Carrie Tollefson's Journal

April 11, 2008 (Posted April 14, 2008)

April 11, 2003, Charlie and I were married. Fast forward four years to April 11, 2007 - I was recovering at Drexel University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Not feeling so well and still pretty groggy, I woke up to my other best friend, Carmen Douma-Hussar. As she sat there in front of me asking how I felt I remember having a feeling of relief, as I knew it was over. The pain was going to get better and I would be able to run again.

Well, I am one year out, celebrating my 5th Anniversary with Charlie and my 1-year anniversary of my surgery! I can honestly say the pain is gone and I can run again. I am slowly working my way back as you know from the past journals but I truly believe I am on the right path. I am so glad I can finally move on and quit thinking about “The Surgery.” I think dwelling on the fact that I had major surgery and maybe a career- altering surgery has to end today! It is time!! Time to focus on the new and improved Carrie Tollefson and get back to achieving my goals!!!

So with that being said, I am very excited to open my 2008 Outdoor season at the Drake Relays in the 1500 on April 26 and then off to Stanford for a 5K the week after. I am very much looking forward to racing again. The Tyson meet and the NYRR 8K were not what I wanted but I did learn from both of them and look forward to getting back out there.

Now it is time to get those standards and make my way back to the Olympics where I dream of being. Every comeback is different; some are easier then others. Yes, I know this one hasn’t been as glamorous as some of my previous comebacks but we are putting all of the pieces together one by one and I just know I will be fine. I have said in the past and I’ll say it again, I am on the New York Giants plan - nothing matters until Championship Day.

Even though this is a day of celebration, I have a heavy heart. We have a close family friend fighting for her life and it is a story everyone should hear. My oldest sister, Stacey, has a friend from high school who is at the Hennepin County Medical Center in downtown Minneapolis, watching her daughter, Taylor Strand, fight for her life. She is 13 years old and was burned in a Fire Pit accident last weekend burning over 70% of her body. It was a freak accident but important for us all to hear as it could happen to anyone. Please keep Taylor and her family in your thoughts and prayers and if you would like to read about her story, go to www.caringbridge.org and visit the page of taylorstrand. They are a sweet family and could use your prayers and support at this time.

Today I am reminded of many things but two in particular are life and love. Life is so fragile and as we have seen in the tragedies of the running community and beyond, we have to be thankful and happy for each day we have as healthy individuals. Instead of bringing people down, let’s raise each other up and encourage each other to pursue our dreams and live a fulfilled life.

Here I go again getting emotional but as I write these journals and sort of let you into “my world” I hope you accept the fact that I am sort of an open book. Running is so important to me and the things I have learned from it have made me who I am.

Live well and Love hard!

February 28, 2008 (Posted February 29, 2008)

Well the first race back (at the Tyson Invitational on February 15) was definitely a rust-buster. After about 800 meters, one would think I forgot I was racing. To be honest, when I finished the race, I sort of felt like my coach, Dennis, was going to yell that a minute was up and to start my next interval.

As I walked away from the finish line and looked at the results, my heart sort of sank. I had torn feelings of being happy to be back running free from my injuries but unhappy with my performance. I was reminded that I am human and the tears sort of welled up in my eyes as I walked toward my agent, Mark Wetmore, and my marketing manager, Rich Kenah. They didn’t need to say anything but they both proved to me that they have faith in all that Dennis and I are doing and I will be fine. To have a coach, an agent, and a manager like these guys is so special and so important for an athlete.

Things aren’t easy in the track world and one has to keep plugging. That is why we do this. To see what we as individuals are made of and I know I am made to run much faster and better than that! I was easily reminded of this as I read a text from Katie McGregor that simply said, YOU ARE AN AMAZING ATHLETE. Thanks to all of you who have given me such support.

The thing is, working out well and racing well are two different things. After all is said and done, I am happy I raced but know in my heart Tyson is no indication of where I am at. Things are right on track and as I looked back to all of the other layoffs I have had, my first race after an injury is usually just like this one.

I have a tendency to run a race that ends up being a split for my next race. For instance, the last surgery I had was in 2004 after the Olympics. I came back and ran a 3K in 9:18 only to split that in my next 5K two weeks later. SOOOOO that is what I am holding onto. If I were to run a 4:42 [mile split] in a 3K, that would have been a sub 9-minute 3K and that would have been just fine for now. Whatever makes one feel good rightJ!

