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June 15th. It's Monday morning. I arrived in Toronto last Saturday the 6th. Finished school early so I could come visit my mom and sister AND to go to the Tony Robbins seminar- Unleash the Power Within.

This weekend, was the best weekend I EVER had, and I absolutely mean the BEST weekend! My mom went to this Tony Robbins seminar last year and her life completely changed afterwards. I didn't quite understand it at first and quite frankly, I never did. I was kinda' freaked out by the decisions she took and started to make. And I know she wanted me to go, right away but she never knew when he would come to Toronto again. earlier this year I found out he was coming. Mom had bought me a ticket but then I also applied for the Youth Leadership Program they have. So I get accepted and that gives me a free ticket to the seminar.

So there's this HUGE guy; 6ft7 who is more fit than my whole team put together, and he's got the energy and passion that I think not only the whole world needs, but all athletes for sure! And the cool thing is, he's also really funny and in great shape for 49 years of age! He doesn't even look 49.

This weekend has made me realize what I am capable of, and I can go on talking about it forever but most of you won't really understand certain things, just like I didn't understand my mom back then. I just want to say that I learned that I am capable of doing ABSOLUTELY everything I want to. That is going to start with me raising more than enough money for my skating season by July 15th. I had a stupid belief that was terrorizing me, that I couldn't ever skate again because of the $3500.00 I have to raise by the end of July.

I met such amazing people and the energy that Tony gave out was so great, that I feel like I'm actually a superhuman and well, I now know that I have been living the wrong way all this time. The mood I was in this weekend, and that I am in now, is something I don't ever want to lose. I also realized that the high standards I had in life, are actually great to have because I don't settle for less than my absolute best.

We did this process called the Dickens Process, which is what changed me most. I won't go into it a lot because it's so much to talk about. But basically, we all had to imagine living in the future with 3 of our limiting beliefs. I chose to focus on my main one, which was the money fundraising. I don't cry easily, and I stood there for 5 minutes around people who were bawling. It then hit me so hard, that I just completely fell to the ground and was crying hysterically. I could NOT ever, EVER live my life in the way I imagined it at that moment. When Tony said to imagine ourselves a decade from now, I totally thought I wasn't going to be alive anymore. Only because it would take me such a long time to get over something like speed skating or just being a failure to myself and not achieving what I wanted. I would beat myself up for it, for ever. Life will NEVER be the same.

The weekend also had its ups and downs. Our group leader, Richard Bradshaw told us of this contest where our fellow youth group members would pick a leader at the end of the weekend, that would go to this Leadership Boot Camp at the end of July in San Diego. One of Tony's camps. I was really going for it, but I think it was nice if someone else got the chance to go, and experience it. Although I needed those essential skills for my public speaking career, I somehow changed my state of mind so fast, that I did not get mad. I would normally be really sad, and pissed off, but then I realized that the girl who got it, has SUCH a GREAT personality at 13 years of age...and she definitely deserves it. I have things going for me already.

Afterwards, I moved to the front row and I was standing right in front of THE Tony Robbins. The energy intake was so intense and way different than sitting in the back. I actually learned more in those few hours I was in the front, than I have when I was in the back. He hears this all the time, but he really IS such an amazing/fantabulous/great/OUTSTANDING/unique person who I owe everything to. You know that I can't get anywhere without my fans and support from my peers, and family. Well I can tell you this: if it wasn't for Mr Robbins, it would have probably been a painful journey to get the Olympics and maybe a long one too. He is the man who changed my life and that I will NEVER forget. EVER. If I had to share my gold medal with anybody, I would share it with the two most significant people in my life at this moment, and with my fans/supporters and family...from now on. The two people are my mom Sanda, and Tony. You seriously have no idea who I've become. I'm shocked myself, trust me. ;) Mr. Robbins, you had such a big impact on my life! PS- His father in law had a stroke on Saturday. His name is Bill. I just want to say that any prayers are so much more than welcome. I've been praying for him and I also lit a candle last night, and I know he'll come out of it strong!!!

The next step for me, from here is to go to Date with Destiny which is another one of Tony's seminars. He actually speaks all 6 days there! Unlike this weekend where Scott talked 2 of the days. But that's totally fine. I'm not sure yet how much it costs, but I know it's over $5000 dollars and it will take me quite a while to get there because of the financial issues am having with my career right now. But it's weird because I would actually put skating on hold for a while, so I can go to Date With Destiny. I don't know how to explain it but I just got this feeling, from sitting in front of him, like I can do anything!!I don't want to lose that feeling. And also that I wanted to be a part of his work and what he does. I am just so passionate for all he's done, that truly, it scares people.

I have a question I would like to ask him. I do hope that in the near future I will have that chance. I'm even going to tell him that I don't want to waste my questions and that's why there's just one important one I have to ask. But I'll wait for when the time comes. Not if. Cause it will. I just don't know how in the world I will but I will one day.

