I started skating 14 years ago when I was 5 years old in the Group C of the  Fredericton Amateur Speed Skating club and I began my speed skating career by  working my way up through the groups.

 I consider my first big step to be qualifying as a second year midget for my first  National Championship in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia in 2001-2002. I took part in the  next  7 Nationals as well. These trips were always the highlight of the year. They  were  always a great time, usually accompanied by personal bests and the year’s  best  skating  performances. I earned my first medal, a bronze, as a juvenile in  Montreal as  part of the New Brunswick’s junior relay team.

The 2006-2007 season, the Canada Games year, had a huge impact on my decision to keep skating. The training stepped up and when Canada games came around I felt great and skated the best I had ever skated. Our NB team won the Bronze in the relay and I had a 9^th place finish in the 1500m, and set two provincial records. After the Games we had about one month to prepare for Nationals in Dieppe and again the hard work paid off. I had my best ever finish at nationals placing 5^th overall, with two 4^th places and an individual bronze medal in the 1500m. I really have to thank Derrick McLeod for all of his help over the years and for really pushing me throughout that year. He was always supportive and encouraged me so much. Looking back, I don’t know if I would have kept skating if it were not for him.

I moved out to Calgary at the beginning of the 2007-2008 season and had a pretty rough year. There was university, residence, a totally new environment, and being away from home, and I didn’t really improve and finished off the season pretty discouraged. When I returned home at the beginning of May 2008, I decided to really give it 100%. I was determined to train hard all summer and through the upcoming season and to see how it would go. It made a HUGE difference; I went back to Calgary in much better shape than before and started improving almost right away. I set some goals with my coach that seemed almost unattainable at the time but as the season went on they became much more realistic. During the first meet of the year I had 3 big personal bests, more then I had all of the previous year, and was feeling pretty optimistic about the upcoming season. In November I achieved one of my goals by qualifying, in the last open spot (16^th), at the national qualifier for National Team Trials, held at the Maurice Richard Arena in Montreal in January.

I went into the first Team Trials without great expectations, but after a few races, when I realised that I was competitive, and that I really had nothing to lose, the racing started to go a little better. I finished the weekend in 26th position out of 32. Next came Winterfest, a competition at the Oval in Calgary, which turned out to be my best meet of the year. There was absolutely no pressure and I had a great time, making two A finals with two 4^th place finishes. We decided to go for fast times in the two finals and I obtained personal bests/ NB provincial records that I really hadn’t considered possible. I had a 7 second P.B. in my 1500m. I hadn’t had a 7 second personal best in at least 5 years. I fell early in the 500m heats and ending up 19^th.

I didn’t do as well during the second team trials back at the Maurice Richard, feeling not quite on, but it was still an awesome experience and once again I finished in 26^th place. I ended the year with a Canadian ranking of 29 and I am beyond happy with my results. I am really excited about next season and I am looking forward to starting training again in May! My coaches, Yvon Du Blois, Yuka Kamino and Al McIlveen were awesome this year and I thank them so much!

I also made very good friends along the way, some of whom remain close to me today. The speed skating family is a special group of people.

I find that in Speed Skating, along the way, there are so many opportunities to set your sights upon to do well and to improve. All the important stepping stones and goals.  It begins with hard work, competing in local and regional meets, moving up in class, personal bests, performing well at Eastern Canadians, qualifying for National Championships and making Canada Games. Work hard!

Liz Russell - Calgary, AB