Next up for me is the 8K in New York on March 15. I am looking forward to it and hope to make some improvements there again. Keep sending fast thoughts and positive energy this way!

Congrats to all of my past and present teammates who will be competing at the World Cross and World Indoor Champs next month. You all are great inspirations and I can’t wait to be with you in Beijing!

As one of the girls in my Bible study says,
“Let’s make it great in O……8!”

 

January 28, 2008 (Posted January 30, 2008)

After the wait for 2008 to finally get here, now I am thinking it should slow down a bit. I can’t believe we are almost into February and the Indoor season is under way. I have been on the indoor track for about six sessions and have enjoyed watching my times come down and my zip get back into my legs.

We are still doing quite a bit of basework but having the opportunity to do a few faster intervals at the end of a long workout makes my mind wander and the competitive thoughts enter in. I love that feeling! For a long time it was just get through the workouts and make sure the body is holding up and getting fit but now I can actually go into a workout with more of a plan and run hard!

When I was at Villanova, my coaches used to tell me to quit thinking and just run! I have used that advice for quite some time and that’s where I am at now. I am trying really hard to just go with the flow and enjoy this comeback. I have a feeling this is going to be the best buildup I could have had in an Olympic year.

Rather then flying and coasting through everything right now, I have some room to grow and have a bit more work to do rather than walking the fine line of being too fit too fast. I can hardly wait to get back out racing but want to make sure the training is there first and then racing will fall into place.

I know people think I am a bit of a sap but it sort of hit me at the P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘N ‘Roll Marathon in Phoenix a few weeks ago. While I was doing the TV commentary with Toni Reavis, we watched the women finishing and as I watched, I saw the girls that just made the standard for the Olympic Marathon Trials. They were all hugging at the finish line and crying.

I can remember Toni sort of looking at me like what is wrong with you, we are on camera? I had that ugly crying face and weird tone in my voice as I cried with them. I was hoping they would spare me and cut that part out, but what an inspiration they all were and I was so happy to be a part of it.

That was a moment that has stuck with me and sort of lit a fire for me. All of them had worked so hard and achieved such a huge goal. It was special to be a part of it and I can hardly wait to be at the Trials in Boston watching them and cheering them on. Thanks for being such an inspiration!

Until then, I will just be at home here training and getting ready to lace up the spikes!

December 4, 2007 (Posted December 6, 2007)

Since my last journal I have been plugging away.  I’m still on the comeback trail to getting fit and every week things are getting better.  I know I have plenty of time and if I were a coach, I would be fine with where I am.  But as the athlete, it is hard to stay calm. 

I feel like when I give advice it is so much easier to know and believe that what I am advising is the best logic.  But when it comes to practicing what I preach, the logic is hard to swallow.  Saying I know I have time to get fit and believing it is my biggest obstacle right now.  The best reminder I am given is when asked if I am in pain, I finally can say “NO,” and that in itself keeps me ticking everyday.  If I can just get my legs under me while staying healthy, the sky is the limit! 

I remember in the winter of 2004, when I was in Duluth watching Katie’s boyfriend compete in this crazy race called Red Bull Crashed Ice, I was out for my long run the next morning when I saw a Bald Eagle.  I stopped and just stared at it and sang to myself the Star Spangled Banner thinking about what it would feel like to be in the Olympics. 

I came back to the hotel and told everyone what had happened and that it was a sign that I was going to make the team.  Of course everyone laughed at me because it was one of those dizzy “Carrie Moments” and envisioning me standing there in Duluth freezing my buns off singing the Star Spangled Banner to myself was quite the thought. 

Needless to say, it wasn’t too long ago I had a phone call from Katie saying she had just seen two Bald Eagles too.  She too stopped and sang to herself, okay maybe she didn’t sing to herself, but she said it was a sign and we both got pretty pumped up.  Well Katie, guess what I saw yesterday on my run - two more Bald Eagles.  Whatever it takes to make someone believe in their dreams and with only 28 days left in 2007 it was a great reminder of what 2008 has in store!

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

October 19, 2007 (Posted October 19, 2007)

Since my last journal, I have been training and working my way back into shape. I told myself in August that if I could use September and October to get back into shape, then by November and December I can sort of refine my fitness and hope to be racing in January. I feel I am right on schedule but it is hard coming back from injuries.

