Day 5 -1000m Race Day and Thoughts

12 Feb 2014

I didn't send you all any writing for the post yesterday because it was the day before Brian Hansen's race and I was trying to get to bed a bit earlier than 4:00am, which seems to be the time I get to bed these days...and today is ending up being no different. It's already 3 am!

The venue area as seen from athlete village (dorms)

Brian and I stayed at the rink after his 1000m race long after everyone had left and we talked about sport. The journey and the goal. What is more important? Achievement of the goal can often cloud out a difficult journey. But if the goal is not achieved, has the journey been worth it?

Brian, Jeffrey and Nancy have all been about the journey, but as the Olympics loomed more near, the goal became more the priority. Should that be? Maybe the focus on the journey and loving more of the moments could ultimately produce the end goal more effectively than the focus on the end goal...and what is life if you don't enjoy that with which you've been blessed? But the corollary is also, if you haven't achieved what you set out for, can you enjoy that either?

I think you all know the results by now. It was not what we had anticipated by any means. Brian definitely had a shot at a medal and the race can be summed up by simply "what happened?" He gave everything he had, as you can well see if you watched or [or will watch tonight on PrimeTime NBC if they show it]. He finished believing he had skated a great race, but the time didn't show it. Even Shani Davis was confused with his own race. It just didn't add up. I have some thoughts about it, but will probably leave that for some days down the road...

Thanks so much for following us and we wanted to be bringing you exciting news today...BUT DONT GO ANYWHERE! Because we have the 1500m this Saturday, Brian's strongest race! He is someone you can say the following about: "He's the first one they look for and the last they want to meet". Don't miss this one for sure! :)

Hey, thanks everyone for all your comments back to me [Nancy Jr. keeps sending me pictures of the comments so I can read them]. It has really meant so much that you write something. Like I've said, because I don't Facebook or Twitter [and whatever else there is haha], getting "pictures" of the Facebook pages is still novel to me!

Good night from Sochi, Russia and God bless,
Nancy Sr.

Videos:

On our way to the 1000m Sochi Olympic race.

Brian's 1000m day!!!!!!! Of course I'm anxious!!!!

An incredible day outside. Here is a shot of the Black Sea just 20 steps from our hotel out the front door!



And then if you turn right around from where is was standing for the Sea front video just before this, here is the hotel I'm staying at. It's half a mile from edges of venues but a 20min. ride by bus.