At first I was not sure how I was going to wake up at 6 every morning to pack up and move to a different city, some days even a different state. We have all figured out what works for us to quickly pack and get ready for a long day of biking. We have also found ways to catch up on sleep by taking naps everywhere (in the grass, on the side of the road, on concrete outside of a gas station, on a gravel driveway, just about anywhere we stop. We spend the night at many churches and homes of past riders (Thakkar and Bartholomew). I have been so surprised by how kind people are and how willing they are to help us out. We normally sleep on the ground and the occasional luxury of padded pews, cots, and couches which are amazing. We have been fortunate to have showers in all but Philadelphia where Kelsey and I took a sink shower for the first time (and we are told this will not be the last time we will be doing that). Also I had my first Philly cheese steak and it was amazing. In the past few weeks I have showered at YMCAs, pools, fair grounds, churches, and a pastors house. Riding through Pensilvania was the hardest, climbing up steep mountains but also the most beautiful state so far. I think I am going to end up living in Pensilvania. I was either stung or bit by something, at first I thought it was just a mosquito bite but as the days passed my hand began to swell. It ended up going back to normal after taking Benadryl. Amish country shocked me I wasn’t aware that people still plowed fields with horses. We stopped at small fresh fruit and vegetable stand at the end of a driveway with two little amish girls and bought fresh strawberries they were delicious. On the hot unbearable days we have found creaks, lakes, fountains, and hoses to cool down. I carry around my swim suit bottoms either in my saddle bag or around my handle bars at all times so I am ready to jump in any body of water without the side effects of wet biking shorts which lead to major chafing. While riding in Ohio we were surrounded by garage sales because it was national garage sale week on route 40. This made the ride more interesting because we agreed to all get an item for a white elephant gift exchange. The 104 mile day my group formed a pace line where the guys, Sean, Connor, and Ron, took turns leading and breaking the wind while Kelsey, Ellie, and me drafted off of them the whole way. It was a great system for the girls and we averaged 20 mph for the day. Two days in a row we had tornado warnings near the end and had to be shuttled in to the stayover because the weather was not safe to ride in. Other than that we have been blessed with tailwinds and mostly decent weather up until the ride into Chicago. Today we rode in downpour from Homewood to Chicago on flooded roads almost up to my knees. Despite the terrible conditions I was having a great time until the temperature dropped. Cold and wet we took a stop at Connors house. We made our way through the south side, along the windy lake front trail, and to Millenium Park.
The sweet taste of victory
So here I sit, in my living room after about 1200 miles of biking across the United States. What an odd sensation. I feel like I'm done. I already am relaxing and hanging out forgetting that I have about 3300 miles yet to complete. I don't think there are words to describe what I felt when we were walking up to Millennium Park. I don't even know what I was thinking. My mind still has not wrapped around the fact that I biked from NYC to Chicago, let alone that I am biking to San Francisco. I feel so oddly comfortable in my house. It's weird to see things that are mine and not the team's or the church's. I took a shower today and the water was hot the entire time. Like people told me I would, I have missed my luffa. Unfortunately, no matter how hard you try and no matter how much you scrub, you will always find more patches of grease that you missed.I am so fortunate to be a part of this experience and to be experiencing it with the people that I am. We are not a team, we are a family. We have been since Day1. I never once felt uncomfortable. I love everyone on the team so much! We laugh during the good times and we help each other in the tough times. It's really awesome. Today we rode 28 strong the entire way which was unplanned but worked out phenomenally. I don't think our team could have done such a great 30 mile ride together if it weren't for our closeness and the fact that most of us have already ridden which each other at least once before. We handled the situation with grace and Manny did an awesome job leading us through the city streets. What a ride it has been so far and I definitely feel the best days are on their way. The first week was so hard and there were even worse days over the last week because the heat was just so intense. I can say that the worst thing for me is definitely the heat. I think I personally struggle a lot more mentally then I do physically. I feel pain but I think I can compartmentalize it pretty well. However, whenever my morale is low, everything goes downhill. The heat puts me in a state of exhaustion and deliriousness which is hard for me to control. However, I still made it through. I finally feel stronger and I can say with confidence that I am stronger. I am a stronger rider, a better person, and a harder worker.Today was by far the craziest day of my life and is likely to remain so. We woke up in the morning and it was pouring. We also woke up to Pi walking around which was weird. Pi is our team's Director of Team Development. He trained us as best he could and sent us off to cycle across the U.S. It was so weird to see him this morning after almost 1200 miles. We got to talk to him about our experiences which was neat. He was kind enough to drive the van so that we could ride as a 28 person team for only the second time on this trip. Usually one of us is driving, but when we rolled into Champaign and Chicago, our two most important stops, we were lucky to have alumni help us out.Now when I say today was crazy, I mean it was insane. When we got up it was pretty bad out. There was lightning and a heck of a lot of rain. We ate breakfast and readied ourselves with an awesome Mosher (a daily get amped session) by Manny. We did some stretching to our team anthem which is "Push it" by Salt-N-Pepa. The phrase "push it" has become a team motto. Whenever we are in the mood to get somewhere, we "push it." After stretching, Manny pumped us up as if we were going to play the football game of our lives but really the greatest ride of our lives. We chanted as a family and sounded like one kick ass individual. It was just awesome. Couldn't have been more pumped.So the craziness began. From the second we started to the second we reached Millennium Park, things were just insane. In the morning we could barely see as it was pouring and there was still some lightning. We rode out separately in our groups but ended up staying pretty