Kris Freeman, "I probably skied my last race of this Olympics yesterday"

Image from krisfreeman.net

“I want to be clear that I do not believe my subpar performances here were attributable to diabetes”

— Kris Freeman

Shortly after competing in his second Olympic event in Sochi, Kris Freeman posted a 'Thank you' on his blog where he announced that his 2014 Olympic pursuits are "probably" over and that, "I am clearly far from my best right now and it would be fair to give fresher teammates a chance in the later races".

Kris speaks at length in his open letter about his training plan for the games, that he is looking forward to competing in next year's World Championships, but most of all - he wants you to know that his performance had nothing to do with his type I diabetes. 

Please take a moment and go to Kris's blog to read his full message.

“I will have to adjust my training to allow for more recovery in the future”

— Kris Freeman

Everyone in our family is proud of Kris and we look forward to supporting him in the future. I hope Kris knows just how much his presence at the games has meant to Arden. Such a huge inspiration!

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more about Kris on Arden's Day

VIDEO: Kris Freeman on NBC's Olympic Zone

Kris Freeman: Men's 15km Classic

Photo Credit: FasterSkier.com - Used with permission.

Kris competed earlier today in the Men's 15km Classic, his second of four scheduled Olympic events. Reports indicate that the course for today's 9+ mile race, were less than optimal. The snow was apparently "slushy" and the temperatures warm. American Erik Bjornsen finished 38th today, Fasterskier.com quotes him as saying, "It was harder than I was expecting".

Kris had this to say after he finished 52nd in a field of 92. 

“It was one of the hardest courses I think I’ve ever raced on. It’s really slow and tons of elevation, and there’s that 3-minute sustained climb there… I was racing really cautiously because you can go right off the edge so easily… I was trying not to put the hurt on myself today”

— Kris Freeman via Fasterskier.com

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I was hoping to wake up this morning and read about Kris having the race of his life, that didn't happen, but here's what I love about the interview quotes from Kris that I read on Faster Skier. Kris never mentions his diabetes - Representing the United States in Sochi as one of the best cross country skiers in the world, Kris's successes and shortcomings are never tied to type I diabetes. He's is just an athlete competing on a world stage. It's completely invigorating, as the parent of a child with type I, to see how little of an effect diabetes has on his skiing. There is no better message to pass on to our children then the one that says, diabetes can't stop you from achieving at your highest potential and it is never an excuse for moments that don't end as you'd hope. 

Kris races again soon, his schedule is on Arden's Day, link below, I can't wait to watch with Arden and cheer him on.

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more about Kris on Arden's Day

VIDEO: Kris Freeman on NBC's Olympic Zone

Kris's Olympic skiing schedule

"I Probably Skied My Last Race Of This Olympics Yesterday"

Arden's Day Blog RSS

VIDEO: Kris Freeman on NBC's Olympic Zone

This piece begins with host Sibila Vargas saying, "For American cross country skier Kris Freeman, Sochi represents his fourth career Olympics where he'll not be only representing the United States, but also diabetic athletes everywhere."

Immediately after Sibila finished, Arden exclaimed, "That's me!"

Originally aired on NBC's 'The Olympic Zone', Feb 10, 2014 - Channel 4 NY

After the interview, Arden told us that she shared with her class today that she knew someone who was competing in the Olympics. Arden explained to her friends that the man she knew had type I diabetes and that he wore the same insulin pump and CGM as she. 

I can't thank Kris enough for the example that he is setting for my daughter, and for everyone whose life is touched by type I diabetes. If I had a gold medal Kris... I'd give it to you. 

Thank you to NBC for this interview, it means so much... to so many. 

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more about Kris on Arden's Day

VIDEO: Kris Freeman on NBC's Olympic Zone

Kris's Olympic skiing schedule

"I Probably Skied My Last Race Of This Olympics Yesterday"

Arden's Day Blog RSS

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Worried your child is too lean for an insulin pump or CGM

I saw this picture on four time Olympian Kris Freeman's twitter feed this weekend and smiled. It instantly caused me to remember the days that I spent worrying that Arden was too lean to wear an OmniPod insulin pump and Dexcom continuous glucose monitor (CGM).

Apparently, that was time that I could have spent on other concerns...

Photo by Kris Freeman. Used with permission. Also pictured, Kikkan Randall.

I met Kris last year at the Lilly Diabetes blogger summit so I sent him an email to ask if I could use his picture on Arden's Day. I told him that I wanted to illustrate to all of the concerned parents that their children aren't too lean to wear these devices. I've admittedly had that concern in the past, and it is one of the most often asked question when I hear from parents like you. 

In my opinion Kris's body is an extreme example and thus why I wanted to show you his picture. Being lean doesn't mean that a person can't use an insulin pump or CGM, even if that person has almost no body fat. Kris told me that he can hit a muscle because of how lean he is, but that it is, "worth it" to be able to use the devices. It is my finding that Arden has plenty of body fat even at just over fifty pounds and in five years we've never hit a muscle. 

My child is so active, I'm worried that a pump will get in the way.

The other concern that I hear most from parents who are considering an insulin pump or CGM, that their child plays a competitive sport and they worry that the devices will be an impediment. If you've ever had that concern, please take a look at this next picture from Kris's Twitter feed... Be sure to read the caption to put that concern out of your mind.

"Went for a 21 mile trail run..."

Kris is competing in Sochi with an insulin pump and a CGM, I watched his first event yesterday and it's safe to say that he is an inspiration to any person who lives with type I diabetes. Watching Kris ski makes me even more certain that Arden will be able to reach for whatever dream she can imagine. Knowing that he endures such physical rigors while managing his BGs is a great comfort to me, and I hope to all of you.

I'll be speaking with Kris again soon and reporting back. In the meantime here's a list of his remaining events in Sochi.

Good luck Kris, we are all cheering for you... I'm off to do a sit up.

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more about Kris on Arden's Day

VIDEO: Kris Freeman on NBC's Olympic Zone

Kris's Olympic skiing schedule

"I Probably Skied My Last Race Of This Olympics Yesterday"

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Don't Miss Kris Freeman in Sochi

I have a picture of Kris and I together but I won't share it because he is like 9,000 times more handsome than I am.

View fullsize

Olympic cross country skier, Kris Freeman will be going for the gold in Sochi while wearing his OmniPod insulin pump - Here are the times and dates that you can catch him on your television. Times are EST.

• February 9th - Men's Skiathlon 30 km (starting 2pm)
• February 14th - Men's 15 km Classic (starting 5:30am)
• UPDATE: Kris announces he is probably done skiing at Sochi games
• February 16th - Men's 4x10 km Relay (starting 7pm)
• February 23rd - Men's 50 km (starting 2pm)

Kris provides an excellent example for people living with type I and I can't wait to sit down with Arden and watch him compete.

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Kris wrote a guest post about the Olympics, for LillyPad, that you can find here.

“I will compete in the first of four races at the 2014 Olympics. Each time I will think of the thousands of children I’ve met over the last 10 years and try to win a medal for all of us.”

— Kris Freeman

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more about Kris on Arden's Day

VIDEO: Kris Freeman on NBC's Olympic Zone

Kris's Olympic skiing schedule

"I Probably Skied My Last Race Of This Olympics Yesterday"