Well it's 3 am on Monday morning, so I think some sleep would be quite nice. I will keep you posted in July! Talk to you soon, and thanks for checking my website ;) Love, Alex.

The 08-09 season has finished. We had one competition at the end on the year, which was called the Intact Olympic Oval Finale. It used to be called the ING Finale.

I started getting sick, and didn't have energy for racing...yet I got a PB in my worst race; the 1500m. I finished the season off with a 2:09:55

In the 3000m I came 0.01 seconds away from my PB which is a 4:36:15. I skated a 4:36:16. Cool hey?

In the 1000m....same thing! My PB is a 1:23:75 and I skated 1:23:80.

And in the 500m I went in the 41's, getting a 41.72 on the last day of racing. For me personally I didn't think this year's Finale was a success for me only because I was hoping of skating in the 40's. But being sick hasn't allowed me to achieve that goal...mentally. Therefore I couldn't physically.

From my coach's perspective, it was a very successful Finale because I skated up there where all my PB's were. I guess looking at it that way, then it really was successful seeing as I have not gone anywhere near a 4:36 in my 3000m, since November.

Now we have a break, and we are all waiting to hear which coach we will have next season, and waiting for the summer dry-land training season to begin!

I am going home to Toronto to visit my parents on June 1st. I will stay for 3 weeks-1 month, and then visit my grandparents in Europe for 2 weeks. Then I will return to Calgary to start ice training on July 6th!

I will keep you all posted on how dry-land training goes!

Alex

PS- The picture is from the 10km Mass Start I took part in. Finished with a time of 16:16:40

Vancouver 2010 Venue. Richmond B.C. Slower ice, but great grip in the corners. That ice makes you work, since you don't get a lot of glide when you push. Unlike Calgary.

Placed 10th in the 500m
9th in the 1000m
19th in the 1500m
27th in the 3000m
Then I came to Calgary for North Americans and I won silver in the 500m, Junior B Ladies, by 0.01 seconds from Gold. J. Kemp and I tied on the 2nd day and on the first she skated a 41.36 and I skates a 41.37 ( NEW PB!!!!)

I got a PB in every race except the 3000m.

http://speedskatingresults.com/index.php?p=17&s=8510


This week I am getting into some short track to work on my corners, and I will race R U FAST (Short track competition) on Feb 27-1.

:)

Alex

Hello All,
It's the 20th of January and a lot of things have happened since I wrote last, on November the 20th.

I have skated one Canada Cup so far, and am leaving to Vancouver on Tuesday the 27th on January, for Canada Cup 2, in Richmond BC.

In CC1 I skated a Personal Best time in the 1000m. 1:24:01

I have decided to focus more on my technique and improving little things that will help me get faster in the long run. I won't focus on going fast right now. I want to work on those aspects, and learn how to apply the things we learn in practice, to competition and racing.

Coming into the New Year I have some new goals that I would like to achieve. They are short term and long term. One of them is what I stated above. Most of them have to do with skating since it is the main thing I am focusing on right now, other than school.

Second Semester starts in February and I will be taking Art, Biology, Math and English. My academic goal for second semester is to finish the year with an avg. of 89 percent.

I will keep you posted on CC2, Day after Day.
Stay tuned,
Alex Ianculescu

Hi! Today was the last day for me in the Can-Ams. I raced 5 races overall in this competition. Thursday November 20th I had a 500m where I skated quite slow. Finished with the slowest time this season, of 42.75. Later on that day I PB'd in the 1000m, with a new time of 1:24,91. The next day, Friday November 21st, I raced another 500m and I FINALLY got under 42 seconds. I finished with a time of 41.69! I am so happy. Then later on that day I had a 1500 where I also PB'd, and had a new time of 2:12,10. I cut off 6 seconds and I'm pretty happy but not too happy about it. Today, Saturday November 22nd, I raced a 3000m against Megan Foss of the USA. Start was fast, and the 1st lap was a second faster than what I was aiming for. The final time: 4:36,15. Shaved off 4 seconds from the old PB. Overall it went amazing, it was tiring and the hard work payed off. Now we are starting our sprint part of the season where we are working on sprints, so I am VERY excited for that, because I am a sprinter. I will keep you all posted. Will post new pictures as soon as I get them from the photographers. Alexandra Ianculescu.

Last weekend I raced a 3000m and I cut off another 12 seconds off my last PB, and I am now down to a 4:40:30, 3000m time.

This weekend we are racing a 500 and the 1500. This month we are working on middle distance. We are in the middle of a build right now and it is hard but the results in the end are rewarding.

I also coach ABS (absolute speed) and it is great!

I will keep you posted!

Alex

Three 500s have gone by.

1st Race-of-the-season day

Hi all!