Now I have, but I haven't been holding up my end of the bargain on my riding. I told you all in one of my earliest posts that my commitment to you was that I would ride 1 mile for every $5 that were donated. Now I know that I am a little bit behind - though not much since I was able to ride a good portion of last week (including my Thursday morning ride and a ride on Sunday). However, I haven't been documenting the dedications as much as I hoped. To be honest, it all happened when I lost a bit of wind from my sails after I put together a video one evening the garage. It was cold outside - my thinned out blood tells me it was miserably cold outside, but my Midwestern roots (and parents) remind me that there is nothing "miserable" about 26 degrees. Likely just another sign of me becoming a PacNWerner, but I digress. I was in the garage, on the rollers (also can be miserable at times since you dont get any change in scenery), and I did a Flip video dedication to my friend and fellow survivor Flutie. RAF gave me a nice donation when I sent out an email telling folks of what I've been up to. In fact, even getting my email inspired him to take the plunge and register for LIVESTRONG Austin. It will be great to meet him in person and hopefully keep up with him - it might not be a headwind holding you back, Flutie, I just might be holding onto your saddle for a pull. Well, lo and behold, the damn video wouldnt upload to YouTube. I've tried more than 2 handful of times and now I'm out of fingers - or at least have been out of motivation to try and repost it. Nevertheless, I kept riding but holding out hope that I would do my rides in order (for the most part) and document the dedications the same way. My list of dedications is at home, but look forward to an upcoming post on who I've been riding for.
This weekend was another great opportunity for a ride. The stars aligned and Patrick and I were able to get a free pass from our wives to go on a ride and Michael was able to join us as well. As Sarah got ready to go to the bridal shower for Kaitlin, I was getting my bike into the car and heading down to Seattle. The forecast was calling for high 40s - maybe even hitting 50, but I wore my tights just in case. Better to be warm than cold, right? Well, it wasn't a miserable day, but it was biting cold. I'd guess it was more like the low 40s and a few different times I needed to ignore the lack of feeling in my fingers, but we did about 26 miles, which included a climb up 65th in Seattle to Top Pot Donuts. I decided not to get a donut since I'm trying to lose weight right now, and I'm glad I did. Down to 183.6 this morning. Only 20 lbs to go! I'd say the most amazing part of the ride (and I know it's because they haven't had as much time), normally I'm able to do hills, but nothing like Patrick and Michael. However, since I have a longer commute and have been able to ride more with my schedule, I've even started to become a bit of a hill hunter. Going up the ridge, I was able to sustain a faster climb than both of them - something I've never done - and something I'll probably only be able to do for another week or 2 until they catch up and pass me. Still, it was pretty cool.
In even better news, our friends Mark and Maria finally decided to get some hybrid/comfort bikes and Maria just told me today that she is hooked and didn't realize how much she would love biking. They may not be doing the STP or a LIVESTRONG ride, but they are riding and that is all that matters.
Ride hard and LIVESTRONG!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
My Wife is Amazing
It sure wasn't fun, but our 5 month old daughter got a horrible flu - in fact we spent the night in urgent care getting her some fluids via IV. People at work thought I was crazy yesterday when I still biked into work, but as I told them, it was the only thing that kept me awake - nothing like a nice early morning breeze of fresh air. It sustained me for a few hours, but by 3 I was cross-eyed and ready to sleep on my keyboard. The ride home woke me up to get some chores done around the house and we were in bed by 8. Knowing that she was taking off from work today (can't send a sick little girl to daycare), she let me sleep through the night.
On top of that, I didn't have any meetings this morning, the weather in the Puget Sound has been amazing, and I was planning to get a good ride in. My bride insisted that I still take the morning off and go for a ride since I wanted to so badly. I really should have brought my shoe covers because the nice thing about my shoes (LG Ergo Airs) is that they have great ventilation for the summer. My toes were a bit chilly, and I didn't do the 50-60 miles I was originally planning since I wanted to get into work by 11-11:30. When I got out to Carnation it was already 10 so I knew I should probably cut the ride short to get into work at a good time.
I was at the intersection of the Tolt River Road and West Snoqualmie River Road (heads to Preston - route to get to Issaquah) and decided it would be best to head back in to Redmond. The climb is just over 1 mile at an average of 7.5% gradient. I would be lying if I didn't say that I pulled over and didn't climb it all at once. But for being my first "non-commuting ride" (typically 10-20 miles) this year, I'd say that a ride of 40 miles of rolling hills with the one climb was pretty good. I was satisfied.
More to come on the ride dedication...
Sorry for being so absent lately.
LIVESTRONG
On top of that, I didn't have any meetings this morning, the weather in the Puget Sound has been amazing, and I was planning to get a good ride in. My bride insisted that I still take the morning off and go for a ride since I wanted to so badly. I really should have brought my shoe covers because the nice thing about my shoes (LG Ergo Airs) is that they have great ventilation for the summer. My toes were a bit chilly, and I didn't do the 50-60 miles I was originally planning since I wanted to get into work by 11-11:30. When I got out to Carnation it was already 10 so I knew I should probably cut the ride short to get into work at a good time.
I was at the intersection of the Tolt River Road and West Snoqualmie River Road (heads to Preston - route to get to Issaquah) and decided it would be best to head back in to Redmond. The climb is just over 1 mile at an average of 7.5% gradient. I would be lying if I didn't say that I pulled over and didn't climb it all at once. But for being my first "non-commuting ride" (typically 10-20 miles) this year, I'd say that a ride of 40 miles of rolling hills with the one climb was pretty good. I was satisfied.
More to come on the ride dedication...
