Day 3 -Brian Hansen's 500m race & thoughts

10 Feb 2014

I woke up to an incredibly perfect day today (February 10th), that was half gone because I slept so late having been up til 4am doing emails, texts, and the summary of ideas I send to Jr. who puts them into this blog. The sky was a cloudless blue and the Black Sea looked as if I were in Florida. This is the time of year I have been in Florida with my mother, and I think the position of the sun here must be similar. 

I took the shuttle, as I do every day, to the venues...the routine, the security, and the safety so far melting everyone into a certain comfort zone. I anxiously walked through the Welcome Center where I enter, hoping my bike was still locked to the fence. It was! I've never been so happy to have a bike, ha! I then happened to run into Robert Lehman (our German training partner) and then Brian, all because I can get around more on the bikes. We ate lunch and then were off to the races. 

Below, again in the warm up room, before Brian Hansen's 500m race today (Feb 10th). I just had to share this video because that's the relaxed Brian "jog", haha. For any who are skaters from the 70s/80s, it mirrors the infamous jog of Eric Hendricksen (shown below in the White House picture). :)


Brian's goal today was to put in (simply) a great race and if we felt that the effort of 2 x 500's (the 500m speedskating race is the only distance where the winner is determined by the combination of 2x500 races) would jeopardise in any way some strained muscles he's had in the past, then he wouldn't skate the second 500. We wanted to wait and let the first race dictate the second. After the first race, we decided to make the safe decision and feel not racing the 2nd 500 was a wise choice .

This 500 he skated was his best lowland time ever raced, so that's good going into the 1000m race on Wednesday, and then the 1500m race on Saturday, his specialties :)

Some of you were watching and wondering what happened for his second race, and in case you don't know yet, that's why you didn't see him. I sent a picture of Jeff Klaiber and myself watching the races (to the right). He is the other private coach here coaching Jonathan Kuck and Emery Lehman. He was on the Olympic team with me in the 1988 Olympics in Calgary, Canada. And I'm going to have Nancy Jr. insert here, a picture of the 1988 Olympic Team at the White House where Reagan is holding Nancy Jr...and Jeff Klaiber is also in the picture!

Unbelievably I haven't had time to roam the Venue area, so I hope to take a short time tomorrow and take a look and show you all.

3rd from left: Dave Cruikshank, 5th: Jeff Klaiber, Bonnie Blair is next to baby
Nancy held by President Reagan, Eric Hendrickson is standing behind me.

I just want to mention something again that I had said earlier, but it's brought to my attention constantly here that absolutely ALL the volunteers are so sincerely kind, helpful, and ecstatic that the world is here. They want to help always in any way possible, and sometimes I just want to make up a problem for them so that they can help me :):):)

I so miss having Jeffrey and Nancy skating on the ice as a team with Brian. They were the ones (well, I'm starting to forget I did too!) who pulled Brian in many a lap when he was learning the technique he now has, which has helped to bring him to this point. I just wanted so much for this to be all of us as a team (TeamSwiderPeltz!) in Sochi. It was Jeffrey's goal, after he saw Nancy Jr.'s 4th place (team pursuit) and her 9th place (3000m) and Brian's silver medal win (team pursuit), that he would go for Sochi 2014.

Brian Hansen, myself, and his family in Sochi, Russia

He has been training currently in Milwaukee since Brian and I left for Sochi, preparing as best he can (mostly by himself) for the final American Cup starting the 28th Feb. He is also currently enrolled full time at Wheaton College, driving himself back and forth to Milwaukee. I'm excited to be back for that competition!!!! :):):):)

Thanks for following us here, and please keep prayin for us as well, for safety and that Brian and I make wise choices for his training and competition...misc. videos from today you can watch below! :)

God Bless,
Nancy Sr.


I'm slipping a little here in this video below. It wasn't from today, but this is how we sometimes prepare before races. Usually before or after training. It's called "mashing" and is similar to a deep massage, but we've found the greatest benefit: for loosening and preparing the glut and hamstrings for bolistic movements. It is a technique taught to us by Bob Cooley, along with the rest of his staff, called RFST (Resistance Flexibility and Strength Training). Look him up at: https://www.thegeniusofflexibility.com/resistance-stretching/rfst.html




Shani and Mitch's 2nd 500m Olympic race race showing only the first corner. They were paired together today, February 10th, 2014. 

The first turn of Tucker Frederick's 2nd 500m race today, February 10th 2014.

Sochi Olympics Day 2 -Athlete Village

Nancy Sr. with USA pair skaters Marissa & Simon

9 Feb 2014 -by Nancy Sr.

Today was an off-day for Brian Hansen (Jeffrey and Nancy Jr.'s training partner). He races the 500m tomorrow. It is a warm up to his best races: the 1000m and 1500m, which he will race on the 12th and 15th of February, respectively.