close to one another. The cues were wrong for some reason, perhaps because of the rain some roads were closed. We ended up riding as a 28 person team on the fly for virtually the entire ride. We moved as one vehicle, one big semi truck of cyclists. That in itself was insane but it only got worse. We rode through deep puddles without the ability to see if there were potholes or sharp objects etc. Even worse, we walked through 2 foot deep floods 2-3 times. We even caught someone boating around in a flood we walked through. I mean we took this day like champions. What could have been the worst day ever, ended up being the best day ever. Not one of us was complaining, we were all laughing and enjoying the insanity of the situation. We had issues from brake pads falling off, to gears getting stuck, to two flats within 5 miles of Millennium Park. You name it, we experienced it. No matter how hard it was, we all sucked it up and took it in I4Crazy style. In the midst of the water mess, pretty much the first time we have really ridden in rain this entire trip, we rode 28 of us throughout the city. There were lights shut off and roads closed and there was traffic but through it all, we stuck together. I can't believe that we managed as well as we did. We knew to give each other space to brake because of the rain and we knew that we had to constantly check to make sure everyone was through the stoplights. We never left anyone behind and we didn't have any crashes. It was amazing. I could not be more proud.Finally we reached Connor Yanz's house. Also known as Manchild's cave. I think the Yanz family deserves a round of applause. They fed 28, utterly disgusting riders. God alone knows what was in that water we walked through. They had towels ready and food and coffee set up. They had a flood in their house already and then allowed 28 soaking riders in. I mean literally, they must be the kindest people alive. We played with their lovely dogs and filled up on energy while we attempted to dry off. All of us were freezing at this point but as usual we sucked it up and got back on our bikes as we rode through more puddles, potholes, floods, and traffic. What was great was that whenever anything went wrong, the entire team stopped. We stuck it out together. There were few complaints and everyone worked to help each other. After all of that we finally caught the wind of the lake. We had two flats along the way but we stayed strong. The wind tried to push us down, but nothing was stopping us at this point. We pushed each other through the wind to the stop light by Millennium Park. We made it relatively on time for the first time in I4K history. Regardless of how much we dealt with, we were still on time and still together. By the time we walked in we were mostly dry from the wind and we were all smiling and laughing. At Millennium Park, I was able to see one of my closest friends and to see my family and the family members of my teammates. It's great to have fans everywhere we go, especially after we have such an unexpectedly insane day. This ride into Chicago will go down as one of the craziest in I4K history, but also will be one of the best days of the 2011 trip. I think that it is tough for any of us to say that this was a bad day. It was absolutely the coolest day of my life.As I said in my first trip blog, we see things that we would sleep through in cars. As soon as I got in the car to go home, I fell asleep. I thought to myself, what if I rode through the Chicagoland area the way I have across the country, what would I see that I have missed all my life when I was sleeping in car rides. Earlier today when I was in Chicago, I was a force to be reckoned with, even on my own. My mom and sister came to pick my Dad and I up for lunch. As soon as they stopped, I flipped my bike upside down and removed the wheels. People stared at my bike, watched me as I quickly disassembled and put my bike in the car. I was wearing my jersey and proud to stand with about 1200 miles under my belt. It amazed me that people had no idea what I had been through in the past few weeks and there was some pride in that thought. It was like I was in on a secret that only a few people in the country know. It was so cool. When I went to get lunch on UIC's campus, I walked around with the straightest back I have ever held, proudly showcasing my jersey and cycling shorts. People looked at me oddly but I didn't care, I took it in stride and enjoyed the moment, amazed at what I had accomplished. It is at times like these that I really recognize what I am doing. It's weird, but I often forget that I am cycling across the U.S. I get so in the zone that all I think about is getting from Point A to Point B. Once I'm at Point B it's like I have permission to crash and I almost immediately fall asleep. I don't often take the time to think about what I am doing. Now that I have my own computer in hand and some time to contemplate, I am really starting to feel the monumentality of what I am doing. When I turned on my computer I saw the I4K logo and I felt that I finally understood what the logo meant. It's funny how my eyes went right to it. I feel like I am finally living up to this dream that I have had for so long. I feel honored to really be a member of the Illini 4000 family now. It's so awesome to have support from every end of the earth. My Dad told me that at parties people ask about me and my Mom told me that even her patients ask about me. People I have never met in my life ask how my ride is going and ask about where I am. I know its the same for everyone else on the team. I have friends and family from all over the world following me on Facebook and reading my blogs. It's weird to see the people that have caught on. Some people I haven't seen or talked to in years are now paying attention to everyday of my life. It's just unbelievable. I want to take a moment to thank everyone for their support. If it weren't for their encouragement none of us would be standing here today. I do feel the sweet taste of victory at having reached Chicago, but I keep forgetting that this is only 1/4 of my trip. I have much more victory ahead.I do apologize for the length of my post, but I think that today deserved it. Plus, I've been really behind because I just can't stay awake. I'm gonna have to do something to keep myself up. Contrary to popular belief, I refuse to join the coffee trend. As I tell my teammates sleep is my coffee, but I have yet to figure out a good schedule that allows me to read and write too. I don't know when I will next blog, so until then, good night and good luck.
Chicago Bound
We are looking forward to our ride into Chicago tomorrow. We have had two days that were easily in the high 90' s which were very challenging. We had to stop to fill up for water around every corner it seemed like. Everybody has made it though, I am very proud of Lauren. She is doing great along with everyone else on the team. 
