Behind training

Im not wright any post about my last Thursday training because actually not much to tell.
I been really tired, exhausted (even before training).
Did some steps, struggle with my sit spin.
Main opening for me - about entrance - tried in upright position move free hand and leg in front and only than try to sit.
Its new experience for me, because all years I was learn that need sit and move leg at the same moment (for fast, time economy etc).
But of course I heard about other variant, just never tried befor.
I realized that pretty hard change technique. You body automatically try to do old variant but not new what coach ask you to do.
That's the main problem...

And another thinking after training - that I don't have any time for ice skating practice, just 30-45 min per week. So what I expect from this small amount of time, what progress can be?
Just really slowly! :)
So now I not expect much and move all my plans, expectations (program, competition etc) really far in my mind.

But I can say that I had great weekend :)
I was show my relative from Russia country and been away from home, kids and family all weekend - that's was great, refreshing, interesting and nice ability have rest. My husband was looking after kids and sent some happy pictures, what made me feel good and not worry about anything.
We visited Hamilton gardens, Rotorua, lakes, geysers, Waiotapu thermal wonderland, and Hobbiton (famous place for Lord of the ring fans :)

Pictures here:

Thursday training

New week - new training.
Its come unexpected because I all week been organise staff to spare room (furniture, decoration) - my cousin today coming from Russia to visit me and see New Zealand (he 10 years younger and we seen each other only few times in my life because he lived at another city, where I was born - Krasnoyarsk. later I moved with my mum to great city Saint-Petersburg. memories :)
Another thing - I just yesterday visited one job interview. Nothing exciting - just weekend and late hours retail job. I guess anyway good start from blank page in New Zealand (its not so easy find first job without NZ education and experience and doesn't matter what my background - PhD, administration work at university, lecture, geography teacher, and some retail experience at student years :)
So mentally I not been totally ready for skating and feel tired after not sleeping night with kids (one wake up at 12, another at 2am, first one want been feed at 3 am and then nearly 5.30 they both awake. Happy mummy! They don't want miss any sunlight and all exciting around. Poor me! :)
But just before training I was concentrated, did some off-ice warm-up at car park (while baby was sleep and I have some time before skating). Than worm up at ice and training.

Training:
1. Cross overs (circle). 5-4-3-2-1-2-3-4-5 forward to back with Mohawk change legs. First in one side, then opposite move on circle.
2. Lie step (I gave description before).
3. Cross roll, cross roll, double outside 3turn and continue again with other foot.
4. Czech step. (on this step after half way through I became really tired and first time ever feel that I cant move legs or all body. Coach seen it, said something and made me move faster :)
5. Spirals. First time after break I did spirals and it was really unexpected! Especially way how to do it - not in circle how I use to do it but straight line with moving on half circle. Without any cross overs just good push on each leg - forward and back outside spirals both legs and then inside spirals (it was much harder and I cant get pushing step (on back spirals - with leave leg forward on push and then lift it behind)
6. Sit spin. Tried improved but not so successful. Main thing - entrance. Sometimes I hurry.
7. Loop!!! Ta-Dam! tried it again after my big break with baby born. Not bad. But coach said that I jumping it only with my power but not with good technique. And sometimes - I don't know why I doing it from two legs, not quit sitting on right foot before jump. and need all body work (make spinning top part and then jumping). Not great attempts but good for practice.
That's all!
I walk away from ice rink tired with really red face - sign of good training :)

P.S.

our new guest room.  Welcome! 

Junior World

Interesting was just before this weekend to know about Junior World Championship what going on right now at Sofia, Bulgaria.
Im usually not watch junior competitions, more interested in senior skating and programs, but this time after Olympics really miss watching skating. I know World Championship coming soon. But Im not patient person :)
I visited one of Russians figure skating forum (to see discussing, results) and accidentally find link for online watch competition. Because I was laying in bed by this moment and check it out with mobile phone, I get link for Live+ apps and watch it online straight at this moment (on this website not only figure skating, but other sports too, and some archive).
Cant describe how its cool - watching ice skating Live with great quality picture just from your mobile phone (I just at Christmas holidays get from my husband new mobile phone Samsung Galaxy III. And if before I was thinking that I no need anything from mobile phone - just call and text, now Im really enjoying all abilities of this device like Facebook, Instagram, Navigation, Tapatalk and others apps.
And now even can watch figure skating LIVE! That's amazing :) (another lifesaver thing - Youtube apps - put some cartoon for kids while driving long time and they became unsettle :)
So I move exactly on girl short program - that was great! Three Russian girls finished on 1, 2, 3 place - E.Radionova, S. Sahanovich and E.Medvedeva - very promising girls, I hope they move through grow up without lost. Not far from them girl from Japan, and 2 girls from USA.
Today gonna be free skating. Hope its will be great performances and strongest sportsmen will win :)
Its amazing how light, easy little girls doing all elements. Like jumping beans :) Live energy, positive emotions, exciting - all this elements with them. And make you just smile :)
Girls only don't have real women skating but its coming with time and grow up.
Anyway interesting to watch them and see maybe somebody will be same good skaters like Y.Kim, M.Osada, C.Kostner (her lines and skating wonderful)...
Time will show...
But we can watch their start on big skating way to be champion.
That's inspiring. And interesting to watch all figure skating elements, how they doing them (when you yourself learning jumps, spins, steps)

