Racing Day 2 Ladies 3000m

Well, I have given up on sprinting and moved back into racing the long distances. Due to my lack luster performance at our trials a couple of weeks ago I lost my spot in the A group of the World Cup and so I had to start in the B group this weekend.  I won't lie this put me into the grumpies, and as Shane my weight coach always says, "We don't want Ms. Raney to have a case of the grumpies!"  Skating in the B group means racing early in the morning and having less than ideal conditions.  Once you are in the B group it is very difficult to get out because only two people will advance.  I wasn't sure what to expect during my race and the whole goal was to just skate a good technical race and not worry about the time.  I knew that I had trained hard all week, significantly more than my competitors, and I was unsure of what I would be capable this weekend.  I guess lowering my expectations is a good thing for me because I ended up skating a pretty good race and placing second.  The only girl who beat me was Maren Haugli from Norway.  (We were paired together at the Olympics in the 5k I was 7th she was 8th.  We always have great battles when we race together.)  Knowing that Maren and I are both consistent  top 10 World Cup placers I knew that we each had respectable times.  I'm now currently ranked 14th in the World Cup (B groupers do not get as many points as a groupers....it's  a bit of an unfair system) and am hoping to work my way up the rankings this next weekend.