We were fortunate to be able to stop at Lindsay's house today for a few hours and get out of the heat. We had an awesome cookout and heard two great portraits from some amazing people. I am pumped to have a rest day in Chicago and get to go home. It will be good to catch back up and see my family before the big push to San Fran. We will probably be shouting our entire way to the BEAN.
June 6 Champaign Homecoming
Today, the team will be riding into Champaign! The team plans to stop at Homer Lake on the way in for pb&j sandwiches; they will depart Homer Lake around 1:00pm and head toward Champaign. I4K alumni and community members are welcome to join the ride. The 2011 I4k Bike America Team plans to arrive at the Alma Mater at the intersection of Green and Wright around 2:30pm - come and greet the team as they roll in!
My First Fall
The past couple of days have been building up to the long awaited entrance into our home state of Illinois. It's hard to believe that in only 15 days, only 14 of which were actually ride days, we will be on our stomping grounds of Champaign, IL. The anticipation has been apparent as each rider has been talking about plans for Champaign for what seems like months now. Everyone is talking about what restaurants to go to and which friends to see and what time to do everything since we are only going to be there for one night.For me, I have a few things I have to accomplish while on campus. The first is to eat at the Fat Sandwich Company. After riding so much, I feel like I can eat anything and will promptly burn it all off. This may be the only time I will eat the sandwich that has cheesesteak, chicken fingers, bacon, mozzarella sticks, french fries, and ketchup and mayo all on one delicious hoagie roll and not feel completely guilty on the inside. The next thing I plan on doing is seeing all of my friends still at campus over the summer. The time between sophomore and junior year seems to be the most popular time to stay in Chambana for the summer and I'm excited to see everybody. I also want to visit both of my places of employment and say hello to all of my co-workers. I want to do all of this while still going to bed at a reasonable hour so hopefully we arrive a little earlier in the day!As you can probably infer by the title of this post, I faced my first fall. It happened yesterday on the ride from Richmond to Indianapolis at around mile 38 of 84. We were riding in a residential area and out of no where a dog came running right in front of us. And this was no chihuahua either, it might have been the biggest dog I've ever seen. Since I was going around 20 mph, I hit the dog square in the chest and flipped over hitting my head on the ground. I have never been more thankful for a safety requirement in my entire life. I am sure I would have been in the hospital overnight if it wasn't for my trusty helmet. I rode the next twenty-some miles and felt too lightheaded and went in the van to the stayover.Today I drove the support vehicle which I think was for the best. It was a nice rest and it was also a pleasure being able to blast my ipod through the van speakers and DJ for the rest stops. I hope everyone enjoyed my playlists!Anyway Jan is making me play a card game now so I have to go but I cannot wait for Champaign tomorrow and Chicago within the next couple of days. Everyone get pumped because I4K is coming to town!
Rockville, what a hoot!
If there was one word I had to use on to describe today I would choose: "fun".I had the luxury of sleeping on a couch last night. It was awesome. I4K stayed at the Bartholomew's last night. Dan Bartholomew is a former 09 rider and he was kind enough to host 11 at his house. The Bartholomews are such strong supporters of I4K ; people like that really help I4K keep moving and boosts our spirits. They provided so many yummy snacks for us! Dan joined us on the ride today and we munched on leftover snacks throughout the day. The ride to Rockville, IN today was around 67 miles. Mostly flatland with a few inclines sprinkled about. I really enjoyed my group today. Gabrielle, Maggie, David, Conner R., and Gregg are such a fun bunch--awesome conversation and great laughs. With about 30 miles left it started to rain. It wasn't so bad and it kinda cooled me off. We turned on our lights and blasted through green Indiana. It was quite scenic. However for about ten miles we had the bumpiest ride ever on a neglected hole ridden road. My hands and rear hurt just thinking about it.With just six miles left we got some ice cream. I was opposed with it but the group over ruled me. I'm glad that happened. I ended up enjoying a delicious peanut butter sundae. We arrived a the United Methodist Church of Rockville, IN. We were greeted by smiling church members and delicious snacks. My favorites were the fresh picked strawberries. It's amazing how much kindness has been shown to us throughout the ride. Random people we meet on the streets give donations. Vendors offer food, houses offer us cold water and a hose to cool off with, community centers give us showers.Even though it's only been two weeks we have come a LONG way. We are becoming closer as team, getting stronger, and passionately spreading words about our cause. Almost every day we meet a new person who in some way has been affected by cancer. This is something we are all in together. We may ride hard, long, hot days, but that's nothing compared to the struggles of battling cancer. I'm so excited about tomorrow because we finally ride into Champaign! I can't wait to see my very dear friends and sleep in a bed! Soon after that will be Chicago and I am so excited to see my family. I4k, I dig you so much...
