Today is day 6, and it is our very first rest day. After conquering some of the east coast for the past 5 days, we have arrived in Washington D.C. for a much needed rest day. What an amazing experience it has been thus far and there is still so much land to cover. My concept of time is just completely a blur, the days between getting off of the train in New York City to arriving at George Washington University last night have become a jumble of awesome memories.Every city we reach and all the people we encounter impress me more and more every day. When we were in Philadelphia, PA, we left the stay-over, walked maybe 2 blocks to get food donations and came back with 3 large pizzas, delicious fruit and veggies, 28 sandwiches and loaves of bread, and last but not least soup salad and bread sticks from Olive Garden! If that isn't a feast, I don't know what is. This trip is off to a great start and there's really nowhere to go from here but up. Literally, mountains here we come!
Washington, DC
Although the past five days have been difficult, we were very surprised that an event day had come so soon. However, it couldn’t have come soon enough; the day off felt great. People were on their own to enjoy themselves or get stuff done after our team meeting at 9:30 this morning. Sites were seen, clothes were cleaned and bikes were fixed today in the capital (and concerts were seen!).Everyone is jointly hoping that our leg soreness will cease by the morning as we face our first mountain tomorrow on our way to Winchester, Virginia.A special thanks to Chipotle for giving us 20 free burritos! Also, thanks for ice cream from Kenneth Lundgren (Amanda’s dad!) and the George Washington University Honors Program (special thanks to Paul for getting that for us!). Finally, thanks again to the GW Multicultural Student Services Center for graciously hosting us for the last 2 nights, as well as to Mike Tapscott, the center's director, and to Tim Miller, Associate Dean of Students for helping coordinate our stay. Stay posted tomorrow, and we will give you all the gritty details from our first true climb of the summer.Much love,Illini 4000
Life on the road
So a lot has happened since our journey started on May 23. Since I've never really been to the East Coast, it's been an exciting adventure so far. I was able to visit NYC for the first time, see the Statue of Liberty, the 9/11 memorial, attend an event on a NYC Skyrise rooftop, and ride my bike (hidalgo) out of Central Park. It's been incredible so far visiting New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Deleware, Maryland, and Washington D.C. I especially remember our stay over in New Brunswick, New Jersey where the Thakkar's (parents of a previous rider) graciously welcomed us into their home and gave us inspiring words that I've kept with me on the ride. Mr. Thakkar told us that it might be hard at times, but it should be easy for us to keep going because we all know we're doing this for the right reason. He said that determined people are able to put how they physically feel behind them and give the most and that's what separates the determined from the weak.After moving through New Jersey and Delaware we entered Maryland. The start of the day was really awesome I had no idea how beautiful the state really is. After taking some photo opportunities at the welcome signs, we started heading deeper and deeper into the grunt of some really steep, really long hills. It certainly was the toughest day thus far. I have to thank my Aunt Kathy Jo, Coach Denton, and Julianne's sister Katie (our ride dedication that day) for getting me through one really challenging afternoon. But even with all the challenges this ride day presented us with, it's still so rewarding. Arriving at your destination 80 miles later makes everything worth it, especially when you get to visit the Baltimore Hope Lodge and talk with cancer patients about some of their struggles and triumphs. Life's full of them, and I guess that's why they call it life.It's so amazing learning about different peoples' outlooks and I think that's one of my favorite parts our the trip. At the Hope Lodge, I was able to help conduct a portrait and learn about how cancer impacts family life, jobs, financial security, and completely interrupts normalcy. Despite all of these things, the people we interviewed agreed that it was something put in their lives for a reason and they'll stay positive forever. It was really neat to see the way they joked around, laughed, and remained grateful for everything they had. I'm learning about the importance of optimism. Today during my spare time I got to talk with some of my family and friends from home and just hearing their voices puts me in a great mood! I'm excited to see how these next few challenging days progress!
