Sherman : Do you think that your years as a competitive skier helped you to better navigate the challenges of a political campaign ?
Gray : Someone once told me , “ Molly , you know that if you focus on the trees , you ’ ll hit them , right ?” With downhill skiing or mountain biking , you ’ ve got to focus on your line and run through it in your head before you jump on the course . You can ’ t focus on the trees . With cross country , it ’ s a little bit different . It ’ s more about being able to keep skiing through a certain amount of pain . The pain cave , endurance athletes know it well . I think there is a link between running for office and training or racing . You have to be really disciplined . You have to be mentally fit enough to avoid getting dragged down into political fights . You have to realize that there are going to be days when the press won ’ t report something the way that you think it should be reported ( or even entirely accurately ). It ’ s important to just stay focused , stay positive , remember the Vermonters you serve - and do what you can to address their needs . I believe that my experiences as an athlete have truly benefited me throughout this whole process and will continue to benefit me in the future .
Sherman : What piqued your interest in international relations ?
Gray : Growing up , we watched a lot of Peter Jennings on ABC News . He was in our living room every night . We would sit around and watch the news together before eating dinner , and then talk about it . I remember his coverage of the breakup of Yugoslavia , the Bosnia conflict , and the first Iraq war . It gave me a sense ( which only continued to grow ) that there was a lot happening outside of Orange County and Stratton and UVM . I wanted to know more and understand more . I don ’ t know if there ’ s an exact source , but I feel like I can still see Peter Jennings today and remember his coverage and programs .
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