Pelotonia Flashback

I am extremely touched by the recent donations, months after the fact, and want to make sure I provide everyone an update. On Aug. 21, I rode approximately 105 miles from Columbus to Athens, raising money for The James Cancer Hospital and accomplishing my own personal goal of "In Memory, In Honor, With Hope."

It took way longer than I ever thought it would, but when you factor in the events of the day and the monsoon that raged for miles 50-70, I decided I was OK with it. The important thing is we all finished, were far from last and I learned a lot about how to do better on the next one!

I have to say though, it was a truly humbling day. Not just because I was constantly being reminded by my body of its limits, but I think I got teary about a bajillion times riding through random Ohio towns full of people on the streets with motivational signs, cheering you on and thanking you for riding, despite being hours behind the front of the pack. Just amazing.

I wish I could have taken photos of them, as well as the scenery and the rest of the experience, but cell phone pics from water stops were the best I could do. If you’d like to look through the hours of increased haggardness, here are some photos: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2581614&id=5707775&l=6ef2edccb0

Some Events of Late

Well, like every other blog, this one starts out with: Gosh, it’s been awhile.

On the eve of a big training ride, I figured I’d take some time while icing the knees to give everyone a much-anticipated update. In the last month or so, I have continued riding (duh), graduated to “big girl” pedals (yay), celebrated the one-year anniversary of my first tattoo (sorry Mom) and helped form an “OSU Athletics” peloton that, at last count, is up to 13 members (Go Bucks).

I told everyone when we decided to form it that this was something I set out to do quietly and alone, but I quickly realized that defeated one of the primary purposes of the Pelotonia event. It is all about community and teamwork and working together towards this seemingly insurmountable goal. And so, my apparently inspiration email to the department, helped result in quite the motley crew of coaches, administrators and staff members, who will all participate in Pelotonia, riding 25-100 miles, this year.

Another big event of late came on July 4. Besides being the 234th birthday of our country and first anniversary of Capt. And Mrs. Marsh (xoxo), it would have been the 28th birthday of Adam. And in recognition of this occasion, I think it is as good a time as any to make something very clear – 11 years ago, I would not have known of the occasion.

Adam was my art class friend. My soccer friend. But not truly my FRIEND. I admired his red Jeep, recognized the genuineness of his smile and always enjoyed hanging out with him, but I didn’t have the relationship with him that so many others did.

In short, it was not until his death that I knew his birthday.

I’m not saying that’s necessarily a bad thing. It was high school – not everyone can be BFF with everyone, but our class was different. For those that I graduated from high school with, you all know what we went through that year. Ten years later, it seems unimaginable to have been dealt such blows as 17- and 18-year olds and I still can’t quite wrap my ahead around it sometimes. With Lori and Jessie, we really never had a chance to say good-bye. With Adam, we did … and I didn’t. Not properly.

I think that is part of the reason that I have spent so much of the last 10 years trying to honor his life. I always felt a little bad for not taking the time to get to know him when I could, especially during the final weeks when I made excuses for not going to the hospital or making the trip to Baltimore or making any effort to let him know he was a great art class friend. A great soccer friend. And a really, really great friend to so many others.

Maybe I am incredibly self-centered to think it would have mattered and stupid to still feel guilty about it a decade later, but it’s the truth. And that is what has motivated me to start a quite life-changing journey.

So for Brett and Sara and Ashley, and everyone else that was the friend I wasn’t, I ride for you.

******
I need to give a few shout-outs for some awesome folks:
* BikeSource Clintonville – super helpful and patient with my graduation to “big girl” pedals
* Bethany Bluem – an excellent riding partner and cushion to my first fall while clipped in (so sorry, again!)
* Tom McGinnis – Awesome job putting together the OSU Athletics peloton. Thank you for not letting me do this quietly and alone.
* Road ID – an excellent decision for anyone who spends time running, cycling, etc., on the open road or the middle of nowhere. I got the pink one, obviously.


As always … much love, many thanks and remember, to me, Pelotonia spells hope.