Train Time
Today is day six. I no longer keep track of the date or day of the week. In this i4k world, we are in a time warp. It seems like weeks have passed since we left Chicago, but that wasn't all too long ago. While on 22 hour train ride we started losing track of time, and it has become completely nonexistent since then.That train to NYC helped us become more comfortable being around each other, and by day six we have molded into a team. We are living together, skipping showers, rocking excessive tan lines, waking up at 5:45am everyday, and spending every minute together. Every day I have said it has been the best day so far. This is the perfect way to spend my summer.So far our rides have not been too bad. We have had some hills, but mostly shorter days under 70 miles, the stuff we have trained for. We only had one day over 75 miles which was our first day hitting real hills. These are the type of hills that Illinois riding cannot prepare you for. Although expected, that day was still pretty tough. One climb after another, averaging about 95, gusting headwinds, and we had to be very attentive to the traffic on the busy and hilly roads. Those are the days when connecting to the cause stays in your head all day, it is what keeps us going.We were given the opportunity to eat dinner at the Baltimore Hope Lodge that evening and conduct portraits with some of the patients. That was scheduled in the mid afternoon, which meant we had to book it through these mountains. That is so much tougher than I expected it to be. Lucky for me, I rode with some very positive people that day. It was Tory yelling, "You got it girl!", Jaime with her victorious yells at the top of each, and thinking of Tricia saying, "eat hills, eat hills" under her breath that got me through that day. We ultimately had the same goal, to make it to the Hope Lodge on time, and that is what pushed us to push each other. That is why we couldn't allow ourselves to take long rest stops, although we really would have liked to. It was such a tough day, but we got back in time. We then got to interact with the cancer patients and caregivers, and hear about their days. We pushed ourselves and each other so we could hear their stories, and after talking with them it made every climb seem worth it.After we had faced the day, eaten dinner, conducted portraits, and unrolled our sleeping pads a previous cross country cyclist came and spoke with us. It was late and we were tired and dirty, but the conversation was well worth the lack of sleep. He asked each person to talk about why they joined i4k and what it means to them. After hearing these stories, about family members and friends, the lack of research funding, and the overall want to support the cause, it helped me remember what i4k stands for. We are not just a group of cross country cyclists, we are much more than that. We are college kids with a goal to stop the suffering that cancer causes. We are taking these portraits to spread hope across the country, and the ride our way of doing so. By raising this money and spreading these stories nationwide, as are accomplishing our goal.Summer 2012 has been the best yet. I love the people I am spending it with and I am so happy that I get the opportunity to spend the rest of the summer with them. We have made so many great memories together, have way too many bad jokes, and of course have already formed i4quotes. These are the most positive people I have ever surrounded myself with. Everyone is there for each other, and it has been awesome to see us become a team that can push each other, live together, and still have the time of our lives. Soon I will be riding through Illinois again. Before long we will be out west, and San Fran is going to come way too soon. I cannot wait to continue this venture tomorrow but I really hope we stay on train time for the rest of the summer, and make each minute last.
The moments
It has been more than a half year being a I4ker. I already miss people I have met through the organization, people who told me their sincere stories. There was this lady who talked to me and one of team members while we were fundraising on green street. We were selling chocolate chip cookies and yelling at strangers to buy it for cancer research fundraising and she came to us. She asked us what this was for and we told her we told her what we do. At that moment, she turned into a person who I could remember forever from just a stranger. She told us that there was a little boy played around all the time in her neighborhood with the best smile in the world. According to her, he doesn't have any hair because of the chemotherapy but he was the happiest kid every time she saw. She was not related to him at all and did not even know the name, when she was talking to us she was almost crying and so did we. She said that he was the reason why stopped at us and buying cookies.Like her, I could meet so many good people during the rides last week. On the street while we were stopping at stop sign, there were this amazing people who were willing to tell their stories. I am so looking forward to seeing more and more people along the ride.
The Ones You're With
For most of my life my parents have strived for me to be "cultured." Many a trip were taken to Chicago's cultural institutions. One of the most common activities was a trip to see the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. In their programs, they always feature 3 or 4 musicians with a list of short answers to interview questions. One of the questions is invariably along the lines of "What do you like most about playing with the CSO?" and the answer is invariably along the lines of "I love being able to make music with such talented and passionate people."Two nights ago in Baltimore, we got to meet Rafi, a two-time rider for the 4K for Cancer, a group formerly of Johns Hopkins University that is now independent that I4K has taken after. After some standard cycling advice, Rafi asked us all to share a little about ourselves: our name, an interesting fact, and what motivated us to sign up for the Illini 4000. For as much time as we've spent with each other, I had not ever really heard anyone's story for how they became involved. The answers blew me away.Many riders shared how a close family member, such as a mother, a grandfather, or a sister, had passed away from cancer. Many shared the current struggle of a loved one fighting the disease. Each person was touched by cancer in a very personal way, and hearing each person's story unraveled them to me in different ways. My perception of each person's context in the organization was so much more meaningful: we were all here to fight.As we geared up the next morning to ride, I was reminded of those CSO Q&A's. I am awestruck at the dedication of my fellow riders and their passion for everything that the Illini 4000 stands for. I couldn't help but to feel so lucky and so proud that I am a part of a group of such amazing, motivated, and passionate people that are fighting the good fight. Our work is at least as prestigious as any CSO musician's. We are here because we want to end the suffering that cancer causes; we are here to fight.
