Schools

(PHOTOS) Olympic Athlete Visits Alice Smith Elementary

2004 U.S. 1500-meter champion Carrie Tollefson spoke to the students about food, fitness and healthy choices.

When it comes to talking with students about maintaining a healthy lifestyle, Carrie Tollefson has the right credentials. The Dawson native won the 1500-meter race at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials and competed in the 2004 Olympic games in Athens.

Tollefson is spokeswoman for Minnesota Grown—a statewide partnership between the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and Minnesota farmers and livestock producers that promotes locally grown food.

She talked with Alice Smith students Thursday about the school’s garden and her favorite vegetables—and why good food is so important.

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“As athletes—and you guys are athletes—we have to put good fuel into out body,” she said. “We only have one body, and we have to make sure we take care of it.”

Maintaining an active lifestyle was also a part of Tollefson’s message. She didn’t just tell the kids to be active. They did arm-pumping drills together.

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Of course, such exercise has other perks.

“One of the big reasons I like to run as far as I do and as much as I do is so I can eat a lot more,” Tollefson said. “I love to eat. And I love to have ice cream, and I love to have steak and big hamburgers and good chicken, and I love to have vegetables.”


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