Day 10: Ashtabula to Cleveland

Tuesday, June 7th, 2016

The church at Ashtabula provided a delicious coffee cake to supplement our oatmeal this morning. We then took off for Cleveland in chilly and windy weather. Our ride today was dedicated to Jan’s nephew who is fighting brain cancer. Her story yesterday was very moving, and she was touched when we told her we’d be riding for him and thinking of her. It was only a 53 mile ride, so we did one rest stop at mile 25 and rode the rest of the way to our stay over.

Our rest stop was in a parking lot of an unused building, and a kind man named Gary came across the street from his house and offered us water and his bathroom. Some of the group got to talking with him and learned that he has experienced a lot of loss due to cancer. His mother, aunt, mother-in-law, and niece all lost battles with cancer. He agreed to share his story and we did a portrait in his front yard. He was so honest about how difficult it has been coping with his loss, and I really respect that he was willing to talk with us. One piece of advice he gave was to respect the patients’ decisions and wishes. I thought this was interesting because I always tend to think that we have to be encouraging and positive. But sometimes really the person just needs to be told that their decision to undergo or forgo treatment is the right one for them if that’s what they think. Or that giving their best is enough.

After our rest stop we rode the remaining 28 miles to Cleveland. Dakota managed to receive a food donation from Chipotle, and we all enjoyed burritos for lunch. Needless to say, everyone was very appreciative of the phone call she made.

We are very excited to have a rest day tomorrow and to have the opportunity to have a few extra hours of sleep. We will be going to University Hospital for an event day. More to come on that experience!

DR

Day 9: Westfield to Ashtabula

Monday, June 6th, 2016

Read to the end! Important mail drop info at the bottom!

We made it to Ohio! Our morning got off to a great start. Jan, a Volunteer of the church we stayed at Westfield came in to see us off, and as we kept talking to her we realized that she has been affected quite a bit by cancer. We asked if she would be interested in doing a portrait, and she graciously agreed.

Jan has had two sisters and a niece pass away from cancer, a brother that is a survivor, and a nephew that is battling it now. It is difficult to fathom how someone could stay positive through so much hardship and loss. She cited her faith and her family as important coping mechanisms. Her family emails a lot and they all help each other when they can. It is stories like Jan’s that are inspiring and make us realize that if she can be positive today, so can we.

After the portrait there was some bike maintenance that needed to be done, so most of us played silly games to warm us up and occupy ourselves. We rolled out around 8:30 and rode 75 miles to Ashtabula. We rode along the lake again, causing more strong winds. However, it was fun getting to cross the Pennsylvania and Ohio state borders and we weren’t in a big rush to get to the stay over.

First Presbyterian Church provided a delicious pasta dinner for us, and we got to shower for the first time in three days. We feel like new people.

We are 1/8th of the way done with the ride! We can’t decide if it feels like it went fast or if we should be further along. Either way, I have a feeling the rest is going to fly by.

Lastly, if you would like to send letters or packages to any rider during the ride, you can send it to any of the following mail drop locations where we will be staying. Please address all mail as follows:

[Stayover Name]

ATTN: Illini 4000, [Rider Name]

[Address]

Zanesville, OH:

Westwood Baptist Church

2395 East Pike, Zanesville, OH 43701

Indianapolis, IN:

Carrie Watkins

700 N Alabama St Apt 1215, Indianapolis, IN 46204

Minneapolis, MN:

St. Olaf Catholic Church

215 S. 8th Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402

Boise, ID:

Immanuel Lutheran Church

707 W. Fort Street

Boise, ID 83702

Klamath Falls, OR:

Yeti’s Lair Climbing Gym

369 S. 6th St. Klamath Falls, OR 97601

DR

Day 8: Niagara Falls to Westfield

Sunday, June 5th, 2016

To be honest, today got off to a rough start. It was gray and rainy, we were moving slowly, and there were some setbacks with bike maintenance and such. The ride didn’t really pick up…the route was pretty as it followed along Lake Erie, but the wind was whipping off the water and our bodies didn’t really speed up too much. A couple of groups (mine included, which if you know me isn’t that surprising) spent a considerable amount of time being lost. Additionally, we got 9 flats as a team today. That’s a lot of time spent on the side of the road changing tires and tubes. Most of us didn’t roll into our 40 mile rest stop for lunch until 2:30. The good news is that we still had fun. Each group found ways to entertain themselves, and a couple groups started asking table topic questions to pass the time. You’d be surprised to learn how long a question like “What does the American Dream mean to you?” or “How will you know at the age of 80 if you have been successful in life?” can facilitate conversation when you have nothing to do but pedal.