I am so thankful I am running again. The feeling I have of being able to go out the door pain free is indescribable. I have tapered down my crosstraining a bit now and am focusing more on the running which is nice. My coach, Dennis, and I have not been too concerned about quantity of weekly mileage but rather quality of workouts and recovering from them in order to save on my body but yet push it enough to get me back hopefully better than ever.

As we approach Thanksgiving, my list of things that I am thankful for is maybe one of my longest. These past six weeks have been wonderful, but probably the most exciting thing is welcoming another niece into this world. I have two nephews and three nieces now and they are so much fun.

All of my nieces and nephews are so talented and every aunt needs to brag about them, but nothing is more fun than seeing one of my nieces compete in the Toddler Trot at the Twin Cities Marathon Kids’ Event on October 6. Not only did she have the pressure of the announcer saying she was the niece of an Olympian, but she went on and from what I saw, won the race.

I am sure there were other mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, whoever, that thought their little one took it all too but with my eyes (only on Tollie of course), I thought she kicked butt. Seeing the joy that she had running fast and being decked out in head to toe ADIDAS, made me once again realize how much fun our sport is and why I love it so much.

It is going to be a great year and I am so thankful I will be a part of it. I am counting the days (293 from today) and dreaming about putting on that USA Olympic uniform for a second time!

To leave you, here is a picture of just some of the extended Tollefson-Peterson Adidas Clan: I am with my recently crowned Ironman husband, Charlie, who is holding the Toddler Trot “Champ” Tollie, and the newest addition, Layla Rae.

 

August 27, 2007 (Posted August 30, 2007)

Well, after a long recovery I can finally say I am pain free! It has been a long ride but a necessary one to make sure I give myself every opportunity to come back next year 100 percent. In my last journal, I was four weeks out from my surgery. Now, I am getting ready to start my fall training on September 4 and I can hardly wait.

It has been one of the hardest injuries to get through for me. Right as I was having surgery, everyone else was starting to race. Watching Shalane set the American record was amazing. Then watching Shayne continue her great comeback from Levi was awesome. Seeing Katie make the World team was great, watching Jen run crazy fast in Europe, and now seeing Kara win the Bronze was out of this world.

I am not going to lie and tell you that it makes this time easier for me but I will tell you that after saying goodbye to two of my mentors and friends, Mike Long and Jack Pyrah, and seeing the vibrant Jenny Crain fight for her life, I am so thankful for yet another comeback. Life is a journey and running is just a small part of it but I am so passionate about this sport. It has given me so many ups and downs but I can truly say I have found what makes me tick in life and I am so proud of that.

Fall training is going to be a hard road but I am ready for it. I have been running more and more everyday, in the pool, on the bike, on the reformer doing Pilates, lifting weights, doing active release, and the list can go on and on. But all of it will be worth it when I can lace up those spikes and line up against my friends and see if I can do it another time. In the past, after my injuries my body and mind are so rested and ready to run I end up doing better than ever and I hope that will be the case this time.

Again, I just want to say how exciting it has been to watch all of the Americans continue to do so well this year. To my fellow Minnesotan, Kara Goucher, we are so proud of you in this state. Hopefully next year you and I will be there together as what we were once known as, “the Minnesota Twins.”

To Mike and Jack, we all miss you and know you are smiling down on us, and to my friend Jenny Crain, I am praying for you and know if anyone can have the greatest comeback, it is you! Let’s all just be thankful for what we are given and realize how fast it can be taken from us.

To the rest of you competing in Osaka, GET AFTER IT,
Carrie

May 14, 2007 Entry (Posted May 15, 2007)

Well after such an upbeat trip to Japan I was really hoping the pain I felt over there was just the first race of the season pain but later realized it wasn’t. I am going to go back to the winter of 2004 and explain to you what happened and why I am in the situation I am in now.

January 2004- Did the splits over a snow drift right before the Boston Indoor Games.

April 2004- Ran a big PR in the 5K of 15:04 and started to really notice the pain after that race.

July 2004- Tried to make the Olympic team in the 5K but prior to the race my coach, Dennis, and I noticed I was not lifting my knees properly and was having a hard time finishing my long workouts. I didn’t make the team in the 5K but with complete heart and determination, won the 1500 meters and made the Olympic team (with a bit of craziness in between the Trials and the Games but that is too long of a story).

Sept. 2004- Came home and started the search as to why the Olympic Docs wanted to numb me up before my races and why I was icing before my event. Could hardly walk or do a sit-up but I still managed to run and make the semi-finals. I am not bragging about this I am simply surprised at how much the mind can compensate for the body. I should not have been able to run the way I did.

