Professor, School of Education
Director of Secondary Social Studies Education

I have been married to my wife, Heather, since 1995 and we have two children, both named after historical figures. I graduated from PBU in 1994 and then served as a high school history teacher in Central Virginia for twelve years.  In 2005 I was awarded the Lynchburg City “Teacher of the Year.” I am thankful for the impact my students have had on my career and on my family. While living in VA I became an avid mountain trail runner, enjoying over 20 extreme ultra-running races (distances of 30+ miles on trails and mountains). The experience of being alone on trails with breath-taking panoramas makes it a very spiritual endeavor! Recently, I ran my annual birthday run (38 miles) on the trails at Bald-Pate Mountain Nature Preserve and the Delaware-Ruritan Canal Path in New Jersey.

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October 4, 2009

The American Birkebeiner: Ready to ski the Greatest Show on Snow?

I arrived with my family at our Wisconsin Wilderness Campus in Cable, Wisconsin on Sunday. On my previous visit, I missed the chance to run a historic course, sticking instead to the Telemark and Rock Lake Trails. The Birkebeiner is a world-renowned 50K ski race celebrating the rescue of a Norwegian prince in the early 13th century. Last year the director of the campus, Mark Jalovick, a multi-year finisher, insisted that I run the famous cross country ski trail. Within minutes of arriving this year, Mark invited me to run part of the trail as he rode his mountain bike. I consented without anticipating how challenging and exhausting the constant undulation of the trail would be, especially the grade. I was pleased to have run on a piece of Nordic history and tried to imagine the many students who skied the famous course. Mark, thank you!

Ja, Vi Elsker Dette Landet

Posted by Chris Palladino on October 4, 2009 8:19 AM |

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