After lunch the sun started to peek out, but unfortunately our ride got cut short due to thunderstorms. We managed to pack in like sardines and shuttle the last 30 miles to our stay over in Westfield. So our 93 mile day turned into a 60 mile day, but we still got in a good amount of riding and talking.

We arrive in Ohio tomorrow! We are all excited to cross a state border, but as Lindsey pointed out, it is a bit nostalgic that we are already 1 state down.

DR

7 flats, 8 days

Sunday, June 5th, 2016

And no, that is not among the entire team. Just me, myself and I. New York has not been forgiving to myself or my teammates. To start, Illinois and New York are completely different! A small hill in New York would be considered a mountain in central Illinois. On day 3 we had about 3800ft of climbing within 65 miles. That was one day I was wondering what I got myself into. Throughout the past week the elevation gain/loss has gotten better. Or maybe we’ve gotten stronger!

Now back to the title of this post; flat tires! I jinxed myself when I was talking about never getting a flat during the 700 miles trainings. I got my first flat on the first day just sitting at a gas station. They just kept coming after that. Like Pringles say, “Once you pop, you can’t stop!” It’s amazing to see what caused your flat whether it is a nail through the tire or the tiniest shard of glass. Today was our last full day in New York (thank goodness!) and New York won’t let us go without some memories. 14 flats to be specific. Among the team, we had 14 flats causing major time delays and ultimately shuttling the last 30 miles to the stayover. With one of my flats I decided to replace the tire to hopefully prevent more flats.

Tomorrow we cross into Ohio and I can’t say that I’ll miss New York. Hoping for better roads and less flats in Ohio!

Day 7: Rochester to Niagara

Saturday, June 4th, 2016

This morning felt like it came awfully early for most of us. Even though we had a short ride yesterday we were all worn out from our events and exploring Rochester. Even so, today brought an 87 mile day and we ended in Niagara Falls.

The team all went to the falls together to take a group photo, and then those of us that had passports walked onto the Canadian side. The falls were beautiful. The amount of water and the speed at which it moved was amazing. The town of Niagara Falls was extremely touristy on both sides of the border, but it was fun to just walk around and people watch. Everyone ended up eating dinner out, which can always be a nice change of pace from our normal routine.

I think I can say that now that we’ve seen the falls we are ready to begin moving west and make some progress across the country. We have some long days ahead, starting with tomorrow being 93 miles to Westfield.

Hoping for a cool, smooth day tomorrow.

DR

More in New York State

Friday, June 3rd, 2016

Syracuse to Palmyra

It’s day 5 already and we just arrived in Palmyra, New York at Fellowship Bible Church.  The ride was much smoother and faster than the past few hilly days.  Immediately after arriving we were shuttled to showers which felt great after 80 miles in the warm sun.  I felt extremely welcomed at our stayover and had lots of fun playing board games and telling jokes with Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Gracie:) Dinner(lasanga, salad, and fruit), dessert(cupcakes, brownies, and toffee!), and breakfast(muffins, eggs, and fruit) tasted delicious and served as a nice change from the usual pasta and lentils(even though I enjoy those too!).

Palmyra to Rochester

Day 6 already…one more day and it will be a week of biking. It feels like we have been biking for months as the days fly by so fast. Today was a short 23 mile day so we had plenty of time to visit Gilda’s Club and the Hope Lodge.  Along with several teammates, I visited Gilda’s Club, a cancer support facility, and spoke with members who have experienced cancer in their lives.  It was inspiring to see the comfort these individuals found at Gilda’s and the fun ways Gilda’s offers support(social dinners, cooking classes, exercise classes, crafting, etc.) We were able to collect a few portraits for the Portraits Project as well! In less than 12 hours my team and I will begin our ride to Niagara Falls! This will be my first time seeing the falls both from the American and Canadian side…stay tuned to see the pixs:)

Day 6: Palmyra to Rochester

Friday, June 3rd, 2016

Today was a short 23.6 mile day into Rochester. We got an extra hour of sleep which was definitely a treat.

When we got into Rochester half of us went to the American Cancer Society B. Thomas Golisano Hope Lodge Hospitality House and the other half went to Gilda’s Club. Hope Lodge is a place that patients can stay for free while they receive treatment for cancer. Traveling is a financial strain and very inconvenient for many, and this hospitality house allows patients to check in for a single night or several months depending on their needs. Gilda’s Club is named for the Saturday Night Live comedienne, Gilda Radner, who passed from ovarian cancer. The club supports over 17,800 people yearly with over 1,200 free programs offered to men, women, teens and children who are affected by cancer. These programs provide social and emotional support not only patients, but also their family and friends.