And maybe I too old (just over 30 :) but for me all this modern technologies looks just amazing, cant imagine me watching figure skating just from mobile device. Cool! :)

So this evening girls free skating. Don't miss!
(all results on  ISU website)

P.S.
At Live+ website you can also get archive with figure skating competitions (that's really useful!), not only Live watch.

Update:

three Russian girls stayed at the same first positions after free skating program. Congratulations, especially for first place - Elena Radionova!

Thursday training

Today I been totally relax- no any worries,  everything in time. Kids at pre-school and child minding.
Funny enough I even not think about training before because too much going on around at this moment. So no time think about ice skatinng (all my thinking at this momemt more about future job- what direction to choose,  what the best opportunity,  work at weekend or part time during the week, half day all week or full day but just few days per week, move kids to childcare or not.
Too much thinking and every day different ideas.
Really don't know what the best option with kids and ability having hobby- ice skating.
(At this moment I just sending CV and visited some interview. So will see how its goes :)

About training:
Freezing at ice rink. Closer to winter :)
Warm up. Simple steps. At the end I remember steps what I not often doing- Waltz step and loop step. I just love doing Waltz step, its make me feel skating with music at some ball, romantic atmosphere. Loop step been good but need more control and deeper sit.
Actual training-crossrolls forward and back 2 lines each, lie step with 3turn entrance in different directions (legs), new step- cross roll back inside 3 times and then 3turn back inside and continue with another leg cross rolls and 3turn, Czech step (was hard to remember it).
New step combination- in circle- 1 forward cross over, Jackson step, double 3turn back inside and step forward. I did it 5 times and then we plus to it bracket (when at end combination you doing step forward move free leg in front, shoulders look outside the circle and do bracket- change edge and direction).
And...time for spins:)
First upright spin. I did few times but it feels not so good like before.  We move to sit spin.  Did a lot attempts and only at the end get something close (I at least feel how to do strong move with free hand and leg. Coach other comments was about longer entrance, keep right hand behind, keep body position correct, not move on the sides, free leg stright).
And something new-today first time tried camel spin (before the break I just start learrn it and cant get correct position and spinning). Today it was hard to do too. But at least I tried few times. :) my mistakes was with wrong entrance and wrong hands position. I even was moving backwards but not spinning!
So need hold left hand in front, right back when move to entrance,
When stand in spinning position left hand move behind to the right hand.
At this moment left leg stretching with push, knee- body up. Need feel this moment.
and of course free leg go up like on spiral.
So I need work with entrance and body position.

Its made me excited- we move forward and try something new. But it was not end of the training yet- last surprise - try to do Salhow! First time jump on my training after break (I start training at middle of January, so its 2 month time with once per week training, not bad :) )!
Need to say that's Salhow my less favorite jump (I like to do Flip and Loop jumps, even if they been hard to learn. Have no idea what the situation with this jumps now - after big break). But anyway good start doing jumps :)
My main mistake with salhow - I move free leg too close to another leg, but need go around, keep her freedom. It's hard to do when you few years did wrong. Its always hard change techniques with different coach.
We did just few fast attempts at last minute of training and coach promised next time give me salhow and toe-loop.
Good news and good training.  Not perfect but good enough.  And surprising how much elements we done for the same 30 min. Maybe my skating speed getting faster or my brains became use to it and think faster, I get steps without too much explanation.  Who knows... anyway its positive changes.
Hope next time will be same positive :)

P.S.
I was wright this post from mobile phone (when baby was sleep near) - hard job! never do it again :) Now from computer will try delete mistakes :)

Unplanned training

At Monday morning I decided drive to Gym (anyway I now having membership and they can do child minding for free during morning class).
I decided go to Body Pump. Leave Anna-Bella with nice women and go to class. Funny feeling - its looks like weightlifting at Olympics :)
I almost straight get pain in knee (I guess doing sit down and up with weight need carefully and correct).
I was in class nearly 10-15 min and then leave to go to ice (ice rink just under Gym, you can see skaters from window in Gym class). It was to much for me - just look and not skate. and Gym class looks a little boring.
So I unexpected went to ice skating. There even was my coach and some known girls - adults skaters.
Its looks like I need really enjoy ice and skating.
But...strange - not! I feel me lost. Have no idea what to do (after did first simple steps tried concentrate and do something else but was hard to remember steps what I did at training with coach (only easily come old steps with first coaches - maybe because I did them during few years...)
Or maybe my thinking was about my baby, that I leave her.
Or maybe mentally I was not ready for skating...