Inserted by Nancy Jr.: For tomorrow, Brian will be racing the 1st 500m at 7:18am (6th pair) & 2nd 500m just after 9am CST. It will be streaming online at http://www.nbcolympics.com/live-extra, but you need a subscription unless you are on another site. Depending on NBC, they may show his race during Primetime later tomorrow night. Otherwise, live results can be found here: http://www.sochi2014.com/en/speed-skating-men-s-500-m-race-1-of-2.

Brian started out years ago racing every distance. Historically, the sport was organized around the All-Around World Championships, which includes 4 distances (500m, 1500m, 5000m, 10,000m) and the Sprint World Championships (2x500m and 2x1000m). Brian was good at all distances. But because the focus of the sport has gone towards "World Cup Single-Distance" competitions, we've focused in the last years on the 1000/1500m races only.
Yet interestingly, at one of the World Cup Qualifiers for this Olympics, Brian raced the 5000m and qualified a 3rd 5000m spot for the US team at this Olympics. It is very likely he could have qualified for 4 out of the 5 Olympic Speedskating distances, but we "threw the eggs in one basket" and have put all our focus on the middle distances, with of course a "metal" as the goal :)

Brian's forte is loving competition and loving to play. At the World Championships a few years ago, as the week unfolded before the competition was to start, it was announced that the famous Dutch competition skated on canals spanning the Dutch country called the Elfstedentocht (that hasn't happened for about 15 years because the canals have to freeze for this), could likely be pulled off that same weekend. Holland was desperately preparing for it, aiding the freezing of the canals as they usually do if it's to be a close call. Brian looked at me and said, "I want to do the canal race. I would miss the World Championships to try something that may be the only chance in my lifetime that I have to do it." The likelihood faded with increasing warm weather and I think the "play" in Brian faded with it :(

But it didn't take long for Brian and Jeffrey to start talking big about some more goals of the future, namely the Red Bull Crashed Ice (an insanely contrived competition on a course recreated at every venue competed at) where skaters on hockey skates leave a shoot and basically race each other, contact style , down a "bobsled type course". The thrill, of course, being the DANGER!

Well, back to reality...The Sochi 2014 Olympics...a dream that's come again for Brian.

Below, I've sent a few video clips (with captions describing them in detail) of the day in the athlete village. Nothing formal. And usually I'm deleting previous posted videos on my iPhone to make room for a little more to show you each day :)

Ok, another long day that has ended late. Need my rest before the first race day for Brian. Goodnight from Sochi, Russia.

Nancy Sr.

The USA Figure Skating Pairs couple, Marissa & Simon, practicing dryland in the Olympic Village fitness center. I was on the bike watching...

This is the lounge/eating area in the USA dorm where their nutritionist prepares and sets out additional organic/healthy snacks between meals or instead of the dining hall. 


Since we arrived on the 31st in Sochi, getting around the Olympic Village has been difficult as I think I've mentioned. It's not been good for the athletes because it tightens calves, shins, and fatigues the feet causing muscle, tendon, and ligament issues that will negatively affect performances. The Dutch team (mainly speedskaters) have always been ahead of the game, anticipating potential hindrances to high performance. Simply, they plan ahead. The Dutch actually have 2 bikes per person. The entire US team only has 30 bikes for a team of over 200, so most people have to walk, and far.

Well, after much complaining, the USOC went in to Sochi and purchased bikes for anyone who wanted to BUY them for $150. It was a no brainer, because when the Olympics are done, if you choose, they will be donated to an orphanage!!! PERFECT :)


And here I am leaving "down the hallway" in the USA dorms. I do not get to stay in the village, so I ride to a pick-up point (can't take the bike out of the bubble), and then get a shuttle to the hotel I stay at.

This is the lonely part, not because I'm alone, but because as a private coach, you aren't "a part of the team", and they don't hide letting you feel that... :(


There's a workout area in every dorm in addition to the Olympic village fitness center and the warm up training rooms in every venue. This is the one in the USA dorm. Brian Hansen was doing a bike/stretch session.



As I was biking today in the Fitness Center (Olympic Village), I (Nancy Sr.) try to watch and learn first hand, new ideas that either teach me a principle or I decide to use in my coaching cause I can see the value in action. It's much more clear when you observe over a period of time . 

I watched this girl doing warm-up drills for strength and speed and then caught a quick video of a well executed single leg snatch.

Sochi Olympics Day 1 -Nancy Sr.

