me finally on a Wheaties box

High Altitude training in Colombia

Sorry for the long pause everyone. I was out there training in Bogota Colombia. Now if you do not know about this capital city, it is about 8,500 feet above sea level. That makes for some kind of training!!!! I was able to train in a gym where I almost made Matthew Fasel, Michelle's cousin throw up. This puts in to perspective what is needed to be a true athlete.

Being so high just walking a flight of stairs makes you out of breath. We did go up the mountain as well to breath in the clean air and realize how alive you are. Looking down it made me reflect what goals I needed to accomplished and what lies ahead of me. This is the time to take the bull by the horns and show them what Anja is really made of. BACK TO THE REAL TRAINING!!!

Again thanks for all the support everyone. I couldn't do this without every one of you!!! THAKNS AGAIN!!!