Fresh Tracks...

 

 

 

A beautiful panorama cannot even come close to capturing the beauty of these mountains!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brian in his element.

Loving the 4 hour ski imitation workout knowing the real thing is only a few weeks away.

This photo could have ended with a serious whitewash to the looser.

Instead I gave myself one!

And we decided to kiss instead.

Less than 30 minutes away Brian enjoys his well earned Mazama Store Baguette in a t-shirt!

Sundays are quickly becoming my favorite day of the week. Brian and I use the morning as an opportunity to get out into the high mountains and go for an adventure. This week brought the excitement of possible snow on the ground and we both couldn't resist the desire to play in it! We headed 30 minutes north to Rainy Pass and were psyched to find almost 4 inches on the ground. After two hours of moose-hoofing (ski imitation bounding) we were at Cutthroat Pass 7,000ft and plowing through over a foot of fluffy powder! We were some very happy winter athletes! We posed for some photos and then descended down the mountain in another snow squall. When we reached the bottom we went and checked put Rainy Lake to see if there was skiable snow along the paved path. After analyzing the conditions and looking at the weather forecast it looks like we could be skiing on Tuesday!!! We are thrilled. Training has been going very well, Brian is the fittest and fastest I have ever seen him, and the race season starts in just a few weeks! Coming to the Methow to join Brian this fall has been one of the best decisions of my life, after of course saying YES :)

Adventure Day

Excited!

  

Yesterday was a good day! Brian and I both got to sleep on till 8:30AM which never seems to happen! We then pack the cooler, loaded up the car and headed up to the mountains for an adventure!

 

My Guide[/caption] Brian grew up here in the Methow Valley and he knows it like the back of his had. I am lucky enough to be married to Brian and have my own mountain guide at hand everyday! Brian gets very excited about heading up into the high country!

The Views are absolutely amazing on all sides and the weather was perfect! Brian and I both opted to bring our light-weight Salomon Tech jackets which were good sun and wind protection. After long climbs we could simply wrap them around our drink belts and continue to move fast.

Cruising

Brian "cruising" he doesn't even sweat when he runs with me!

Gorgeous running at 7,000 feet

I on the other hand just try to keep up!

Especially when things get technical. After yesterday's run I now have a new level of comfort when running in the mountains!

One of the three peaks we reached. This one had beautiful views of Mt. Baker and Mt. Shukstan.

After a long day in the mountains we were excited to rinse off in the swimming hole.

As you can tell it was a little colder than we expected. After "icing" our legs and bodies we headed back to the yurt to make meatloaf for dinner with the Gregg Family! Such a good day and I feel like the luckiest girl in the World!!!

Methow Valley Living + Training

Sprinting up one of the many steep hills here in Washington

 I have been in Washington State for 3 weeks now and I can tell that my training here has been making a difference. Brian and I are working with a local coach and learning all kinds of new approaches to training. After 8 years of living in the Twin Cities and training the same way, both my body and mind have enjoyed the new regime.

Brian leading the way along the Mazama Community Trail with the Cascades in the Distance.

 

 

 

 Brian and I were together for a little over a week before he had to take off for a training camp in the Midwest again. I loved having him around to bring me to some of the most spectacular scenery I have ever witnessed on a run. Without him here I mostly run alone and freak out about the wildlife I see along the way. My wildlife encounters have quadrupled this year and it is a direct result of me traveling to Colorado and Washington instead of staying in the Midwest. Needless to say I am still not sure I have the correct protocol down for when I encounter a bear.

What a girl from the City does when she sees a Bear!

The Methow Valley is filled with Horses! It seems like most people own a horse and some own 50! I enjoy watching them in the fields while I am running. I came across these two pregnant mares who were lending each other a hand, or mouth, for some itchy spots they couldn't reach on their own. Clever Teamwork!

I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine :)

 Brian and I together in the Methow Valley has been great for the local ski team kids. We usually get to train beside them on the track or in the gym a few days a week. There is no better way to learn then by surrounding yourself with those who are better. The young athletes have jumped in with us willingly and I think the results will show the great benefits from or training together.

Trail work for the Local Methow Valley Ski Team

 No life in the North Cascades would be complete without living in a round tent, otherwise know as a Yurt! Brian and I are staying in a 300 SQ/FT yurt that chad, his twin brother, has lived in for the past 5 years. Chad got a new job in Seattle and offered the yurt to us for a place to stay. The yurt is incredible because you never realize how small a space you can live in until you live in a really small space and it WORKS!!!

