Not Just the Athlete Needs Focus and Dedication

Hello! My name is Jennifer FitzRandolph.  My husband, Casey, is on the U.S. National Sprint Speedskating Team.  Casey and I have been together since March of 1998, a little over 7 years now.  WOW! How time flies!  We have been through many interesting changes in our 7-year life as a couple.  I learned early on in our relationship that to be a world-class athlete and champion, focus and dedication by the athlete AND the people around them are crucial to success.  Little did I know that my dedication to my best friend’s dream would take me on adventures I never even fathomed.  As with many athletes, we’ve been through many ups and downs through the years. Many lessons have been learned and many tears of joy and sorrow have been shed. 

Our relationship would be tested within the first 6 months, when we found out my mother was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer.  Casey was a wonderful support through all the stress, worry, and emotional roller coasters we were all riding. Then about 7 months later, Casey casually asked if I would ever consider living in Canada.  I smiled and for some reason, “Sure, why not,” came out of my mouth.  I had a mother dying of cancer, my dream job teaching kindergarten, and wonderful family and friends around; but I knew that moving to Canada was going to help make Casey’s dreams come true. One of the most important lessons I learned from my mother was to never give up on your own dreams.  We were moving to Calgary to help fulfill Casey’s dream, so to make sure my dreams were still on track, I made sure I would be able to progress in my teaching career as well.  I couldn’t teach in Canada due to immigration laws, so I decided to continue my education and work towards my Masters Degree in Curriculum, Teaching and Learning. So with my mother’s blessings that July, Casey proposed to me and we packed the U-haul up and drove the 2000 miles from Milwaukee to Verona to Calgary.  We moved into our first place together in the pouring rain…I still remember eating a romantic meal of pizza and soda on the floor of the condo that first night.  I started graduate school at the University of Calgary that next month and worked at the front desk at the Olympic Oval on campus.  It turned out that this would be one of the best decisions we would make in Casey’s speedskating career and our lives for that matter. 

I learned over the next few years that it wasn’t making sacrifices that were necessary for dreams to come true.  It was seeing sacrifices as opportunities in disguise. And that staying focused and dedicated to a dream will always create fabulous opportunities!  Had we not been willing to make these life-changing moves, we may not have experienced many of our most cherished memories and moments!  Throughout these 3 years we lived in Calgary, we lost an amazing mother to brain cancer, we got to experience the great Canadian outdoors, Casey was in a life-changing car accident, September 11th happened, I received my Masters Degree in Education, we made amazing life-long friends, and Casey got the training he needed to become a 2002 Olympic Gold Medallist.

As with most life altering events, wisdom was gained and appreciation for our amazing lives was made even clearer to us. Each of these trials brought Casey and I closer to each other and helped to build an unbreakable bond we now share. After a 3-year engagement, on July 20, 2002, Casey and I exchanged our vows in front of family and friends at the Fitz’s home in Verona.

We lived in Madison for a year, while Casey took the year off and I had a chance, once again, to be a full-time teacher. After 22 years of training and competing, Casey deserved a vacation and time away from speedskating to replenish his energies both physically and mentally. Casey had a chance as well to be a proud papa.  We had a wonderful addition to our family that Fall.  Kea, our Springer Spaniel, was a fabulous wedding present that has given us laughs and loving, has tested our patience, and taught us that there is endless energy for some.

Following this year of hunting, fishing, speaking engagements, philanthropy, and relaxing, we decided to make the long trek back to Calgary. Yet another tough decision, since we had once again made more special friends who we were now leaving. We were in the middle of building our first home together back in Madison, but the season was starting! So off we went!  Leaving the building supervision to Casey’s dad, Jeff. 
We lived one more season in Calgary, while Casey trained under Sean Ireland with Jeremy Wotherspoon and Mike Ireland.  I nannied full-time for the Ireland’s two boys and two wonderful girls next door. Casey had a decent season, but he was feeling the pull to move back to the States to train with the U.S. Team. After a month or so of assessing the situation, we decided to make the move to Salt Lake City. That spring the Calgary Olympic Oval was having their annual “Ice Out” party, and all our friends and Casey’s teammates were there. I pulled aside all the girls, fighting back tears, and let them know we were moving in July to Salt Lake City.  I had to ask them not to say anything, because Casey had not yet gotten up the courage to inform his buddies or his coaches yet.  I still remember the reluctance and almost fear Casey had telling the guys we were leaving.  Later that night, at a gathering in our home, with tears rolling down his face, Casey took the opportunity to share with everyone our news.

So, this past summer, we once again packed our things into a U-haul truck and made our way over the boarder into Salt Lake City. I got a wonderful job working for Sylvan Learning Centers as their District Education Manager and now District Manager.  Casey had another decent first season in the U.S. However, he came down with some odd European flu-like illness the last month and had trouble finishing out the season in March. He is back now training twice a day, 6 days a week while he prepares for this next Olympic Season!

Overall, dedication has been the integral part of our successes over the years.  It is the focus on all the little things that has helped Casey become a successful athlete.  Throughout the years, making sure Casey has a well balanced diet each day, rests when he needs to, is even left alone to his own thoughts is a never ending balancing act for me.  I would never in a million years give back all the wonderful experiences and opportunities we have been given.  They have challenged us at times, and they have made us better people along the way.  After all, life is what we make of it. The experiences we have are only as great as the lessons learned!

-- Jennifer FitzRandolph
     (proud wife, best-friend and teacher)