Thank You and the Importance of Believing in Yourself no matter what!

Two weeks later I am still revisiting one of the most amazing days of my ski racing career! I am so happy to be a part of US Nordic Skiing history and I am forever grateful for the support and encouragement I have received from hundreds (maybe thousands) of people and companies over the entirety of my ski career! Brian has been the biggest supporter of my skiing and life and he believed in me even when I wasn't skiing very fast, when I wasn't named to the Olympic Team last year, when I had Shingles this fall and when I had second thoughts about missing the American Birkebeiner because I was told I might not even get to start the 10K at the World Championships! (thanks to the coaches who helped make the start happen!). He always supports me when I have a last minute change in travel and training plans and when I sometimes forget to post my photos to Team Gregg instead of my own Facebook account. (You should go and "like" Team Gregg on Facebook so you can follow everything we do!). Thanks Brian and I look forward to helping you reach your goals in the years to come!!! Team Gregg has found incredible success in it's two year existence on Facebook but the rest of "Team Gregg" has been there all along! Thanks to the Gregg Family for letting me join the "Team" and for all you do to help us! By far the Team Gregg back home does the majority of the less glamorous contributions. From designing our logos, to sewing our patches, to taking our photos and posting them for the World to enjoy, to making us dinner and helping us remembering out race suits, to giving us splits and of course sharing the journey! Just because your last name might not be Gregg doesn't mean you aren't a part of the "Team." Of course, Thanks to my own family, although monetary support was always a challenge and we had many miles between us...You never told me to quit and never shot down my dreams!

Team Gregg - The Biggest Small Team to ever Win a Medal at The World Championships!

I have been thinking a lot about the significance of the Bronze Medal to myself and Team Gregg over the past two weeks. I am very excited about sharing this success with so many who have contributed, encouraged, supported, BELIEVED! We love all the communities we have been welcomed in along the way and cannot thank the families who have brought us in as their own (sometimes for almost a month - That's YOU Richmond's!!!) enough.

The City of Lakes Loppet Foundation has been the most amazing local club and support network since I first came to the Twin Cities 11 years ago and the continued success of it's numerous programs makes me so proud to call it my (and Brian's) TEAM! Go LNR!!!

Obviously the Bronze Medal was the result of even more behind the scenes components and I am so proud of the Teams and Programs that contributed to my development and the incredible coaches who lead them while I was a part of them (Harwood Union High School, Northern Michigan University, The Subaru Factory Team, Go! Training and The US Biathlon Team to name a few). The program that produced the most career changing years for me was the CXC Team! CXC believed in me and gave me the tools necessary to not only achieve strong results but also learn how to continue developing them as well as our Team Gregg brand and most importantly our names as fixtures in the Nordic Skiing Community as athletes who "give-back!" The Loppet Foundation provided me an incredible connection to the people in my Minneapolis community who cared about more than just racing, they cared about skiing as a lifestyle and I love every part of it! Thanks to all the people who were a part of these programs and those who helped (even without me being a part of their programs!) throughout my career. There are truly too many people to name and I am afraid of leaving anyone out! You know who you are and I have had the opportunity to thank many of you in the past couple of weeks but will be spending the rest of my life connecting and praising your kindness and support of my dreams.

Another person who has helped me develop in an area just as important as my fitness and results (perhaps even more important) is Amory Rowe from In-the-Arena! I joined the roster of In-the-Arena in 2008 and now 7 years later with an Olympic Team, 5 National Titles, 4 World Championship Teams and a World Championship Bronze Medal, the biggest accomplishment of my career is the not from the course or ski trails, it's from the "Work" Brian and I have done in our own North Minneapolis Neighborhood. The children we have spent countless hours with have become my passion and fed my soul to do my best. This Bronze Medal is ALL ABOUT THEM!!! Day in and Day out Brian and I strive to motivate and encourage them to look beyond their surroundings and DREAM BIG! BELIEVING in themselves and their future is the most important message we can send. It's more than just results or accolades, it's the idea that you can do anything, even when the odds are stacked against you, and prove that BELIEVING IN YOURSELF is the most important part. Not how much money you have, the car your drive, the neighborhood you live in, the places you travel, etc... It's about the day in and day out accomplishment of continuing to BELIEVE especially when others do not and never setting a limit to what is possible.

