Josh Wolfrum's
I'm Riding to End AIDSFrom June 1-7, 2008, I will be riding in AIDS/LifeCycle 7. It's a 7-day, 545-mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles to make a world of difference in the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS. I will be joining over 2,500 other riders and 450 volunteer roadies. I will be a part of one of the largest HIV/AIDS fundraising events in history. The HIV/AIDS pandemic goes far beyond those who are directly afflicted with the disease. It affects family members, spouses, partners, and professional relationships. It devastates entire communities, economies, and countries. It also affects societal norms and stereotypes. HIV/AIDS does not discriminate based upon race, sexual orientation, gender, or geographic location; everyone is at risk. I'm riding for those who do not know they are affected by HIV/AIDS. I'm riding for those who remain untested. I'm riding for those who do not realize a person close to them is suffering inside. I'm riding because I want to ensure that the services and support provided by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation will be available when they are needed most. I'm riding because so many people are in need of so much help. I'm riding because it's the right thing to do. I ride for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. It is one of the largest non-profit organizations dedicated to HIV/AIDS related causes in the country. The Foundation is committed to ending the pandemic through partnerships in search of a cure, assisting thousands of people living with HIV/AIDS, and educating communities about HIV prevention and treatment. Help me support the San Francisco AIDS Foundation by sponsoring me in the AIDS/LifeCycle 7 event. Your sponsorship will assist those afflicted by HIV/AIDS, raise awarness for prevention, and help save lives. Your support is crucial to my training and participation as well. There will be plenty of physical and mental challenges ahead while I train and ride in the event. Your financial support and words of encouragement will help make this momentous achievement possible. Please visit this page often to read my blog while I train for this event, and messages of support are always appreciated! Please keep this page bookmarked, make it your home page, or forward the link on to your friends, family members, and coworkers so that they can learn about AIDS/LifeCycle 7. They too can show their support by donating to the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and leaving words of encouragement. We'll keep riding until HIV/AIDS are a thing of the past.
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Tuesday, Jun 10, 2008 
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HIV/AIDS Fact of the DayProvided by AIDS/LifeCycle The number of women in the US living with HIV has tripled in the last two decades. |
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Josh's BlogTuesday, June 10, 20082:31 PMBest. Week. Ever.Wow. What a week. Not sure where to begin. There is so much to say. So much to talk about. So much to tell. It's just not possible to get everything down in writing that I would like to share, so instead I will mention the things that touched me during this past week. You could definitely tell the difference between the riders who trained on hills versus the riders who trained on flat land. I could barely get above 4 or 5 mph climbing most of the hills while people trotted on by me. But what goes up must come down. On the flip side I could maintain my speed of 25 to 30 mph for the next several miles and left everyone in my dust who passed me climbing the hills. On Day 3 we climbed the infamous Quadbuster hill. It's essentially a small mountain that ends around 1,700 feet in the air. It's about a 1,200 foot climb over 1.3 miles. At times I didn't think I would make it. I have never, ever in my life sweat so much in such a short amount of time. By the time I got about 3/4 of the way up, I simply wanted to collapse. You just can't train for something like that here in Chicago. But what kept me going was seeing all the hill riders who were coming back down the mountain only to return and conquer it again. While some find this offensive - showing off in a way - I found it very inspirational. These riders who didn't have to come back down the mountain and ride up again were doing just that. And on their way down they were very encouraging with their cheers and shout-outs of support. When they came back up and passed us (sometimes for a second or third time before I even got to the top my first time) they would be just as exhuberant, not only with their words but with their help. I saw a number of them slow down and give pushes to some of us struggling to get to the top. That afternoon we had lunch in Bradley. It's a very small town with a school of about 35 students. They put on a fundraiser for their school by grilling hot dogs, hamburgers, and the like. While the line was too long for me to wait in (I was starving), I still donated $20. It's incredible to see the small communities we ride through and how much we rely upon each other. We were told that of all the money the school has raised from us throughout the years, they have been able to provide scholarships to a number of students going on to college. Day 