June 5 Becareful What You Wish For (Rain)
Today our morning started like any other. The defining difference was that we were treated to a free McDonald breakfast by the Bartholomew family. I don't know if he had to call ahead to order 100 egg McMuffins, but they were definitely still warm when we started eating them. Thanks again Bartholomews for providing us with the energy we needed to tackle our 69 mile day.We checked our tire pressure and hit the rode while the air was still cool. A treat after experiencing the intense heat the day before. The route we took had us winding through some beautiful Indiana landscape. The terrain in these parts is very different from that of central Illinois or what we saw in Ohio. There are rolling hills and lush forests that resemble that of Pennsylvania. Spotting horses trotting on the side of the road was a common occurrence.One of the best parts about riding through Indiana is that the roads are in very good shape. It makes for a smoother and more enjoyable experience when you do not have to dodge potholes around every corner.Towards the end of the day, around 20 miles out, we experienced some light rain. It was nothing compared to the storms in Pennsylvania. Aside from the mud which was kicked up into our faces by the riders wheels in front of us, the rain was a soothing experience. The overcast skies added a nice little touch to the landscape. All in all a good riding experience for most of the riders.We were greeted in Rockville at the United Method Church. Here we had been provided with plenty of space to sleep , snacks to eat, and water to clean ourselves off. They are also providing dinner tonight and breakfast in the morning! Thank you for your hospitality. Tomorrow we ride to Champaign! All the riders are very excited.See ya'll around!
To Greencastle tomorrow!
These past few days have been a lot of fun and filled with positive energy. Everyone on the team really enjoys naming their ride groups for the day and some of the craziest groups I've been in are The Craycrays, Team Snuggle Formation, Baby Mamas, and Red Light Coca-Cola Challenge. These group names probably seem a bit odd, but that's just what happens when you're on the road for a few miles everyday. When you have unique group names, you also generally come up with unique sayings to say throughout the day (and maybe for the rest of the ride). Some of these sayings include the following: "Put a baby on it." "Uneven snuggle!" "Push it!" "Get your brotein." "Let's leave before Dory sneezes." "Get outta here." "That's so Taco." "Oh my gawd."Everyday I am amazed by how kind and giving people have been to our organization. Our stayovers have provided so much food and comfort for us along our journey that it is truly inspiring. This generosity gives me hope and helps to rid the pessimism I feel at times.Tomorrow we will be riding through Greencastle, Indiana. I am so excited because I will get to stop by and chat with Karen, a cancer survivor we interviewed spontaneously on the road last year for the Portraits Project. Karen truly changed my life and I think about her so much. I am doing this ride for her.Something that I struggle with while being on the road is staying in touch with my family and friends--like responding to their texts and calls. I think I've gotten better, but sometimes I just forget. Yesterday I finally had a long conversation with my mom. During our phone call, she told me how she talked to a stranger about the organization and our ride. The woman she was talking to was moved and she told my mom, "Tell your daughter thank you and that she is riding for my mom." That really touched me and helped me get through today. It just reminded me that the Illini 4000 is part of a fight that is so much bigger than just a team.
Survived the heat
Today I fell asleep in front of a CVS on the sidewalk with a gatorade bottle on my cheek. A deep sleep too, like I didn't wake up the first time people said my name. Maybe it was because we woke up earlier than usual today, and it was brutally hot out! I think it was in the 90s the entire day. We rode 84 miles to Greenwood, IN. I rode with Linsey, Rachel, Josh, Christine, Taylor, and Ivy. Linsey and I made up two more verses to our song.This morning was a perfect start to the day. We rode over to a bike shop called Cycling and Fitness Warehouse where they provided an Ihop breakfast! The mechanic fixed my bike since the housing was broken, thankfully! I really didn't want to sag in the van. Also, it is Lauren's birthday today and all the girls gave her a bike horn as a gift. Then she did her mosher which was playing "Chicken on the Roof". Lins and I got out third to last. It was definitely an energy boost that early in the morning!Along Route 40 we stopped at a huge yard sale. The people there were so nice to us! One lady gave us free peaches from North Carolina. Another woman gave us ice water which was greatly appreciated because our water warmed up quickly today. We also all bought "gifts" for the white elephant exchange we are going to have. It should be funny to see what everyone came up with!Linsey and I have ridden every day together since the ride started. I couldn't imagine this trip without her!Tonight we are staying at Dan Bartholomew's house. Man is it nice! I took a wonderful shower and am currently sitting with some of my teammates watching a movie. There is a crazy storm going on outside with lightning streaking the sky! It is nice to be in such a homey place right now. It is just what I needed! It is crazy that on Monday we will already be in Champaign and then a few days later Chicago! I am amazed at how far we have all come. I feel like after Chicago it will feel like a whole new trip, but who knows. There is so much yet to happen and see!Today it hit me all over again how amazing this trip is. I am so blessed! The Illini 4000 has brought so many good people into my life and it is such an honor to be a part of this organization. Well there is a line for the computer so until next time! Peace, love, and bikes.and HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAUREN!
June 4 Need More Water!