Oct.2004- Had an MRI and found a stress reaction on the pubic symphysis, Osteitis Pubis, and most likely had sports hernias on both sides.

Dec.2004- Had Bilateral Hernia repair was back running fivedays later. Had a decent 2005 and 2006 but continued to want to cut my upper groin muscle(adductor) after every hard workout or race. Still having pain when I did any core work.

Jan. and Feb.2006- Won two national championships Indoors and Cross.

July 2006- PR'd in the 3K(8:44) and the mile(4:27) last year but hurt every step of the way.

After that season I thought enough was enough. Last fall I remember writing in my first journal about how I was hoping to get my core really strong and ready to go for this summer and 2008. Little did I know all the work in the world was not going to help.

Nov. 2006- Had Cortisone Injection in the Pubic Symphysis and noticed the adductors were leaking and I was in trouble. It helped me through the beginning of Jan. and through my winter training in Arizona but slowly wore off as I vamped things up.

March 2007- Couldn’t take it anymore. After having Dennis compromise with me and thinking the 1500 was the only race I could try train for, I decided to have another check up. We were going to do another injection when I asked the hard question of, “Is this going to fix me?” Dr. Chris Larson here in Minneapolis, awesome orthopedic said he could try and get me through the next Olympics but I would most likely have to have the adductors released and a shot every three months.

April 2007- Made the decision to have one of Dr. Larson’s friends from Philly take a look at my different MRIs from the past few years and he said get out here to Philly now!

On my fourth wedding anniversary, April 11, I had surgery yet again. Dr. William Meyers, of Drexel University said he found Athletic Pubalgia along with torn adductors and lots of scar tissue. A lot of athletes get this and he is the man to see if you have groin pain. After reattaching my Rectus Abdomis and releasing both adductors I am four weeks out and hoping this does the trick. The one nice thing was it was out by Villanova so I had the opportunity to see both of my old coaches, Marcus and Gina, and stayed with Carmen(Douma) and Chris Hussar. Carmen has been one of my best friends since we met at Nova and to have her help me after surgery was one of the nicest things anyone could do. Thanks Carm.

It has been a great few years since the Olympics but I am so sick of being the Comeback Kid. I am ready to run the way I know I can. I have to thank all of the Docs that have helped me, Dr. Roberts, our Team USA Minnesota doctor, Dr. Chris Larson, Minnesota Sport Medicine’s Orthopedic Surgeon, and Dr. Bill Meyers, Specialists at Drexel University. They all have worked together to help me get back on my feet and running better then ever. To my Physical therapist, Toni Duwalter, and my athletic trainer, Missy Strauch for believing me when I say I am just not right!!!, my coach, Dennis, for understanding when I say I am done with a workout because I am hurting and for being sensitive when he knows how much pain I am going through, Adidas for sticking with me, for Team USA Minnesota and for my agency Global Athletics. Rich Kenah worked his butt off to get me out to Philly and worked day and night to see that I had the best advice and best care.

I was really close to saying it has been a fun ride. I have had too much to deal with in my career but my heart is still in this crazy sport. I love it so much and I know if I can run as broken down as I was, I am only going to get faster. The main goal of 2007 has changed a bit but making the team in 2008 hasn’t. If I can PR without my abs attached like I did last summer and the past few years, I know I can do it now when I am healthy again.

The one thing that has been keeping me sane is organizing my first Carrie Tollefson Training Camp. It has been a dream of mine to get a camp going here in the state of Minnesota where it all began for me. I want the kids here to get a chance to know the Pro Runners that live here and meet the great athletes I have met along the way. Tim Broe has signed on to help with the camp, all of the Team USA Mn. athletes will be there, Dennis Barker, my coach, will be there, and the whole Tollefson/Peterson clan along with many other great athletes to help build our staff. Not to mention Adidas will be spoiling the kids! It has been a thrill to do this and if anyone wants to join us please go to www.carrietollefson.com and check it out. Hurry, it is filling up fast and June 28 will be here before we know it!

The one thing I have told all of my teammates is to run as hard as you can when things are going well and when you are healthy. It took one fall for me to have to deal with all of this and I wish I could take it back but I can’t. I have had many other comebacks besides this but I am hoping to have my biggest one yet. I have always said that injuries make people stronger and I still agree with that. If mentally someone can stay in it and physically let their body heal, everything will come together. We have to believe that!

