Saturday, March 15, 2014

US Biathlon Championships

Right now I am hanging out with my mom at the Williston Village B&B, which is owned by my biathlon coach, Algis. My mom came up from her house in Florida to watch US Biathlon Championships which are being held this weekend at Ethan Allen in Jericho, VT.

Yesterday we had a 15k individual race. In this race format, instead of penalty loops, you get a one-minute penalty for each missed shot. I had good skiing but mediocre shooting and came away with 9 misses (2, 3, 0, 4). I was happy with the one clean stage but that's about it! I had the fastest skiing of the day by one minute, but that wasn't enough to make for all my penalty time. Katrina Howe of Maine Winter Sports Center won the race with six misses.

Tonight we have the sprint competition (under the lights!) and on Sunday we have a mass start. Check back for more updates soon!

Happy to have the weekend's longest race behind me.

Standing shooting

Tired at the finish line!

Podium ceremony with Katrina Howe in 1st, me in 2nd, and Hilary Saucy in 3rd.

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Happy Martenitsa!

Martenitsa celebrates the coming of spring. Bulgarians wear red and white bracelets (like this one that my coach, Pepa, gave me this morning at practice,) starting March first to welcome the oncoming spring. Then the next time you see a stork you hang it on the stork and make a wish... If you don't see a stork you can substitute a fruit tree. Or just hang it on any tree on March 21st, which is the vernal equinox and the first day of spring.
Here's to a long snowy winter!!! (And a happy spring.)