Okay, so for the past four years I have been doing my summer season dryland training all over the place - at the Squamish Athletic Club (shout out to Dom, the owner, who has been my workout procrastination wingman for almost to two years now), at the PacSport gym in Whistler, on random hills and in random back alleys around town (creeping locals out since 2006 ... ), in my living room and front yard (creeping my cats and neighbours out since 2007)...

Okay, so after a brief absence from cyberspace, I am back.

What's that you ask? Why haven't I been supplying you with your regular dose of cynical, indiscrimate, irrevent and unapologetic sarcasm for the past two months? How 'bout I just go ahead and summarize?

So, when you saunter into the skeleton world as a newbie you start hearing stories from faraway lands. Stories about the kreisel in Altenberg, where you will probably die on your first run down. Stories about the roman baths where everyone swims naked. Stories about the everflowing fountains of chocolate milk at the Lake Placid training centre. Stories about the outlet mall in Park City. Stories about the schnitzel stands at the bottom of the track in Winterberg and reminders to tuck money into your speedsuit so that you can buy a bratwurst and glüwein after your runs.

We had our first set of circuit races here in Königssee this weekend, and the result was ... well, to be perfectly honest ... it was pretty sweet. I think the brilliance that is my second-place-trophy-slash-candy-dish says it all ...