Perhaps it's safe to say, I lived strong this weekend....

Just got back in from the LIVESTRONG Challenge in Austin, Texas.... participating in the 100 mile ride. I'm still pretty overwhelmed from the whole experience.... the memories created, scenery experienced, new friends made, regognized a couple of cycling faces, the lessons learned, and of course one fairly sore & tender body.

I could seriously write about this for hours, so how about a brainstorm of bullet-points?

*   We raised over 2.6 million dollars for the Lance Armstrong Foundation. 

*   Mom went with me, bless the girl. Full support from her, 110%. (Not to mention, my birthday was on 10//2 and hers is tomorrow... so we had a mutual celebration all weekend).

*   Lance gave a great speech, then participated in a run then 40 mile ride.... (Mom and I kept a 2nd eye out for Matthew. Alas    :::sigh:::). 

*   I wasn't able to squeeze to the front, so started the ride at the back. Paced it well, and zoomed past a good section of 100 mile riders. Many ended up taking the 70 mile option, I later noticed.

*   Heard of only one bad injury... early in the ride. Guy flipped over his bars and cut his forehead.

*   ALOT of flats early on... within the first few miles.

*   Teresea... a 10 year brain cancer survivor and a teacher. We hung out at the 35 mile mark and talked a while. She recently saw some of her former students in triathalons she was participating in... only to find out she was their inspiration for starting the races. Neat lady.

*   Rolling hills, of course in east Austin. And then hills like I've never seen while sitting on a bike.   Made it without stopping, all save for that one last "stairway to hell".... but still tackled it when other people quit and opted for the air-conditioned ride back to the finish line, or walked the hill.  (Sorry, but I didn't spend over a thousand on a bike to walk next to it... ya know?!)

*   Butterflies everywhere! And at one point, dragonflies. Birds of all kinds, to include emu.... and then the buzzards circling overhead, just waiting for me to become roadkill. (Over my dead body... hehehe) And the horses... just amazing as they raced next to me along the fence-lines. And wild-flowers everywhere... all colours.

*   A large hunk of the ride, there weren't any riders closer than the horizons to the front and back. Just me, the bike, and nature.

*   At the 53 mile mark, I was pumping up a hill pretty hard, standing. Then "POP! Slip.....". my chain wigged out on me. Then it spun freely on the cassette. Then it dropped on the granny-ring a couple of times... then dropped totally. Two mechanics couldn't figure it out. Then mechanic #3 spotted it in a heart beat (360 Cycleworks in Austin, damn awesome people). "You're about to snap your chain", he said. Seems when I had the chain put on a couple of days ago, that guy baaaaaaaaaarely bent-out one of the link side-plates. 53 miles of hammering, and it finally acted up... and yes road bikes are that finite in tuning. He patched it, and I jumped back into the road after sincere thank yous and darn near kissing the guy in greatful payment.

*   80 miles out, my right calf locked up in a tight "charlie horse". No pain... just locked up. But I had a fair amount of downhill time and was able to stretch it out on those coasts. Massaged it at the next water stop, then stretched again. Some of the volunteers saw me doing this and became almost too generous with the offers to give me a ride back to the finish line. I think my response was a delicate, light, greatful "thanks, but no". Then one guy persisted... and persisted.... and finally got out of me "really thank you, but if I go back in that van, it's because I was shoved into it kicking, screaming, and biting". They got the point.... and off I went, flying at 30mph.

*   I think I scared some of the volunteers at the turns... they were running backwards like I was about to crash into them. Lo, there goes my She-Trek leaning into the turn carrying her mistress swiftly into the next path.

*   Lots of professional photographers everywhere. And news crews. I'll be in one or two of their postings. But here are the links I have to share at the moment. (My own pics will be available in the next day or two)....

News 8 Austin...
http://news8austin.com/content/your_news/default.asp?ArID=172090

Professional photos will be posted here...
http://www.kreutzphotography.com/

Statesman.com...
http://www.stateman.com

Ok, time to go hug Mom gnight, sleep, then get back to Plano in the morning. I'm sure more thoughts on the event will hit me later... then get posted.

Gnight!

Life is not about going to the grave in a pretty & well preserved body. But rather to slide in broadside, totally used up, thoroughly worn out, and loudly proclaiming "WOW... what a ride!"

Prepping for the LIVESTRONG Challenge... gathering info and to-do lists now.

Who I'm riding for...

Annette Brauer- breast cancer survivor & friend I met in the SCA

Stella Silvana- breast cancer survivor & friend I met in the SCA

Dean Reynolds, USAF-  Dad's best friend of 38 years, who recently passed away from cancer

Jeanne Love-  breast cancer surivor and dear friend to Mom for over 50 years

Temps...

Oct 8th in Austin, Texas (certainly do-able)...

AVERAGES

Hi	84°F
Lo	63°F

Route Map....

http://www.livestrongchallenge.org/site/c.gfIMKVOEJsG/b.2039245/k.E997/AUSTIN_70MILE_ROUTE.htm

LOL, and someone on the PACC team told me there wouldn't be any hills. Pisha! Thank goodness for PBA hill training.  : )

Hotels........