Sorry for being so absent lately.
LIVESTRONG
Monday, January 17, 2011
Rant
I apologize that I've been so absent on this. I had been holding off on getting a video posted here, but our FLIP has not been cooperating when it comes to uploading to YouTube and it is irritating me. I pulled together a nice video of cycling in the garage for my friend and fellow survivor Robert who made a nice donation to me.
I'll give it another try and then I'll have to just move past it and get some better postings up here. Especially with the Tour Down Under kicking off today.
Ride hard and LIVESTRONG
I'll give it another try and then I'll have to just move past it and get some better postings up here. Especially with the Tour Down Under kicking off today.
Ride hard and LIVESTRONG
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Our LIVESTRONG Story
LIVESTRONG urges those affected by cancer to share their story. This is what I shared...
After 4 months of what I was told could be a 6 month chronic cough, several appointments to the doctor until I could finally tell he was annoyed that "oh, you're back again" I finally pointed out additional research to the doctor and asked that I be referred to an ENT. Despite the pathology reports not being 100% confirmed the ENT called that Saturday night as I prepared dinner prior to Trick 'r Treating to tell me that I had Hodgkin's Lymphoma. "Looks like we caught this early."
I didn't know if it was a trick or a treat, but I definitely got sick from it after the PET scan revealed it was Stage 3. 27 years old. Married for just 1 year and told we have cancer. Immediately, my beautiful wife started telling everyone that "we have cancer" because she wouldn't let me go through it alone - and it impacted her just as much.
We were recommended to visit a fertility clinic, but just couldn't see going that route. So instead, knowing that there was a risk of infertility we took advantage of the 4 days between my PET scan and first round of chemo. Our daughter was born in August of 2010.
Throughout treatment there were probably more good days than bad - I was blessed. But during the rough days, the hope of our child growing kept spirits high. Also, knowing that aerobic exercise has been recommended to help patients through treatment, I kept riding. There were nights when I'd ride on my rollers for only 3 miles and I would sit in the garage and cry. But 3 miles was all my body could handle. Still, though, we signed up for the Livestrong Challenge Seattle, shared our story of getting pregnant with Lance's friend College (who couldn't wait to tell Lance), and exactly 2 months after my last chemo I rode 70-miles in the rainy Seattle Challenge.
Those 6 months of treatment were the worst of my life, but they were also the best. They taught us so much. Patience. Hope. Love. Family. Perseverance. Strength. Unity. My diagnosis was the worst thing for me, but the best experience. Finally, my family knows someone with a cancer story that wasn't a death sentence. My perspective on life, love, cycling, and the LIVESTRONG community is forever changed.
I will keep riding for those who can't. I will keep riding to be a riding billboard for LIVESTRONG. I will keep riding for my health and to share how much LIVESTRONG has impacted my life through my treatment and now afterward. I will keep riding so that my daughter someday can say, "my daddy had and beat cancer, and LIVESTRONG did so much that now there is no more cancer.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Donations
I've been very proud and even a little amazed at some of the great donations that have already come in on our journey to $12,000. Just after Christmas, I sent out my first email blast. Although it didn't yield the quantity that I was hoping for, the quality (read: generosity) of those that I did receive were amazing. As I write this, we are sitting at $725. Aside from begging friends and family on email, twitter, and facebook, I've been designing things to help get some big funds raised - I hope!
I've submitted a letter to a past employer to see if the would provide a business donation and/or sponsor a ride for me, however, have yet to hear back. It was a long-shot and not sure if I should expect to hear anything in return. I've contacted Golds Gym to of Redmond/Issaquah/Bothell to see if we could set up a bike-a-thon or 24-hour ride fundraiser. I haven't heard back yet and will be checking back with the manager next week. Though Microsoft Gift Matching doesn't apply to vendors, I did submit a letter to them to see if there was anything else we could do - set up donation jars at locations on campus, if they could support me with a donation, etc. Hopefully, whether positive or negative, I'll hear something back on Monday.
Other ideas that I'm going to pursue are with Albertsons, TOP Foods, local restaurants, and maybe Performance Bike (though I dont think that would happen because Brent said that stuff comes from corporate down).
I'm really hopeful that I can get some businesses to allow me to put out donation containers or do a LIVESTRONG night at a restaurant for a certain percent of profits. Or, the easiest, is always a overall sponsorship. It would be the best, and I think it is really what we will need to really get us climbing the ladder with the added zeros on the fundraising.
Just gotta keep on keepin' on!
LIVESTRONG
I've submitted a letter to a past employer to see if the would provide a business donation and/or sponsor a ride for me, however, have yet to hear back. It was a long-shot and not sure if I should expect to hear anything in return. I've contacted Golds Gym to of Redmond/Issaquah/Bothell to see if we could set up a bike-a-thon or 24-hour ride fundraiser. I haven't heard back yet and will be checking back with the manager next week. Though Microsoft Gift Matching doesn't apply to vendors, I did submit a letter to them to see if there was anything else we could do - set up donation jars at locations on campus, if they could support me with a donation, etc. Hopefully, whether positive or negative, I'll hear something back on Monday.
Other ideas that I'm going to pursue are with Albertsons, TOP Foods, local restaurants, and maybe Performance Bike (though I dont think that would happen because Brent said that stuff comes from corporate down).
I'm really hopeful that I can get some businesses to allow me to put out donation containers or do a LIVESTRONG night at a restaurant for a certain percent of profits. Or, the easiest, is always a overall sponsorship. It would be the best, and I think it is really what we will need to really get us climbing the ladder with the added zeros on the fundraising.
Just gotta keep on keepin' on!
LIVESTRONG
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