Erin Moening

Last Tuesday, after a week of training, the Highland Park Nordic Team had our Section Meet. This year there was a change in the rules so now 2 teams from each section go to state and only 6 individual girls. We got 2nd for the past 2 years, but this year the competition was thicker. We had good races the first race which was a classic race around the 2 lap course. We were 6 points ahead of the 3rd place team and 8 points behind the 1st. We were pretty nervous in between races, and we decided that the next race was not going to be for our individual selfs. We were racing as a team, and we were racing for each other.  We made each other laugh, as we cracked jokes, Anna taught me how to play part of a song on her ukulele and the guys were nicer than normal. But the race did eventually start and off we went, racing as hard as we could. I came in, and the boys were telling me their calculations. Don't tell the rest of the girls, I told them. Not yet. Because they said w...

It has been so so busy with an estimation of 8 races in this 2 week frame. Definitely not as busy as the Tour de Ski, but pretty close. I can name them off for you, brief summary, and give you a lot right now. I'm on a pretty consistent streak right now and all I need to do is work through conference, sections, some JNQs mixed in and then state. One of my two major races this season. But that's for another time. Race time!!!!!! Race #1 and 2: Loppet Invite  This was the weekend after sr nats, so many of the big guns weren't racing. It was based off of the conference and section format, and it was the first time I races at Theodore Wirth this year. It was fun and I got to ski a skate race and a classic race. I love Wirth and it helped me prep for JNQs and sections. The team showing off the new tent Race #3: Classic '5k' Anyone who races at Elm Creek knows that you treat that 5k like a sprint. With only 2 big uphills and mostly flat, EC goes by so ...

In Europe, a ski event called the Tour de Ski is held annually. It was modeled after the Tour de France cycling event, and it has 6 to 9 stages, or ski races. This year has been historical for the US, with 2 American women, Sophie Caldwell and Jessie Diggins winning stages in a competition field that is normally dominated by the Scandinavians (or mainly the Norwegians). One of the challenging aspects of the Tour is the number of races condensed into a small amount of time. This year, the athletes are racing in 8 races in 10 days, in 4 different venues across 3 different countries. Senior Nationals I apologize for not getting a blog up earlier, as promised, but after my dad left Houghton, on Monday, I moved in the EU guys that were up there, and I didn't have anymore wifi. Racing in Michigan For me, I did a little Tour de Ski myself, racing in 5 races in 6 days in 2 venues in 2 states! I competed in the classic distance race, skate sprint, and skate mass start in Hough...

Reporting from up in da yoop! This week I am lucky enough to get to compete at the US National Championships (aka Sr Nationals) in the Upper Peninsula! This is a big week for me because depending on how I do, I have some opportunities to qualify for other races and trips! A quick run down starting from yesterday:  We (my dad, Molly, and I) arrived in Houghton yesterday afternoon, and after settling in, we headed to the race venue, the amazing Houghton ski trails. Today we went out to the trails again for an easy ski and then ate lunch before Molly and my dad went out to Swedes Town for some more skiing. For me, it's just an easy afternoon, with a run mixed in with extra homework. Tomorrow is the first race, a 10k classic . The men race at 10:00 and the women at 1:00, so I'll have time to jog a little in the morning to sooth some pre-race nerves.  Right away again on Monday is the skate sprint races . These will be pretty exciting for me because I'll be competing again...

The lazy-non endurance athlete part of me (we all have it in us, right?) kept procrastinating writing up a blog because who would want to hear about the hamster ball skiing we've been doing in the Twin Cities? I'm extremely grateful for the skiing that we have been doing with the extremely mild winter we've been suffering through. Luckily, Three Rivers has cranked out a couple 'k' at Hyland Bloomington and Elm Creek, but with every other nordic skier in the Twin Cities itching to get on snow, it sometimes can get a little packed. Luckily I have awesome parents who brought my sisters and I up to Northern Minnesota for a overnight ski vacation! With a bunch of distance skis on the schedule, it was great to catch up with my awesome cousins who were also up there searching for snow! We were feeling rather sassy The 2 days were filled with amazing snow and company! This was a great training weekend for because not only does Giants Ridge host the state meet in ...

After a whirlwind of weeks, it's time to sit down with some hot coco and relax.... right? Well if you answered yes, then you are wrong. Coming after a rough cross country season, it's surprisingly not hard to cruise into the heavy hours that November brings. Ended the season on a muddy and snowy note After being injured with a hip bursitis for 6 weeks, it was amazing to start to test my legs at the Blaine Invite, a week before Conference and 2 weeks before Sections. I was still gunning for my season goals, winning conference and going to state. My girls and I at Conference! Neither race played out the way I wanted, but I can't say they went poorly. Conference was a gorgeous day, and I ran smoothly, but lost contact on the leader after the 1st mile, and then got passed by one of her teammates at the 2 mile. I ran well, and was so excited for my team (both the boys and girls won!) but I was slightly frustrated. Same thing with Sections. I placed myself in a good s...

A lot has happened since August. There were big highs, and  very low lows. For the  first time in my skiing career, I have to really sit out, and more than just a couple days. And although things have been rough, it's easy to look ahead with a positive spirit when I have my amazing teammates around. My hilarious teammates The Cross Country season started off really good. The day before the season started I put in a distance ski, so when we had a 1.5 mile time trial, I expected to be a little farther back from previous times. I was pumped to tie my fastest time on that course and only be a couple seconds off the girl's course record. I continued to run and ski, along to fit lifting into my crazy schedule and by the time we raced on Thursday, our own little track meet under the lights, I still felt good and strong. I pulled off a good race, won the event by a minute and I had really pushed myself, even though I was running by myself.  Mimi's Mile: The first track...