US Speedskating Team, World University Games

I don’t know about most athletes, but the day of races for me is a day filled with fighting many different battles. Whether it is battling to get my skates perfect, trying to find good food or trying get my body clock adjusted, there always seems to be an issue that must be taken care of. However, whatever issue I might be dealing with that day, in my mind I am constantly thinking of how I want to skate that day.

I woke up relatively early this morning wondering what I was going to do with a full day ahead of me; with races not until 6:30 p.m. I had nothing to do until I started warming up at 4 p.m. As most guys my age know, when you are looking to pass time the easiest thing to do is watch some good “guy” movies. Who wants to work on that homework or LSAT book you have in the corner, when you have 24, Van Wilder and Wedding Crashers on DVD? With that easy decision made, my teammates and I spent most the afternoon watching Jack Bauer and Van. However, even with these movies to occupy my time, I constantly found myself thinking of how I wanted to skate this evening.

With an afternoon wasted watching DVDs, I got to the Oval Lingotto feeling good and ready to race. As much as I wanted skate my best today, I have been in this sport long enough to know that that is not always possible. Today was one of those days I can easily forget. I felt good to start off but as the race went on my legs began to blow and got tired well before I wanted. I suppose my jetlag hasn’t gone away as quickly as I wanted it to.

Thanks for reading. More next time.

Al Johnson Web Diary

USA Speedskating, World University Games

January 21, 2007

My name is Al Johnson and I am a Short Track Speedskater. This is my first international competition and I'll say the city couldn't have been any more beautiful or the people any more respectful. That is probably a good thing because after I am done skating in the competition I am going to be moving near Milan for 6 months. It came up through a friend I had graduated high school with who invited me to stay with his Aunt up in a small village called Gallarate, and after that it was history. I am going to leave the village for the city on the 31^st of January and then I am going to start my journey through Italy. I really don't know what I am going to do in the Gallarate to tell you the truth but top on my priority list is to learn the language and then either find myself a wife or have myself a kid over here so I can get myself some of that dual citizenship. Now I heard that with an American accent you can get any girl you want because they want that green card so they can get a taste of that American life. Secondly I plan on traveling through the Italy and Europe including Rome, and Venice. But I was told that if I had to visit anywhere I should visit Slovakia because they have beautiful hostels and art museums. Thirdly I am going to enjoy the culture and eat as much gelato as humanly possible and then decide what I will do after that because to tell you the truth I am not quite sure what I will do but I feel when the time comes I will make a good decision. If I decide to go back to school once I go home, which I probably will I am going to learn how to write a blog so I don't sound like a fool but until then I will keep my business entrepreneurship major and plan on opening up my own restaurant. Good Luck to everyone and thanks for reading!