I4K Life
So we made it to DC! So far we have seen numerous states that I have never been to like New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Washington DC. The trip has been amazing and the riders have become close friends so quickly. Getting to meet locals from each town has been a highlight of the trip because each community is so unique. While the ride has definitely been tough at times my team members have remained supportive and have made each ride much easier. I look forward to continuing my journey with the Illini 4000 and continuing to hear each community's story along the way.
And the Adventure Begins!
New York to D.C. in five days. I can't believe this just happened! I have to say that none of the training I did back in Illinois prepared me for the hills of Maryland but as we continue our ride, I appreciate the beauty of this country more and more. (I *almost* feel ready for the mountians!!) But more than just the feeling of relief and accomplishment that comes with reaching the top of a large hill, I think the most rewarding interaction I've had is with the random passerby. I've encountered people at gas station, in parks, walking down streets...all very different people from varying walks of life and one thing they have in common is enthusiasm towards I4Ks fundamental mission, the fight against cancer. I met a man on the coast of New Jersey as I was about to dip my back wheel into the Atlantic ocean. He saw my jersey and approached me with a friend's survival story. It really renewed the cause behind my trip this summer and I can't wait to see how the rest unravels!
Five Days Down
It is day six of our 74 day trekk across the United States, and we are all enjoying a much needed day of rest after our first five days of cycling. We've made it from the Big Apple to our nation's capital, and it's been an interesting trip so far. It's been such a wonderful experience riding through areas of the country that I probably would never have gone through otherwise. We've met some amazing individuals who have reached out to in a variety of ways. It's amazing how generous and appreciative people are when they find out about our cause. The ride has been great also, we haven't hit too many hills yet but we are preparing to start heading into the mountains in the upcoming week. It will definitely be a challenge but I'm greatly looking forwar to it!
"People helping People"
So we have been on this trip for 6 days now. And I must say I am absolutely blown away by the generosity displayed by the different hosts we have had. They have opened their doors to us and gone above and beyond all of my expectations. It reminded me of a portrait I worked on (see portraitsproject.org coming soon!) of a woman named Pat McQuain. Her story was amazing and as she talked about how her and her family recently gave away all of their yard sale goods to a family in need she said a quote that really stuck with me. "People helping people," three words that express everything about this trip. The people who have helped us reach this point, the people we are on this trip to help, and the people who have helped us along the way so far. It has been amazing how people have come together around this organization against a single common cause.
Sup?
Hello, anybody that may end up actually reading this (in other words my mom). This will be my first update to this here page and boy I have some news to share. I'm writing from Washington DC in the GW University Multicultural Student Services Center. It is a great place, and they are hosting us very well. The trip so far has been fantastic. In the last couple of days we have hit some pretty tough hills that have been much more challenging than anything we have seen in the past and during our training rides. It has been hard work, but I know it will be worth it.It has been very great to get to know the other members of the team well and I know we will all become much better friends as the summer goes on. In the past few days, I have become much more connected to the cause and have been getting very excited about the portraits project. I was lucky to be able to be a part of a portrait interview at the Baltimore hope lodge. As the great as the ride itself is, the interviews we are conducting to get a vision of how cancer impacts people across the nation.I am very excited to hit the mountains tomorrow, and hope the ride will only continue to get better.See y'all latta
A taste of home - I4K does DC
Yesterday afternoon, as my group rode down Pennsylvania Avenue towards the White House, it finally hit me that what I had been envisioning for months had become a reality. As a student at George Washington University, I am one of I4K's off-campus riders this summer. I spent much of the past spring training for the ride on the very same streets we rode into the city on yesterday, and getting to ride those streets as a part of the actual journey was amazing. It seems crazy to me that in the past five days, we've ridden our bikes from New York City to DC, but I know that the next 68 have so much more in store for us. I'm excited that we've made it here, but I'm even more excited to see where we'll go from here.
