One hour remaining until I leave, and it's about time I wrote a blog post. Before leaving, I'd like to thank everyone who's been so supportive of me and the Illini 4000. A special shoutout to my parents, whose tales of bike trips inspired me to take this one and who have been unimaginably supportive all the way through this year.I got my bike a few weeks ago, and haven't gotten that much riding done on it. The largest hill I've seen so far has been in Hinsdale, so the Appalachians are going to be really fun. A name for my bike doesn't occur to me yet- I'm waiting for that moment when bike and I become linked and I can feel its pain. Then the name will come to me. Regardless of any spiritual connection between us, we've ridden the Lakefront Trail, the Salt Lake trail, a few paths that are nameless to me, and a twenty-mile journey through the west side of Chicago, which I'm convinced has the most broken glass per square mile in the U.S.Now I can check "write blog post" off of the to-do list, leaving only "leave". I've packed my bag and duct taped all holes in my sleeping bag. A part of me wants to draw this packing process out, and another part just wants to leave right now. Who knows, maybe the world really will end tomorrow and we won't be riding after all.I do find it kind of funny that the rapture is supposed to start as soon as we arrive in New York (6 pm, according to Harold Camping. Our train pulls in to Penn Station at 6:30). It's not entirely untrue; for a lot of our friends and relatives, we'll be dropping off the face of the Earth for two months (excluding this blog, but who says the raptured can't blog?) We might not be ruled by demons for five months, but this summer will be very different than the usual fare.Now there's a half an hour left, and I'm ready to go. Bring it on, America.
Off to Union Station
Over this short ten day break since finals have been over I have been working ridiculous hours trying to make up for a whole summer without a job. In any spare time I was making trips to Plank Road Cyclery and many other stores trying to get last minute things. I also stopped by to see my 8th grade English teacher Mrs. Schubbe who found out about what I was doing this summer and had one of her students write an article for their quarterly paper.Packing for this is tough but the compression sack I got is very helpful to save space for snacks in my bag. I still can’t believe in a day I will be in New York. It seems like just yesterday I was still trying to remember everyone’s name playing basketball at the ARC. I remember my first ride on my bike with Anthony. We rode about ten miles and at that time was tough. Now that’s nothing.I was really glad I got a chance to see my friend Lisa for the first time since she had chemotherapy and I was glad to see her beautiful smile. Good news the tumor on her brain is shrinking! She is strong and I have no doubt she can fight through it.
Departure Day… T-minus four hours
WOW!... did you get that?... WOW! I have four hours until I am at union station with my team. HOLY DOG CHASING AFTER OUR BIKES! I legit cannot believe this day is finally here!!! The last three days have been jam packed full of packing and shopping and let me tell you – it kind of adds up. However, I will be a fashionista on this trip. I want to say a deep heart-felt thank you to my parents, Link, Arie, Emily, and Aunty Deb because they have all contributed to my biking apparel. While I am on the thank yous – a big, big, biggggg one goes out to Shelby Paige Blitz, without whom I would not be packed for this trip. Shelbs has helped me pack for any big trip/travel/journey and has the mental capabilities of dealing with my lack of skills when it comes to packing.Packing… yaaaaaaaa sooooooooo. I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to pack it all in again and my book for the train is in there somewhere I think in the middle. Oye vey! However, not joking – 1/3 of my bag is food! The lesson I learned during packing was that stuff sacks are miracle workers: if you need to pack a ton, get one! They somehow perform magic and condense your clothes to 1/3 of the size? (Lots of 1/3s going on here hahaha.)Since my last blog a lot as happened (as per usual right? Life never stands still and I feel like mine is in speed play.) I graduated… weird to say because I am still in denial; the experience itself was wonderful and I have no serious complaints besides why did it have to happen?!!? Saying see you later to my roommates was what got the tears streaming like a river. Living with the three of them was the best living situation I have been in ever. Rachel, Carly, Sarah I will miss you more than you will ever know. I also moved back home (for three days of packing hehe) and was able to see some friends and family. In the next four hours I still got to go to the bike shop and have my bike looked at, buy snacks/meals for the train ride, check emails, do some work for Camp Kesem, eat lunch, and go to the bank. Nothing like the last minute right?!?I’m so excited to see everyone and just see that everyone is in the same boat as me (can I start saying same bike? Can we make that a saying?). What was really nice was that last night I talked to a few of the ladies on the team and we’re all facing about the same emotions. This ride is not only a physical challenge but a great mental one as well. I think I’m ready to start tackling those mountains because guess what? I AM A STRONG CLIMBER, I LOVE TO CLIMB! (Those of you who read the article recommended by Pi know what I’m talking about.)So ladies and gentlemen: here we go.I4K 2011 Summer Ride: Bring it because I’m pumped! (maybe my tires need some air but not me!)See ya on the train, in New York, or sometime soon!~ Ellie