This morning we awoke at 5:30am to guarantee we showed up on time for our sponsored breakfast! We rode out to the cycling and fitness warehouse (CFW) at around 6:30am where we were met by the great staff who provided pancakes, sausage links, fruits, and other tasty treats. Thank you to the great people at the First English Lutheran Church of Richmond for their great hospitality the night before, and for setting up the breakfast. The staff at the CFW also provided complimentary bike tune ups for the riders who were in need. Furthermore, they have been fund raising money for the Illini4000!! Thanks again everyone, you are awesome!We started our 84 mile ride with VIP treatment, we had a police escort the first 4 miles through the construction in Richmond. It was definitely a new and unique experience. We took route 40 out to Indianapolis. Along the way many riders stopped at the many yard sales along the route. The team had a competition for who could buy the funniest most random thing. The winner is yet to be decided.The days ride was very difficult because the temperatures were hitting close to 100 degrees. Frequent water stops were a necessity. It is days like this that make you appreciate a soft piece of grass and a good shading tree. Some riders took advantage of the shade and took a power nap.The first group arrived at the stay over at 4:15pm where they were greeted by Dan Bartholomew, a 2009 Illini 4000 rider. His parents have generously provided food and a place to sleep for the night. The multitude of snacks available was everything we dreamed of on our long difficult ride. Thank you for your kindness!Two representatives from the Illinois alumni organization of Indianapolis stopped by to provide us with a hardy meal from Fazolis! I want to thank you on behalf of our satisfied appetites! Your yearly support is an example of the foundation which keeps this organization afloat.Tomorrow we ride to Rockville, IN. The forecast calls for rain, but it could be a refreshing break from this heat we have been experiencing.Ya'll keep reading, we'll keep biking! - I4K
We're out of the woods
Amazingly we have made it all the way over the Appalachian Mountains and into the fabulously flat state of Indiana. Today I rode the furthest distance I have ever covered on a bicycle, 104 miles in one day! Luckily for us, the weather could not have been more perfect for our 'century' day. The temperatures were very mild and we had a nice tailwind at our back for the first 40 miles pushing us at an average speed of 20 miles per hour towards the west. It has been fun passing by a countless number of yard sales as the past few days have been a part of the largest national yard sale day taking place on historic route 40. We have been having a great time and can really enjoy laughing and talking a bit more now that the terrain has flattened out. Unfortunately I was having a difficult time climbing a hill today because I was laughing too hard at another one of my teammates, but I really can't complain.Yesterday we passed through Columbus, OH and got in early enough to enjoy the city. A group of friends and I wandered to the North Market, a local bike shop, and out for dinner. We happened onto an outdoor concert and some delicious eats in the park.Tonight we are staying in Richmond, IN and were provided with a delicious dinner and even better desserts. I sat in on an inspirational portrait where a group of riders and I got the chance to meet Lauren's Aunt who is a breast cancer survivor. Her story and kind words of wisdom helped remind me that Cancer truly is the great equalizer. Her story has given me something to keep me going during the tough days to come. Tomorrow we will be in Indianapolis and shortly after Champaign and then Chicago. It is blowing my mind how quickly we are approaching the midwest and I am very excited to get a chance to visit with family and friends if only for a short amount of time. For now, I'm off to muster up the energy to floss my teeth before bed and rest my head before our 80 some mile ride tomorrow. Until then, enjoy this video we watched this morning as a part of our daily Mosher: You Can Ride a Bike!
WE are on this journey
Yesterday we rode into Columbus, Ohio. It was an enjoyable ride-very relaxing and easy compared to most of the other rides. Sean, Dory, Jan, Linsey, and I rode together as Team Cannondale because Sean and Dory wanted us to represent their bike brand. I tried to change the name later to Team Cannonballs, but they weren't having it. Lins and I only ate one pb and j because the ride was so easy and we weren't as hungry as usual! We rode by a ton of yard sales on Route 40 because apparently it was national yard sale day. I had a lot of childhood memories and shared them with the team. At one point we were riding through a suburb that seemed like I could turn the corner and be at my house. Even though it was such an easy day, we were all so sleepy at the stayover and a bunch of us zonked out for an hour or two. Later a past rider's parents brought us cupcakes (seriously, we are spoiled- thank you!). Then Linsey, Sean, Jan, and I walked around Columbus but we found that most places were closed. It was like a ghost town. There was also goose poop all over the park we hung out at.Today we rode to Richmond, IN which is where I currently am. The church provided a great meal. After 103 miles, we got into the stayover at 5:30! So early. My group was Team Paceline- Sean, Linsey, Ellie, Connor Y., and Ron. It was great because we alternated boy, girl so the boys were always in front of a girl to block the wind. Thanks guys! Also, I have to say that Ellie is a great motivator and encourager. I love her positive spirit!After dinner tonight, I sat in on a portrait with Lauren's aunt who drove 3 hours to come visit her. Beverly is a survivor of breast cancer and her husband is a survivor of prostate cancer. Hearing her story and how she felt at peace after talking to God about her cancer was really inspiring to me. I think that after hearing something like " you have cancer" and being able to find peace with your life is truly astounding. One thing that Beverly said that stuck out to me was that when she told her family about the diagnosis, she said "I am on this journey now" and they responded "WE are on this journey." I relate this to the Illini 4000's journey across America and how we go through ups and downs but we are all on the journey together and that is what makes it all okay at the end of the day. I am so glad that Beverly had so many supporters in her battle against cancer and feel very lucky to have met her and heard her story. Beverly's one lesson is to relish life, and enjoy the people in it. I will keep that with me forever.
June 3 Our First Century!
The first scheduled “century,” as we like to call it in the bicycling world, was today. Approximately one-hundred and three miles to reach, yet again, a new state—Indiana.Many riders would agree that the trip through Ohio was rather short, but, at the same time, enjoyable. Columbus was a beautiful city with plenty to do; however, Thursdays are not, apparently, good days for everyone else. Not a single Subway restaurant was open. Needless to say, at least for the riders, “Momma G, (Gabrielle)” was not happy.Somehow, someway, we still slept with bellies full; however, we awoke intimidated. Today was the day—the day of the century. Some said it would take all day. The forecast would surely pound dozens of UV rays onto our backs causing us to both bronze and drink 10 bottles of water each. In the end, again to our surprise, it was not that bad. In fact, the first group to get in, team “Push It Jr.” arrived at 3:30p.m. Team “Push It” arrived shortly after.There was one rider-on-rider collision today. It wasn't really all that bad. Our dear, one and only, Greg Bopp was able to fix Rachel's broken spoke and Katie received a nice bandage for her scrape. Since a broken spoke can sometimes corrode the wheel, she was not recommended to finish today's ride. For that reason, little and eager Rachel didn't even get to meet her 100-mile mark. David, our temporary (but terrific!) van driver, picked her up and brought her to our stay over in Richmond, IN.The only reason David was the van driver today was due to his bike—it's broken. Matt Cillick came to the rescue and brought a bike from Champaign for David to use. Thanks Matt, Mary, and Erik. You guys are awesome!
