7 Things You Didn’t Know About Kikkan Randall

Continuing with our series on pointless knowledge about professional North American racers, we give you a rare glimpse of Kikkan Randall, who earned her first World Cup classic-sprint podium on Nov. 29 at the season opener in Kuusamo, Finland.

Athlete: Kikkan Randall

Team: U.S. Ski Team; Alaska Pacific University

Age: 30

Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska

7 Things: 

1. I had a pet praying mantis when I was in 5th grade.  It grew to be 3 inches long.
2. I compressed 4 vertebrae in my back from crashing in a downhill ski race on my nordic skis when I was 16.
3. I was the “Alaska State Teen Safe Driver Competition” winner in 1999 for completing a week-long series of safe driving and online tests.  I won a 1 year academic scholarship to UAA and a big trophy 🙂
4. I used to hate pink when I was a little girl.
5. I have an affinity for office supplies and formatting documents.
6. I won a body building contest in high school.
7. I still listen to the Backstreet Boys on occasion

Bonus Round:

• Go-to mantra or motto: Pain is temporary, pride is forever.
• What do you miss most while on the road (besides family and friends)? The freedom of your daily routine at home. Grocery shopping, laundry and driving a car. And curling up on the couch with my two cats.
• Best part about being a pro athlete: Getting absolutely strong and fit and enjoying the accompanying energy and positive outlook on life that comes from working out almost everyday.
• 3 travel essentials: Travel pillow, small speaker for playing music, and my laptop.
• Go-to travel meal or food: I always have a stash of granola bars in my backpack.  Right now I am super into these dark chocolate-almond-sea salt bars from Kashi.
• Song that you could listen to non-stop: “Stronger” by Kelly Clarkson
• Song you wouldn’t mind never hearing again: You’ve got me stumped, I can’t think of one right now.

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See also: Sadie Bjornsen | Sophie Caldwell | Noah Hoffman | Andy Newell