Thank You to the kids from North Minneapolis and the Jerry Gamble Boys and Girls Club for helping ME BELIEVE in myself. The hours and moments we have shared and the hurdles I have watched you leap over and the walls you continuously crash down have inspired me to continue chasing my own dreams with the same reckless abandonment. To all the kids we visit, teach, coach and encourage YOU are a HUGE part of this and you have all the tools you will ever need to SUCCEED. They are in your head and they are in your heart. Believe in yourself and anything is possible.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes about Believing in Yourself and a few pictures from our journey!

1. Stay true to who you are.

Be yourself; everyone else is already taken. – Oscar Wilde

2. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve waited, there’s always time to make a change and strive for more.

is never too late to be what you might have been.  ― George Eliot

3. Don’t get stuck worrying about what you’ve missed out on, instead, open up your eyes for the new opportunities right in front of you.

When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us. ― Helen Keller

4. Don’t get overwhelmed by your goal if it seems to big. Focus on that one small step you can take first.

The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones. ― Confucius

5. You can’t chose what life throws at you, but you can chose how you respond.

I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it. ― Maya Angelou

6. You talents and abilities will improve over time, but you’ve got to start somewhere.

If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward. ― Martin Luther King Jr.

7. It’s okay to be afraid of failing, you just can’t let it stop you from trying.

 In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.- Bill Cosby 

8. Be motivated by your desire to prove the naysayers and cynics wrong.

A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him. - David Brinkley

9. Success isn’t about not failing, it’s about bouncing back after you fail.

I don’t measure a man’s success by how high he climbs but how high he bounces when he hits bottom. - George S. Patton

10. You have to understand that you can’t have success without first experiencing failure.

I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed. - Michael Jordan

11. It doesn’t really matter what other people think you should be doing with your life. All that matters is that YOU know what you’re doing with your life.

I know where I’m going and I know the truth, and I don’t have to be what you want me to be. I’m free to be what I want. - Muhammad Ali

12. Success doesn’t just fall in your lap. You have to get up, do the work, and go find it.

Opportunity does not knock, it presents itself when you beat down the door. - Kyle Chandler

13. Sometimes you have to do something you hate, in order to achieve something you love.You’re not going to enjoy every minute of the journey, but the success you’ll find at the end will make it all worth it.

I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’ - Muhammad Ali

14. What good is being a success at something you don’t care about?

It’s better to be happy doing something you love, even if you don’t find success right away.

I honestly think it is better to be a failure at something you love than to be a success at something you hate. - George Burns

15. You can recover from a failure, but it’s hard to forgive yourself for never trying in the first place.

Defeat is not the worst of failures. Not to have tried is the true failure. - George Edward Woodberry

16. Everyone starts out as an amateur, but it’s only those who keep trying that become true successes.

Big shots are only little shots who keep shooting. - Christopher Morley

17. Sometime you have to take a leap of faith to find success.

You can’t expect to hit the jackpot if you don’t put a few nickels in the machine. - Flip Wilson

18. You’re more than capable of finding success, but it will only happen after you put in the work.

The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary. - Vince Lombardi

19. Don’t give up, because you’re probably much closer to success than you realize.

Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. - Thomas A. Edison

20. Your potential and ability to succeed is not confined by your current situation. You’re more than your current circumstances.

The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you first find yourself. - Mark Caine

Thanks to everyone for following and I hope you continue to Believe in what is possible and what is to come!

A Big Thanks to my Teammates!

Everyone knows how much hard work goes into reaching your goals. Words such a dedication, persistence, perseverance and sacrifice are among a few of the terms used to describe the scenario involved with performing your best. There is another element, that has often be referenced in Nordic Skiing in the past but that I wanted to highlight on the Eve of my 2015 World Championships Debut (I am racing the 10K tomorrow!), that is the role of teammates.

As I look back on this past year of training and racing I can't help but remember the workouts and adventures that involved my other LNR teammates. Sure there were plenty of solo efforts that were probably integral in my success but for some reason I can't think of them now. All I picture is the hard work and effort put in by everyone on the group training days. Even when I was hundreds or thousands of miles away, I remember seeing the photos and reading the posts about what the LNR athletes were doing and how they motivated me to do my best that day too!