We did three portraits at each location, each one telling a unique experience with cancer. I personally was at Hope Lodge, so I am more accurately able to relay some of the experiences that were shared there today. The first was with Darlene O’Dell, a woman battling lung cancer. She and her sister in law are staying at Hope Lodge while she receives radiation twice a day for five days a week. She is a part of a study to see if the rapid treatment works at a faster pace. She is so appreciative of Hope Lodge because it makes this type of treatment possible since Darlene does not live close enough to the hospital for the commute to be doable. She was so kind to share her story with us and her sister in law shared how strong she has been throughout her battle.

Another portrait that we did was with Neel Monterio, the operations manager at Hope Lodge. He has worked with American Cancer Society for eleven years now, and he has what he thinks to be the best job in the world. He says that he gets to give and give and give to the guests without receiving anything in return. He helps provide a comfortable experience, listens when someone needs ears to talk to, and gives advice when he can. When asked why he’s passionate about working with cancer patients, Neel told us that his mother passed away from cancer when he was 9. He shared that her last words to him were “Be good, be kind, and help others every day.” He knows that his mother is proud of him and he finds much fulfillment in his role at Hope Lodge.

It was inspiring to hear experiences with cancer from two different perspectives. It shows how differently people can be affected and how much is being done to support those that are directly experiencing cancer.

We are excited to have all of the portraits up on the website eventually and look forward to collecting more as the trip continues.

DR

Day 5: Syracuse to Palmyra

Thursday, June 2nd, 2016

After eating a delicious breakfast provided by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Reverend Phillip Major joined us for our morning dedication and rode along with us for 6 miles. We dedicated our ride to his father, Gordon, who battled breast cancer for 14 years of his life. Many, many remedies extended his life and he chose to donate his body to research after he passed. It was nice to be able to include him in our ride and again demonstrated how important our cause is to so many people.

Today was a route similar to yesterday’s; the hills were manageable and the sun stayed hidden for most of the day. We managed to beat a rainstorm and arrived at Fellowship Bible Church in Palmyra by 3 today. Again, we are overwhelmed by the generosity and hospitality we have received. Cold drinks were waiting, tables were set up with candy bowls, and we were served a delicious lasagna dinner.

Some of our team did another portrait after dinner. They interviewed a member of the congregation named Kathy Walton, who shared her story about her experience with colorectal cancer. Fortunately, she has been cancer-free for eight years now, and she used the lessons she learned during her own fight with cancer to support her mother and brother-in-law when they were diagnosed with cancer themselves.

Additionally, John, the pastor, his wife, kids, and some church members stayed and spent time with us until 8:30. It was so fun playing Yahtzee with the kids, we don’t know how they have so much energy. They were so darn cute. Everyone was so kind and interested in what we were doing. One of the members had been on our page enough to recognize some of us and remember what we were studying. It is touching to see how excited people are to host us, and how willing they are to open their doors to us.

Tomorrow we have a short 23 mile ride into Rochester where we have some events planned. We’re looking forward to the break!

-DR

Day 4: Little Falls to Syracuse

Wednesday, June 1st, 2016

Today brought a flatter route and cooler temperatures. Everyone was very, very happy about both.

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, the team checked out Little Falls after we got settled at the stay over. It was a cute little town with some pizza places, a couple bars, and an ice cream shop. The group that went to Ole Sal’s had a particularly good experience that they were excited to share with our readers. All of the employees were really excited to hear about our ride and wanted to follow along on the blog this summer. One of them, Bethany, is doing her own 100 mile ride for cancer this summer. Experiences like these remind us of how universal the fight against cancer is and how many people are showing their support in so many different ways.

This morning we got on the road around 7:30 and rode 80.6 miles to Syracuse. Our ride today was dedicated to Catherine Kemp’s friend that passed away from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The breeze was cool, the roads were flat, and at some points we could ride two by two and talk to each other. It was a casual ride and a nice change of pace. The team stopped by the Oriskany Battlefield in the Mohawk River Valley, the site of a battle during the revolutionary war. One group also stopped by an ice cream shop called The North Pole, where they conducted our team’s first portrait! Portraits are interviews we record and upload to portraitsproject.org. These interviews are with anyone that has been affected by cancer. This can include patients, caregivers, children of people that have passed due to cancer, etc. In doing these interviews, we hope to provide the opportunity to talk about their experience as well as create an online database that can be a resource for others going through similar struggles.  The woman we did a portrait with today, Dava, has a best friend going through cancer right now and her mother also passed away from lung cancer. Her main piece of advice was to be positive and keep the patient laughing.