Two Months (Minus One Day)

OK, so clearly it’s been awhile.

Yesterday marked two months until Pelotonia, which fueled yet another oh crap moment, but also a really great workout. I clearly choose to concentrate on the latter.

In the last couple weeks, I completed the Tour deFeed in Hilliard, a 30-miler that benefited the Mid-Ohio Food Bank, and have upped my fundraising total to a whopping $615. I must, of course, thank everyone who has donated and give a little shout-out to those who came to “Pelotonia on the Patio” and suffered through the all-you-can-drink specials just so I could get the portion applied to my account.

Thanks to you, and your livers, I brought in $90 that night.

Will write more later, but as always … much love, many thanks and remember, to me, Pelotonia spells hope.

p.s.
I recently found out the 75-mile ride option was cancelled, so I am still going back and forth between mailing it in and doing 43 or risking my ability to walk for the entire soccer preseason and pushing for the 102. Your thoughts on this are welcome.

The Secret is Spandex

Normally when I go riding on the Olentangy Bike Path, the hardcore cyclists ignore me. I am generally with Amanda and we both look like we're heading out for a normal workout instead of the Tour de France, so I try not to be too offended when the men and women in head-to-toe spandex ignore my early morning smiles.

Or when they fly past me with no effort, despite the fact I am bursting with pride at my current pace, convinced Lance Armstrong and I would be neck and neck.

Clearly I am not offended by this. At all.

Anyway, even with my complete confidence in myself and my abilities, I was a little excited Tuesday when I got an unsolicited "good morning" from one of the aforementioned men in spandex. I was just a few miles into a quick 20-mile jaunt to start the day when this fellow in a Trek Store Columbus jersey and shorts gave me a once-over as we were coming up to each other and eventually greeted me with cheerful saluations.

Score.

For the next couple minutes, I pondered what had caused this outpouring of acceptance (yes, I realize I am completely overreacting and totally overanalyzing, but humor me). I thought my form must have been flawless or maybe I just looked that hardcore.

I eventually looked down, however, and realized ...

Spandex.

It was my first day rocking simply the padded shorts without covering them up with (looser and probably more flattering) clothes. Then I just laughed at the thought that maybe this guy thought I was as hardcore as him.

This may or may not be the real reason. Hopefully the guy was just being friendly. Regardless, I feel like, at least for a moment, I discovered a secret of the cycle-hood.


As always … Much love, many thanks and remember, to me, Pelotonia spells hope.

Looking Good is Half the Battle

I realize I should be way more concerned with other things, but while sitting at work on a Friday with only two other people in the office and your boss out golfing, there is only so much progress that can be made on the cycling front. And so, I went shopping for my jersey of choice.

After much deliberation and inner debate on whether the price of cuteness was worth it, I opted on this one.

Clearly I decided it was in fact worth it.

In Memory. In Honor. With Hope.

In my first blog entry after finally signing up for the event, I alluded to the fact cancer continued to touch people in the months I sat around making excuses and letting my bike gather dust. I want to make sure I have everyone covered who inspired this decision.

If any of you have anyone you would like added to list, please let me know.

In Memory
- Adam Travatello
- Phil Price

In Honor
- Matt Lampson

- Art Chase

- Jim Calhoun
- Jack Baronas

With Hope
- Jodi Brown

The fact the "In Honor" section is twice as long as the "In Memory" is pretty amazing. Best wishes, Jodi. My thoughts are with you.

As always … Much love, many thanks and remember, to me, Pelotonia spells hope.

Holy S*@$!

This morning I instituted a countdown on the marker board in my office until Pelotonia … it’s 85 days in case you were wondering.

So far 28 miles is the longest I’ve ridden and I have raised $450 through the support of some truly amazing friends (and Grams). While both numbers are exciting, that’s 47 miles short and $1,150 shy of my minimum goals for 85 days from now.

I think I just had a “Holy S*@$!” moment.