Doubletree Hotel Austin
6505 Interstate Highway - 35 North
Austin, TX 78752
512-454-3737
$119.00

Hyatt Hotel Austin
208 Barton Springs Road
Austin, TX 78704
512-477-1234
$149.00

Doubletree Guest Suites Austin
303 West 15th Street
Austin, TX 78701
512-478-7000
$199.00

Omni Hotel Austin
700 San Jacinto
Austin, TX 78701
512-476-3700
$165.00

Hilton Hotel Austin
500 East 4th Street
Austin, TX 78701
512-482-8000
$189.00

Holiday Inn Austin Town Lake
20 N. IH-35
Austin, TX 78701
$89 - Must contact On The Mark Travel (800-618-6275 or 512-794-8800) to receive discounted rate

Courtyard by Marriott Austin Downtown/Convention Center
300 E. 4th Street
Austin, TX 78701
$119 - Must contact On The Mark Travel (800-618-6275 or 512-794-8800) to receive discounted rate

Residence Inn by Marriott Austin Downtown/Convention Center
300 E. 4th Street
Austin, TX 78701
$139 - Must contact On The Mark Travel (800-618-6275 or 512-794-8800) to receive discounted rate

To buy...

*  Saddle upgrade (Yay, get to use the Butt-o-Meter! Whoo hoo!)

*  Spare tubes

*  New cleats

*  New chain (Seems I've been hammering hard in the last 3-4 months... it's stretched already)

*  More "fuel"

*  New 2nd bottle... dropped mine the other day

*  White Lightening Lube (thanks James... Pedro's just isn't cutting it)

 

Already Bought...

*  Upgrade in Pearl Izumi shorts (went from Pro's to Elite's)

*  Arm & knee warmers

*  New sunglasses w/ 4 interchangable, vented lenses

*  Fluid trainer

 

To Do....

Train, train, train, train. Eat better (slumped since dealing w/ family crisis). Exchange US ARMY jersey for a medium. Remind boss of what days I need off work.

I have a feeling...

... that some of Dean's friends (chili cooks & veterans alike) will hear about this LIVESTRONG Challenge and want to be present. That's just how his peeps are.... would LOVE for my Dad to make it as well. In addition, Annette and her husband, plus some of my local SCA friends have expressed interest in attending the event.

It takes time to prep plans like this, so here's the low-down:

• Lance Armstrong Foundation // LIVESTRONG Challenge (Click that nifty banner above for more details)
• Austin, Texas
• Oct 7th start the festivities, I bunk either in a near-by hotel or crash space at an SCA friend's house
• Oct 8th, EARLY in the morning, I arrive on-site, sign-in, warm-up... then ride 70 miles in the honour of Annette, Stella, and other survivor friends, in addition to honour the memory of Dean. (I'm thinking of bumping this up to the 100 mile ride... just because "that's what heroes do" as my friends would say.)
• Cost to attend? Zilch. But donations to the cause are always appreciated.
• How to find me? Use that email link on the left and I'll be happy to provide you with my conact info. Also, I'll be the cute chick wearing that jersey in the post below.

I look forward to seeing you folks out there!

Hey all....

Sorry it's been a while. Things have been happening left and right, lately. First, my grandfather (and man who raised me, for the most-part) is in pretty bad shape in the hospital. He's on my mind, constantly. Secondly, a friend of mine passed away a week ago, so things have been on a somber note. And thirdly, the work schedule tightened-up a bit and still hasn't calmed down.

This friend who passed.... I didn't know he passed away until the night before his funeral, when my father called asking me to attend on his behalf. There at the funeral, I learned it was cancer that took Dean's life. While he was my Dad's best friend begining about 38 years ago, I also have my own memories of Dean. He's the man who taught me to make that killer chicken soup from scratch... some of you have tasted this. He (along with my Dad) also taught me to make competition quality chili... for which I won a 2nd place CASI trophy many years ago (the one I still display above the stove). I also recall the day when my father and I caught a 115-pound catfish and took it to Dean's house. I wish I could show you the expression on his face when he saw the beast. Then came the time when I left the Army as a disabled veteran, "injured in the line of duty". It was Dean who was enthusiiastic to see my benifits brought to light.... and this was the occation where I learned he was probably the most important person in Texas when it came to standing up for veterans, their benifits, and ensuring their welfare. He was our liason to the VA.

Anyhow, my father has so many more wonderful things to say about our friend.... 38 years worth of memories. But in my own way of honoring someone, in addition to riding for Anette & Stella's honor (two friends who survived breast cancer), I also plan on riding in memory of my friend Dean Reynolds. I'd love to make this ride not just in his memory, but to also carry the love he shared with so many people... his dear family, my Dad, those crazy CASI chili cooks, and of course his veteran friends. I ride for them all, this coming Oct 8th. And to boot, it only seems befitting to wear my US Army jersey on that ride... I ordered it the morning Dean passed, not knowing I'd be doing this.

So, onto the training....

With everything that's been happening lately (Texas heat, work, FL trip, Poppa, & Dean), I haven't been on my bike much the past 3 weeks. But last Monday, I hit the hills with my friend Joe. I believe we did around 30 miles, though it was one of my more difficult days on that route. And then today, are you sitting down for this? I rode my first 100K, again with Joe at my side. The ride was brutal (ranging from no breakfast, mechanical issues, getting seperated from the group, high heat index, and run off the road by a van)... but we made it, and it was a first of many to come. Nailing down the figures..... the LIVESTRONG Challenge is 70 miles on the route I chose to participate on. Today, we rode just under that (66.6 miles). I'm seeing this Challenge as most do-able... especially with such inspiration driving me.

My new favorite saying (Something Dean certainly followed).......

Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty & well preserved body. But rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, & loudly proclaiming: "WOW...WHAT A RIDE!"

 

 

 Ok, must get back to work. But wanted to share some thoughts while the chance was there. Be well, take care, and more soon.