Good times...

The next step...

I've left so many of you in suspense with my recent Facebook status:

"When I look back on every accomplishment God has blessed me with in my life I realize that they all began with one thing - a risky leap of faith. So here we go again..."

All of you know, if I post something like that, there is probably a wild and crazy adventure planned for the near future. Then I added some more suspense when I randomly showed up in Arkansas (when I was supposed to be bobsledding in New York).  So here is my attempt to try and explain the current journey God is leading me on.

I spent the entire summer at the Lake Placid Olympic Training Center working hard to get stronger and faster, and I did. In early October we had our team combine testing and National Push Championships and I put up some really good numbers. But there was one problem, so did everyone else.

2012 National Push Championships

I really believe that if I continue down the path of being a bobsled brakeman, that God would put me back on the US National Team this season and allow me to travel around the world bobsledding with my best friends and telling people about Jesus - talk about living the dream! However, its getting harder and harder to make the Olympic Team and I really believe God wants to use me in a new capacity this season that will actually extend my bobsled career.

I'm going to attempt to become a pilot! I've had a desire to become a bobsled pilot since I was in high school and to make a long story short - if I am going to become a pilot - now is the prime time!

So what's the plan? I am currently at my parents house in Arkansas getting some much needed mental recovery. In a couple of days I will head out to Park City, Utah for the winter to learn everything I possibly can about driving. God willing, I will even race as a driver on the Americas Cup tour this season!

So whats so risky about that? First of all, it was very hard to intentionally stop trying to pursue a spot on the National Team for this season. It was hard knowing that I will not be spending the season with my all of my teammates especially Katie Eberling, Elana Meyers, and Megan Hill (who have become so much more than just teammates to me).  Second of all, it's very possible that my attempt to drive could end up disastrous. I am sacrificing something I am decent at (pushing) for the unknown (driving). But that's the beauty of faith:

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." -Hebrews 11:1 

But my faith is not in my unknown ability to drive a bobsled. My faith is not in my athletic abilities. My faith is in Christ.  If I never get to the Olympics, if  my bobsled career ends in a few weeks, one thing is for sure: God has a plan for my life and its bigger than bobsled and it will bring His name glory.

So here we go! I have to give a special shout out to my bobsled bud, Val Smith, who is also taking a risky leap of faith by joining me on this journey as my brakeman!

P.S. - I've always wanted to move to Utah! I love Mormons!

Me and U.S. Track & Field Olympic greats: Tianna Madison, Lolo Jones, and
Hyleas Fountain: trying out for the U.S. Bobsled Team this season.

2011-12 Team Meyers!!
(After Elana and Katie won Bronze at World Championships)
Proud to be their alternate - humled to be their friends! 

OTC Sprite-Banana Challenge

la familia...

Family at Jones Beach, Long Island, NY

My family came to visit me in New York! It was awesome to show them how and where I have been training. And it was even awesomer to take a road trip to Long Island to see where my mom grew up! 

Me and my Nepali Sister

My parents checking out
a bobsled! 

Right after my fam's trip to NY, my sister moved to Nepal! She plans to come back to the states for a visit in 3 years! 


Click this link to check out her blog to follow her adventures: Two Candles One Light Blog

Iron Prayer...

The Iron Man triathlon is one of the most grueling athletic events on the planet.  It is a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and then topped off with a full marathon run of 26.2 miles. Everyone who crosses the finish line before mid-night is crowned with the official title of "Ironman"! I had the opportunity to speak at the Iron Prayer the night before the big race in Lake Placid, NY earlier this summer. Check it out below!!!! 

Hanging out with some teammates and one of our strength
coachesat the IronMan finish line!!! 

Luger...

The US Luge Team had a fundraiser over the weekend that was a luge start competition for the general public. Since I'm not anything close to a luger I decided to take advantage of this opportunity and enter the race. I figured it would be fun to escape the summer heat and experience the luge start in their ice house. I ended up winning the women's division and posting the 3rd fastest time overall, which means I even beat one of my strength coaches :) Check the video out above!

The 45...

Last weekend I decided to take a break from my training life in Lake Placid and drive down to Pittsburgh for the WFA National Championship Game. I don't think I would have driven that far just to see the first ever Women's Tackle Football National Championship game in a NFL stadium. However, I didn't even have to think twice about driving that far to re-unite with my teammates from the 2010 Women's National Team. 

It was so good to see almost all of the original 45 ladies and coaches that I made history with 2 years ago at the inaugural Women's World Championships in Stockholm, Sweden. 

Some of the team at Heinz field, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

With Coach Mac (one of my all-time favorite coaches)

on the NFL grass! 

It has been awesome to see at how far women's football has come over the years and the impact that Team USA has had on women's sports. Despite the fact that women's football still has a long way to go, words cant describe how it feels to have been a pioneer in women's football. Coach Mac said that people always ask him about his ring, and being from Wisconsin, they ask if he won the Super Bowl with the Packers. I love his response, "No, it's much bigger than that." 

The national championship game, that we all used as an excuse to reunite, was a great showdown between Chicago and SanDiego. Several of my Team USA teammates and even the head coach of Team USA were all on the Chicago team. However, I couldn't help but to root for SanDiego. There was one member of SanDiego who was also a part of Team USA, but it was all my old teammates from the LosAngeles Amazons (who now play for SanDiego) that I found myself cheering for. So it was awesome to see SanDiego (my old Amazons) win a tight game and finally achieve their dream. 

Kiima and I flashing our bling :) 

Me and Pre :) 

I also haven't seen anyone from Winona State since I graduated in '07. So it was so good to see an old FCA'er and track teammate playing in the championship game for Chicago. It was even more special because I was a big inspiration for her to play football!