Endings & Beginnings
As I sat in the same lecture hall I was in 4 years ago trying to embrace the end of my time at school, I can't help but feel like college isn't over yet. I have no sentiments or overwhelming emotions like some of my friends and graduates have had. In fact, to be honest, I was extremely bored during my graduation. And I am curious why this is happening, but the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. For me, college has never been about classes (sorry mom + dad). Don't get me wrong, studying happened often, but when I think back on college very few, if any, of the things I think about are affiliated with class.When I think about my college experience I think of my friends, how I met them and the times we were together, my trip to volunteer in New Orleans, the two years I played Club Baseball, how good it felt when I finally declared a major, the places I worked at in the Chambana area, my study abroad experience, and how much I have grown as a person throughout that time. And it is when I think about these things that I become nostalgic and truly feel sad to be leaving this part of my life. So, it is no wonder when I finally got my bicycle fully prepared for the trip today, that I have started to become emotional.The Illini 4000 symbolizes a lot for me. To a degree, it completely encapsulates what my college experience has been about. Not only was the Illini 4000 the first thing I heard about on campus, but it will also be the last thing I will ever do at the University of Illinois. And I wouldn't have it any other way.The people, purpose, my fellow riders, and everything about this organization are amazing and make me proud for deciding to be a part of it. That is why though it will be tough to end my career with this trip, I would not have it any other way.I am excited, nervous, anxious, and stressed, but I also don't mind this. Actually, I embrace this. Because for the next months I will be all of these feelings and more as I finish my college career with the Illini 4000 Bike America Team.At this time, I would also like to thank everyone who donated to me and this organization. Without you, I would never have come close to being able to experience everything I will in the next 3 months. Truly, thank you for your generosity.See you in New York!
Dear North America,
Dear North America,I am very excited to get to know you better!Love, Dory My grand adventure starts in one day and I cannot even fathom how I got this far…JK… I know it was the amazing support of all the people around me! Thanks to my family that encourage me to do everything, all the people who have joined me in the fight against cancer by donating, and to those people who contributed to my bike and gear. I am so THANKFUL.Pre-Ride Reflections:My bike- I really struggled while shopping for my bike. It was hard to know what I was looking for with so little experience under my belt. My team gave me great information and my parents were very patient to ride from town to town with me while shopping. In the end I basically closed my eyes and picked one. I LOVE MY BIKE. I ended up buying a Cannondale and my bike is so GOOD to me!Falls- My first few times on my bike were quite silly, I basically had to relearn how to ride. My mother held me up while I practiced clipping in and out of the pettles, but it was inevitable that over the next few rides I would take some healthy falls. I usually would just forget my feet were clipped, swerve into a ditch, and slowly fall into a cornfield. I quickly learned that my favorite curse word while falling is ****.Protection- I think dealing with the elements is going to be one of the biggest challenges this summer. I went on a very cold wet and windy daylong bike ride without gloves. After that my left hand tingled for several weeks. Now my had is pretty much back to its regular self, BUT the lesson I learned is that weather is not something to play with.Fundraising- I am so thankful that I have had the experience of fundraising for such an important cause. I have never had a strong concept of money, but now I better understand that money is not useful in a box under my bed. It is better to let it go out into the world and help make it a better place… thanks, fundraising!Top 5 things I’m looking forward to:5. One back pack of positions4. Sight seeing3. Making it to my family in San Francisco2. Being a nomad1. The great unknown (EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED!)
My first blog!!!