So, to add some checks and balances to my training, I just signed up for a 30-mile ride, the Tour deFeed, June 12 in Hilliard, the proceeds from which will benefit the Mid-Ohio Food Bank. I am also eyeing the 50-mile Quilt Barn Tour in Athens in mid-July, knowing the photos alone will make my Mom – the quilter – wicked jealous.

If you are, or know someone is who would be, interested in doing either of these rides, please let me know. Or if you just need a (slower and less-experienced) cycling buddy, I’m game.

As always … Much love, many thanks and remember, to me, Pelotonia spells hope.

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo with Setenta y cinco (Miles)

So it’s been about three and a half weeks since I got tipsy and decided to sign up for Pelotonia after months of obsessing over it. My longest ride to date was about 28 miles last weekend and it felt pretty darn good. So good that I went ahead and increased my riding distance from 45 miles to 75 miles (holy s#@* !!), just now realizing that the aforementioned longest distance isn’t even the difference between the two. I guess math never really was my strong suit.

Long story short, I have a whole lot of work to do.

Instead, I am sitting in my new swanky cubicle working on ALC Tournament notes and staring out the window at this beautiful day, wishing I was riding. I am going to take it as a positive sign daydreaming about cycling has entered into my sub-conscious. Of course margaritas and guacamole keep entering into it too, given today is Cinco de Mayo, and those two things may win out in the end. You can look for me at El Vaquero tonight – after spinning class.

Thoughts of salted glasses and icy goodness on the rocks aside, I must thank my amazing friends who have already donated to the cause. I started with the high school friends, hoping they would appreciate the aspect of honoring Adam, and the initial outpouring was awesome, despite the fact I have not been outstanding at keeping in touch. Sara, Sarah and Abbie – thank you many times over. (p.s. Abbie – congrats on the wedding!!)

My former roommate Kim and Big East (no caps) bestie Rachel – thank you, thank you, thank you. And, of course, to my Grams – you rock.

I still have a long way to go – $1150 to be exact – because the longer distance brings an increased fundraising goal, but not having the balance read $0.00 is a HUGE relief. I am confident I can get it done though, slightly more confident than in my ability to sit for 75 miles and keep my left hip/right knee comfortably in their respective sockets.

Encouragement welcome.

Please stay tuned for updates, including one about my plans for “Cupcakes for a Cure” a baking/fundraising initiative I hope to start up soon.

Much love, many thanks and remember, to me, Pelotonia spells hope.

For Real This Time

Rider Profile: http://www.pelotonia.org/ride/riders_profile.jsp?MemberID=4993

For those nearest and dearest to me, you read my initial blog entries back in the fall when I initially made the grand sweeping pledge to ride in Pelotonia ‘10. You may have noticed there have not been any updates since. For the rest of you, let me catch you up …

After volunteering in Athens last year for Pelotonia ’09, I was so inspired I vowed to ride this year. I bought a new road bike and some cute bike clothes, but at the first sign of difficulty (i.e. the first second I got on and couldn’t master the clip pedals), my beautiful bike was relegated to the garage where it sat for the better part of seven months until a few weeks ago.

With the glorious spring weather in full force and my body itching to get outside, I filled up the tires and psyched myself up for a ride with Amanda on the Olentangy Bike Trail. I guess I finally realized, while I was sitting around scared of the bike and scared of not being able to reach my initial goal of 100 miles, cancer continued to touch and affect everyone around me.

During this time I blamed work and everything else in my life for not giving me enough time to ride, my college roommate and one of my dearest friends watched her dad battle (and beat!) cancer, our Big Ten Rookie of the Year goalkeeper Matt Lampson celebrated two years of being cancer free, an old high school teammate was diagnosed with leukemia and I recognized the 10-year anniversary of the event that sent me down this path to begin with.

I guess I just got tired of being scared. Plus I needed to cross off another entry from my Pre-30 Bucket List (#7 – Train for Something), but we’ll get into that more later I am sure. In the meantime, please look at my sponsor page and consider donating to my cause. I have signed up to ride 43 miles August 21 (my parents’ 34th anniversary – woot woot) and will consider increasing that to 75 as I see how the next few weeks ago.