Ride Team Awards - Nov. 13th

Great to see everyone on Saturday at our Youth Ambassador get together.  For those who were not there, we gave out some fun awards which I've listed below.  If you want an explanation let me know.

Where is my helmet? Award - Dan Baize
Where is my towel? Award - Sam Scahil (1st Indiana Female)
Where is Kelly? Award - Kelly Brake (Indiana Rookie of the Year)
Where's the water? Award - Lisa Blythe (co Indiana Most Improved)
Babysitter Award - Todd & Amy Schmidt
Tool, I mean Machine Award - Gary Martindale
Training Ride Award - Ted Wiese
All hands on deck Award - Kate Luken Warpool
Haunted House Award - Michael Schwab (1st Indiana Rider to the top of Jubilee)
Coffee Cup Circus Trick Award - Kate Eaton (co Indiana Most Improved)
Chief Harraser - Bob Karnak
I Hate to Ride Award (yet I did more rides than anyone) - Joel Russell
Turtle Award - Jeff Greer
Litterbug Award - Ryan Sellers
Hello Susie! Award - Mark Lushell
Brown Nose Award - Scott Crane & Jeff Mullen
Fashionista Award - Tony Gabriel (1st Indiana Rider across the Finish Line)
Embracing the Spandex Award - Kevin Garner
No Kate Left Behind Award - Scott Warpool
Newsworthy Award - Alex Weymouth

Wow...Back to Work!

It was only just over a week ago and we were in the sunny, hot desert...now I'm back at work and the day's events seem to make the memories fade just a little...but only in the details around the edges...not the feelings or the experience that is in my bones...

I thought I would add a link to the photos I put up on Shutterfly...let me know if you want any full files, I will send them via email.
Link to Shutterfly Photos

While the whole experience was just really really awesome, there are a couple of very fond memories and lessons that I thought I would share.

Coming down from Jublilee Pass was simply exhilarating.  I found myself full of emotion and then leaking it out through some tears...the tears of release, joy, gratitude, and compassion for those that do live with Type 1 everyday.  I didn't want that 7 miles descent to end it was so beautiful.  I'm don't think that I have words for the feelings and if I tried they would probably be inadequate.  BUT the big joy I had coming down the hill happened about 1/2 way down when two bikers came up from behind yelling, "ON YOUR LEFT!!"  Low and behold is was DVBob and someone else screaming down the hill, blowing by me.  I LOVED that!  While Bob conveyed just the night before that he was trying to out run old age, there was no old age anywhere near that spirit that day.  For me, it was watching a little kid with hands off the bar, screaming into the free fall, really free.  I don't know what it was like for you Bob, but it was sheer joy to watch.

The other memory was between the check point that I don't remember and Badwater where Scott, Kate and I came upon a rider stopped by the side of the road, alone.  In the process of slowing and stopping to check on her, Kate ran into Scott and I narrowly avoided Kate.  Scott, in his caring, kind voice was asking..."oh honey, are you ok?  Sweetie, are you ok?" ...are you ok?  Kate after successfully bobbing and hopping and playing hopscotch with her bike, pauses for a minute, pops up like a jack in the box, assesses herself and announces, "I'm OK!,  I think I'm ok!"  Almost as if the words convinced her that it was so.  I don't know why but it just brought me joy...maybe because I had a moment where I thought our threesome might become a twosome and a twosome was just not in my vision for the day.  I was glad that the now out of true bike wheel cooperated on the way back and that determination carried us through.

There's so much along the way...little things here and there...the people who fed us, the awesome young lady, who is a total giver, who slathered sun screen on all bikers.  She didn't care if they were hairy, smooth, sweaty or hot or clammy...she just slathered all of us.  We were all so well supported.

I think the biggest lesson for me was related to relying on others.  I can be such a loan wolf at times with my, "I can do it myself" mantra.  But it doesn't have to be that way.  I was supported all weekend and all during the ride by awesome human beings.  I said to Kate and Scott as we left Badwater for the last 18 miles home, "I need you guys."  Scott said, "we need you too."  So we rode together, me a little slower at times, but together until we crossed the finish.

I'm really grateful to be associated with such an amazing group of people.  Thank you for being part of my experience. 
Love and hugs! 
Kate

Look the poster for 2011!

The Amazing Sameness of the Second Year

Another Death Valley ride to cure diabetes is over. I’ve had a week to recover (both physically and emotionally) and to reflect on another inspirational weekend in the desert.

The ride this year was much like last year. I’ll save you the retelling of that detailed story – you can read it here if you want: October 2009 blog entry.

A few things were different, though. First was the number of riders… more than 300 total compared with 160 last year. We had 19 riders from Indiana, 15 of whom were from our central Indiana team. So there were a lot more people around all weekend and on the ride itself.

There were also more riders who underestimated the challenges of riding 100 miles in the desert and needed to catch a ride in a SAG wagon or visit the medical tent at the end. No shame in that; the real goal was raising money for diabetes research.

And there was the ride itself. I didn’t ride it alone this year, which made a huge difference in how quickly the time passed even though I slowed my pace, and allowed me the opportunity to ride along and offer encouragement to other riders experiencing the desert for the first time. It also made the ride much more enjoyable – especially with Mark and Kevin singing desert and sun songs while we pedaled. And I’d like to give a special shout out to Sam for riding along with me for many, many miles.

Turns out, though, that a number of things stayed the same: similar flight schedules, routes, bus rides and stops, warm-up rides and safety talks.

What stayed the same was the 100+ mile route, with a 7-mile climb in the middle, for a very long and hot ride on Saturday.

