WAX MUSEUM

My race year was a wash but... I am running and biking (adding skiing back in soon) and getting general fitness back up to par.

The upside of being hurt, is that it forced me to think about my future and gave me some extra time to spend with "my" kids.

The 5th graders recently did their annual Wax Museum. I am pictured with Pablo Picasso above, but Vikings, sport legends, family members and rock stars were all represented.


The students researched, wrote bios and created costumes and posters. The actual Wax Museum was the culmination of their research. Each student stood in front of their poster, in full costume and character. When other students and visitors came up to press their "push" button, the students would come alive, telling about their lives (and in some cases, their deaths).

After being interviewed by the internal Hemingway media, they were later broadcast throughout the school on TV.


I have been able to join the 5th graders for this kind of adventure rather than hear about it from the road - one of the silver specks that has lined my rain cloud this winter.

The road to achieving a goal can be a rocky one. It doesn't mean you can't get there; just that it isn't easy. Having the support of friends and family along the extra bumpy section this year has kept my hubcaps from falling off.

Thanks for having me in your class kids!

PT & RACING

I am getting back into training with the help of Koth Physical Therapy (THANKS John!). Tomorrow is my first day back on skis, but I have not been staying away from skiing completely... I was out watching Western State Championships this morning where the best of the west put their game faces on.

SVSEF, receiving a team award

Maddy takes the podium!

I have a centralized bulge, one that does not require surgery or injections, YES! My race season, although never really getting started, is over. I am told, however that come May 1, I should be training with the team as an athlete at 100% so 2010 is not out of the picture.

The first thing that John and I tackled in PT was getting movement and feeling back into my arms and shoulders (an injury from jumping into swimming full throttle).

Cross-country skiers, regardless of swimming hours, could probably all use a good stretch across their front. Almost everything we do involves strengthening (aka tightening) our chests. That is one reason why we do so many upper back exercises in the gym (to balance things out). Here are a few stretches to get things started:

Corner stretch - stand in a corner or doorway and stretch forward, bringing shoulder blades together and feeling the stretch across the chest. Hold 3-4 times for 30 seconds.

Sleeper - lay on your side with your head supported. Your torso should be 90 degrees to the floor, your bottom arm, 90 degrees from your body and bent at 90 degrees. gently push your bottom arm towards the floor. Hold on each side, 3x20 seconds.

Foam roller - lay on your back with your arms out to the side. Relax and feel gravity pull your shoulders towards the floor. Rotate palms up and palms down a few times, holding for 20-30 seconds.