My new Residence for the next couple of weeks!

Inside "Yurt Life" Everything has it "special place" in such a small space!

Colorado Dreaming

 Hello From beautiful Colorado! I am currently at my first full training camp of the year in Telluride with the CXC Team. It's been a great camp so far filled with mostly distance training in the form of long hikes/ runs and roller skiing. Colorado is absolutely beautiful and despite the additional 8,500 ft of elevation I am starting to feel really good. I think the key has been the amount of water/ sports drink I have been drinking and the opportunity to relax between training sessions and soak up the hard work I am putting in.
Most of the team is comprised of junior athletes from the Midwest and primarily girls! I have had a blast hanging out with them and providing perspective about life as an elite athlete. We have a super talented team this year and I look forward to hopefully traveling with these girls during the winter as well.

The View from the top!

So STRONG!!!

A break for lunch near the peak of Lizard Head.

The all-important balancing pose.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I will be here in Colorado until Thursday and will then join Brian in the Methow Valley. It feels so good to have completed my work and school last week and to now be able to relax and train again!

OH Yeah!!! I had such a blast finally getting to WATCH the Olympics here in Telluride. Congrats to all the Amazing ITA athletes who Competed:)

 

The Games in London are On!

I made a guest appearance at the City of Lakes Loppet Adventure Camp to talk to the campers about my experience at the 2010 Games and to share the excitement of the 2012 Summer Olympics.

I am usually quite happy to not have a television, but it has been tough to not watch the Opening Ceremonies and first few days of competition live.  My days are still super busy as I wrap up my final week of Physiology.  My favorite study break is to stream the video highlights for the days competition and read articles about the different athletes.  I love learning everyone's story and their struggles and triumphs towards becoming the best.

I look forward to joining my CXC teammates in Colorado for an altitude training camp at the end of the week.  I hope the place we are staying has a television. Best of luck to my In The Arena teammates as they compete in the next few weeks: 

Kristin Hedstrom, women’s lightweight double sculls: Sunday, July 29th (heats) at 5:50am ET; Tuesday, July 31st (repechages) at 5:10am ET; Thursday, August 2nd (semifinals) at 5:30am ET; Saturday, August 4th (finals) at 5:00am ET

Sarah Groff, women’s triathlon: Saturday, August 4th at 4:00am ET 
Lea Davison, women’s mountain bike: Saturday, August 11th at 7:30am ET

Gregg Center of Excellence

On the outside our house is a simple 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 674 square foot bungalow.  The house feels way bigger on the inside with a full basement which we quickly transformed into the Gregg Center of Excellence.  Similar to the multi-million dollar USSA Center of Excelence in Park City, Utah but basically the Craigslist version.  Don't let the dirty walls scare you, most everything you need is in it for good solid training.

Angela on the treadmill.  Perfect for those super hot days or late nights.

Mellia and the squat rack

This gym is for working out, not hanging out!

The newest addition a Conept 2 Ski Erg for specific measurable double pole training.

Working out can be fun!

The neighborhood crew earner their new (lightly used) running shoes after their workout.  Huge thanks to Santi and Carolyn, Fox Rivers Sports, Salomon and Gear West for the shoes.

Studying

After a break from formal education for the past 8 years (where does the time go?), I decided to jump back in to school and studying.   I just finished an intense 5 week anatomy class. After being away from school for so long I had a steep learning curve when it came time to study and review for the next day's exam or lab practical. I have never found myself sitting still for so long in my entire life! The class was fantastic and I loved learning every bit of information in the condensed format.

Preparing for the Final Exam.  I had a test each day of the week leading up to the final too.

Uphill Sprints

Focusing on class has allowed my hamstring/glute injury a chance to heal and I have been feeling really good running.  Last weekend I filled in for a friend in the Tri-Loppet 5km and felt great.  I ran even faster than last year.

Tomorrow, I start my next course, Physiology.  I again look forward to learning a lot. There have been many topics that I wish I could have reviewed way back when I was a young athlete. I am in the process of fulfilling my prerequisites for PA school.  My goal is to start full-time school in May of 2014, so right after the Olympics.