What a great year, it has been so fun! I'm already excited for the next one :).
After 5 months on the road, it feels extremely good to be home. I arrived back in Anchorage this last Friday and the last three days have passed by like a snap of the fingers. I'm back in snow country, the reason I live in Alaska! My ski season ended last Thursday, so I have had a few days to think about what a great year I have had. I have also tried to take a bit of time to unwind a little bit! Being on the road for so long and always focused on the next race has a stress that I am need to become more familiar with. As an elite athlete, one puts a lot of pressure on themselves to perform. I set some high goals for myself this last year and I now feel more than in years past, how important it is. I'm super excited and feel more energized than ever before, as I accomplished many of my goals. Some of the events I might have liked to have done better and some events were beyond my goals. I feel very lucky and I know that all that I accomplished is nothing I can take for granted. I do feel like I worked hard for this success, but I also realize many of my friends and other elite athletes have also worked hard and have had the same goals as I do, so I must continue to give everything I can to accomplish what I am set out to do. I'm am super proud to represent the US ski team as we are on a roll that every country is acknowledging! It is super exciting.
Photo Credit: USST
One thing I have been reflecting on the last few days is how amazing people have been to support me this year. I raced more this year then I ever have, I traveled to more countries, stayed in more hotels, and traveled on more airplanes then I ever have in a ski season. None of this was cheap and none of it would have been possible without all the generous people who have helped me over the years. A special thanks to NNF for their support to nordic skiers. A big shout out to all of you that support them who support us!
Last week I finished off the season in Truckee, California. The last race series was the Super Tour Finals/ Distance Nationals. I went into the ski races not knowing how I would perform and I had the feeling that the best of my season was over. After winning the first race by over 14 seconds I realized that I was feeling good and that the body was not done for the season. The second day I came in 2nd place and that is when I realized I might have a shot at coming out of the four day race series on the podium. Going into the last race I was sitting in first, but was being chased by Kris Freeman, a three time Olympian and one of my biggest idles. I didn't sleep much that night, thinking I had a chance to take the overall win. It was a great battle the last half of the race and I'm supper proud to say I was able to come out on top. I consider it to be my biggest athletic accomplish yet and it is so motivating to want to train even harder this summer going into the Olympic year.
Again, thanks to my coaches, the wax techs, my competitors and my friends and supporters for making this season one of the best.
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