Hello fellow I4K members and supporters, I apologize for getting on the blog so late but hey, better late than never. I have never really blogged before but I will try my best to blog as much as possible over the summer. We are one day away from our train ride to New York City and surprisingly, I am as calm as I have ever been. I was really nervous about three weeks ago when we had our last team meeting back in Urbana (that’s when we got our travel bags, team jerseys and so on). But over the last week, I haven’t really felt much because finals, packing, moving and doing last minute shopping have kept me really busy that I haven’t even gotten a chance to play around with my travel bag to see how much stuff I can fit in it.So far, Illini4000 has been an amazing experience. Every time I think about how much we have done and how far we have come as a team, in what seems like a very short time (it’s been about 8 months but time has been going by ridiculously fast) I can’t help it but say, “wow! Man, that’s crazy” every single time. I remember like it was yesterday applying for I4K last summer (10 months ago) and now I am three day away from riding 4500+ miles across the country. Even though I do not feel like I am ready (is it even possible to be "ready" for what is to come :D), all the training we have done all semester especially the Saturday rides we have been doing since spring break have been really helpful. The first training ride was a 37 mile ride and at the time, that was considered a “long ride” but, after doing the 50, 64, 77, 95 mile rides just to mention a few, 37 miles now is a “short ride.” Every Saturday we went riding, the weather was not friendly at all for the exception of one Saturday. I have to say, the winds were the most annoying part of the training ride. But on the bright side, I feel so much stronger and ready to take on whatever mother nature has instore for us.Before I end my first blog, I would like to thank all the individuals and businesses who have donated to Illini4000 through me, my teammates or to the organization in general to help us cross the $100,000 goal we set (we are well past that now). Without your support, all this wouldn’t have been possible. I would also like to thank the I4K board members for their amazing work in running this organization with passion, integrity, and holding us to such high standards has helped us achieve a lot over the past 8 months. Until my next blog from the road, I would like to say thank you and God bless :D and keep checking our website for more blogs!!!
Happy Birthday Mom!! I love you North Central Cyclery.
Yesterday I went to Champaign to pick up all of the things the team needs for the ride this summer. With the help of Conor, Eamon, and MairBear (Mary), this task was finished in a couple of hours and went really smoothly. I'm very grateful that you guys came to help, so thank you! After we were finished, I went to say goodbye to my sister, Anna, who works full-time at the U of I's study abroad office. She has been filled with anxiety about my departure. My dear sister, we will see each other soon once the team rides through Champaign!Yesterday was also my mom's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!Instead of having a day just for her, my mom was a real trooper and did some late-night official I4K errands with me once I returned from Champaign. During this time, I once again realized how much my mom supports me in every single thing I do. When I first decided I wanted to be a part of I4K, I knew she would approve because of the cause (both of her parents passed away from cancer), but I wasn't sure what she would think about the cross-country bike ride. Being the amazing mother she is, her response was something along the lines of, "I think you should definitely do it." She didn't tell me that riding your bike across the country is impossible, that I'm crazy for wanting to do something like this, or insanely worry about my safety. She believed in me from the start and I'm pretty sure she knew that I would want to do the ride again before I even knew. I am so fortunate to have my mom in my life and I will forever be grateful for the values and strength she has instilled in me. Thanks for being my number one mom, Kathy! ;) You know I love you.Today I went to North Central Cyclery to pick up my new Surly Cross Check. I have been smiling all day because I am so excited to sit on my Brooks and ride this bike across the USA with an amazing group of people. Check out their homepage to see pictures of it: http://www.northcentralcyclery.com/. A special thank you to Tobie at NCC, he's an amazing guy with a ton of bike knowledge. I have never had such a warm welcoming at a bike shop or experience such high-quality service. Post cards are coming your way.We are taking off on Friday for NYC! I feel very calm right now, which is freaking me out since I should probably feel more stressed and anxious?P.S. Just saw on the Facebook that Brad Topol is going to be Chicago's newest bike lane engineer. That is SO cool. Congrats!
