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Olympic Cross Country Skier

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Kikkan Randall’s cancer year – Part 5

December 20, 2018

With family in mind, Kikkan Randall fights cancer for the life she had planned after racing

Part 5, October: Randall wasn’t the only one whose life changed once she was diagnosed with cancer. Her family changed, too.  By Marc Lester.

Fifth of six parts

Kikkan Randall, groggy and sick, passed her Olympic gold medal through the airport security scanner as she returned to her family in British Columbia in October. Winning it seven months earlier seemed a lifetime ago.

Randall had been slow to fall asleep the night before, suspended by medicine-induced hot flashes and recurring, unpleasant thoughts. At a coffee stand before boarding her plane, she was brief with a fan. Her stomach tumbled.

This was Randall’s harshest chemotherapy aftermath yet. Seated on the plane, she covered her mouth with a mask, folded her body forward on her tray table, and closed her eyes. Reading lights reflected off her bald head.

In Penticton, her toddler was also miserable. Breck, 2, was in the grip of an ugly cold. Randall’s husband, Jeff Ellis, had planned for a walk outside their hillside home in southcentral British Columbia, but Breck wasn’t having it. He was nearly inconsolable when they loaded him into the minivan for a soothing fall drive instead.

This is a family constantly recalibrating.

Randall held her son’s hand as Ellis drove the minivan across the bucolic countryside of vineyards and orchards. They moved here weeks after Randall’s final race, but six months later, preoccupied with her cancer, there were still many roads unexplored and experiences on hold.

For the complete article click HERE.

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A perfect Mother’s Day, spent all outside ☀️ A perfect Mother’s Day, spent all outside ☀️! Being a Mom is the best job I’ve ever had, learned from the best role model a kid could ask for!  Celebrating all the Moms out there and just soaking in the family time ❤️! ⁣
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Time to get your boots wet! 💦⁣. Just because Time to get your boots wet! 💦⁣. Just because it’s looking a little messy out there doesn’t mean there’s not fun to be had… for all ages! Nothing better than an exploratory walk to connect three generations.⁣
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#llbeanambassador #beanoutsider #springslush #beanboots
Probably one of the last snow bike rides of the se Probably one of the last snow bike rides of the season but a fun way to get out and appreciate our great planet on Earth 🌍 Day! ⁣
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This winter has been especially epic snow-wise ❄️ so we’re getting to enjoy 😊 our favorite winter activities a little longer.  I really hope we can all work together and do our part to preserve winter for generations to come! ⁣
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#earthday #protectourwinters #beanoutsider
Because, how can you not have fun brushing your te Because, how can you not have fun brushing your teeth in matching pajamas 😂. Got our day off to the right start!

#llbeanambassador #matchingonesies
Awesome day adventuring in the mountains 🏔️ w Awesome day adventuring in the mountains 🏔️ with several other families.  So fun to take parenting out of the box and bring the kids along for a favorite pastime from life before kids.  The kids got a great ride and the parents got a great workout!! ⁣
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It was a good reminder how energizing it can be to be out in the mountains, entertaining ourselves with snow, sticks and great company!! ⁣
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#llbeanambassador #beanoutsider #adventurewithkids #snowfun
It was a snowy Easter Egg hunt this year, made it It was a snowy Easter Egg hunt this year, made it a little tricky to find some or them!  This has been the winter that just won’t stop and we are loving the extra chance to play in the snow! ⁣
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Sweet sunshine and fresh tracks!! Hoppy 🐰 Frida Sweet sunshine and fresh tracks!! Hoppy 🐰 Friday everyone!! #anchoragenordicski #springskiing
Finally found the sun ☀️ in Sun Valley! Had a Finally found the sun ☀️ in Sun Valley!  Had a great family ski day with three generations!  So fun that we can all ski together. ⁣
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A fun mother-son day aboard the NSAA Ski Train 🚂 !  Took a 4-hr train ride into the wilderness and then got to hop off and ski for a few hours before enjoying some live polka band entertainment on the way home.  I brought the tow strap so we could cover a bit more ground. ⁣
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It was fun to be on my OTX backcountry Nordic boards to explore off track for a change! ⁣
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I feel so lucky to be able to share the wonders of Alaska’s outdoor playground with Breck. ⁣
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#skitrain⁣
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Having an amazing visit to Holmenkollen! It’s b Having an amazing visit to Holmenkollen!  It’s been 5 years since I had been back.  So many friends to hug and high five.  A long trip just for the weekend but so worth it!  And the racing has been fantastic.  Can’t wait to see the women race 50k today for the first time, they are going to crush it! ⁣
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#holmenkollenskifestival ⁣
#oslo ⁣
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Beautiful March days ☀️are a great time to sha Beautiful March days ☀️are a great time to share the joy of sliding on snow.  Thanks to some friends from the local oncology community for joining me on the trails and being partners in promoting exercise as medicine!⁣
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#advancedoncologyassociates ⁣
#anchorage ⁣
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Happy Anniversary @jessiediggins !! Hard to believ Happy Anniversary @jessiediggins !! Hard to believe it’s been 5 years since this amazing night, it still feels like yesterday.  So fun to see all that you and the team have done since 💪🏻!⁣
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Today I take a moment to close my eyes and relive that most incredible feeling of satisfaction for what we accomplished together and my supreme gratitude for all the people that were part of making it happen. ⁣
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Cheers 🥂 🇺🇸🏅🎉 ⁣
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📸 @flyingpoint 
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#oneteam ⁣
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Excited and proud to be speaking today at TEDx Anc Excited and proud to be speaking today at TEDx Anchorage 2023. The theme is ENTROPY and it’s been quite the journey to bring some chaotic ideas together for my presentation tonight. ⁣
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Feeling the nerves like an Olympic race, time to get the butterflies in formation!  It’s already been awesome getting to know the inspiring cast of speakers… there are definitely going to be #ideasworthspreading !! ⁣
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#tedxanchorage ⁣
#entropy
Happy Valentines Day ❤️! Love comes from many Happy Valentines Day ❤️! Love comes from many places and Breck and I are super lucky to have such a fun and amazing family that rallies for an early morning celebratory breakfast!
Hey ski fans, fun news to share… Chad Samela and Hey ski fans, fun news to share… Chad Samela and I will be commentating the upcoming World Championships on @skiandsnowboard.live with the @usskiteam !  Action starts Feb 22nd.  Tune in and join us! 🥇🥈🥉🎿🌎🎉 ⁣
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Happy National Girls & Women in Sports Day! So ma Happy National Girls & Women in Sports Day!  So many of my favorite memories from sport have come from the women I’ve learned from, the teammates that have made the days so memorable and  from all the things we were able to accomplish TOGETHER. Today we celebrate the victories, the near misses, and the moments of courage just to get out there. ⁣
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#gogirls ⁣
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Fantastic weekend sharing ski tips and stories wit Fantastic weekend sharing ski tips and stories with at the inaugural Ski de She weekend!! A big thanks to @fischernordic for bringing me in and to the @americanbirkebeiner team for putting on a great event!! #livetoski #birkie #skideshe #womenwhoski
Puffed up and ready for a chilly day out at the @a Puffed up and ready for a chilly day out at the @americanbirkebeiner Ski de She!  It’s race day! ⁣
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