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Olympic Cross Country Skier

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Kikkan Randall’s Cancer Year – Part 1 by Marc Lester

December 15, 2018

For Kikkan Randall, a hero’s homecoming. Then, an alarming discovery.

Part 1, April: With her historic gold medal, the Anchorage ski racer returned to Alaska’s open arms. But her moment barely lasted.

First of six part series of words and photos by Marc Lester with the Anchorage Daily News:

Kikkan Randall stood on the concrete platform of Anchorage’s Town Square and looked out at the faces of her hometown. On a Wednesday afternoon in early April, this mountaintop view capped her 20-year journey as an athlete.

She saw her family sprinkled in the crowd. Her son sat on her husband’s shoulders. Her dad held up an oversized picture of her. At her feet, children looked up, just as she had gazed on her own Olympic heroes as a girl.

She was already one of the most recognized and respected athletes in Alaska history. As a gold medalist and a mother, she was starting a new life.

That life would last 39 days from that April afternoon. And then a new journey would begin for Randall. A cancer journey that would remake how she was seen and how she saw herself.

Anchorage had followed every step of Randall’s skiing career. In the months that followed, she also shared the intimate moments of her difficult cancer year with the Anchorage Daily News.

The story begins in Town Square, with Randall’s skiing teammates at her side, Olympians in their own right. She had insisted they also be recognized.

But the crowd had come to see her. She had won a historic gold medal at the Winter Olympics six weeks earlier, the first in her sport for an American. It felt like it was their medal too.

“Kikkan, to come back wearing that hefty gold around your neck, you wear it with pride,” said U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, on the steps with Randall. “But know that as Alaskans, we wear it with you.”

For the complete article click HERE.

To follow along with the 6 part series by Marc Lester click HERE.