3 also saw my bike literally fall apart before my eyes. A flat tire, broken computer/spedometer, pedal falling off, and a broken seat post resulted in my being SAG'd (support and gear - they transport riders in need of help to the next rest stop) and losing out on 6 miles (2 of which were made up a later day when a group of us went out of our way for some of Santa Barbara's finest pizza). This was also the day I learned about EFI (Every F*cking Inch) - the people who go out of their way to make sure they ride the entire ride, and when they need to be SAG'd, they go back and re-ride the course that they missed. While it sucks that I missed out on a net of 4 miles, what can you do about it? Ahhhhh..... Day 4 had the Evil Twins. It's almost like a twin peaked mountain - smaller mountain of course. When you reach the top of the first, you realize you still have a ways to go before you get to the top of the second! At the top of the second you are 1,782 feet in the air - the highest point in the ride. From there you have sweeping views of the foothills of this mountain as well as the beach and the ocean for as far as the eye can see. This also marks the official halfway point to LA. The flip side of this mountain featured a 7 mile decline where, even with constant headwind, I still managed to maintain 30 - 35 mph. The idea of riding 7 miles and not pedaling once just baffles me. It's crazy. You simply can't do that in Chicago. We passed through Pismo Beach where the views were equally as stunning as atop the mountain. Ice cream for everyone! Day 5 was Red Dress Day. Most people dress in a red dress, but I opted for a red jersey and red shorts. There were some pretty crazy outfits. While it's the shortest day of the ride, it also has two of the most brutal climbs of the week. Nobody told me about these! The second rest stop is in Casmalia. It's a very small town, and similar to Bradley the students had a fundraiser by selling us food. It was here that I met a 1st grader named Adrina who was passing out copies of her letter thanking the riders for the efforts to fight HIV and AIDS. While I was physically prepared for this ride (minus the hills, of course), I was completely floored by the emotional and mental struggle that would accompany the bruises, sore muscles, and constantly hungry stomach. Climbing the the Evil Twins on Day 4, I had an epiphany while climing the second hill. I saw a lone supporter along the rode up ahead of me who was cheering us on. At this point I had been climbing this mountain for miles and miles. My quads hurt, and my hamstrings hurt just as bad as at times I was pulling up on my pedals instead of pushing down so that I could give my quads a rest. Something she did made me turn my head and look behind me, and when I did I saw one of the most stunning views of the entire ride. I pulled over to snap a photo, and that's when I realized that far too much of my life is spent getting from point A to point B to point C, and I don't exert nearly the effort to stop and look behind me. To see what I've accomplished. To see what I may have missed out on. To use my past to plan my future. To learn from my experiences. It was the first time I've just cried out of nowhere for as long as I can remember. On the last day of the ride, my right knee was absolutely killing me. As I approached the bike path leading out of Malibu and onto the beach and boardwalk of Los Angeles, my knee could give no more. I kept my right foot locked into my pedal, but I only used my left leg. At this point I was about 6 miles from the end. I kept thinking to myself, "Josh, you are 6 miles from the end of this. You are going to finish this no matter what." I was so upset about the idea of having to pull over and give a SAG vehicle a thumbs down because of my knee and being transported to the end that I just suffered (and cried at times) through the remainder of the ride. The end of the ride featured a steep hill, a gradual hill, and a final steep hill. Approaching the first steep hill was a bit tricky. It required making a turn and going straight up. I was making the turn all alone when I felt something in my right knee send a sharp pain all the way up my leg. I jerked my right leg, the foot became unlocked from my pedal, I lost my balance, and I went crashing down onto the pavement. There were several supporters along the road there, and one lady came out, helped me up, and gave me a hug. "Whatever you're crying for, I'm sure it's worth it." Her support gave me the energy to left foot it all the way up the hill where I was encountered by another large group of supporters with food, drinks, and popsicles. I put the bike down, grabbed a blue popsicle, and headed to the back of the small park area where they were located. It overlooked the beach and the ocean. I was just so full of emotion that I broke down again. I must have been quite the sight. A lone rider, overlooking the ocean, eating a popsicle and sobbing. I was a complete HTM - and proud of it. Surely a reality show would have had a field day with my performance. After hydrating myself with two full bottles of water, I made my way to the end. The knee was giving me so much trouble still. The end of the ride featured a downhill that I was hoping to use as a boost to get up the final steep hill, but no such luck with the