Randall Pushes Limits on a Glacier

Mon, Jul  28, 2008 - By US Ski Team

ANCHORAGE (July 25) - Kikkan Randall (Anchorage, AK) just wrapped up a session of training with the Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center on Eagle Glacier in the Chugach Mountains near Anchorage, AK. Weather would not allow for a helicopter so Randall, along with a group of APU athletes, hiked three hours to reach the glacier for their second time there in a month.

Kikkan Randall jokes around while training on the Eagle Glacier in Alaska. (Kikkan Randall/USSA)

"The hike in was quite exciting. You ascend 5,000 feet. We had everyone in good spirits so we kind of took our time getting up there and then we got into the training center and it was time to get to work," Randall said.

Following the hike in, the athletes used their time for intense training to work on both classic and freestyle sprinting combined with distance exercises.

"It was my third camp so far this summer. I've been back in my training since June 1 and it was great," Randall said. "In training I like to jump in on the tail end of the boys to push myself, that was a lot of fun."

In her first training session on the Glacier, Randall pushed herself to the limits, which, while garnering her fastest split time during training, also maxed out her heart rate.

"It was a little scary but it was probably due to being up at altitude and being a little dehydrated," Randall said.

However, during the second round of training, Randall said that everything went well. "I feel great and everything's gone back to normal."

After leaving, Randall is enjoyed what she called her "first real recovery week of the 2009 training year."

"This week was a chance to let the body absorb the training and take it easy. Overall, I'm feeling really good," Randall said.

Randall might have takeng a break from training, but next week she trains in Anchorage, followed by another week up on the Eagle Glacier.

For more on Randall's experience on the Eagle Glacier visit her blog.