The Winter Olympics are in full swing, but you do not have to turn on your television to see some speed skating. You can find all the action right here in Lima.
It is probably not the first recreational sport that comes to mind but Edgewood Skate Arena and Grand Lake Skate U.S.A. in St. Marys both have speed skating teams open to everyone from novice skaters to those with a little more experience.
Daniel Moore, who coaches both the Edgewood and Grand Lake Skate teams says that not only is speed skating a low cost/high fun sport, but athletes in sports like football, track, and baseball could actually benefit from lacing up skates in their off season.
"It helps with socialization and then with the skating aspect of the league, it helps with balance and it carries over into school sports as well," says Moore. "You're building your leg muscles, endurance, with speed skating."
But perhaps on of the most important aspects of speed skating is the camaraderie that forms on and off the rink.
"The companionship and how everyone gets along," says speed skater Ray Sherman. "Don't matter where you're from, how good you are, everybody gets along, has a good time."
It can also be a good confidence booster for kids like Aarika Morse, who says speed skating helped her come out of her shell.
"I was awkward around people sometimes, but this gave me a lot of friends, so much that I really don't know what to do," says Morse. "I also love just skating. Skating is my passion, I love skating. It's one of my favorite things to do, my way to blow off steam."
If you want to try out speed skating for yourself, stop by Edgewood Skate Arena or Grand Lake Skate U.S.A. to learn more.