As the results poured in from the early winter races I was fixated on how the "Team" was doing and almost looked forward to seeing their successes (I include Brian in this group too) than I was about my own upcoming World Cups. It was the greatest feeling knowing how hard everyone had worked together over the spring, fall and summer and seeing the results show that effort as well.

When I came back from a less than stellar World Cup period 1, it was amazing to get the group together again in Houghton, Michigan and prepare for what we would soon realize was an incredible week of racing.

I can remember on a few of our longer workouts talking about our goals for the season. All the girls knew I was shooting for the 10K here at World Champs and now that it is only a day away I can't help but feel their support and encouragement even though I have been gone for so long!

I look forward to representing our LNR team and Team USA tomorrow. It's a wonderful feeling knowing how many people make these opportunities and dreams possible. I look forward to helping the rest of the LNR crew (including Brian) continue to reach their goals and dreams too!

Heading to the 2015 Nordic World Championships!

I am very excited about heading to 2015 World Championships in less than a week! Below is an interview from one of the media sources (Fasterskier) for Nordic Skiing here in the US!

Questions from Landar Karath:

1. This is your first World Champs since 2009. How does it feel to return to arguably one of the biggest events in Nordic ski racing?

I am very excited about the upcoming opportunity to represent the US and all of my supporters and sponsors on the "World Stage" again. I have a lot of awesome teammates and coaches with Loppet Nordic Racing who helped me reach this goal and I am happy to represent them as well. 

2. When did you find out you made the team and how did you feel once you got the news? 

I found out I made the team a few days before the official announcement and I was beyond ecstatic! 

3. What did you think your chances were to make the team? (I remember you said earlier this season that you heard a rumor it was just USSTers who would be chosen.) 

Honestly...I wasn't sure. I've heard a lot of rumors regarding team selections and size over the past couple of years and I realized that it is completely out of my control. The only thing I can do is focus on skiing my best.

4. Were the 2014 Olympic selections on your mind this season? How did any of those feelings factor into this year's quest to be on the World Champs team? 

Yes and No. I had a pretty incredible season last year and felt strong from beginning to end. Olympics or not I had a blast and will always remember 2014 with fondness!I learned a lot about why I love this sport and why I choose to continue committing so much time towards it. I approached this past summer and fall knowing I had a great opportunity to learn from racing the fall World Cups. Although I wasn't 100%, I still came away with some of the best experiences of my racing career (even if the results didn't show it). 

5. You and Brian unfortunately were not able to compete together at either the 2014 Olympics or this year's World Champs. Is there any disappointment there? Will he remain in the U.S. while you're competing?

We try to look at everything in a positive way...which means that Team Gregg has successfully put athletes on the past two Olympic/ Championship Teams! Obviously we would love to go together but we need a goal for 2017 right! Brian will stay in the US and race one of the most important events for our sponsors, the American Birkebeiner. We love the Birkie and it has always been a great event for us.

6. Now that you've made the team, what are your goals for Falun? Is the 10 k freestyle a target? 

Yes the 10 K Freestyle race is my target event. I have been preparing soley for that race for the past month here in Frisco, CO. Training is going well and I am looking forward to getting back to Sweden!

7. You mentioned in Houghton that you were still feeling the effects of ill health (shingles) and travel in the form of fatigue. How is your health now? How is your skiing feeling as you ready for World Champs? 

I am feeling so much better now. I would say that all of the symptoms and lingering fatigue are completely gone now. I have been able to put in one of my best mid-season training blocks ever this past 6 weeks and I am really looking forward to racing again! I have had a really positive response to training at altitude in the past and we had to get a little creative about how to keep my sea-level speed and power up at over 9,000 ft but I am feeling good about the hard work and rest I have put in.

8. Will you race in Östersund this weekend? If so, what are your goals for the race(s)? 

I will not be racing in Ostersund this weekend. I heard it was an option a bit too late for me to take advantage of the opportunity. My training, racing and travel plans were already lined out to have me head over just as the Championships start. I love Ostersund and have had good races in the past there. Last time I was there was the 2008 World Championships for Biathlon.

Watch for me and the entire US Team live from the LLBean Falun App!!!