What stayed the same were the inspirational stories of epic challenges on the road in 100+ degree heat. My bike thermometer showed 108 on the road on Saturday.

What stayed the same was the sheer joy of crossing the finish line – and watching the friends I trained with cross. Congratulations to Danny, Lisa, Tony, Michael, Bob, Mark, Kevin, Sam, Kate W., Scott, Kate E., Kelly, and Joel. And especially to coach Alex, who prepared us well and rode nearly 40 miles herself while 20 weeks pregnant.

What stayed the same were the camaraderie, nicknames, laughter, hugs, sweat and tears shared with a great group of cycling friends.

What stayed the same were the inspiring people I met, including Mary Brown, widow of legendary football coach Paul Brown, who rode 80 miles in this, her 80^th year.

What stayed the same were the tragic stories… one of a rider and mother who lost her teenaged son to complications of diabetes earlier this year. It was very emotional to see the huge team of supporters she brought with her, in memory of him.

What stayed the same were the huge amounts of money raised ($1.3M from this ride alone with some individuals raising more than $25,000 themselves) and the riders recruited. One of the youngest riders won the yellow jersey for bringing 16 new riders this year. Wow!

What stayed absolutely the same were the magnificence of the desert, the spectacular views, and the unbelievable experience of being with a large group of people focused on the same set of goals: raise money, bike as far and long as your body will allow, and ultimately find a cure for diabetes.

And like last year, the tears are never far below the surface – my friends Bob and Danny tell me that is a normal part of the recovery process.

Will I go back next year? God-willing and as long as I am able. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.

Indiana Cure Chasers Conquer Death Valley 2010

Once again, another awesome performance from the Indiana Cure Chasers in Death Valley.  Despite the 105 degree temperatures the 19 member team completed about 1800 miles, having raised over $90,000 for diabetes research.  Everyone crossed the finish line with a smile on their face (and I have the photos to prove it).  Thanks to all of you for making my tenth year one to remember, you are all incredible people and my heros.

Rain Rain Go Away

Great ride today by Bob, Dan, Kate, Kate, Gary, Tony, Kevin, Scott & Sam!
Total miles ridden = 810
Miles in the rain = 600
Miles Alex drove = 140
Photos taken = 110
Cookies eaten = 50
Times up Knightstown hill = 45
Number of hours to warm up = 3
Number of helmets Dan needs = 2
Reasons we are riding = 1 (To Find a Cure)

You guys are awesome!  I'll post the photos shortly.

Great Turnout!

My post is not as timely as Michael's so this is a bit out of order, but I did want to share the photos and also say how great it was to see everyone on Saturday, even though a few of you I only got to see for a short time.  Sorry we didn't have a better turnout with the youth ambassadors, but I was glad Cooper came to provide us with some inspiration - Thanks Mark.

Playing in the Rain

Sam and I left before the sun was up this morning, a little later than we intended, but we were on the road, by shortly after 7am

It was a brisk 52 degrees, with light precipitation when I left downtown, but by the time we got going, it started out as just wet roads.

We headed south on Mann Road and I am not really sure where we were when the sun actually came up as it was to overcast to tell, but I think we were at the top of Centenary hill.

By the time we arrived at the Marathon station on 67 just before Robb Hill, it seemed like the weather was going to clear off, so I didn't bother to turn my rain jacket right side out when I snugged it down to my waist. We were trying to work on less than 3 minute stops and would have been out of the Marathon quite easily and back on the road in 4 but Richard, the guy manning the cash register was enthralled by my headlight. A cycling enthusiast himself, he said that he had never seen one quite so bright and had seen us coming from way down the road on the other side of 67. So I enlisted yet another Nashbar recruit and gave him all the info on my little Blackburn light.

So after about a 12 minute stop, we were back on the road and ready to climb Robb Hill.

We made it over the top in good order, but it started to spit rain again, so I had to struggle back into my inside out rain jacket, which I managed to do, but not without a lot of genuflection :)

Sam and I were very plesantly suprised to find a lot more climbing on the other side of Robb hill which pretty much continued well to the other side of Wilbur on 142 when we exited the wonderful tree cover and entered the land of abominable wind. Fortunately we only had a few miles of this before we made the turn around at the white house in the middle of the cornfield, next to the herd of escaped cows.

We stopped for a quick photo op (fortunately Sam took the phone pic as my Nikon seems to have ate the other pic - but I did find the pics that vaporized from my last rain ride with Kate E. - see Blood Sweat and Rain post )

So we got turned back into the wind full force and the sky looked ominous. The hills seemed to just fly by on the way back and either they were a lot easier on the way out or I just didn't notice because I was talking the whole way (which made me even happier that Sam was with me or otherwise it might have looked like I was crazy)

Next thing I knew, we were cruising back down Robb and were pulling into the Marathon to fuel up (yes they do have bananas) and got our stay there lengthend again by Richard. (quite a nice and interesting chap actually)

So in my haste to depart I left the water I bought sitting on the ledge outside the station. (If any of you go by there and see it, feel free to help yourselves, I don't really need it now) and fortunately did not really need it this morning.

The traffic was really pretty light until we were almost back, which made the early departure seem like that much better of an idea.

We averaged about 13.5 and this was a very pleasent 50.7 mile ride, I may do this for a double to get one more century in before I have to give up my bike. Excellant choice of venue Sam!!

Aside from not having a 7 mile climb, the topography was very comparable to what we will ride in DV. Great training circuit.

Well that's it see you all this week I hope and I will be at Southwestway on Tuesday again for the last time until Death Valley.

Keep those cards and letters coming!

Michael