light turning red. I was stopped at the bottom of this hill at a red light, and riders who had finished had walked back down to this intersection and were being ever so loud and supporting with their cheers. I started to climb the hill, and at this point the knee hurt so bad that I couldn't even put it through the motion of pedaling much less with any pressure. I took my right foot off the pedal and attempted to push myself up the hill solely with my left leg again. It wasn't working. I heard riders behind me yelling "On Your Left" and were passing me up the hill. Among those yells, I heard someone say, "I've got your back rider. I've got your back." The next thing I know, I feel a hand on my back pushing me up the hill. He yelled it again, and I felt another push. And another. And another. It was quite the emotional experience. To know that this guy didn't go on with his friends. He didn't pass me. He didn't cross the finish line with his group of people. Instead, he stayed behind to help me up the final hill. I never met this guy as we were separated in bike parking, but I want to thank him for helping me up that final hill. I have never encountered so many random acts of kindness, so much support and camaraderie, or so much giving in my entire life. It's definitely a humbling experience. The last 6 miles this this 545 mile journey is all it took for me to already sign up for next year. Ride Highlights: Cities and Towns We Traveled Through:
Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Wednesday, May 28, 20085:23 PMThat's all folks!Headed to SF tomorrow. See you in LA. And revisit this page throughout the week to listen to my voice posts. Thanks again everyone! Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Thursday, May 22, 20087:01 AMKeep 'em coming!Wow, such a surge in generosity in such a small amount of time. I sent my last fundraising emails out two days ago, and my site has been overwhelmed with your support. In the past two days, $1,115 (and counting) has been raised, and I'm now past my goal! Shout outs to the following exceptionally generous donors: Christina, Steve, Kenya, Julie, Keith, Dana, Bill, and of course....Mom! Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Monday, May 19, 20089:22 PMALC Route MapI found this route map doing a quick search online. While turn by turn details are not listed, at least you get the idea of how far we ride each day and where each camp site is. Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb 6:16 PMGabcast!I wish I would have known about this a long time ago! I would have been giving real time voice posts to this blog during my training rides! Oh well... At least it's set up now for my last few days of training and for the duration of the ride itself. Looking forward to posting them! Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb 5:56 PM25th AnniversaryHIV/AIDS turns 25 tomorrow. Use that link to read the article, or read on for the transcript. We can prevent a 50 year annivesary.... ************************* PARIS (AFP) - The campaign against AIDS marks an important anniversary this week, bringing to mind victories of science and the human spirit but also defeats, stigma and ignorance in a combat that has claimed more lives than World War I. On May 20 1983, in a paper published in the US journal Science, a team from France's Pasteur Institute, led by Luc Montagnier, described a suspect virus found in a patient who had died of AIDS. Montagnier's groundbreaking work led to the determination by US researcher Robert Gallo that the virus was indeed the cause of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). At last, a key had been found to understanding the mysterious immune-ravaging disease -- the "gay plague" as British tabloids smugly called it -- which had surfaced among American homosexuals two years earlier. It took another three years to resolve a spat over the pair's rival claims to be first to discover the AIDS virus, enabling the duo to share equally in the glory. The mood was upbeat. Never had a new, killer pathogen been identified so quickly. Stoked by the success of antibiotics and the polio vaccine, optimism was brimming that this threat would now be stopped in its tracks. "Today's discovery represents the triumph of science over a dreaded disease," the then US health secretary Margaret Heckler declared, when Gallo staked his claim on the virus discovery in April 1984. "We hope to have a vaccine ready for testing in about two years." Few promises have been so tragically premature. When Heckler uttered those words, the tally of known cases of AIDS was less than 3,000. Today, the number stands at 25 million dead, heterosexual and homosexual alike, and another 33 million infected. The scale of human misery, though, is incalculable. A ragged army of more than 11 million children have lost one or both parents to the disease. So what happened? "In the field of AIDS, a huge number of mistakes have been made over the past 25 years," sighs a leading French researcher, Olivier Schwartz. On the plus side, the men and women in lab coats made good headway against HIV. They provided an arsenal of drugs that, with the advent of the triple "cocktail" of antiretrovirals in the mid-1990s, have helped turn HIV from a death sentence to a manageable disease. But there is still no