Team t2

I am really excited to say that I have been accepted as a member of the t2 Team.  Here is some information about the t2 Foundation:

Our Mission: 

The T2 Foundation supports athletes competing in Olympic snow sports, including alpine, Nordic and freestyle skiing.  

Our mission is twofold: to help America’s elite skiers reach their dreams, and to fuel the grassroots growth of the sport through organized events and programs, which give back to the youth community.  

Athletes are our sports’ ambassadors, and by engaging youth and providing positive role modeling, we seek to grow the sport and fuel dreams. 

About Us: 
The T2 Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports America's elite skiers, and the growth of grassroots skiing. 

Founded in 2006, the T2 Foundation has provided financial support to over 40 different athletes, helping them achieve their dreams. Those athletes have given back to the ski and youth communities as positive role models, sparking inspiration in kids.  

The T2 Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization. 

Check out their website to learn more: www.t2foundation.com

One of the perks of of being part of t2 is that I can receive donations through t2, allowing all my supporters to get a tax deduction from donating to a 501c3. 
If you are interested in doing so, you can send a check to the t2 Foundation with a note indicating that it is to support Rosie Brennan and it will go directly into my fund.

T2 Foundation
63 Pattrell Rd.
Norwich, VT 05055

Checking out the view. Denali was shining brightly but my iphone camera isn't good enough to capture it.

Snow!

In the mean time, my feet behaved well enough for me to go on a mountain run, the first of the season for me. 

When it starts freezing here, the soil turns into this and it is like a boobie trap. It crumbles beneath you and you fall into a little ankle twisting hole.  

I made it to snowline and foolishly climbed the top of the mountain in road shoes on the icy snowcovered rocks, but fortunately made it safely.

18 Days of Rain

It rained 18 days in a row here, tying the record for the most number of days in a row. 18 days also happens to be the number of days I have been here since returning to Utah...What do you do when it rains all the time?

1. Make sure you have a team and team training sessions. Misery loves company

                                    My teammates cruising up the mountains. (Courtesy of Rob Whitney)                                     

2. Go into the mountains. The mountains are still awesome even when its rainy. 

Looking down on the shiny sea

3. Bake a lot. Nothing is better than yummy baked goods after a wet and cold training session

Don't mind my dorky pose, but check out that cake!

4. Act fast and be spontaneous for those rare afternoons it's not raining

Even mountain bike up the pass.

Sadzarue and I at the top. I made it with only 4 functional gears too!

5. Catch up on your favorite TV shows...while training. 

Sometimes it's just too miserable to go outside AGAIN. 

6. Stop and take pictures of what we rollerski through, it will make you feel tougher come winter time.

My boots have been wet for weeks and they smell so bad. I am counting the days til I get new ones so I can incinerate them. 

7. Watch a bulldozer destroy your front lawn (or lack their of) and feel better because you aren't the only one who has to be in the rain. 

There were some electrical issues on campus so they had to do immediate construction. I now have 2 closed roads just to get out of the school. 

8. Find your inner chef

We auctioned off a dinner made by the APU Women in the spring and fullfilled our commitment this week. We spent the week finding menus, trying out recipes, and gathering local ingredients. 

9. LAUGH LAUGH LAUGH

We did some tandem biking along the beach.

Looking smooth

Enjoying the beach

Trying to ride in front...

Watching the barge leave and a plane arrive, just as the skies let loose. 

We got fully drenched on the way home, but had a blast anyhow.

10. When the sun does finally return, enjoy every second of it you can. 

Watching the fog give way to the sun on our 4+ hour bike adventure around all of Anchorage, in the SUN!
Thanks Sadie for 90% of my pictures and keeping me company in the rain!

Student

When I first arrived at APU it seemed like a piece of cake, all I have to do is train and rest and watch all the TV shows I missed out on the last 4 years of my life. While training, especially with APU, was in all reality not that easy, my days were far less full than most of my days at Dartmouth. I had to find activities to keep me busy and not let my brain rot.

Alas, I chose more school. However, this time around, it's not quite a big of a commitment, I only take class during fall semester, I only have two of them, and they only meet once a week. The challenge lies in the fact that I have not taken a class since last fall and each fall I become more removed from my Dartmouth days and life as a "real" student. I haven't had to sit still for three hours and actually listen, I haven't had to write anything in the least bit academic, and I haven't had to read anything academic either. In fact, I probably haven't even had that many academic discussions aside from my father and brother talking politics and making fun of my ignorance.

Regardless of the amount of work, school comes around and I panic and feel stressed. How can I possibly study, read, write, get all my training in, and maintain all my body care (and write my totally awesome blog)? I wonder how I ever did all this at Dartmouth and still had time for fun (or least I only remember the fun parts). I long for the productivity I had at Dartmouth. I always managed to get most of my homework done, train, and maintain my 10PM sharp bedtime. As I work through the stress and find that schedule in which I can get it all done, I realize how incredibly awesome my life is. I mean, really, if that is the only stress in my life, I have it pretty good. I'm lucky.

I think I found my productivity today. I went to Physical Therapy, went for an unbelievably muddy bike ride full of moose encounters, did my strength workout, finished my homework, went to class, baked cookies, finished all my homework for the next class, did my laundry, found time to write this blog (albeit a few days late from my promised Sunday blogday), and will be in bed by 10PM sharp. Life as a student is really fabulous and getting my brain ticking again is great. I am very thankful to be able to be a student and skier and live this o so stressful life.

On a totally separate note, it has rained A LOT in Alaska. I still am amazed that it is possible for the sky to drop that much water continuously and will forever believe the West is Best. I am not a huge fan of rain. It's really another reason I am thankful to have school. Motivation is hard when it rains all the time and you haven't seen the sun since you left Park City, but having school to think about at least keeps me from holing up in my room for days on end watching sappy shows on my computer.

This picture doesn't really do it justice. I am really muddy, so muddy I had to hose myself off as well as the bike. And it's still pouring...


Hope everyone's fall is less wet than mine! Happy Fall!