![Kikkan Randall racing to fifth in the Kuusamo World Cup 10 k pursuit on Nov. 30.(Photo: Kikkan Randall/kikkan.com http://www.kikkan.com/first-wc-classic-podium/](http://fasterskier.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2013/12/randall-kuusamo-skate.jpg")
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
![Kikkan Randall (l) standing the podium at the Kuusamo World Cup after notching her best classic-sprint result on Nov. 29. She finished second to Poland's Justyna Kowalczyk (c) and ahead of Denise Herrmann of Germany in third. (Photo: Kikkan Randall/kikkan.com http://www.kikkan.com/first-wc-classic-podium/](http://fasterskier.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2013/12/randall-kuusamo.jpg")
7 Things:
- I had a pet praying mantis when I was in 5th grade. It grew to be 3 inches long.
- I compressed 4 vertebrae in my back from crashing in a downhill ski race on my nordic skis when I was 16.
- 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 🙂
- I used to hate pink when I was a little girl.
- I have an affinity for office supplies and formatting documents.
- I won a body building contest in high school.
- 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.
***
See also: Sadie Bjornsen | Sophie Caldwell | Noah Hoffman | Andy Newell