Well, here we go! Time to buckle up. From now on, I’m on the move, going from USST camp to SMST2 training in Vermont, to visiting Minnesota, to New Zealand, to Norway, back to Vermont….it’s going to be a busy, fun and productive summer! For full schedule details, check out my “schedule” page.
Before I begin all this traveling around and living out of a suitcase, I had a solid spring break at home with family and friends. It was practically perfect and a great balance of social time, relaxing time at home cuddling my dogs, clinics and events, and low key family nights!
Getting a slurp on the nose from our sort-of-newish family member, Pepe
Out in the park with Cass, my handsome little running buddy.
One of the most exciting things that happened when I got home from Costa Rica, was my friend Lydia’s wedding! She just became Lydia Eikevik, and I attended her wedding with a big group of my Stillwater high school ski teammates. Back in our senior year, we signed a “love pact”, and I can’t tell you everything it said. However, one major part was that we would all attend each other’s weddings.
Kristen, Emily, Me, Nora, Lydia, Gretchen, Emily, and Annie (photo from Nora)
People always say you lose touch with your high school friends – it’s inevitable. But there we were, whooping and cheering in the back row of the church as we watched our teammate take the next exciting step in her life! It was so fun to be there, see my Stillwater teammates again and watch Lydia be a beautiful bride. I am so happy for her!
And of course seeing all my SAHS teammates again was a blast! (photo from Kristen)
Continuing the series of mini-high school reunions, I had the good luck to be in town at the same time as many of the friends I graduated with. We got to have dinner together a few times, and it was fun to see that everyone is essentially the same. Well, maybe we got a little more mature, and we weren’t stressing about upcoming AP tests. Both are good changes!
Out to dinner in Minneapolis! Big city time with good friends is the best.
Later in the spring, my coach Cork and I had a mad scientist morning. We made 3D molds of my feet to ship to the Salomon guys in France! My feet are difficult as I have bone spurs on the backs of my heels, super flat feet and other weird pressure points, so Salomon is making me custom shoes and boots.
Proudly displaying my new 3D foot models!
Of course, that’s easier to do if they have my feet on hand, and since my travel schedule is already full for the summer we thought we’d send my feet to France even if I can’t go! Eric Packer came up with the method for making them, and was kind enough to send us a step-by-step guide which worked like a charm.
They are creepily realistic. Cork showing them off.
I heard that a Loppet Nordic Racing girls training camp was being hosted at Kris Hansen’s house over the weekend, so naturally I had to crash the camp and help coach at the workouts! Kris was my coach in high school, and we’ve stayed close over the years. I’m often over at the Bo-Hansen household because I love their whole family, and it was great to be able to roller ski and run with them while I was home.
On a run in the Afton state park (photo from Caitlin)
During the camp, which was coached by Caitlin Gregg, Kris and myself, we did a run in the Afton state park, a big long bike ride, strength and a classic roller ski. I was very impressed with the girls and their hard work.
The “mountain-bike-on-the-roads” group! I was part of this gang.
On an Afton roller ski with Siri and Kris!
The day before I left for Park City camp, I spent an afternoon at Finn Sisu, one of the major ski shops in the Midwest. I’ve always had an awesome relationship with the staff there and they are friendly and help keep my Marwe skis rolling smooth! I came to chat with local skiers and sign posters. A lot of the high school skiers from Central were there, and they showed me the music video their team made after being inspired by the US Team’s video! So cool. I love seeing teams that are clearly having fun on skis together, and they gave me a good laugh with the video, so I promised to share their link: https://vimeo.com/119814739
Last but not least, it was such a great spring for me because I was able to spend a lot of quality time with my family. I was home to see my sister Mackenzie in all 3 of her plays (she was in 3 at once! I’ll never know how she kept all her lines straight). I spent a lot of time gardening with my Mom and helping with house projects.
Mom with all the new flowers we got to plant on Mother’s Day
Dad mowing the lawn while our littlest dog “helps” him drive!
My morning routine became a stroll through the vegetable garden while sipping coffee and picking weeds or thinning out carrots. It was so relaxing and exactly the refreshing break I needed before coming back to my usual routine of camps and travel.
Making homemade gnocchi for dinner!
It’s hard to beat eating fresh vegetables that you’ve grown yourself! Mom harvesting some of the asparagus.
On a run with my parents in Willow River Park (excellent photo timing by my Mom)