Day 1 of the Sochi Olympics

8 Feb 2014

Wow! To all of you who have posted messages to me through Nancy Jr., thank you! :) since I don't go on Facebook or TeamSwiderPeltz.com blog, I don't get the messages myself, so Jr. takes pictures of your comments and sends them to me by text message. I am getting them all and really appreciate them, and wanting more :) this is really fun. I just text and email, but this way I'm hearing from so many of you. Oh, I know what you all are saying..."Just give in and get Facebook/other social media yourself"...well, there's been some value in Jr. meeting my friends (cause they think she's me). Well, at least I think it's a good excuse. Ha.

Anyways, I left the US frustrated on many levels because I disrespect the lack of trust and freedom afforded me as a private coach, and the control they attempted to shackle me with in an absurd contract of sorts. I also didn't like the thought of 5 weeks far away, both Jr. and Jeffrey Jr. not being with me, the dangers alluded to all over the press, and the uncertainties of Russia.
I know Jr. sent out a request to "follow me, message me, and pray for my safety and wisdom in all that I do, especially wisdom in coaching Brian to some potential "METAL". Thanks for thinking and praying for me.

I stayed up way too late last night just communicating by email and text. I literally stay up til 3:00 or 4:00 am till I exhaust all email and text returns. Well most of them. I tried going personal to some of you but I was running out of space on my phone. And then I get the "not backed up" and "out of storage" warnings resulting in my phone freezing or I lose connection, and then I was forgetting what I sent to whom because as I was deleting, I went along and tried to multitask. But by doing so, I ended up copying/pasting a huge mistake and then not wanting to cut it, in case I lose a long section, I started deleting by hand, trying to figure out where to stop...get the picture?! For those of you who know me, you are laughing right now at my simple skills, but to me, I'm impressed with myself :)

So where is Brian in all this??? Well, I was trying to set the stage for the star of the show with those first 2 days. That's called the warm up show...

We are systematically preparing, as we have since Vancouver 2010. We miss our team here with Jeffrey and Nancy and yes, you too, Darren Huang :) BUT we do have Robert Lehmann here (our training partner from Deutschland). He was able to help train with Brian for 2 workouts her in Sochi, and it was a huge help!

THANKS Robert! (I know you know).

old Russian car but also used in East Germany...the Traube

We have been able to keep to the well-worn hand-written plan (we drag out of my backpack everyday) except for some hiccups in sleep deprivation with too much to do, traveling, and walking upon arriving in Sochi, trying to figure the lay of the land and how to get around. Also the opening ceremonies took a slight toll. 

It's been over a week and we're finally getting an opportunity to buy bikes today. And we're taking the offer because it's physically taking a toll on the legs since we are not used to it. For me it's been close to unbearable. 1) my other knee is now hurting as bad as the knee I had the replacement on right before I had it done 2) I broke a toe  3) I'm carrying a 20lb back pack. Although I did skate 2 laps behind the boys today! (shush up, it wasn't that slow!)
Brian's been an incredibly consistent skater for much of his competitive years, snagging enough World Cup medals this year to give him the title of "medal contender" for this Sochi Olympics. Contrary to the opinion of the organization, we draw our success on a great working relationship of 15 years, mutual respect, and having taught him the sport and life skills all along, so that Brian is scaringly just "one step behind me " (haha Brian, you'll never catch up all the way :).

I believe much of his success also comes from not only his strength and quickness and intuitive body awareness, but his incredible desire to play and compete!!! My coaching knowledge lies in my fathers teaching, swimming and skating experience, consequential intuition, and pure "scientific" common sense and logic (too often underrated in relation to science).

But Brian is "under the radar", as it seems to be his position in the media relative to many others. And even though it's (arguably) fun to have a media hype going into an Olympics, there's also an upside for Brian's position, that I believe, can allow him to just be himself going into his races. It used to be that media, or sponsors, or endorsement opportunities would come your way once you were at a certain level. But today, with agents and promoters, opportunities such as these need to be sought after rather than them coming to you. Most top athletes have someone "working it", but he has hesitated on some levels to get involved. If anyone sees print on Brian, send it our way :)

I am also sending a few short very random video clips from today, watch below!

Opening Ceremony insights from Nancy Sr. -w/ Videos

Opening Ceremony Day

7 Feb 2014

Simply put, I believe Putin was very involved and had one goal in mind...

TO OUTDO ALL OTHER OLYMPICS!!!!!!

At this point, his incessant stoic demeanor at the opening (which I saw on TV like you all, but stepped outside my hotel to see the fireworks as you will see here) seemed to say" I did it world, I proved all the naysayers wrong". He did!

At this point, this Olympics is like no other. An amazingly massive smooth running machine and the Russian volunteers are either genuinely super gracious and wanting to please or they have orders...
I tend to think the first and if I were the Russian people, I'd be quite proud of the final outcome.