Community

The week after US Nationals in Houghton, MI was an awesome combination of rest, rejuvenation and more time with the local Midwest XC Ski community. Brian and I returned to our pre-nationals camp headquarters in Hayward, WI. We have been so lucky to stay with countless families and individuals each time we visit and we cannot thank each of them enough! 

The snow on the Birkie trail was awesome and the vibe, with just over a month until the American Birkiebeiner, was even better. Brian and I spent a few days planning an outlining the remainder of our race season and where we would travel for training and racing. It's a long process as this is the time of year when we are waiting to hear about international race opportunities (World Championships in Falun, Sweden) and we are guessing a bit on what is the best approach to make sure we are ready for whatever decision is made.

After a few days of planning, organizing and recovery we were both anxious to get out and start building a base for the remainder of the season so we can finish the year out strong. We started putting in long hours on the Birkie Trail and enjoyed the company of the famous Ski and Tea Ladies! It was their 7th anniversary and they have always been huge supporters of healthy, active women! I am very grateful for all of their support over the years and it was great to celebrate such an awesome milestone with them on Friday morning. 

The Ski and Tea Ladies ready to ski!

Brian and I also spent Saturday morning preparing for and racing the Seeley Hills Classic race. It's a 42K (well only 38K this year) and 21K classic only race and  it is put on by Dennis Kruse of Seeley, WI! The event is always a blast and the stone trophies with Metal skiers are the coolest prizes at any event. Each age group podium finisher gets an awesome handmade plate as well! We proudly display our trophies and eat off our plates from year's past! The race itself was a bit of a challenge as Brian and I decided to try and wax our own skis! Wow! That was hard! We tested base layers, top coats and kick waxes galore. We were at the venue two hours before race start and by the time we started the race I was happy to finally just get going! We gave ourselves a B- for the day. We were competitive but it was so much work and we still didn't quite nail it as our skis seemed to have a little too much kick for the mostly flat second half. Oh well, it was a good way to really learn to appreciate how hard our coaches and wax techs work to get us such incredible race skis when it counts! I had fun skiing with Natalia from the CXC Team and catching up with so many faces I hadn't seen since before I left for the first World Cups in October.

Signing our picture cards

The very next morning Brian and I were up early to ski the 46K Birkie Tour Event. We had a great time skiing and sharing stories with tons of people from all over. It was a great way to enjoy the trail without the pressure of an important race. After the Tour Brian and I stayed around to volunteer for the Hayward Nordic Kids that afternoon. There were 145 kids at the event and everyone was having a great time on skis. Brian and I enjoyed leading the Timber Wolves through a series of drills (and spills!).

Back on the trails at Theodore Wirth.

After a very long day we packed up our stuff and headed home. It was great to be back in my own bed even if it was only for two nights. I had only been home for one night since mid-October and it was very refreshing to feel grounded (and get some laundry done and pack new clothes!). Brian and I were up early the next morning and joined a number of the LNR kids for a beautiful day of skiing on the Theodore With Trails. Minneapolis doesn't have a ton of snow but we are lucky to have such a great area right outside our back door to train. 

Although I was only home for two nights I spent one evening with our neighborhood block leader Bobbi at the 4th precinct for an opportunity to meet and talk with the new head investigator for the 4th precinct. There has been an increase in crime lately in our area and many are concerned not only about their safety but also how the situations will be handled. Minnesota Public Radio was there and it was great to bring up the importance of keeping the kids in North Minneapolis engaged and receiving attention for their positive actions rather than negative. It takes a lot of effort but the kids are willing to listen if you truly show you care. We are excited to have multiple police officers from the 4th Precinct come into the Boys and Girls Club this fall and start an interaction and dialogue with the kids in a positive situation! 

Sunny Colorado!

Brian and I boarded a plane for Colorado and are now training well at 9,000 ft. I have always responded well to altitude and I am excited to have so much sunshine and great terrain.

Beautiful Sunsets

We are putting in big hours up here and often finish our second workout well after dark. I am pretty psyched we got these huge headlamps because they make the whole experience way more fun. Brian apparently found the local coyote on one of his night skis but I haven't been able to find him yet! Here's to more K's and hopefully good news tomorrow!