Out of Pennsylvania, into Ohio (written 2 days ago but posted today)
Rewind to 3 days ago when we rode into Pittsburgh. Never expect a day to be easy, even if the distance is only 47 miles. I’ve learned to always expect the next day to be harder than the previous, or to not have expectations at all because usually they are not correct. Arriving at the stayover at 2:15 was amazing though. That is the earliest I have ever gotten in. That night some of us (Linsey, Sean, Jan, Connor Yanz, and Gedion) went to see Hangover 2, which was not as funny as the first. But for most of the day we just hung out on our sleeping bags and relaxed. Oh and we played Blokus, it’s the only game we have besides cards. The next day was a much needed rest day after conquering the mountains of Pennsylvania. We slept in until 9:40! When the lights went on I thought it was 5:45 am though. We had a team meeting at 10, which ended on a positive note with everyone going around and telling their favorite moment so far or something they appreciate. I loved hearing everyone’s individual perspectives. I was also very touched by Connor Canaday’s response. He was such a big help the first week! I don’t know how we will get by without him! Good thing he left behind so much knowledge and wisdom, but he will surely be missed. After the meeting we all walked over to a park where a past rider from 2009, Matt, set up an amazing barbeque with TONS of food. I think we all ate more that day then we do on riding days. After the bbq was a highlight- Sean, Connor, Linsey, and I escaped the heat in a public fountain. We wanted to swim so bad but that was the closest we could get. It was so fun/a relief! We watched little kids use a ripstick- very impressive. Back at the stayover, we just chilled out on our sleeping bags (the best place to hang out during free time) and found out that Taylor, Christian, and Yang had asked for food donations at Chipotle and we were all getting free burritos and drinks for dinner! I know, more food! So we all walked over there around 7:30. As usual, I gave the rest of mine to Jan (he’s my personal vacuum cleaner). The next day (yesterday) we rode 92 miles to Cadiz, Ohio. The day started out with a steep climb, we were all glistening with sweat in the first 20 minutes of the ride. Getting to the top was amazing though because we had a great view of Pittsburgh and the river with all of the bridges. I rode with Linsey, Jan, and Manny. We called ourselves Team Swass. Soon the route turned into a gravel bike path that was extremely uncomfortable to ride on and kind of brought the morale down. We met up with another group and a man had told them a “shortcut” which was “just up the hill”. So we went off the cues and climbed another massive hill. We stopped at some sort of market and had our typical pb and j lunch. Now is where the day turns around. After napping under a tree, it was already close to 3 pm and we still had 50 miles to go! Luckily, 30 miles were on a nice, paved bike path. Along the way we stopped at a creek and cooled off. Any time there is a body of water to jump into, Linsey and I get super excited. We carry our bathing suit bottoms with us at all times during the ride just to be ready. Later in the day we met up with a bunch of the groups at McDonald’s and filled up our water bottles with ice cold water-another thing that easily lifts the spirits during a long hot day. We still had 20 miles at this point, so Jan told our group that we had to push it. And we did! We averaged about 15 miles per hour over the last 20 miles of rolling hills and were the first group to arrive at the stayover! It was one of my favorite moments, rolling into that driveway. We even exchanged sweaty hugs at the end. I have never been so grateful for a shower in my life! Yesterday was easily the dirtiest I have felt on the trip so far. After eating a meal of leftovers the church graciously provided, I talked to my mom and dad for a good amount of time and then went to sleep. Today we rode 63 miles to Zanesville, Ohio. Lauren was the van driver and she did a great job finding rest stops! The first rest stop was at a lake- all of the groups met up and swam for a good 45 minutes. It was so refreshing and fun to hang out with everyone. We sang the shark song that Christian did for his mosher the other day. It was a great start to the day. My group decided to take it easy today. We called ourselves Team Skinny Tires because at one point we hit construction and the police kept referring to us as the skinny tires over her walkie-talkie. I rode with Linsey, Katie, Maggie, and Taylor- the first time I rode with all girls! We had a nice, relaxing day. Linsey and I must have been used to pushing it from the night before, because we would just ride and realize that we were way ahead- not something I am used to. We made up songs along the way which I will share now: To the tune of “do your ears hang low?”: Do your legs feel like jello? Do they wobble when you walk? Does your butt get all chafed up when you ride your bike a lot? Can you tell you’re I4K when you sleep in churches every day? Do your legs feel like jello? Our original: Dirty pb and j’s (the K-L way!) We make them everyday (the K-L way!) We eat them like they’re gourmet (The K-L way!) Ain’t got no crunchy, ain’t got no wheat, but we eat them anyway! (the K-L way!) We were lucky to get to shower at a nearby gym and there are cots at this church! The church ladies also provided a great meal of spaghetti and salad and bread with lemonade and cookies! Then Linsey, Sean, Jan, and I hung out on the cots and played some more Blokus. I am sooo tired right now. But it is only 8! Usually we don’t even arrive to the stayover until like 7:30. Maybe it will be an early bedtime tonight. I am still feeling lively and upbeat and loving every minute of this experience! Thanks for reading! P.S. my skin is reacting really strangely to the sun, I get a heat rash like every day despite applying mass amounts of sunscreen! Any suggestions all you Moms out there??
