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Olympic Cross Country Skier

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Small Steps

December 15, 2014

We’re now three weekends into the 2014-15 World Cup season.  While it’s been a slower start than I had hoped for, I am seeing small improvements every week.

Last weekend we had a 3-day mini-tour in Lillehammer.  It was a tough start on day 1 when I failed to advance to the quarterfinals in the skate sprint, my first time not in the top 30 since 2009.

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How I felt after a couple days of tough racing in Lillehammer.

I felt slightly better, but still not fast enough in the individual start 5km, and then moved up just a few places in the 10km classic pursuit start to finish my tour out of the points.  I had to look at the racing as putting money in the bank for the future.

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Bundled up but still psyched for winter!

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We had amazingly beautiful sunrise ski in Sjusjoen before leaving Norway.

This past weekend in Davos I chose to opt out of Saturday’s distance race in favor of preserving energy for the skate sprint.  I made some small improvements, just sneaking into the top-30 with a 28th in qualification.  In my quarterfinal round I had a few small glimpses of good form and was able to feel some of my gears coming back. A small step in the right direction.

The races for this coming weekend have been moved from La Clusaz, France back here to Davos due to lack of snow and the original program has been changed to include another skate sprint.  So luckily for me, I get another shot to improve further this coming weekend.

When young skiers ask me for advice on what it takes to become a top international skier, I always talk about Patience.  I’ve been really fortunate over the last several years to have enjoyed a string of really strong performances.  So far this season however, I am needing to follow my own advice.  The biggest goals of the season still lay a couple months ahead in February.  From now until then, it’s important to just focus on making small improvements every week.

Onward and upward!!

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At the beginning of the week in Davos we were only able to ski on a 1.2km loop, it got a bit crowded!

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Davos feels like a home away from home, here a beautiful cappuccino from the Kaffe Klatsch!

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Pretty lucky to have my Hubby with me on this great adventure, he even gets to sneak away from his FIS work to ski with me sometimes 🙂

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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 ⁣
#girlsinsport⁣
#womensupportingwomen
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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#llbeanambassador ⁣
#beanoutsider ⁣
#skideshe
Breck’s first XC ski race! It’s been super fu Breck’s first XC ski race!  It’s been super fun to share something that’s been such a big part of my life and see his enthusiasm growing.  The ice cream treat capped a great day😜! ⁣
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A big thanks to our amazing community, @anchoragenordicski and the Sons of Norway, and all the volunteers, for making it a fun day! ⁣
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#skifamily ⁣
#breckreation ⁣
#livetoski ⁣
#beanoutsider ⁣
#anchorage⁣
Doubles biathlon…new sport? ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ #momspor Doubles biathlon…new sport? ⁣
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#momsport
Let gravity do the work for a change. Great views Let gravity do the work for a change.  Great views and nice conditions for a family ski at @resortalyeska !! #skialaska #livetoski
Ski marathons are a new challenge for me and somet Ski marathons are a new challenge for me and something I’ve had to learn a lot about.  So I’m sharing some of my tips and tricks on @untappedmaple blog.  See the link in my profile.
Made it 40km for 40 today with a 30km skate race a Made it 40km for 40 today with a 30km skate race and an extended cool down.  Hurt so good and made the pizza after taste even better.  Thanks to teammate @hollybrooksllc for convincing me to start off the new year with a bang! ⁣
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#40for40 #icicledouble #thatwashard #livetoski
Had amazing help celebrating my 40th birthday with Had amazing help celebrating my 40th birthday with family and friends!  Feels pretty special to have completed my 4th decade with so many great memories along the way.  Can’t wait to see what the next 40 bring! #thisis40 #40andfab #cheerstothenext40
Sledding 🛷and sunshine ☀️ makes the season Sledding 🛷and sunshine ☀️ makes the season bright! ⁣
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#llbeanambassador #beanoutsider #winterfamily
Merry Christmas from the ski trails! Nothing beat Merry Christmas from the ski trails!  Nothing beats gliding through the snow on a two horse pair of Fischer Speedmax.  Extra fun with friends!⁣
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#merrychristmas #livetoski #beanoutsider
Fun couple of days coaching in the Okanagan. Cold Fun couple of days coaching in the Okanagan.  Cold must have followed me down from Alaska though, it was chilly 🥶! We were pretty bundled up but it was great to be able to share some tips, tricks and stories from my World Cup days.  Lots of enthusiasm and love for XC skiing! ⁣
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Thanks @glennbondevents for setting up these camps! ⁣
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#livetoski #coachkikkan #sharethelove
Records are made to be broken! Congrats to my tea Records are made to be broken!  Congrats to my teammate @jessiediggins for becoming the winningest U.S. Cross Country skier of all time!  Taking home the cheese (and the sled) in Davos for lucky #14!  So proud of this sparkle chipmunk and the champion she has become!  #usskiteam #smilesformiles
Another snow day!! ❄️❄️ 18 inches fell ove Another snow day!! ❄️❄️ 18 inches fell overnight adding to the 24 inches we got last week.  4th day of school cancelled so working from home today.  Had to take a “snow break”! ⁣
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#llbeanambassador ⁣
#snowday ⁣
#snowbreak
The Moms raced, the kids cheered (and sledded) wit The Moms raced, the kids cheered (and sledded) with Grand Dude.  Oh boy, I forgot how much racing hurts 😛. But also how good it feels afterwards 🥳 !!⁣
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Fun racing the local AMH Anchorage Cup series after watching all the great World Cup action all weekend.  Got inspired by the US team to pull out the relay socks 🇺🇸 🧦!!⁣
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#livetoski #skiracing #hurtssogood #anchoragenordicski #amhcup
Snow day fun continued into the night with a light Snow day fun continued into the night with a light tour to the sledding hill.  I feel like a kid on Christmas with all this snow.  It’s been especially fun to share the snow adventures with Breck! ⁣
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#llbeanambassador #snowday #nightski #beanoutsider #livetoski
Turkey trot to start the day 🏃🏼‍♀️🦃 Turkey trot to start the day 🏃🏼‍♀️🦃! So fun to be out with the masses shaking out the legs and getting the furnace running hot for the big dinner.  Made it a full family affair! ⁣
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Thanks @skinnyravensports for a great event. ⁣
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#turkeytrot ⁣
#gobblegobble ⁣
#familyfun ⁣
#funrun
Saddle up, it’s time to JOIN the @gonnf Drive fo Saddle up, it’s time to JOIN the @gonnf Drive for 25 Core Challenge!  Only happening this week to support the future of U.S. Cross Country! ⁣
1. Donate $25 this week (link in bio) ⁣
2. Try this core challenge ⁣
3.  Challenge your friends to join the challenge ⁣
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NNF supports developing Nordic athletes from across the 🇺🇸 ranging from financial support for training camps all the way to World Cup races!! ⁣
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So many crucial experiences along my 20yr Olympic career were made possible from the support from NNF and today’s and tomorrow’s skiers need our support more than ever!! I hope you’ll join us in this challenge to spark some energy in your day and help support this important cause!! ⁣
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I challenge @hollybrooksllc @idasargent and @laura.mccabe.129 !! ⁣
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#gonnf #drivefor25 #nationalnordicfoundation #crosscountryskiing #americanskiing #strongertogether
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