I have heard there was a lot of forced labor and much labor from other countries (Ukraine, Turkey), but with where this project was last year, I can't imagine anything else but pressure, force, yellin, fightin, and contractors and planners and workers going crazy on each other at the end. This had to come down to a do or die! And I'm amazed that, from the observers point of view, the finishing touches were just accomplished through today. They covered so much "not so nice lookin areas" of buildings or dirt with HUGE cloth Sochi banners. These themselves took amazing planning and it's hard to believe they had the foresight to know what and where they d be needed. It's like putting the floorboard down, the ceiling molding up, the carpet and the paint (in new construction to hide the rough edges).

I'm sending here some short videos of my day, and then some clips of the opening ceremony fireworks display at the end. 

Again, thanks to y'all for your love, prayers and support. I could not get through this Olympics without all of you.

Nancy Sr.



Walking home from the venues in Sochi, fairyland like! from TeamSwiderPeltz on Vimeo.

Insights from Sochi, Russia -by Nancy Sr.

So our mom/coach, Nancy Sr., has been giving family & friends updates from Sochi, Russia for a couple weeks now and I've been wanting to share some of those insights with you. I asked the mom, and she will daily or every couple days, give me something she's written for you, with videos! Enjoy...

6 Feb 2014

Sochi, Russia

It's the day before the opening ceremonies.

I will have to say that when I was here 1 year ago , it seemed impossible that the Olympics could happen. The amount of work still to be done was daunting. Not much seemed finished. But what slowly emerged before my eyes after not being able to see much when I came in at 2 a.m. , was an incredible "fairyland" still badly needing it's finishing touches , but amazingly receiving them over this last week. 

Today, to my disbelief last year that it could ever happen...it has happened! 

Everything for this Olympics was started from scratch after buildings had to be purchased and levelled. Never before has an Olympics had 5 venues all in a "bubble" (so coined because of the circular grouping of the speedskating, hockey, figure skating, shortrack speedskating, curling, and the opening/closing ceremony stadium venues). And then within adjacent levels of security: the Olympic village, press center, the "more important than the athletes" castle hotels, all the meeting "houses " for the different countries (ie: USA house, holland house, P&G house etc). 

The Olympic village, where the athletes stay, lines the coastal waters not far from where 2 massive cruise ships (for needed accommodations) are parked. Most countries are in a single building complex, while smaller countries may share. Security stands on the side where the fencing borders the water. Most building wear the flags and the name of the country. The USA house bears no markings...

Below are 2 videos from the Olympic Village now...

Olympic Villiage Street from TeamSwiderPeltz on Vimeo.

On top of all that is within this area, that will be (after the Olympics) the lavishly updated Sochi resort, is a newly constructed Tribune for car races (circling the venue interiors) and a Disney world amusement park, the entrance to which is lined with palm trees mirroring Disney world Florida. It's hard to believe those palm trees will survive!!!

In addition to the sites and buildings, an entire road and rail system was created to accommodate the millions who would pass through this relatively small area in such a short period of time. Presently, every day, thousands of people organized in bright intricately colored jackets and pants for their particular jobs, come streaming out of the railway system and buses and cascade into the venues to work or prepare for the opening ceremonies. 

An incredible amount of preparation has happened in this last week before the opening tomorrow. It has gone from seeming chaos of new drivers and workers (coming from Moscow to Siberia to Turkey) who not only couldn't communicate with us but couldn't drive us a few miles without getting lost for 1 hour, to a system of mass transit slowly seemingly becoming (hopefully) a brilliantly organized plan. There are massive secured parking lots of hundreds of buses and cars.

Security has escalated from just the entrances to the bubble and occasional police cars, to security and police seemingly always within a stones toss. There are mounted police, slow driving police, standing police, and undercover police. It feels safe, yet sometimes I can see in the mass entrances of people, that maybe someone could slip by???

One night I missed my ride back, and as I stood on the curb just outside the bubble, a group of 20 volunteer interpreters were walking by and asked if they could help me. I said I needed a ride to my hotel on the other side of the bubble, just 1 1/2 miles away (as the crow flys) but not for walking alone at nigh. They said they would take me there. I said how? They said for me to come with them on the city bus, and then they d walk me to my place. I said, "don't leave me, promise". They said they wouldn't. The bus wasn't on a route to get close and I had to get out still 1 and 1/2 mi away. I looked at them and 8 walked out with me and said "we promised we wouldn't leave you and we won't. We'll walk you to your place".  They said," it's just another adventure for us".

When they got to my place we took a picture and we group hugged! I gave each something I had that would be meaningful and a memory of the night :)

Wow...I felt God was in each one of their hearts. Their graciousness was something I will never forget!

Goodnight from Sochi, Russia...the night before it all begins! 

Nancy Sr.

Videos from last March 2013, contrasting what venues looked like then...to what they are now (previous videos!)