Thanks to my support system for caring and helping me through this tough time,
Carrie

March 5, 2007 Entry (Posted March 6, 2007)

Returning home from Phoenix was nice but only a week later I left for Japan for the Yokohama Ekiden. It was one of the best trips I have ever been on as an athlete. After being in Japan for World Cross last year, I could hardly wait to get back. I was excited to be able to run in the ekiden relay with some of my best friends. In all of my years of running, it seems that most, if not all, of my competitors have become my close friends. I thought it would be fun to share a little insight about why these women are not only people that I love to race against, but women I love to just spend time with.

Katie McGregor – My training partner and basically sister! We have been through a lot together but moving to Minnesota has been quite the ride and a great experience. Not only do we run tons of miles but we love to dance, eat, laugh, and most importantly, DREAM together. We push each other to be the best we can be and I am very lucky to have such a great gal alongside of me to help me achieve my goals.

Jen Rhines – A Villanova teammate and great friend. Jen and I have always enjoyed talking fashion and what is going on in our lives. Whether it be the latest fad or what latest project we have going on in the house, we never have a dull moment. One of the main reasons I went to Villanova was because I wanted to be the next Jen Rhines and when I left I wanted to do exactly what she did as a pro runner. She has been a great role model and I hope to continue to follow in her footsteps (breaking 15:00) and I thank her for her endless advice over the years!

Amy Rudolph – Love this girl! You know, many people wonder what it was like having to chase the Olympic standard together in 2004 but racing against Amy over and over again in Europe really brought us close. Amy and I roomed together a lot while we were there and during such a hard time we became really good friends and supporters. I feel like that summer we went through a lot together. She lost her Grandma and got engaged and it was a huge emotional roller coaster for both of us and in the end if nothing else but a friendship came out of it, it was worth it. Being on the Adidas team with both Jen and Amy has been awesome and I hope we have many more years to race and spend time together.

Elva Dryer – Elva has always been such a sweet person and someone that I enjoyed seeing at every race. I haven’t seen her in quite sometime so I was very excited to see how life was going. Knowing that she and Russ moved and that she ran her first marathon was something I really wanted to hear about. For those of you who don’t know Elva, she is a class act. Someone who really takes the time to listen and has great life lessons to tell. Katie and I did a long run in Japan with Elva and Jenny Crain and before we knew it we had run 15 miles. Some of my favorite memories of Elva are from the Olympic Games in 2004 and hopefully we will make new ones in 2008.

Deena Kastor – What an inspiration and nice person. Even though I would like to think of Deena as a friend, sometimes she can seem bigger than life. She has accomplished so much and we all aspire to be like her and yet when you hand her the microphone during Karaoke, she lets it all out and sings like that is her true passion. I enjoyed so much seeing Deena running towards me and getting the sash from her during the relay but I might have equally enjoyed trying, I said trying, to harmonize with her as we sang some of those cheesy eighties songs. After being on this trip I realize that Deena believes more than anything in giving everything you have and putting it out there when you race. Thank you Deena for making us strive to be just a little bit like you and for raising the bar in American Distance Running.

Jenny Crain – What a great Midwesterner and motivation. Jenny has been running just a little longer than I have but is very devoted to this sport and has proven that setting PRs after 35 does happen. I love it and hope I can continue to excel like you have, Jenny. There is rarely a dull moment when Jenny is around and it is nice to have someone who is so happy around. I have always been taught that a smile says a million words and you will never see this woman without a smile. Thanks for brightening up this world!

So to summarize, this trip was amazing. The race itself was so much fun but being with these women was the highlight. I am not going to lie, second place never sits well but we gave it our all and after we talked about what we can do to do better next time, we celebrated together. Thanks for letting me be part of this team and for being the great people and friends that you are!

I hope to get back to Japan in August for the World Champs and bring my family with me so I can show them what I love about that country!

January 30, 2007 Entry (Posted February 2, 2007)

My training trip to Arizona has been a great trip and served its purpose for me even though plans changed and I was in Phoenix more than I was in Flagstaff. I was in Flagstaff with Matt, Andrew and Jason trying to be “one of the guys” but after a week I left and didn’t come back. Not because I didn’t want to but I had planned to do the TV commentary for the P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon down in Phoenix and while I was there, Flagstaff had a big snowstorm leaving more snow than they have seen in five years.

