Summer’s Over!!! Time for Fall

Go! Training at the last Afton workout!

My summer has been the busiest I can ever remember. I spent most of my time working with the kids at the Harrison Community Center, as part of my In-The-Arena project, but I also had time to  get out and enjoy some training time with the Go! Training group and Piotr Bednarski (my hometown coach for many many years). I love training with this group because the workouts are hard the focus is high but we always seem to have fun!

The kids at the Harrison Community Center have been a blast. I worked with the Track Team on Tuesday and Thursday and in the Art Room on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The track team met in the firld behind the center and spent their workouts running around backstops and park benches trying to simulate a 400 Meter Track. I love this type of training! Last year I didn’t get to go to Whistler during the spring or summer before the Olympics so I had to find terrain here in Minneapolis that mimicked the course best. Of course I went to Edina!

Here we are at the End of Year Banquet. My car wasn’t running and I was up in Hayward coaching at the CXC Junior Birkie Camp but thanks to the gracious help from the Hanson family I was able to make it in time:)

 The Community Center was able to score some tickets to the Twins Game in August and I was psyched to accompany the kids to everyone’s first time in the new outdoor stadium. It was amazing!!! As we left the lights were amazing and it reminded me of the opening ceremonies as we walked onto the stadium floor. Such a cool experience.

The Twins Crew

As I mentioned my work at the park also includes working in the Art Room. I have a B.F.A. so getting the opportunity to re-connect with that side of my life was great. I realized how much I love art and design and it was wonderful, although sometimes challenging and messy experience, to share my love with the kids at the Community Center.

Talent!

The Girls' Mural

 I can’t express how fantastic it is that the Harrison Community Center provides both an Art Room with Supplies and the Gym with Equipment. Sports and the Arts are programs that are being cut all over the country in schools and it is so important for these kids to learn new skills and remain active and express themselves in constructive ways like art. I have been working with kids who may never be able to afford to Cross Country Ski Race at the level I have but they listen and glow with excitement when they ask about the Olympic Games.

In front of the Harrison Art Wall

I think the greatest part of my Olympic Journey has been the last 6 months. More then the race or the places, the Olympic Quest is something that many people are intrigued and inspired by. I know while I was growing up it only took one slideshow from Marc Gilbertson to convince me that I wanted to put everything into making an Olympic Team and performing my best. I hope that for the rest of my life I am able to continue this message and inspire both kids and adults to give their all and shoot for the stars.

My new Training Partner Rocci!!!

I haven’t left Minneapolis very much this summer which has given me extra opportunities to join lots of local training groups and attend fun events like the Ringer Roll held at Baker Park. While I was at the Ringer Roll I met a new friend Rocci! She is one of the most talented little skiers I have ever seen! This girl has got absolutely amazing techinique, a great motor, and even better an awesome attitude. Rocci and I will training together this fall and winter so if you are in the Twin Cities look out for us!!!

Classic Skiing on the Coulee

Fall is in the air and I love it! I am looking forward to getting in a little more training and preparation for the upcoming season.  My car died almost a month ago and yesterday was the last time the Dodge will roll away. I have been biking, rollerskiing and carpooling everywhere which has been very environmentally friendy. Fortunately I live in a great spot for not owning a car because of all the bike paths and mass transit and I can do most of my training out my door in Theo Wrth Park.

Goodbye Dodge :(