June 2 Off to Columbus!
This morning we said goodbye to Pastor Mark Ballmer and the Westwood Baptist Chruch in Cadiz, Ohio with mouths full of made-to-order omelettes, fruit and yogurt. What more could we have asked for? Before pedaling from the parking lot we topped off our stay with a make-shift sumo fight. Sleeping bags stuffed in our jerseys, and arms flailing, there is no better way to settle a dispute.Soaring through the roads of Ohio, team "push-it"(the fastest riders) turned into team "pull-it,"(anti push-it) signaling our farwell to rolling hills for the time being. A wonderful rest stop at an ice cream parlor transformed a realaxed 54 mile day into pure bliss. Moose tracks, vanilla, mint, truffle, peanut butter and carmel with a hint of chain grease from our hands gave us just enough energy to work hard until time to eat PB & Js. Unlike other days, we were entitled to one snack. As Katie struggled to open her bag of peanuts, they spilled all over the pavement. Following the "five-minute rule" Yang and Christian, using both hands, picked and ate peanuts off the ground.By the time we reached the lunch stop, we were so excited that the day's destination was only 10 miles away, that we barely made time to sit and eat. As a result of all our excitement, we arrived earlier that ever before. All riders were in by 2:30! Some riders took naps, some went to the movies, others visited Ohio State University. Returning from all our activities, we filled our bellies with two generous cupcakes each.
I Could Get Used to This...
So I'm writing this a few days late, but my procrastination coupled with no internet at our last stayover made it difficult for me to post. Anyway, there's been some super cool stuff happening lately. And not just the scenery. We've been rolling through Pennsylvania and stayed at a couple of churches along the way. One was in Chambersburg.Getting in to Chambersburg, PA, was rough. Severe weather made the mountains and hills a lot harder to climb in the afternoon, and by early evening a tornado warning forced us to get shuttled the last 9 miles to the stay over by our team van. When the tornado warning came, my group and I took shelter in a pizza place, others went to a gas station, and those not close enough to an urban area were taken in by a family who lived along the highway we were riding down. When the warning ended, the dad even threw everyone's bikes into his truck and drove them to our stay over; an old, quaint church in the center of town.Because of the hectic day, many of us got in late and didn't get a full night's rest, though it didn't matter because the next morning we had an all-star breakfast made for us by a slew of local moms, a very good way to start the day. The pastor also took us on a short tour of the church, leading us up to the second floor, through a hidden door that had signatures on the walls from previous workers of the church that dated back to the late 1800's. I felt like the walls belonged in a museum, but here they were on display for any curious person to see.The hidden door then lead to a series of old wooden stairs that stretched back and forth, up and up, until a hatch door left us at the top of the church's bell tower. I'm usually pretty good with heights, but going up those stairs made me weak in the knees. But the view from the top made it totally worthwhile. It. Was. Awesome. We could see the entire town from up there, and it felt like we were sucked back into the Revolutionary Era. We asked the pastor if he usually brings guests up there. He replied, "Nah, never."It was hard to say our goodbyes that morning. The organist from the church even rode out about 15 miles with us, before turning around and heading back. We've been considering ourselves quite lucky so far: gracious and hospitable guests, wireless internet (usually) to keep you all updated with what we're up to, and warm showers at least every other day. What else could you ask for?
Let It Begin
The TanIce creamSwimming in random bodies of water'Pushing it'90 degree days of sunWaking up at 5:30PB & J'sMountainsMore NicknamesRAZZWindBeing able to sign things 'I4K 2011 Team' I can't wait for this summer to continue. My fellow teammates have amazed me how quickly they have adapted to such a challenging, ever changing environment that is life on the road. Each day teaches me something new and renews my sense of hope and possibility that our society can accomplish with a collective movement. Thank yous go out to everyone kind enough to allow 28 random stinky strangers sleep in their communal space: St Paul the Apostle, the Thekkar family, Ms. Bailey & everyone in Philly, Jonny, Frank, the United Methodist Church in Lancaster, and everyone we have encountered in each of our stayovers. Once again, thank you to everyone for supporting us. Special thanks goes out to Conor Cannaday.Warning: This may sound like a love letter because it kind of is.I cannot explain how much I respect you in writing. There are very few moments in a lifetime that you are able to genuinely see the heart, soul, and character of someone in person, but this past week I was lucky enough to witness just that. The help you had given our team and the changes you have made to the Illini 4000 are monumental and will be vital as this organization and team moves forward to bigger and better things. I wish you the best of luck with your time in Canada this summer, and everything after. I am proud to have gotten to know you so much better than the Allen Hall second floor, and know that dropping you off at the Pittsburgh Amtrak station will not be the last memory I will have of you. You are a great person and friend. I will see you soon. Each night I cannot wait to go riding with my team. Every one of you are amazing people, and I feel lucky to be a part of this experience with you. I cannot wait for the next 62 days.To Columbus! P.S. This post is a lot sappier than I thought it would be, but as I am sitting in the middle of this staircase in Westwood Baptist Church seeing each of you pass me by it is all I can think about.P.P.S. I think it is safe to say for the limited amount of posts I will be able to blog, I will be making up with thoughts and words.