Being from Minnesota, people are probably wondering why I couldn’t toughen up and plow through the snow, right? Well, after my lovely fall in January of 2004, I didn’t want to be slipping and sliding. I just didn’t see the point of putting myself in danger if I didn’t have to. You see, I am not running Cross Country nationals this year so the altitude thing would have been great if the footing was clear.

I decided to stay down in Phoenix until my husband came in to help me celebrate my 30th birthday. After an awesome trip to Sedona and a beautiful drive up to Flagstaff, we decided it was better where I was staying in Phoenix. The guys were yet to be back on the trails so my coach and I made the decision to ride back down with Charlie and stay in Phoenix for the remainder of the month of January. I have had a blast here in Arizona and look forward to going back to Flagstaff next fall if it works. What a nice little city and with the High Altitude Center there, it is perfect.

I am heading back to Minnesota soon and hope to get on the track pounding away. I feel really strong and ready to run hard and set some new PRs outdoors. I have been taking my time making sure I am doing all the little things and getting ready for what I think is a very big year. World Championships and Olympic time standards are on my mind (both God and my family know I don’t want to have to chase them again)! They will be on my wall as soon as I get home if they aren’t already. Charlie usually puts them up for me!

I am one who puts my goals out so I am reminded every morning and night of what I am doing - leaving my husband for a month and training all alone out here. People think I am lucky that I can do this and I agree but it isn’t always fun and games. It is about getting focused and training your body and your brain to be the best you can be. I hope this month has helped me realize why I do the things I do. Life is short and that is why I am trying to get the most I can out of the talents I have been given.

I was reminded of all this when I had to say goodbye to my Grandma Tollefson who died on December 14. She was a great woman and one who always told everyone I got my legs from her. I will forever hear her yelling in her Southern accent, “C’mon Carrie!” She will be missed dearly but I know she is shining down on me and sending me fast thoughts, and of course, LEGS!

December 8, 2006 Entry (posted December 13, 2006)

Everyone now:
Lutefisk, a Lutefisk, Lefsa, a Lefsa, We from Minnesota, Ya sure you Betcha!

Well, after a short fall of rest and rehab, I am finally getting back into the swing of things and what perfect timing to want to start doing some interval training in the balmy single digits. No, I am kidding. The weather here does not stop anyone, whether it be all of Team USA Minnesota out pounding the pavement or the rest of the state staying fit for their winter or early spring marathons.

Nothing seems to stop the runners here and that is why it is such a great state to live in. I love heading out for a long run at 8:00 on a Saturday morning by the lakes and seeing over 4000 runners lined up for the Life Time Fitness Reindeer Run in -4 degree wind chill. People wonder why we live and train here. I say WHY NOT!?

I have had a rough start to my fall training but have attacked the few niggles that I had and realized how much I have to work on. That is not a negative thing. The way I see it is that I have a lot of areas to grow as a runner and it excites me to think of how much faster I can be if I attack these little things.

I have been doing tons of core and adductor/abductor strengthening exercises for the past month and I have been in less pain since before the Olympic Trials. I owe a lot to our medical team here in Minnesota. I could give you a list of who and where but I will just say if anyone needs some names, just e-mail us at pfgoodwin@teamusaminnesota.org and you will most likely get some recommendations.

After the fall marathons, fall breaks, and whatever else life had in store for us the past few months, it seems the team is finally getting back in sync. Not sure what my winter holds as far as racing but a number of us are going to Flagstaff for a little training period this winter to get in some altitude for those who are running Cross Nationals and for those of us who don’t want to step on an indoor track quite yet.

This is the first time I have been to Flagstaff and we are really looking forward to it. My mom has a cousin who lives there and has offered to let us stay in one of her properties while we are there. We sort of lucked out and definitely can hardly wait for the opportunity to check out the High Altitude Center. We will keep you posted!

Until later this winter, have fun bundling up and getting out the door. I know Adidas makes some good winter gear so if you think it is too cold, head out to a running store and ask for their best winter duds. Stay warm and stay fast.

September 8, 2006 Entry (posted September 13, 2006)

Well, it is that time of the year where we look back and reflect on what we did right and what we are going to fix. I feel like this is a year I can say I did a lot right but learned from a few big mistakes along the way. After having a couple of great races, I end the year wishing I could have had one more race. That is a tough feeling but it is something that will drive me to run even faster next year and hopefully continue to help improve for the next Olympics.