vaccine, for the virus has turned out to be an unimaginably slippery, mutating foe -- quite possibly the most elusive pathogen to have emerged in human history. Attempts to make an HIV-thwarting vaginal gel, or microbicide, have been similarly frustrating. Thus, in the 21st century, the main shield against HIV is the rubber condom, invented in the 19th century -- or sexual abstention, which is timeless. Then there was catastrophic delay, among politicians, policymakers, religious leaders and the public too, about rooting out the taboo, stigma, myth and complacency in which AIDS proliferates. This work still remains dangerously incomplete. In China, India and the countries of the former Soviet Union, the peril remains of the virus leaping from niches of infection among drug users, homosexuals and prostitutes to a mainstream epidemic. Even more culpable was the horrific wait, of nearly a decade, before antiretrovirals started to fall sharply in price and become available to sub-Saharan Africa, where two-thirds of people with HIV or AIDS live. Price is no longer the big problem. Political denial and lack of infrastructure to distribute the precious drugs are. "In Africa, not even 10 percent of the people who need treatment are getting it," says Schwartz, noting that for every person in low- or mid-income countries who began receiving antiretrovirals in 2006, six new people became infected. The UN Millennium Goals and G8 pledges testify that political commitment on AIDS is strong and that the world is now aware that novel infectious diseases are everyone's problem. No country, however strong or secure its borders, is secure. Billions of dollars are being marshalled by the Global Fund, and the United States, under President George W. Bush, has boosted its spending on AIDS emphatically. But to meet the goal of universal access to AIDS treatment and care by 2010 would require a quadrupling of funds to an estimated 42 billion dollars annually, if overhauling healthcare systems is included, according to some estimates. Today, the terror of AIDS that prevailed 25 years ago has disappeared -- but so has the burning optimism. "I would have preferred to celebrate the anniversary of the end of the epidemic than of the publication" of the isolation of the virus, Montagnier told AFP. Lars Kallings, a Swedish microbiologist who is the founding president of the International AIDS Society, gives a bleak assessment: "HIV/AIDS may never disappear from mankind." Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Sunday, May 18, 200811:20 PMMappin' ItJust when you think it's spring (let alone summer being just around the corner), you get disappointed. I rode with Chris, Joel, Shaun, and Frank on Saturday - they are other Chicagoans also doing the ALC 7 event. It was warm and sunny all day, and I even got a sunburn on my face and arms. Then today was absolutely horrible. Mid 50s and cloudy....cold...yuck. Here is an approximate map of my route for today. I rode to Kenosha, WI. Keep in mind that I was on a bike path that parallels Green Bay Rd. nearly the entire way. Click on the link to bring up the larger map to play with the details. Enjoy! Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb 11:03 PMLast RideFriday - 30.21 miles Weekend Total - 201.80 miles I think I'm ready for the ride. My only worry is the hills. Slow and steady. Slow and steady. This weekend was my last training weekend for the ride. I'm in Kansas City for work through Thursday. Friday I leave for Fort Lauderdale for a very well deserved break to the beach. I'm back on 5/27. I may be able to ride that night or the morning of 5/28, but we'll see. I rented a hard case from Kozy's that I will use to bring my bike on my flight, and they need some time on 5/28 to disassemble the bike and get it in there. I had some interesting developments with my bike over the past two weeks. I paid George at Kozy's to "professionally" fit me for my bike, which I've learned at the end of the day is nothing more than taking measurements and estimated guesses as to the right size parts I need. Nevertheless I had my handlebars replaced as the original set was too wide. He also replaced my stem because it's too long, and that seems to be what is making my upper back/neck hurt after long rides. My seat is moved all the way forward, and the handle bars are tiled up some, which provided some neck relief, however it's resulted in my wrists hurting a lot. I tilted the handle bars forward a little, and from my ride today it seems to be working, but I still feel as though I'm "reaching" to grasp the hoods. I will call George tomorrow to have him order me an even shorter stem (maybe an 80mm) and a higher angle (probably 110 or 120 degrees). While angles like that are typically made for mountain bikes, I think I need something closer and higher so that I'm not hurting myself stretching for the bars all the time. This leads me into my overall gripe about bike shops. Without mentioning shops by name (Kozy's excluded), I've found some people to be elitist, pompous, arrogant, unwilling to direct or teach consumers, let alone ensure they have the right bike, fit, and accessories for their needs. My experience has shown that unless you're rude back to them and can speak their language, they will just run all over you. And I think that may have