Love on Ice by Carolyn Miller

Author:Carolyn Miller
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781922667021
Publisher: Carolyn Miller

Calgary, Canada

Holly glanced at the huge banner advertising the Olympic Oval Invitational that hung against a wall. It was funny how the reality of living one’s dream didn’t always measure up. For so long she’d envisaged what living and training in Calgary would look like. But this…this was so much better.

A new weight training regime, slightly different balance and core exercises, and classes on strategy, nutrition, and mental preparedness combined with the twice daily sessions on ice were refining her technique, her skills. This was why the Olympic Oval training was so highly regarded. She breathed a prayer of thanks, as she’d done every day for the past ten days. Thanks for this opportunity, thanks that the uncertainties surrounding her future—in many areas—seemed to have clicked into God-ordained place.

The five hundred finals were on the last day of the Invitational. This morning’s fifteen hundred meters had been disappointing, coming third in her quarterfinal, but that distance wasn’t her strength. She shook out her legs out as she waited. Her body was feeling the strain of the previous two days. Lord, help me stay strong and focused. But so far, so good. She was proving her time with the Calgary training squad was valuable. She’d come first in her quarter final and led her semi, her time a new Australian record. High expectations preceded the final.

She moved to join the others to warm up before today’s five hundred final—yet another opportunity for vital experience with high caliber competitors prior to the Vancouver qualifiers at the World Cup in Montreal in two weeks. She knew she could make the qualifying times, but in this sport, skill wasn’t always enough. A good measure of luck—or God appointed blessing—was necessary to avoid the catastrophic falls that sometimes saw medal contenders miss out on selection.

“Hi, Holly.” Tori and Alana, fellow training partners, skated closer.

“I tried that recipe for chicken and sweet potato last night,” Holly said to Tori. “So good. My friends loved it.”

“It’s a great dish. And so good for you.”

“Come on, ladies,” Coach Mathieson called over the barrier. “Enough chat. Focus. Get in the zone.”

She glanced at the other girls, shifting mentally from friend to competitor. Up against Alana and Tori, plus Germany’s Ilse Schuster and a Korean and Chinese skater, Holly knew a little of what to expect. Coach Chan had always emphasized the need to know your opponents. Alana was dominant in starts, Tori had a powerful finish, and Ilse was strong on the turns.

Stomach roiling, she briefly waved as her name was announced, then adjusted her ponytail under her helmet, watching as Alana waved at the crowd like a B-grade celebrity on the red carpet. Holly bit her lip. How could she be so relaxed? Please, Lord, help me not throw up.

“Go to the start.”

Holly assumed position. The past two days of encouraging results had boiled down to this. She took a deep breath, let it out slowly.

“Ready.” She assumed her stance.

BANG!

Skate, skate, skate. Holly pumped her arms, her skates eating up the ice.

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