After winning both Indoor Nationals and Cross Country Nationals, I thought my outdoor season was going to be better than ever. The start of it looked great. Running close to my PR in the 1500 in New York and getting the “A” standard for the World Championships next summer, I was really hoping for a drop in my 5K PR of 15:04 and maybe get below the 15 minute mark.

Going into Outdoor Nationals, I knew I was ready to roll. I had done workouts on the track better than ever and we worked really hard right up until the week out. Finishing fourth in two events is not what I was hoping for. I wanted another title but it wasn’t my day; with the big number of great 5K runners we have in this country, one has to be having a perfect day in order to win.

After nationals, I was bound and determined to prove what I am made of in Europe. I was planning on getting overseas before Rome in time to do a race to shake things out but I had hurt my foot after nationals and had to take a few down days so I decided to just hope things went well without a race before. Well it went okay but not great. I can’t even tell you the time but it wasn’t a PR and I wasn’t happy with it so I had to put it out of my mind and get ready for the next one.

We had been focusing all year on running London and running a sub-15 minute 5K there but things changed. With only a few days to go before the race, they switched it to a 3K. Who knows why but one thing is for sure, the races in Europe do not cater to the American girls trying to break 15 minutes or running under 8:50. They want to have opportunities to have women set World Records. I now realize that I can have the best coach in the World and the best agent in the World but if I don’t run fast enough, no one cares. I had a great race and one I will always remember in London but I still wished that it would have been a 5K. I ran 8:44 and knew if I had another 2K to go I would have done it. I am not taking anything away from my new PR in the 3K but when the goal all year was to run a fast 5K, it doesn’t sit well.

After getting a bit of a rush from London and knowing I was fit and where my coach and I wanted to be, I went home during the European Champs to get in a little more training and do some other business. I do a lot of speaking and trying to give back to our sport so I had the honor to go to Aim High Running Camp. Aim High was a great getaway for me. Not only did I get to run with the kids, but I played piano at their talent show (Hokey Pokey) and sang Ice, Ice, Baby with Dave Patruno (camp director) while the kids danced. This is what it is all about. Seeing kids dream about what we, as pro-runners, get to do. Especially the girls, knowing they too can be pro-athletes. I remember being that age, listening to coaches and athletes talk about setting their goals and believing in themselves. Telling me I could do anything I put my mind to. I hope we all do this for the next generation. Track and Field is such a great sport and such a neat community. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of it?

After the camp, I was off to race the mile at Falmouth. It was a great race with just five of us in it but five who wanted to run fast. We did just that and I came home with another PR of 4:27 which made my second trip to Europe even more exciting. It makes it even better when knowing all year we have worked basically on 5K work but my 1500 and my mile were better than ever. I had a few hard workouts, knowing I was ready again to give the 5K another shot so we decided to focus on Brussels.

Well, this is where the self-disgust comes in. My agent was working as hard as he could to get me into Brussels and when he heard NO two different times from the meet director, two days before the race I decided to go on with my season and focus on Berlin. Little did I know, the Brussels race director would change his mind and let me in at the last minute. My agent, my coach and I had to make a decision and after 14 miles with 8 hard, I decided I probably wasn’t going to run a PR less than 24 hours later. So I headed back home and I did another camp appearance which helped ease the pain. After a long flight back and the second European trip, I was shot. I had to call it a season. I couldn’t fathom getting on another plane and missing days of sleep again. My season was over but I had the opportunity to tell the kids at The Running Academy to never take any race for granted. Run each of them like it is your last and give it everything you have.

You see, for me, life is passing by pretty fast. Time to run fast is the present. I am not 22 years old; I am getting into the prime of my career and I am ready to do something with it. Running 4:06, 8:44 and 15:04 is great but I want to be one of the best in the world! It is fun to say that I ran the fastest mile in the world this year but I want to be running some of the fastest times in the world in all my events. I have a lot left in me. I know I can run faster and I know I will. I just have to use this fuel and fire I have right now to get ready for next year and remember the feeling of not being let into a race. I don’t like feeling like I am on the “B” squad. I want to be on the “A” squad and I think a lot of us Americans are sick of being on that side of things. Yes, the Ethiopians are running faster than us, but we can close the gaps. I think we have to just run fast over here before the European track circuit starts and show everyone what we are made of!