Prepare for Launch
The past month has been a whirlwind and it is only just beginning. It’s hard for me to comprehend how close we are to departure as my mind has been focused on finals, graduation, and moving home from Urbana. I loved each and every moment I spent at the University of Illinois as an Advertising undergrad, and I’m sure I will miss it very much. Having such a great team to be a part of and an amazing trip to look forward to made graduation less sad that I had pictured it would be. All the excitement from this past weekend has done a great job at keeping my nerves about the trip at bay. I’m looking forward to having lots of time to think about what a great experience the past four years have been while on the road this summer. I almost forgot to mention, I got the best graduation gift, a coveted Brooks Saddle, which is sure to prove itself in the coming months.After packing and moving home an entire van full of my personal belongings, I can’t help but compare the small team issued backpack that we have been given for this summer. Now I am nitpicking each and every item that I will be bringing on the trip, laying them all out before carefully packing up my bag for Friday.This past week I went for a leisurely 14 mile bike ride with my Dad on a trail near our house. He kept asking me if he was slowing me down, to which I assured him he wasn’t. It was a great “training ride” for my Dad as a preparation for the family ride along in June! I also took my bike in to Richard’s Bike shop in Palos Heights where I purchased it to make sure everything is in top shape for departure. I was sure to pick up a few last minute essentials too, such as a spare tube for my saddle bag for when I get my first flat.On days when I get nervous or have any doubts about being prepared for the trip I think about all of the hard work that has gone into preparing for this summer. We as a team have been working towards our departure date for almost eight months now, sweating it out in the gym, building up our mileage on training rides, fundraising, and buying all of the essential gear. As a team we would not be where we are today without all the help, dedication, and advice we have gotten from the alumni I4K riders and especially the board of directors. I would like to personally thank each and every one of you for all that you have done; you have set an amazing example for our team and I have learned so much!Well, I’m off to go on a ride, but be sure to look out for my next post, which will most likely be from the road!
Last days before the ride!!
With only 3 days before the ride is set to start, it finally sinks in. Im am starting to feel butterflies about this trip. There is rush of mixed emotions that I have when I think of what is to come. Only a few days ago I was feeling similar emotions about graduating, this feels just as good! I am very excited for I4K 2011 Team, and I cant wait to depart from NYC!I want to thank the I4K Board Members for all their work in preparing us for the 2011 Summer Ride. You guys did a great job! Thank you for you leadership, experience, dedication, and enthusiasm throughout all of our training. We wont let you all down!I wan to thank everyone that has supported the Illini 4000. It is your support and generosity that has made the Illini 4000 a success for 5 years running. With your help we have raised $116,945 for Summer 2011 for the American Cancer Society, and Camp Kesem!
Gravel and Hills, And Gravel Hills
Hello everyone!I haven't posted in a while due to the stress and insane time consumption that final exams have had on me. But now that I'm back in good ole' Lake County (847 whutup!), this epic journey can now take up my full concentration. On Saturday I dropped my bike off with the great people at M&M Cyclery in my hometown of Mundelein where they gave me a complementary tune up. I picked it up today while running some errands and I couldn't help myself, I just had to go for a ride.Since I didn't start until mid-afternoon and my mom insisted that I get back for dinner I couldn't go on too long of a ride, but I definitely made the most of it. I rode 30 miles to some of my favorite spots in Lake County. I first went to this abandoned and pretty secret private beach in Lake Bluff and then moved south past some of the largest houses I've ever seen to Lake Forest Public Beach. I don't know what it is but there is something about being by a body of water that is very calming and allows for a much easier and peaceful ride. I've only been to the Atlantic once and never the Pacific, so needless to say I am ecstatic at the opportunity.Because it was just going to be a short ride, I tried to push myself as hard as I could and tried to work with aspects of riding that I do not have that much experience, mostly hills and gravel. Instead of riding on the road which I normally would, I rode on the North Shore Bike Path which is entirely sand and gravel and believe me, it is a much harder ride compared to that of asphalt. I also tried to hit the very few hills that are around me as many times as I could to get more experience because the Appalachian Mountains are only about a week and a half away. All the while, I kept my speed well above where I would normally be on a longer ride and as a result finished the 30 mile trip with two breaks at the beaches in under two hours!Tomorrow I hope to ride from my house to Grant Park in Downtown Chicago. It's an 84 mile trip total but again the majority of the trip will be down Lake Michigan, which I know will be very motivating. Friday is coming so close! I cannot wait to kick off from NYC!Well time to have some spaghetti. That's all for now folks!
Almost Done Training
We are a week away and i have been training pretty hard. Not quite like that 100 mile day last weekend but am putting some miles on every day. I will be heading into the bike shop to get everything checked out before the ride starts. I am getting pretty excited for the trip but am a little nervous too . Hopefully we have the wind at our back for the first few days. That would be nice. But, if the ride is anything like our training rides we will be going into the gusting headwinds everyday.