Our stay over today provided us with an amazing dinner and another opportunity to do a portrait. We are still overwhelmed by everyone’s generosity. Margaret, an active participant in a group at St. Paul’s in Syracuse, was kind enough to allow us to ask her about her experience with breast cancer. She said she was always a positive person but had a difficult time remaining positive at the beginning of her diagnosis. She said she found peace in the serenity prayer and accepting what she couldn’t change and focusing on what she could. For her, what she could change was her attitude. She stayed positive and has been cancer free for 12 years.

Lastly, we were the recipients of many friendly gestures today. A lot of cars gave us friendly honks and two different people said they saw us on the news and encouraged us to continue our mission. Many of us were interviewed on Monday when we arrived in Bethlehem. Click on the following links if you want to see the news clips!

http://news10.com/2016/05/30/cross-country-cyclists-raising-cancer-awareness-make-stop-in-bethlehem/

http://www.wktv.com/news/College_students_bike_cross_country_to_fight_cancer.html

http://wnyt.com/news/bikers-from-a-student-run-non-profit-at-the-university-of-illinois-make-a-cross-country-journey-to-fight-cancer—–/4154621/

DR

Day 3: Bethlehem to Little Falls

Tuesday, May 31st, 2016

Today was a tough 67.9 day. Headwinds and hills are a very difficult combination. And I’m not talking about a little bit of wind. I’m talking about “I feel like I’m pedaling but I’m not moving” kind of wind. There was one stretch where we crossed over a bridge and were being blown all over the place. We were lucky enough to have a wide shoulder and one group even had a contest to see how slow they could go without tipping over. Thankfully, we have very supportive teammates and we all reminded each other to look left and right at the scenery once in a while. Everyone feels very accomplished today and will most definitely sleep well tonight.

The team is really clicking at this point. Rest stops and dinner have been very lively. Everyone is comfortable enough to give each other a hard time and we do so constantly. We got into Little Falls around 5 today and are planning to check out the downtown together. It’s fun to see these little places that we most likely wouldn’t have the opportunity to see otherwise.  We are looking forward to a much deserved excursion and restful night.

DR

Day 2: Beacon to Bethlehem

Monday, May 30th, 2016

We woke up to rain this morning, which means we get splattered in the face whenever we are riding behind someone. Which is always. However, with the rain came cooler temperatures. It was actually a very pleasant morning, as it didn’t rain very hard or for very long. The afternoon heated up, but our team made great time considering we rode 87.6 miles over many, many rolling hills. We are all getting the hang of when to up or down shift, how to approach the hills, and the best strategy for making it up them. I learned the hard way that the mentality of “The faster I go the faster I’m done,” is not the correct mindset. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Which I’m thankful for, because upstate New York is beautiful! There are so many big trees, streams, rivers, and lakes. It was a very peaceful ride (minus the burning thighs) through many wooded areas. The consensus among the team is that there were more hills today, but there weren’t any that were as bad as yesterday’s route. Everyone did great again today!

Our stay over tonight is at the YMCA in Bethlehem. Let me tell you, these people know how to make you feel welcome. They had a sign out front for us as well as chalk arrows pointing us to the entrance with words like “Yay!” and “Woot woot!” written by them. Cold drinks were waiting for us in a cooler and we were provided with a feast of grilled chicken, burgers, and hotdogs as well as fruit, salad, and chips. They gave us towels and access to the pool, hot tub and showers (major score!!). They also have a bouncy house obstacle course. Yes, we went in it. We all feel like we are on vacation. Such generosity makes me want to provide the same experience for someone, not because it’s expected or required, just because it’s possible. We are so thankful.

DR

Day 1: NYC to Beacon

Sunday, May 29th, 2016

Today was the first real ride day! We were up by 6, van was (supposed to be) packed by 6:15, we ate our oatmeal, and were ready to go by 7ish. Every morning before we ride we dedicate the day to someone. We take turns doing this, and these people can be anyone in our lives that has experienced the challenge of battling cancer. Today we dedicated our ride to a family friend of mine, Gigi Kimball. I asked that we dedicate the ride in hopes that she would continue to heal as well as feel strength and peace.