So, looking on to the future and remembering the feeling I have right now, I just want to say thanks to my Coach, Dennis Barker, for helping me reach a lot of my goals this year and for helping me achieve my dreams; to my Agent Mark Wetmore and his marketing director, Rich Kenah, for all that they do (racing, speaking, TV, radio you name it, if it has to do with running and I am free, we do it); to my shoe sponsor Adidas for allowing me to travel and live a life I dreamt of as a little girl; and to my training group Team USA Minnesota. Without my training partners and the support Pat Goodwin gets for us here, life would be so much different and I love being home in Minnesota. Now it is time to practice what I preach and remember the one word I wrote on many of my posters – Believe.

Taking off to Europe – July 9

I am getting ready to leave on my trip and packing is the hardest thing to do besides saying good-bye to my husband and family. I am really excited to get racing though and traveling to new cities is always fun. This time around I will be racing in Italy, Belgium and England, three countries I have already been to but always love visiting.

People always say how lucky we are to get to run all over the world. They often ask me how much time we get to sightsee and I always tell them that once my running career is over, I will have to go back and see everything I have missed. We see a lot of hotels, a lot of tracks, and a lot of BBC or Eurosport when we are overseas but when we have the opportunity to go for a decent run, we try to take in a few sights along the way. That’s something the sprinters don’t get to do as much of but they always like to hear the stories we come back with.

My racing begins in Rome on the 14th of July. I will be running in the 5000 there and looking forward to giving it a second chance after Nationals. I was not happy with my results at Nationals in both the 5000 and 1500m, but I learned a lot from how I ran and know I can fix a few things.

After Rome, I will be going to Belgium to train and race in some smaller races to get ready to hopefully run really fast in London on July 28th. That will be the end of my first round of Europe but I hope to return in August to run in a few fast 1500s to top off my track season for 2006.

Goals for the rest of the season: Believe in myself, stay focused and have fun running FAST. Hopefully I will come home with some new PRs and next year’s world championship standards out of the way! Pray for fast legs and continued health.

Introductory Entry: The week leading up to Nationals

6/16- Last long run before nationals. Run with Kristen Nicolini and one of my high school teammates, turned pro-triathlete, David Thompson. We run up Summit Avenue (last 6 miles of TCM course) down to the bluffs of St. Paul and finish on the River Road up to my house. Nice and easy 90 minutes. After the run and some lunch, my husband, mom, sister, niece, and I all drive up to Duluth, Minnesota for the Grandma’s marathon and half-marathon.

6/17- I watch my husband (Charlie) and my sister (Kammie) run the half-marathon with my mom and niece. It was a fun morning as they both ran fast and finished the race with only sore feet. After two long naps, a short run, and a little shopping, we eat at a Mexican restaurant and walk it off by Lake Superior.

6/18- Sleep in and wake up to the sun shining off the lake. Go for a short morning run before we leave. We drive back, take a little nap, and head to the track for a quick session of 400’s. As I am running I see Charlie sprinting on the infield barefoot. I thought he was just trying to keep me company but he was actually trying to pop his blisters from the race the day before. It was such a nice weekend just getting away and actually being on the sidelines cheering the runners on. What a beautiful place the North Shore of Minnesota is and a nice distraction before one of the biggest meets of the year.

6/19- Only 2 easy runs today and they are a bit shorter then usual. My mileage has been coming down over the past week and I am just trying to freshen up. Go to a birthday dinner for my brother-in-law Chad and on the way home call my coach, Dennis, and get a pump up talk about this weekend’s meet.

6/20- Off to the track for my last session. A little threshold before some 200’s and that is it. No more hard workouts, no more long runs, just some shake outs and a few strides. It is time to get ready to roll!

6/21- Pack and leave for Nationals. The excitement is starting to build. Everyone is wishing me their best and I am starting to get the twirls in my stomach. I make sure my spikes and uniform are packed for the one hundredth time. Head out to the airport and take off. Get to Indianapolis, pick up my packet, go and get my gear from Adidas and out the door for a quick jog to get the plane out of my legs. Focus and rest from here on out.

It is funny to think of how many times I have competed at a championship event and the nerves never go away. I have the same rituals that I did almost 17 years ago when I started this sport. These are the times that I love. I only wish that everyone would find what makes them tick in life. I am so blessed to have found my true passion and I don’t think this will ever get old. Katie and I always say, people will have to yell at us to get out of the way before we hang the spikes up. What a wonderful life running has brought me and the memories will last forever. Cheer loud for us all this weekend but especially loud for the Minnesotans!