From the beginning of this year I had in mind to buy new skeelers, but could not decide what kind of shoes I would like. Would I go for the speed boots or again for comfort? While I am trying to do more marathon distances it would be most likely to go for comfort. However to make good progress in speed you need boots that fit like a glove so every move pays out in speed and less breakdown of energy.
Last Thursday I was at Hoevelaken at Mijnten skate- and skeelershop and talked to the owner to help me make a decision. As you probably know I am skating on ice in Wintertime and taking lessons every week. Martin Mijnten told me not to hesitate and to go for speed because the feel and touch is almost like skating on ice.
So I decided to go for BONT skates, the JET type and 110 mm wheels, if I needed to I still could try skating on smaller wheels. My old skates had five wheels and 80 mm diameter, so I thought it would be a little difficult to get used to a 30 mm difference. I was wrong!
My boots were heated in an oven and by vacuum molded to my feet, it took almost a hour to get them both done. Frames and wheels were mounted after the molding was done. As I worked at a clients office that day I was in the shop by the end of the day.
The weather was OK the day I bought them, but I was too late back home to go out for a ride. On Friday morning I first had to work, but in between I found some time to try them on a track of 3.91 km. First I was a little nervous, but after skating a few 100 meters my confidence grew and I was able to gain speed.
It felt like I was skating on ice, like the shop owner told me! Smooth and powerful strokes kept me going on, I couldn’t wait until I could go out with my son to see if this was my answer for the struggle to keep up with his 100 mm wheels!
After my work was done I made a ride with Tom approx. 12.5 km and I felt that with less effort the same speed was achieved and even more than with my old skates. Sorry for them, but they served me well, now it is time for my new ones.
Today the change was completed and we made a tour of 22 km to see how my feet would hold and how speed was growing. Now I was the one who could dictate the speed instead of trying to keep up. At the end we agreed to make the last kilometers on our own to see how it could be, EVERY personal best was broken today and I feel there is more to come.
Okay, we had a wind in the back, but we also had that with my previous PB, it will be different when skating the marathon distance. But if we do, I hope to have the same feeling of excitement like I had today.
The change has started and it feels great!
Ed van Harmelen
March 2012
| Achievements | Goals 2012 | Sofar | 2011 |
| | | | |
| Weight goal | 92.0 kg | 103.9 kg | 107.0 kg |
| Weight loss | 15.0 kg | 3.1 kg | 5.0 kg |
| Kcal burned | 150,000 Kcal | 48,628 Kcal | 48,500 Kcal |
| Distance exercises | 3,000 km. | 910 km. | 1,600 km. |
| Best time half marathon (skeelers) | 1:00:00 | 0:55:54 | 1:04:04 |
| Best time marathon (skeelers) | 2:00:00 | No workout | 2:37:36 |
My face hurts from smiling as I read this.
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