After our ride dedication we made our way to Central Park, where Joe McDonough greeted us. He is the founder of the organization B+ (Be Positive), which is an organization in which kids help kids fight cancer. I4K donates some of what we raise every year to this great cause, and it was a great way to kick off our ride and an excellent reminder of why we are embarking on this crazy adventure.

We logged 65 miles today to Beacon. It was a very challenging day as it was very hot and very hilly. However, everyone succeeded! There were no big injuries and everyone took some amazing photographs and video.  The route was absolutely beautiful. There were many breathtaking views, the first being from George Washington Bridge. It is fun to think about starting at a bridge in the east and ending at the Golden Gate Bridge in the west. The bridge overlooked New York City and New Jersey. The view really exemplified how expansive the city is. I’m used to the Chicago skyline, which pales in comparison. Shortly after the bridge is when the real climbing started, and I felt like I was willing my legs to just keep pedaling while I was huffing and puffing. The great thing about climbing is that at some point you go down. The descents were so fun and rewarding. My group got up to 36 miles per hour on our way down one particularly steep descent. I’m glad to report that our team is exceptionally positive and supported each other through burning thighs and beating hot sun. If the first day is any indication, it is going to be a fantastic summer.

DR

First of Many Rides

Tuesday, January 26th, 2016

I recently got my bike (thanks Marissa!) and couldn’t wait to go riding. I just saw my bike sitting in my room and that just made me more anxious to take her out on the road. Whenever I could, I would put on my shoes and practice clipping in and out against my bed so I could feel more confident the first time on the road. Knowing that Illinois weather can change dramatically in a day, the first day it was mostly above freezing, I decided why wait another day. I layered up from head to toe and was ready to get on my way. My biggest fear was falling in front of people because I’d forget I was clipped in. Luckily I managed to remember, unclipping well in advance of stop lights/signs. I went out to Meadowbrook Park in Urbana so I could get used to riding my bike and not put myself in busy traffic. Riding a road bike is definitely a different experience than a cheap mountain bike but I already like road bikes better. After an hour or so of riding I made it back to my room in one piece and didn’t fall at all that day. You could say it was a successful first day on my bike.

Here is a revised version of a poem I enjoyed.

Hi my name is Maren
I have this team called i4k
We will bike through cornfields
And give mountains a fair whack
Some say that we are crazy
(in fact, everyone we know)
But to prove that we’re not lazy
We’re giving this a go.
Please sponsor us to cycle up mountains and groan
All to help cancer patients know they aren’t alone

Original Poem: http://cyclethesummits.weebly.com/the-fundraising-poems.html

In and Out of NYC

Sunday, May 29th, 2016

Hi all!

In just about 48 hours members of my team and I have explored what seems like all of New York City and rode 64 miles to Beacon, New York. Yesterday, May 28, Maren, Catherine S, Steven, Sara, and I explored and ate our way through the city. We saw 9/11 memorial, times square, central park, Washington park, radio city music hall, Rockefeller center, and many more. It wouldn’t be an authentic trip to NYC without thin crust pizza and a sandwich from Katz deli too. Today, May 29, everyone biked from city to Beacon. The ride was warm and hilly, but was absolutely gorgeous. Almost the entire ride was surrounded by scenic views on bike route 9.

Day 0: Damon Runyon Foundation and Exploring NYC

Saturday, May 28th, 2016

Hello from New York City! We arrived around 6:30 on Friday night after about a 20 hour train ride from Union Station. We were all more than ready to get off the train. We entered a very warm Penn Station and navigated our way through the streets and subway (we got on going the wrong direction once, but we fixed it) and arrived at our very welcoming stay over. Unfortunately, our van drivers had an even longer travel day. The van we rented had transmission problems and a 12 hour drive turned into a 24 hour drive. Thankfully, we are all here and we have a new van for the time being.

This morning we visited the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation. Illini 4000 donates to this organization, and we had the pleasure of meeting Ryan, the fellow whose research is partly funded by us. Listening to him describe the work he does made us realize how many people are striving to find a cure, for cancer, as well as how few get to see their research through because of a lack of funding. Ryan seemed really passionate about his research, and it is exciting to think that he could find or invent something that makes a huge difference in the future.

We spent the rest of the day exploring the city and preparing for our first ride day tomorrow! We are all very excited to get started and a little nervous about the climbing we will be doing this week. Hills (and mountains) are daunting to people that have been training only in central Illinois. Nonetheless, we are very much looking forward to beginning this journey together and can’t wait to hear the stories of the people we meet and what we discover along the way.

The next time you hear from me we’ll be one day down!

DR