Goodbye Pennsylvania!
Well, we've made it through the toughest days of the trip--riding through the Appalachain Mountains. I really enjoyed the mountains and I've had so much fun riding with everyone. Now we are in Ohio, which makes our singing of "I was carried. To Ohio in a swarm of bees," more appropriate. But as we departed Pennsylvania, we had to say goodbye to I4K President Conor Canaday. Conor helped the 2011 team make the transition to this amazing experience by driving the van and also by being a great bike mechanic. I can not imagine starting this ride without his help. Thank you, Conor, for everything you've done for this team and for this organization. I4K is not going to be the same without you.Riding out of Pittsburgh, I had the pleasure of riding with "Team Craycray." Our group had a special guest, Jonny, from the Church of Ascenscion. Unfortunately Jonny didn't get too far with our group because the first 7 miles were extremely steep. But it was really fun riding with you! And I hope you can still send our team the recipe for that pasta salad!!Tonight we are in Zanesville, Ohio. Our stayover has given us showers, dinner, cots, and a cook-to-order breakfast! We interviewed a woman named Pat for the Portraits Project and she may be the kindest person I have ever met. Having lost both her parents to cancer and being a cancer survivor herself, one could assume that Pat would have a pessimistic attitude towards life. But instead, Pat is such a happy and loving person--constantly giving to people who are in need, even if they are complete strangers. When talking about being a caretaker, Pat said, "It's a sacrifice that you make. You know the end is near, so it's a sacrifice that you just make." As soon as she said those words, I instantly thought about what my family did for our loved ones fighting cancer. For my grandpa, we changed our daily routines for 2 years because he was so sick from treatment. We literally visited him every single day, whether it was at the hospital or at his home. I think that it took a toll on my family, but we wouldn't have had it any other way. Spending the final days with your loved ones is something that not a lot of people are able to do and I am forever grateful that my family was able to.It's crazy that we will be in Champaign soon. I can't decide where I should eat in Champaign. Mas Amigos? Cravings? Bombay? Chipotle? Subway? Oh the choices.P.S. Today I tried a new Gatorade flavor (it was purple) and I liked it! I usually only drink the fruit punch flavor. And my Surly is holding up really well.
Hello, Ohio!
June 1st, 2011My first journal post of the whole trip! Computers are hard to come by so I am so excited to have this opportunity!Compared to yesterday's ride (94ish miles), today's 63 miler was shorter. The day started off great, Conner Y. pumped us up by reciting some Walt Whitman (Pioneers! Oh, Pioneers!). Though out of the hills of Pennsylvania, Ohio still has some tough climbs for us. Ohio is still much flatter than Penn. I was in my first large group today (Sean, Gabrielle, Yang, Ron, Cristian, and Gedion) and I was so glad to have a cooler day; yesterday the sun was brutal! Unfortunately at the beginning of our ride a flat tire occured in our group. Flats are a bitter sweet thing. It's pretty crummy for the person with the flat, but the rest of the group gets a little bit of time to lay back and close their eyes (even if it's just for 10 minutes, it's still bliss)I4K was lucky enough to come across the beautiful Piedmont lake. We had a lot of fun swimmingand cooling off from the sun. Frisbees were thrown, people splashed, and naps were taken--a pleasant rest stop if I do say so myself. It was sad to leave the lake, but we still had many miles to trek in order to make it to Zanesville, OH. The rest of the ride involved following the same highway for about 60 miles. The scenery was beautiful with the occasional uphill and thrilling downhill. The ride came to a hault for lunch! We had the usual PB & J, but in a different place--Deerassic Park, what a cool name.We received a warm welcome from a stayover, Westwood Baptist Church. Pastor Mark Ballmer was kind enough to drive us smelly and sweaty I4kers to a local gym to get showers. After the shower we enjoyed a delicious pasta dinner prepared by church members. I4k is forever grateful for the kindness Westwood Church has shown us. They also provided cots to sleep on. What a luxury--way better than the floor!So far, this journey has been life changing. It is truly amazing and wonderful. Not to say it's not difficult. I love my team, I am so grateful for the generosity and kindess of our stayovers, and I am appreciating the beauty of our country. Keep a look out for another post by me! :)-Rachel Samaniego
Oh the things we've seen
Bike through the Appalachians...check. The hardest week of the trip is over. The steep mountains that pushed everyone of us to our limits is now behind us. This was the hardest physical thing I have ever done. I could not have done it without my teammates. Everyone pushes each other, and motivates each other to keep on peddling, even when you think you have used every last ounce of energy. This trip has been amazing, more than anything I ever imagined. So far lots of funny stories, and cool experiences. I'll post some of those later. Its so cool how much we have seen in only a week and a half. Day 1 was NYC, and a short 3 days later we were in Amish Country, Pa. Through Pittsburg, and into the rural countryside/rolling hills of W Virginia. The people we have seen so far have been so nice to us, donating food, letting us use their hoses, and genuinely caring about our cause and trying to help us out. From city dwellers, to amish families, people of all backgrounds. It is very cool to be apart of this cause, we have raised over 121,000, and raised the spirits of so many more.Thank you to everyone who has donated to me, and has donated to the team. We are really doing something special, and it is your caring and support that is fueling this effort.