Now In its ninth year, the annual 5K and half-marathon hosted by the Maple Grove Lions strives to highlight causes that make the community proud. This year, the race is USA-themed and the Lions have chosen to make a financial contribution to 18-year-old aerial skier and Olympic hopeful Elle Gaudette. “It’s just a lot of fun,” says Lion Jim Miller. “The entire club participates, and we have several hundred runners.”
Elle Gaudette was featured in our April 2014 issue, when she started training year-round in Lake Placid, New York. Last June, she moved to Park City, Utah, to continue her training regime. Now living with a host family, Gaudette shares how her life has changed: “I have two younger host sisters and a host mom and dad, which is really different, because I’m an only child. I also have to make things happen for myself now instead of relying on someone else.” Spending hours at the jump site and hours working out at the gym, Gaudette’s days are packed. Despite her busy schedule and tough workouts, she says she just keeps reminding herself that her hard work will pay off. “You just gotta want it—that’s what motivates me,” she says.