Chicago Ride-Along and Picnic
The Illini 4000 will be hosting a charity Ride-Along the morning of June 11th and anyone who is able is invited to join the team in an easy 15 mile bike ride along the Chicago Lakefront and through the North Side. All of the funds raised through the event will go to support the Illini 4000 and the cancer charities that it donates to. Following the ride we will be having a cookout at Caldwell Woods where you will have an extra opportunity to socialize with the team and listen to their experiences as they bicycle across the country. If you plan on attending we require that you wear a helmet or you will not be allowed to ride with the team. Please follow the link below for extra information on the ride. If you have any questions regarding the ride or would like to volunteer at the cookout please contact event manager Brad Topol at illini4000alumni@gmail.comImportant Information for Participants/Transportation OptionsEvent Details:What: Illini 4000 Ride AlongTime: 9:30 am, June 11th, 2011Start: Cancer Survivors Garden, Millennium Park, ChicagoFinish: Caldwell Woods, Grove 3 (Unsheltered Picnic Area) - Milwaukee Ave & Devon Ave, ChicagoCost: $15 to rideLunch: $10 donation is appreciated if you plan on eating with the teamRoute: Illini 4000 Ride Along RouteCues: Illini 4000 Ride Along CuesPlease stay tuned for our registration form for the ride and picnic. Pre-registration is highly encouraged, but not required.
Chicago Departure and NYC Kickoff
With the summer trip fast approaching, we know that excitement is high for riders! Only a few weeks left to squeeze in last-minute training, pack bags, and the departure dates will be here soon enough. Family, friends and I4K alumni are welcome to see the team off from Chicago Union Station before their departure to NYC, as well as their kickoff from NYC Central Park. Here's an estimated schedule:The train to NYC will depart Union Station on Friday May 20, 2011•4:30 pm – Arrive at Union Station•5:30 pm – Released for dinner•8:00 pm – Return to Union Station•8:30 pm – Begin Boarding•9:25 pm – Departure•6:30 pm (May 21st) – Arrival at Penn StationThe team will spend two nights at the Church of Saint Paul the Apostle, located at 405 West 59th Street, New York, NY. On the morning of May 23, the team will leave the stayover and head to Central Park. The team will depart Central Park near the 108th Street and 8th Avenue around 7:30am and head toward Hillsborough, NJ!
Research Tour...and more!
Research TourLast week Tuesday, the Illini 4000 had the opportunity to speak with a researcher at the University of Illinois. Dr. Brendan Harley, a two-time cancer survivor, is currently receiving a grant from the American Cancer Society to conduct cancer-related research.After learning a bit more about Illini 4000, Dr. Harley spoke about his own cancer experience and its influence on his career decisions. Later, Dr. Harley gave an overview presentation about his current research project and gave us a peek inside his lab.Dr. Harley has led his research group in creating a new micro-environment which allows his team to test different factors on the growth, differentiation, and changes of HSC (Hematopoietic Stem Cell) from bone marrow. This new technique will open doors to testing a multitude of different factors on how cancer cells begin developing in the first place.We are thankful to Dr. Harley not only for taking time out of his day to speak with us, but for his passion to advance cancer treatments.Special thanks to Juli Richards, Regional Vice President to the ACS Illinois Division, for her assistance in setting up the visit and for providing refreshments.Benefit ShowOn Friday of last week, I4K hosted a benefit show at Caffe Paradiso, with performances by Arcade Across the Room, Zach May, and The Leadership. The sizeable crowd, including some I4K alumni, was also able to see a portion of the Portraits Project pieces that were on display in April during our event at the Independent Media Center in Urbana.Team OvernightThe 2011 team has been training diligently all year, increasing mileage with each new training ride. This past weekend, the team completed the largest distance to date as a group. On Saturday, the team faced brutal headwinds on their way out to Indiana hills, and then turned around to end at Kickapoo Park - a trip totaling 90 miles. The team got a taste of a real day on the road, complete with rest stops and a peanut butter & jelly lunch. After a night of camping, the team woke up and biked around 30 miles back to Urbana.CU Bike to Work DayTuesday, May 3 was Champaign-Urbana Bike to Work Day. People throughout the CU area were encouraged to bike to work or school to support sustainable transportation and biking. Bike stations were set up throughout CU and contained food maps, reflectors, t-shirts and other participant-swag. Members of the Illini 4000 took time out of their morning to volunteer at the Urbana Middle School/Urbana High School bike station.Please be sure to check our gallery in upcoming days for photos from these recent events!
