End of Season Recap and Thank You's
- rganderson915
- Apr 21
- 3 min read
Welcome back to the blog!
It’s been a while. Here are some quick recaps from the end of my race season. If recaps bore you, the quick rundown is that I had an okay season, and then it ended with the best race of my life - nice!
Here they are.
Late Season Racing - Recaps
American Birkebeiner 50km - Feb 25
I have a love/hate relationship with this race. It has one of the best atmospheres imaginable for a ski race, but it’s also usually incredibly hard. This year was relatively a success for me - no frozen eyes, no major bonk, and a pretty good experience. I lost the lead pack around 20k in, and then just skied through the woods by myself and enjoyed the journey of a scenic point-to-point race. I got 11th and was pretty content. I’m thankful for small improvements and the joy that Birkie weekend always delivers.
I had a nice long stretch in the Midwest this winter, enjoying family time and soaking up every minute at the one and only Theodore Wirth Park. I think it helped to do some more long races leading up to the Birkie this year (Mora Vasaloppet, Boulder Mountain Tour).
Fairbanks Training Camp - Mid March
I returned to Alaska for a training block before Spring Nationals. March is a nice time to be in AK with a bit more daylight and warmer temps. Anchorage had a rough snow year, but there was lots of skiing up north - notably at Birch Hill and the Denali Highway! I did a little training camp with teammate Ari in Fairbanks, spent time with my cousins, and left feeling refreshed and well prepared for a final race week.
Spring Nationals / SuperTour Finals - Late March
This week went really well. I had many races this year that made me wonder if I had stopped improving, or if the season was shaping up to be…a bad one. I never fully lost hope, but I definitely entered this week with lower expectations than I had at the beginning of the season.
I had 4 of my best races in a row and ended the week on the American podium in a National Championship event. It was a crazy result for me, the best of my career, and the best way to end the season I could have dreamed of.
I am most proud of this result not for the number on paper, but because of the way it came after a season of “mediocre” racing, and thus reinforced one of my favorite mottos:
Anyone can have a bad day. I define myself by my good ones!
It’s easy to ski slow. Anyone can do it. There’s no need to believe that “bad” races define you as an athlete. I love to focus on my career best races and let them boost my confidence year-round. :-)
Thank YOU
I went all-in this year, meaning I stopped working to give everything I have to realize my potential in ski racing. This decision was a little scary financially, but some people and organizations helped make the dream a reality. A huge thank you to:
Minnesota Youth Ski League
The organization where it all started: where I learned how to ski, found a joy of skiing, and laid the foundation for a lifelong habit of getting out on my skis. MYSL is a huge asset to the ski community and if you’re looking for an organization to support, look no further.
APU Nordic Ski Center
APU is my club that provides world class coaching, yearlong support, a professional training atmosphere, and a family on and off the skis. I am thankful every day to be a part of it.
National Nordic Foundation
A hugely impactful organization that covers a portion of my World Cup expenses and directly supports US athletes. Thanks NNF.
Toko and Fischer
Awesome gear sponsors
CXC Skiing and Yuriy Gusev
Providing years of support and encouragement.
AND to all who donated to my GoFundMe, attended my holiday fundraiser, and who support me from near and far.
Thank you.
-Renae
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