Where we stand
Today we arrived in Washington DC after five days of bike riding. It has definitely been the journey of a lifetime, though we still have the majority of our journey ahead of us. I'd like to thank the Thakkar family for having us the first might and motivating us to keep going regardless of how hard it will be. The towns we have passed through have been gorgeous and completely worth the ride before. New York City was fantastic and the atmosphere there was one that I will never forget. The cities, however, are not what the trip is about; it is about fighting cancer, as I came to realize during our stay in Baltimore, where we visited a Hope Lodge and interviewed people affected by cancer. It really struck an emotional chord with me to talk about the disease with other people, from the woman we met from a small town thirty minutes away to the daughter of a breast cancer survivor. We had a former 4k rider talk to us that night, and many people on the team shared why they are riding. Opening up about this and moving past the jokes that we share throughout the day really connected me more to everyone on a more personal level. Everyone is affected in some way, and that thought has really pushed me these last few days, and hopefully will keep me going for many more.
Illini 4000 - DC
The past five days have been a time warp. It's been interesting and we've been busy. Biking all day, events and chores fill our days entirely. Today we have our first rest day in DC and we're getting some stuff done. I may find the time to do my laundry, but probably not. I may find the time to run some errands, but probably not. I really think I only have time to do nothing. Mountains tomorrow. I am excite
Keep Pedaling
Day 5!! We have arrived in Washington, DC. In the past few days, we've been climbing REAL intense hills. I really have to admit that Illinois hills are nothing compared to these. I would have a really hard time climbing these hills and I'm pretty sure everyone else on the team has the same problem. But every time I attack these hills, I think about the person that we are riding for that day to help me get through this. I feel that every hill we come across is an obstacle course that we have to get through just like how cancer victims has to get through obstacles such as chemotherapy and treatments to get better.Some riders attack the hill really quick and some riders bike up the hill slowly. I am one of the riders who bike up the hill slowly and sometimes I feel like I want to give up, but remembering how cancer victims can get through intense treatments and never gave up. I take baby steps to climb these hills because these hills are nothing compared to what cancer victims had to go through.We had a few great portraits in the past few days and it was great to interact with different people that tells us stories about their experiences with cancer. It was awesome that we had so many people supporting this great cause.
Day 5 Already?
Well snap, we're all ready in DC. I have already had some amazing experiences that I will never forget. The kindness of people we don't even know has amazed me. For example, on Tuesday it was at least 92 degrees out and we were climbing hills that were bigger than ones I've dreamed about. I was in a group that was in front of the van so we stopped to get apply sunscreen and drink water. I was definitely feeling dehydrated and was very thankful to sit for a bit when all of a sudden a man walks out of Gus's Pizza in Edgewood, Maryland and says "Can I offer you guys a complimentary glass of water?", slowly turning our heads we sigh in relief as we walk into the wonderful air conditioning. After a bit, we tell the man about our organziation and he continues to help us out. Offering us food and cold towels we sat and power up again. The man (I wish I knew his name!) must have asked us 10 times if there was anything else he could do for us. It was a beautiful insight to the kindness in people.One of my other favorite events we have had is visiting the Hope Lodge in Baltimore. Hope Lodges are places where cancer patients can stay for free if they live too far away from hospitals or their treatment centers. Everyone working there was very upbeat and nice and I am glad we got to reconnect with the cause and talk to some people. If I learned anything from them is you have to be positive. Staying positive is key to everything in life.After that very hot, hilly, hard day, we had a slightly easier day (55 miles) into DC. Waking up I was very nervous that the next few days would be as hard as the last. Luckily I joined a group that provided a large amount of laughs and kept my spirits high. Even though I wiped out twice....careful of those wet bridges...I still look back on that day as being one of my favorites so far. Lunch was also fun because we got to listen to Motown and we had a mini dance party (you know what I'm talking about Liz and Sam, haha). That day was also different because we rode almost only on the extremely beautiful bike paths. Illinois needs to step it up. So after a 7 mile continuous downhill we coasted into DC where we're staying at a building owned by the George Washington University. All is good and wonderful here and each stayover seems better than the last. So here we go... next are mountains. I remember in our training Greg and Josh saying that all of the training has prepared you for the first two weeks. AH! I'm nervous just thinking about it. ANYWAY- It's going to be okay. All we have to do is stay postive... and get new brake pads. :)
New York to DC!