Riding Bikes
On Friday, May 1st, the I4K hosted a benefit show at Caffe Paradiso. This was a lot of fun and a few alumni even came out to show. We had a few Portraits on display and I'm currently working on having the Portraits Project as the featured art there for a few weeks. Although everyone was having a good time at the show, riders were a bit worried about the weather for the weekend--our 120 mile camping trip. The weather for Saturday called for 30 MPH headwinds with 50 MPH gusts, along with a thunderstorm. Yikes!Saturday morning we hopped on our bikes for a 90 mile ride out to Indiana and back. There were definitely some headwinds and crosswinds. The weather was comparable to last year's "100 miles, up hill, into the wind" day in the Columbia River Gorge (wind surfing capital of the world). Unfortunately, there were no berries to pick on the side of the road this time! But it was still such a great day. I'm glad the team got to experience some major wind, it's definitely a learning experience. Having bad weather can make you feel all kinds of emotions throughout the day, but your team definitely gets you through it. For example, my group shared our life stories and we were fortunate enough to hear chapter one of Manny's memoir.Staying the night in a tent is always fun! Camping reminds me of my childhood because my family would always go on outdoor adventures. It didn't matter if we were camping somewhere only two hours away or a few states away from home, we just did it to be together and to enjoy the outdoors. Some of the last times my family (including my extended family) went camping together were when my grandpa was finishing up his final rounds of cancer treatment. He loved Door County, Wisconsin, so we always tried to plan weekend camping trips there.On Sunday morning, we woke up at 6AM to pack up the tents, eat breakfast, and start our 30 mile ride back to Champaign. This ride also included some headwinds and crosswinds, but they weren't nearly as bad as the ones we experienced on Saturday. It's funny to see how the team's attitude has changed about the length of each ride. At first, they couldn't imagine riding their bikes for 30 miles. But now, 30 miles is as Michell Eloy once said, "child's play!" My group encountered a ton of loose dogs on Sunday. They were harmless, but it's always makes me a bit nervous that I'll hit one of them or that they will bite my leg off. Once my group got back to Allen, we decided to go to Chipotle for lunch. Myself, Divya, Connor R, Greg B, and Pi learned that Gedion is a Chipotle BOSS. He taught us all his tricks on how to get the most food possible at Chipotle--order a burrito bowl, ask for extra everything (except meat) because it doesn't cost extra money, and ask for a tortilla on the side. If you do those things, you will enjoy your Chipotle experience even more. I don't know what it is about Chipotle, but their food is so good.This weekend also gave me my first practice run of purchasing food for the team. Myself and Sean Laude made a trip to Wal-Mart and bought nutritious, but low-cost, food for the team. Sean donated s'mores to the team, THANK YOU SEANIE! :)Last night we had our final team meeting! WE ARE SO CLOSE TO LEAVING! AHHHH. AHHHHH. The excitement keeps me up at night. I4K is all I think about. Can't wait to get back into the groove of riding bikes. All day. Every day. What a beautiful lifestyle all I4Kers are fortunate enough to experience.Update on my toenails with no nails - All is well. Still need to purchase bigger cycling shoes. This morning I stubbed one of them and it really hurt. Owie.Update on the breaking in of my Brooks - All is well. Still needs some more miles though. Regardless, it feels like heaven. Woop!P.S. - On Saturday I got my first flat on my back tire since Idaho. This flat in Idaho happened on the day of the yellow flowers and I ran over something that made a HUGE gash in my tire. Kevin Swanson gave me this super tough tire patch and it's still hanging in there, so thanks Kev! But I think I will have to cave and purchase new tires before I leave.
So insanely close
Oh my god, I just can't believe it. Today was our last meeting, gah!!! We just biked 125 miles in two days, gah gah gah! It's amazing how doing something as grueling as biking 95 miles with 30 mile an hour winds and 50 mile an hour gusts in a day can make you feel every emotion. I mean I went from anxiety, to pain, to utter joy, to deliriousness, to indifference, to joy again. It's insane. Funny thing is, yesterday was much harder than Saturday despite the winds because my knees were killing me even though they were fine on Saturday, I guess I was just sore. I think as a person, I am just much more in need of mental training than I am of physical training. Not to say I'm in great shape, but I think I'd be a lot better off with a bit more belief in my heart. Nevertheless, if I don't have it now, I will soon.When I think about where I was when I started this whole shindig, it's just insane. I remember going to my first meeting back in 2008. It was the year after the first ride. I knew I wouldn't have the opportunity to even apply until my senior year so I didn't go to a meeting again until this year. Amazingly enough, I was selected. I remember getting that email and hopping around my apartment so happy! It's crazy that less than a year ago, I hadn't ridden a bike in 11 years and now I'm 17 days away from biking 4500 miles in 72 days!I'm still nervous but after today's meeting, I am really excited for everything. I am just gonna train as hard as I can over the next few weeks so I can be as ready as I can for this trip of a lifetime. I guess I'll talk to you next from the road.See you soon!