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I feel out of shape! That’s what one voice insi I feel out of shape!  That’s what one voice inside my head is saying a lot these days. ⁣
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The last 6 weeks have been a struggle as a back injury, busyness, holiday schedules and some general malaise have totally thrown me off my workout routine.  Because of the back injury especially I haven’t been able to keep up the regular strength routines I’ve always done twice a week, even through pregnancy and cancer treatment, and I can feel muscle disappearing around my ribs.  Ahhhh!!!⁣
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While one voice inside me is panicking that I’m losing my edge, losing ground I’ll never get back, I’m trying really hard to listen to another voice.  A voice that reminds me that what’s happened has happened and I just need to be patient with myself to recover and get back to a place where I can start small and rebuild.  I am seeing small improvements every day and with consistency, I can work my way back up.⁣
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It’s funny how no matter what we do, there is always the battle of the two voices.  Sometimes one is louder than the other and sometimes you have to employ strategies to help amplify that positive you-can voice.  A key playlist has been helping me a lot and friends that encourage and give me more to think about than how I feel.⁣
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The new year is underway, no better time than to work back up.  Onward and upward! ⁣
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#itsgoingtobeok #patience #bekindtoyourself #buildbackin21 #friendshelpfriendsworkout #nofilter
Friday nights are a great time to get ready for yo Friday nights are a great time to get ready for your weekend adventures! A fresh layer of wax on the skis is always worth that extra 5 minutes!  Dreaming of fresh tracks! ⁣
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📸 by @stirlandraemediahaus ⁣
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#winterfun #beanoutsider #skiprep #livetoski
Going to have to ski a lot of Km’s to work these Going to have to ski a lot of Km’s to work these off!! Thanks @llbean for a sweet taste of Maine this holiday season! @wickedwhoopies #gottaearnit #beanoutsider
A little chilly but so beautiful to be out for a s A little chilly but so beautiful to be out for a ski with the birthday girl @johanneskelsey !  So fun to see the cousin I used to babysit now turning 18 and loving the fact we can ski together.  #cousin #familyski #livetoski #beanoutsider #alaska
2021... time for adventure!! Skis of all kinds are 2021... time for adventure!! Skis of all kinds are loaded up, we’re all bundled and ready for action! #llbeanambassador #beanoutsider #winteradventures #livetoski
Happy New Year!! Cheers to good health and new beg Happy New Year!! Cheers to good health and new beginnings in 2021!
Early morning walk to coffee under the full moon. Early morning walk to coffee under the full moon.  So great finding fun more ways to play as a family outside!  #afamilythatplaystogether #beanoutsider #kaladibrotherscoffee
To all the bunny rabbits 🐇 out there skiing, th To all the bunny rabbits 🐇 out there skiing, this is for you!! Having so much fun in the snow! #llbeanambassador #beanoutsider #livetoski #lovetoski
Merry Christmas everyone!! This as been quite a ye Merry Christmas everyone!! This as been quite a year. Despite it all we are filled with cheer!  Soaking in all the laughs and joys, as a little boy opens all his toys.  Grateful for family and friends far and near.  And big virtual hugs to close out the year! 🤗🤗🎄🎁 #merrychristmas2020
Happy Winter Solstice, it all gets brighter from h Happy Winter Solstice, it all gets brighter from here! ⁣
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As we add minutes of daylight each day don’t forget all the fun there is to be had by headlamp!  Trails and even off-track is just waiting to be explored!!⁣
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#winterplayground #beanoutsider
Seriously 2020?! Woke up to a giant tree through m Seriously 2020?! Woke up to a giant tree through my back windshield.  Using my “It’s Going to Be OK!” In overdrive these days!! Still went for a ski anyway which always helps me clear my head.  Charging on and can’t wait until Christmas!! #itsgoingtobeok #treeproblems
When the sky is dark and the snow is thin, always When the sky is dark and the snow is thin, always remember...it’s going to be OK! Keep it colorful! Last day to order online for Christmas delivery.  #hellokikkan #itsgoingtobeok
Working hard in my “other office” today! #llb Working hard in my “other office” today!  #llbeanambassador #beanoutsider
Sonic snow tubes make a perfect mommy taxi. Breck Sonic snow tubes make a perfect mommy taxi.  Breck’s first bunny rabbits 🐇 lesson today, so glad we can enjoy an outdoor sport together in these strange times! ⁣
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#llbeanambassador #beanoutsider #livetoski⁣
And that's a wrap! After a flurry of finals and te And that's a wrap! After a flurry of finals and term projects, I'm happy to say I'm finished with another semester at @alaskapacific . I'm ready for a few weeks off to enjoy the snow, but also looking forward to my next set of courses. APU classmates -- have you registered? Don't forget that last bit of homework and register for Spring 2021 today!  #activelearning
A couple of cookie bakers ready for action!! #holi A couple of cookie bakers ready for action!! #holidayseason #gingerbreadcookies
Things are looking up! Two weeks ago I had one of Things are looking up!  Two weeks ago I had one of those “I-guess-I’m-not-superhuman” moments when I tweaked my lower back.  Had to spend a week crawling around on the floor and have been unable to run, bike, ski or lift for 14 days 🙈. It’s really bummed me out and I’ve had to make good use out of my “it’s going to be ok” socks 🧦!!⁣
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Making steady progress now thanks to some great help from #nuvistachiropractic 😊. Going to test out a little easy skiing to start the week.  Really looking forward to getting outside again and enjoying some gentle movement.  It’s easy to take our ability to move for granted!!⁣
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#onthemend #patience #gettingbackontrack #beanoutsider
#tbt to my first trip to junior nationals circa 19 #tbt to my first trip to junior nationals circa 1998.  Early opportunities to race at more and more competitive levels was super important in my development and support from the National Nordic Foundation helped me get to those races.  I always felt I had an extra gear knowing how many people’s support was behind me!!⁣
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Now it’s my turn to support the next generation.  We have one week left in the NNF ‘Drive for 25’ and our athletes need your support!  Please join me in donating!! We are close to unlocking a $10K challenge grant, we just need a sprint finish!! ⁣Link in bio to donate!
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Extra points to who can name where JN’s were in 1998!!⁣
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#skierssupportingskiers #D25 #nextgeneration #teamusa @gonnf ⁣
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