Back to Work

It was an exciting but ultimately a disappointing night at Kertullan last Sunday night, loosing in 5 in a very exciting game against Lakkapää. With the Hall full, it was an dynamic night, as live and as energetic as a playoff match, showing once again, how great the Loimu supporters are. At, the end of the match, Lakkapää made a couple more plays then us and were able to seal the match.

What does that mean for us? Well, back to work.

While, all the Finnish players had established lifting schedules with our trainer, Tuomas, I was on my way back to America, to spend a Christmas with my family but also making sure that I came back, not only in good shape but in the best shape possible. Here's a day in my life, back in America.

Got Back Monday at 22:45 Monday evening, very tired from 15 hours of travel and 2 different stops but a great relief and happiness came over me to say not only my parents but my brothers at the airport to pick me up. Not only that but they had In 'N' Out with them, it didn't look this good but it didn't survive long.

Tuesday Morning comes along, waking up at 6:30 still on Finland time, so I'm up early. To my surprise, my dad already has breakfast ready, a spinach omelette, topped with slices of avocado (it's great to be home) I take a cup of coffee (black, of course) and I'm ready to go.

9:20 I jump on the road and its great to drive again, just one thing though, I didn't miss

The drive was refreshing, even with a little of traffic, can't but help feel like deja-vu knowing its only been 4 months, since taking this drive as my daily commute. Arrive at the training center at 9:45 and I'm quick to remember the privilege it is to represent and compete for my country, seeing tribute to the 2008 gold medal team.

The guys that did it, all of them have tremendous work ethic and its a privilege to be in the gym working

side by side to get back to the podium in 2012.

It's 12:00, just got done with a long, tough 2 hour lift, sitting in the ice bath, trying to speed up the recovery, only really thinking about how warm the water is, compared to back in Raisio.

Our weight room

It's 12:30 now, all done with the lift, ice bath and ready to move on, take my recovery shake and before I leave, had to get a picture with our trainer (Tim Pelot) one of the best and most committed trainers I have had the luxury to work with and a surprise co-athlete who happened to be working out too, Jake Gibb. The funny story about Jake, is he used to teach a speed footwork class to me when I was 16 and was just getting into the sport. Fast forward 9 years later, I'm with the indoor national team camp and he's preparing to qualify as the #2 beach team for the London Olympics. Here's a little video on Jake, he's a machine!

One of the greatest trainers in the world and one of most dominate blockers in the world.

Its 13:00 and finally, I am out of the training center and on to the White house. Not "the" White House but the White House of Anaheim. A Italian cuisine, 5 star diamond awarded restaurant, where we luckily get to eat lunch every day, after training. 

Today though, was not an official training day, so I texted the owner, Bruno and asked if he was there so I could stop by and luckily enough he was. 

Me and Bruno, with his CNN Heroes of 2011 Award.

A little back story on Bruno, besides feeding me and the giants of USA Volleyball every day, he donates a lot of his time, energy and money to feeding under privilege kids every night. He has done so much work and has helped so many kids that he was honored this year by CNN in a class of only 10 people as "Heroes" of the world. It was great to catch up with him and here about the recognition he has achieved this year with all the charity work he does, unfortunately for me, we had to cut our conversation short, because he had an interview to do. With a great workout completed and an even better meal devoured, I was ready to head home.

10oz fillet on the house, can't argue with that, Bruno is the best.

16:30. The Day went great, saw some old friends but most importantly I put in the work that needs to be done to get Loimu over the hump and make sure instead of providing thrilling 5 game loses, we turn those into 3 game, 4 game wins. 

To end the day, my mom organized a rental duffy boat, to tour around Naples Island in Long Beach with my family it was great, filled with some sushi on board a great end to a great day, spending it with the people that have helped me get to where I am in life.  

Until next time,

Dustin (Jenkki #1)