Thank you.
Blogs. I've never been a huge fan of them. Generally, I don't write 'em and I don't read 'em (except for yours, Laura!). In fact, most of my discussions about blogs haven't gone more in depth than debating the pronunciation of the word--is that a long o or a short o in there? As for writing them, I suppose I am uncomfortable with the thought of strangers reading my thoughts. With that said, I hope all of my "followers" will forgive me for blogging that will almost surely be intermittent and posts that are brief. I do intend to keep in touch with friends and family this summer, but for that I will rely on the much more personal form of texting. Oh, and an occasional phone call! ;)Now, for this post, I ask that you disregard my introduction. My intro implies that my future posts will not be extraordinarily meaningful (which may or may not be true, who knows at this point?). With this post, however, I can assure you that I am writing with the utmost sincerity. This is because today, I am writing to say thank you.Firstly, I would like to thank my parents. To start, I would like to thank you both for the monetary contributions that have enabled this ride. While financial support can be written off as "superficial", the help you two have provided in purchasing my bike and much of my gear has largely decreased the stress I would have felt otherwise. Flashback to Christmas day, I think that says enough about my level of gratitude!Money, however, is secondary to everything else you have done for me. The support you two have provided, Mom and Dad, is truly overwhelming. Dad, your enthusiasm on our family road trips has fostered in me a love of the United States, the outdoors and quirky roadside (or not-so-roadside, in the case of some of those Muffler Men!) attractions. This passion will undoubtedly keep me motivated on the days when the headwinds are strong and the hills are high. Mom, what can I say? This ride is for you. In this unconventional way, I hope I can show you just how much you mean to me and how thankful I am for you. As you have said more and more often these days, it's all about family. I could not agree more. We are all so incredibly lucky to have the presence of such a devoted and loving matriarch in our lives. You bring us together. And while I am dedicating this to you, I know it is worrying you. Don't worry, I promise to always be safe!To my siblings, relatives and friends, thank you for all of the wonderfully generous donations! Initially, I was concerned I would struggle to reach the $3,000 fundraising goal; however, the manner in which all of you contributed squashed that concern into nothing more than a measly afterthought. I want to recognize that your donations did much more than help me reach my goal, though. Each dollar you all have pledged is now a little soldier in the fight against cancer, bravely forging the way towards new treatments and discoveries! I thank you all, as do so many of the other people enlisted in this fight.Well, now I've gone and got all personal in a public forum, which is exactly why I was hesitant to blog in the first place. But c'est la vie. You all deserve to know how great you are! So, from the bottom of my eHeart, thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you.Love,Katie
Out with the old, in with the new...
20 DAYS!!! So how do you know when you're ready to take on a cross-country bike trip?1.) When spandex becomes your outfit of choice and regular cloths just don't seem right.2.) When you've worked up an appetite for PB&J everyday.3.) When you've mastered opening up a Clif-bar while riding, and on-the-road hydration.4.) When changing a flat is no longer a question of if you can, but rather a game of who can do it faster. ( My personal best is still 13:25)5.) When you've trained right through the inner lining of your tires.Turns out as of yesterday I've reached #5. To be fair though those old tires did have some previous pre-training miles on them, but on my last ride it became pretty obvious it was time to swap them out. With a new set of tires on, and that new tire smell too, I think I'm just about ready to go. I can't wait to meet up with my fellow I4K -ers and start this adventure. It'll be great to meet so many new faces along this journey.
Let's All Earn a Badge!