Was funny moment when after did some steps I tried to do spins. And cant get it. My coach L seen what I doing and scream me -  Why you doing spins. You not ready. Go do steps first :)
She was absolutely wright. I just was a little hurry :)

Any way at the end I can get some upright spin, sit spin, and did some attempts of  back upright spin (not too bad). and did some waltz jump - just for warm up jumps (I hope I soon will be do them at trainings :)
and at the end did some spirals and just one circle cross overs for feel speed.

So skating was not too bad, and I get some results, just been not happy and not enough concentrate on what im doing and what order.
Next time I need be ready and have some plan :)

Not sure if I will be visit ice one more time during the week or only training.
My baby looks a little unsettle during the day, hard go to sleep. And I start thinking that maybe its because I leave her at morning for child minding.

So had some bad depressive thinking - maybe I not need Gym and ice skating. Maybe its too early for me and kids. Maybe I need give them more attention. Maybe better save money and delete all this spends for sport (because we in really hard financial situation - move in minus on our card, spends more than income, and I trying looking for some job for bring more money in family).
A lot different thinking :)
I hope soon I could decide all this questions.
Will see!
Life always show the way :)
Thinking positive!

Thursday training

I became better - today I wright about training straight at the same day :) (not one week after :) )
Relax driving, drop Anna-Bella at Gym (today they did my check pressure - seems fine, ask some medication questions, how many times I planning visit gym (I answer - at least one, but hope 2-3). this week I already visit Gym at Tuesday - visit some Step class  - it was really hard! - get all this rhythm and move - I did a lot of breaks and drink bit of water :) Exhausting!
And they check my weight - Ta-Dam!!! I expect see surprise result after 2 month training and skating. Yes it was surprise but not pleasure - weight 71.5 kg (but before Christmas was 70!!!), I was sure I move down, but not plus. O-oh!
Maybe its different scales or another clothes, or maybe some muscles come - funny thinking! :) But not pleasure result. Hope after few month will be better.
Anyway good news - that I go down after baby born (there was 79.4 - I remember it because was afraid move to 80, my weight before first baby was 62 kg, so at least I lost half additional weight, so left just a little bit - another half - 10 kg. Hope Gym and Ica skating will help me.
Cant say that I really worry about my weight, just want looks nice and fit enough :)

So about training:
1. warm-up (cross rolls, change edge etc)
2. cross overs by 8 shape 2 circles, and then 2 cross over with change forward-back, and then 1 by 1.
I actually feel a little bit not in my legs - hard was did change direction with Mohawk, not feel good with it.
3. then lie step (how we call it in Russia) - 3turn forward outside on left leg, sit on right foot moving back, change hands, sit on left foot back, cross over back, step forward on left leg (and then again with 3 turn, or another line with different leg). Another variation of this step - Mohawk entrance and then all the same.
4. Czech step. I describe it before one time. So we again did it. This time was a little bit better, I faster remember what need to do. (cross over back, change edge, cross rolls back, 3turn back outside and then crossover and repeat)
5. new for me step - with bracket. First coach asked me did I ever did brackets. Of course! I was show some steps but she said that its not a bracket. O-key...What is it - bracket? (turn with change edge and direction).
From Wikipedia:
"A one-foot turn with a change of edge that results in a '}' shape traced on the ice".
sounds clear, or not. I tried to do it, coach showed me at least 3 times:
forward cross over, move free leg forward, shoulders (chest) looks outside the circle, bracket turn, (crossover back - not sure in this moment) 3turn outside back, forward crossover and repeat with another foot.
I get it, just did really slowly :)
6. hello again - sit spin. This time we straight start doing sit spin (without prepare). I did few attempts. The main opening for me (simple, but surprising) - when move into spin with 3turn forward need stay back inside when doing spin (but I was always change edge for outside - Oh My gosh! Did I know it before and forgot or never know - hard to say, its looks so clear and simple, have no idea why I always fix spin on outside and it was for me really hard. And it cause move on ice (from spin centre) when spinning.
So now I hope I not will do this mistake.
Another point - my body move bad way at spin entrance - I don't know why I seems to move on the side, but not stay straight or move forward. So now I really need watch with big attention what I doing with my hands, body, legs.
So at this point I just work with spin entrance- tried fix position on inside edge (and 2 times I did it) and try made good entrance with at first hand in front and then move like open door.
Coach said that after this we will work with other parts of spin like sit DOWN (needs strong legs).

Training run fast, finished and became time pick up my baby from Gym - good girl was happy to see mum. I feed her in car and we move back home. I feel really tired and a little bit sick from morning (hope not get the same cold what kids having).

And another thing - summer finished, now unexpected come March and cold - it was freezing at ice rink!!!

P.S. Hope come extra time on ice next week if everything will be fine with babies :)
Have a good day everybody who read my post!

And I will have some day rest while my kids sleeping (its not often happened - same time day sleeping!!! I need appreciate it :)