Willie Neal

As many of you are aware Willie Neal a Jackson Hole WY native and Maine Winter Sports Center athlete was recently killed when he was struck by a car while rollerskiing. Details of the accident can be found at Fasterskier.com. I knew Willie for the short time I have been in Maine,and from national races we both attended. I was struck by his talent, drive, and sense of responsibly. His accomplishments as a skier/biathlete and as a person are very impressive. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
He will be greatly missed.

More Pictures

10th Moutain Ski Center

Some picures of the Lodge and the stadium/rollerski loop. I also threw in a few pictures of my races this past winter. Enjoy.

Visit Your Local Uphill Area!

Not many Americans are aware that there is currently a great deal on uphill area admission. In the summer your local downhill ski area is converted into a free use uphill area. I visited the local uphill area here in Fort Kent for the first time today. I did some race pace bounding intervals. They went really well other than the Raisin Bran I was tasting the entire workout. I am continuing to shoot everyday and training is going great. Things here are about to get a lot more exciting though. We have roughly 30 youngsters coming to 10th Mountain this weekend for an into to biathlon clinic. After that the US National Women's team arrives for a weeklong training camp. A few interesting Fort Kent observations: LED house numbers are very popular here, there are as many if not more bugs here than in MN, and there are more you read right more ATV trails here than in MN.  I'm currently working on a set of pictures of Fort Kent. I'm really making an effort at good photography. I'll post them at the end of the week, along with a summery of my training efforts so far this year. 

Getting after it

This week has been an extremely productive training week. With 300rds of shooting, a quality rollerski intensity session and a few great trail runs. Plus it's only Wednesday! This morning I had a real Maine woods trail run. It was about 50 degrees and raining. Our run started with about a half hour of bushwhacking behind the Mayo's house on some logging roads. From there we ran on some ATV trails. I stayed surprisingly clean for a muddy Maine run. This afternoon I have specific strength on rollerskis and some shooting. My camera cable in in the mail so I'l have pictures by Friday. Raleigh out! (A Russel C. saying)

A little Shooting

My rifle training has been going really well lately. Especially now that I have my rifle back from the far reaches of Logan International Airport. Tomorrow is my first rollerski workout and my first intensity workout since I popped out my rib last week. I hope I finish it all in one piece :) More on that later. My camera cable is being sent out so I'll have pictures inside the week.

2 Days

I've alloted 2 more days of recovery for my rib, then I'm going to begin almost normal training. I'll be skipping strength, double pole and other activities that may pop my rib back out. I'm really excited to get back to training and get some shooting in. Hopefully I'll have pictures soon.

Travel NIGHTMARE!

My day started with a 3:45 am departure from my house to the Minneapolis (MSP)airport. I got to the airport a little later than I would have liked, but I figured, big deal I have an early flight. When I arrived at the security point with my rifle I was informed by the TSA that my lock had fallen off. This began the cascade of hassles that defined my trip. Fortunately the TSA guys where really helpful found a lock to put on my case. I cleared security just in time to hear the final boarding call for my flight to Boston. I sprinted to the gate and barely made my first flight. After an uneventful flight from MSP to Boston a got a call from my mother that I only had 15 minutes to make my connecting flight. I was one again running. This time over to terminal B at the Boston/Logan airport. After checking in I realized my flight left at 1:10 not 11:00. After clearing security at the US Air terminal I settled in for my layover. After an hour of people watching and general spacing out I was paged at the gate. A thick Boston accent on the other end of the phone introduced himself as Tom from the TSA. Tom informed me that my rifle had not been checked through and my case didn't have a lock!! I ran back to terminal A and met Tom and his colleges at the baggage check in. I learned that the lock that had been put on in MSP had fallen off, my baggage had been sent to the baggage claim instead of my connecting flight, and my rifle had been unlocked in public for about an hour. ARRRGG!! After confering with the TSA officers I bought two locks and attached them to my case. (After 15min of trying to figure out how to set the combination) After this ordeal I few to Presque Isle Maine. When I arrived I got my ski bag, but no rifle case. After all that they didn't even put my case on the plane! I am currently settled in at the Mayo's house in Soldier Pond about 30 minutes from Fort Kent. My rib is doing better and if I have a rifle I will be doing a shooting workout tomorrow. Let the summer begin!

1/4

This summer I will be living in Fort Kent Maine to train with the Maine Winter Sports Center biathlon program. This blog’s purpose is to keep my family and friends informed on my activities. I am currently ¼ packed for my summer in Fort Kent. I have ¼ of a day for school tomorrow. I can do 1/4 of my normal training regimen due to a popped right rib. I am really looking forward to being done with school, having a fully functional rib, and finishing packing. I fly out of Minneapolis on Friday morning at 7:00am. That means a 4:00am departure from my house in Esko. The next 48 hours will be a little hectic, but I am pumped to arrive and get settled in Fort Kent. I am hoping to be able to breathe pain free tomorrow and be rollerskiing by next week.