Monday’s meeting was absolutely thrilling! It felt like a mix between graduation and going to the military. The 2011 team received team jerseys via Matt and President Connor, who then said “good luck with all of your endeavors” and gladly shook our hands.The ceremony was jam-packed with information and gifts. The distribution of our thankfully leather-free backpacks, my sleeping bag and pad was a particularly important part. Rachel Samaniego kindly ordered my backpack and kindly threatened me to pay her back once it arrived:“I don’t mind sleeping with two sleeping bags,” she said—and I was sure she meant it.But the hardest part was hauling everything home. At first, I took refuge at Undergraduate Library (UGL) in order to escape the rain. You could imagine the looks I got from people. Their stairs said “This guy really wants to pull a comfortable all-nighter.”Fortunately, I didn’t have to. Instead, I ended up going home around 12a.m. But, the rain had not left—lucky me. I didn’t know what to do. I had to haul all of these things to the farthest dorm on campus without the help from a bus. I mean, there were plenty of buses but I was not going to wait. I never wait. What was a poor, impatient, defenseless, freshman to do?IMPROVISE OF COURSE!!The light bulb turned on. I released the sleeping pad from its plastic confines and used it cover my backpack. The sleeping bag went over my head and off I went down the south quad, strapped to two back packs, a sleeping bag and my laptop.No one took a picture. I’m sure it would have made many laugh. I mean, sure I was a bit miserable haling everything but when I got home I felt like king! I showed off my new jersey, mainly to myself, and went to sleep. I did not take if off. I was too proud. I had just finished a journey, a small one, but a journey nonetheless.With that said, I can’t wait to start the big one, the real one, the one across the country. By the end, we will all have earned our jerseys; of that I am sure. Of course they will be sweaty, perhaps even torn, and forever stained with grease; but, I feel these are necessary imperfections, badges, and, even, a must. I now have one a badge. I encourage everyone to get one too.“To Cristian E. Garcia, for best technique when surviving a storm—the improvisation badge.”
Burn lines are cool?....NOT
In twenty days so much has happened and I can only image how much will happen when twenty days go by on the ride! So from 41 miles I’ve now made it to 75 miles - basically there to the daily 80-110 miles.We went on a training ride of 65ish miles and let me tell you it was a test for me. The headwinds were ROUGH, the rain did not help, and the fact that I could not feel my hands or feet was a new feeling when biking. When traveling in those conditions it was hard for me to keep trucking but the mere thoughts of what I was riding for and that I was not alone kept me pushing hard. My teammates and I stopped at a McDonald’s and I befriended the hand-driers; I even named them Stanley and Roger hahaha. I was able to regain circulation, feeling, and warmth while giggling with Lindsey aka The Rock. It was amazing to see how our moods changed when the rain stopped and we got to ride with a tailwind. I was so overjoyed I started to write songs: “Tailwinds, tailwinds, tailwindddddddsssssssssss OOOOOOOOOOOHHHH!” à to the tune of J.Biebs “Houses and trees, houses and trees, you make me so happy I could SIIINGG!”You can bet I’ll be singing these songs on the summer ride when there’s tailwind, crosswind, and maybe a light headwind.Katie and I did a training ride just the two of us. We got a little lost but Momma G helped us out! We got to cross this especially narrow bridge and managed to get lost again! We ended up finding our way and stopping at a gas station. On the way back we bumped into another cyclist who was finishing a really long ride. Talking to him made me feel connected to the world of cycling and I felt like a true roadster!The next training ride (aka this past Saturday) we went 75 miles throughout Illinois. I was selected to be one of this week’s ride managers and it was a new challenge for me. The lessons I learned from the ride were: 1) when times get rough for me I need to talk about food, play would you rather, or sing songs 2) a lot of toads/frogs verbalizing together sound like aliens 3) gas stations are amazing yet slightly expensive 4) laying down on the ground feels like a bed when riding for long periods of time (therefore my sleeping pad and sleeping bag will feel like heaven) 5) I learned what a pace line is and how to pull off a jug-handle. It was a really nice ride because it was very comparable to how day over the summer will be. I think it will be WAY more amazing though because I won’t have to come home to massive amounts of homework! Oh and I did not fall but I did get badly burned on my arms.Yesterday, at our team meeting we were given our team backpacks and team jerseys! I tried my on when I got home and boy did I feel so cool! Putting on that jersey made me feel like ok, I’m really doing this, I’m really apart of this organization, I really am an Illini 4000 rider. I wonder how I’ll feel when I’m riding in that jersey, or how I’ll feel on event days, or how I’ll feel when I’m standing at the train station in 26 days…..26 days… In that time I still have to buy more gear, clothes, and travel accessories. Not to mention graduate, have a job interview, finish all my classes, move out of my apartment… o boy let’s stop this list now before the stress sets in!This weekend I get to go on a long ride and then end at Kickapoo for our team overnighter. I’m too excited I cannot even tell you!May the winds be with you,Ellie