We have just finished the first five days of riding and are currently in Washington DC. I have had a wonderful time so far. In the last two days the terrain has become more hilly and has been gradually preparing us for the mountains to come in the next few days. I expect the following days to be very challenging but exciting and worthwhile as well.Throughout the trip, we have been talking to many people at gas stations, 7-11s or anywhere we happened to stop about our trip and our Portraits Project in which we interview cancer patients and care-takers throughout the country. Many strangers are showing interest and supporting us in the trip which is very motivating. We have also already completed a few interviews for the Portraits Project this year.I am looking forward to the rest of the trip and all the people we meet and I will try to post updates on this blog once in a while!
What a week!
What a week! A week ago today, we were just arriving in New York City and now here I am in Washington, DC! It's been quite the experience and this is only the beginning. Today is our first day off from riding since we started and I already feel strange not waking up and hopping right back on my bike. I'm so happy that we've had so many opportunities to reconnect with the cause already. In Baltimore, I got to help out with a portrait of two women at the Hope Lodge who were an inspiring reminder of how much optimism really matters. Yesterday as we rode into DC, we passed by the National Institutes of Health where I worked last summer doing research. It hit me just how very lucky I am to have had all these experiences throughout college that have interconnected and motivated me to pursue my future career as a physician. This ride is showing me a lot about who these people are that I want to help in the future, and I think that's what the Portraits Project is all about. I can't wait to continue making a difference this summer, and for the rest of my life.
Reaching D.C.
Day 5Baltimore to Washington D.C. After some motivating words and conversation from a rider’s friend the night before, I4K departed this morning for our nation’s capital. The hills seemed to be chopped in half compared to yesterday’s ride, and the mileage was cut as well. Teams could go out there and enjoy themselves without the hectic schedule that the ride to Baltimore ensured. Some groups flew and some groups walked (at least their average mph would say so) through the twisty-turvy roads en route to DC. The cues didn’t take the most direct route and it gave the team a chance to focus on the journey as opposed to the destination. Bike paths, getting lost, and long rest stops will still get us where we need to be. After taking full advantage of George Washington University’s showers, I4k ate pizza that was generously provided by our hosts at the university multicultural center. We hope that we don’t grow too accustomed to these acts of generosity – it is truly amazing what people have done for this team in such a short time. Through day 5, we have yet to cook a single dinner, which means we have yet to indulge on the delicious combo of spaghetti and lentil soup. After dinner a little team bonding took place; some went to a local restaurant to hang out, others got some laundry done, and the rest took a night tour of the city. The team has basked in the freedom of the first event day being tomorrow. After a 9 am team meeting, the team is on its own to explore DC. Then… We climb. Love,Illini 4000
Maryland
Day 4Newark, DE to Balimore, MDThe team has been surprised at how hilly New York, Pennsylvania and other states have been in comparison to Illinois. We've never even seen hills this big in our neck of the woods, but apparently they do exist! Despite these "hills" that we had seen, our ride leader informed us that we hadn't even seen real hills yet, and today would be the first day that we encountered a true climb. Most people had nerves starting last night and continuing this morning until the ride began. And when it did begin, the nerves turned into exhaustion quite quickly. Apparently, Maryland does indeed have large hills. People were tired, people were hot, but we still rode to Baltimore. To estimate, we probably climbed 13 hills that were larger than any of us had climbed before, which was quite difficult to do in a single 75 mile day!The theme of kindness continued again today, as I suspect it will each day. A group of riders stopped in the parking lot of Guess' pizza on 40 in Edgewood. They were hanging out in the shade and double checking the map as the owner came outside to greet them. He invited them inside to sit in the AC and fill up their water bottles. He then gave them cold wet towels to cool off with and even posted our business card in his shop. All he asked was for us to spread the word about his place. In Baltimore, we had our first event at a nearby American Cancer Society Hope Lodge. We enjoyed a meal provided to us by volunteers and had ample time to interact with the patients. After dinner, we were given certificates of gratitude from the Hope Lodge and they even provided us with special entertainment! A magician arrived and performed some tricks along with some jokes. Even better, he provided us with the support that we are too familiar with, but value immensely. More hills tomorrow! We'll see you in Capital City!Much love,Illini 4000