happened to me to some extent when I purchased the bike that I currently have. While it makes sense that, generally speaking, a larger frame bike is needed for a taller person, it's not always true. It's more about geometry. So I'm 6'2", but that doesn't mean my arms and upper body can reach further. George told me I should probably fit on around a 58 cm bike, but the individual at the shop where I bought my bike was adamant about fitting me into the 63 cm bike due to my height. At the time I thought nothing of it. Most rides I never have a problem with my neck. But on the other hand, I've never trained for a 545 mile ride, so this "stretching" issue never surfaced. As a result, I have around 4 or 5 cm distance to make up. I know, I know...all you other ALCers out there are going to yell at me for making changes to my bike so close to the event! You're absolutely right. But I'm more trying to fix a problem rather than trying to fix things that aren't broken....I swear! Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Sunday, May 11, 200812:59 PMPartayLast night I hosted a fundraiser / cocktail party at my place. The evening grossed about $300. I think in the spirit of this cause, I will eat all the expenses for the event and contribute the entire amount to the ride. $1,000 left to reach my revised goal! Thank you to everyone who stopped by to support my ride!
And now some pictures from my ride last Sunday...
Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Thursday, May 8, 20089:16 PM99 Bottles of Beer on the WallSean - Thank you. You were already a very generous donor back when I created this page and began this journey. Either it's been so long since you donated that you forgot that you donated, or else you must really believe in what I'm doing and want to continue to support me. I am genuinely thankful for your multiple expressions of support, and I know that I can count on you for anything.....and I mean anything. Yes, that last line was purposely left open for interpretation. Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb 4:29 PMEmail from Cycle BuddyDear Joshua, Thanks for taking the time to read this email. I promise it will be different than all my other emails. I'm not going to give you any training or fundraising tips (even if you beg!) I'm not going to tell you about deadlines for waivers or pledges. There will be no talk about Travel Planners today. This email is about taking a moment away from all of that. This is about creating a space for you to connect with the Spirit of the Ride. In order to write this email I've had to step away from my desk, the emails and voicemail and ringing of the phone, the reminders popping up from my calendar. The rising feeling of panic and excitement all mixed together! What do I want us to think about in this moment together? I want us to acknowledge all we have done so far to get ourselves to this moment, from the day you filled out your registration form to right now. I know you are wondering to yourself, "Can I do this?" But guess what? You ARE doing this! From the very moment you made the decision to spend your quality, precious time training and fundraising for this ride, you have been making it happen. You CAN because you already ARE and you WILL keep on doing it!! Did you ever think the day would come when you'd consider a 50 mile ride short? If you're not there yet, believe me you will be. You have already logged hours and hours on your tiny bike seat, exerted enough energy for millions of rotations of your pedals, been covered in sweat, grime, and even tears for this. You have risen from your warm, cozy bed to pull on bike shorts knowing it would be long hard HOURS before you could peel them off again. Will you be able to do this? Look what you've already done! You've raised money for an organization that saves lives every single day. Every time you've stepped out of your comfort zone and asked for donations telling yourself, "it's not for me, it's not for me" you are contributing to another precious life, education to end the stigma of this disease, and improving the health of our global community. That is what this ride is all about: community. You are part of an incredible group of people all riding their hearts out to help others. In your lowest moments (and there will be some) all you have to do is look around at the people you are riding with. Reach out to someone else. There is strength, support, and love beyond what you could imagine. Let it carry you through those miles when you don't think you can go any further. Open your heart and mind to this experience. Take all of it in and you won't be disappointed. You couldn't possibly be disappointed with yourself after you have accomplished this much. I am so incredibly proud to have played even the tiniest part in your journey. Thank you. Hillary Casper Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Monday, May 5, 20087:06 AMThe Weekend ReviewSaturday Sunday Ever wonder what 77 miles looks like? I've attempted to map it here. It doesn't quite show up as 77 miles, but that's mostly because I've mapped a lot of the route on nearby roads and highways when in fact I was on bike paths. And I also circled the Skokie Lagoons twice. Play with the map to see the details, and enjoy! Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Tuesday, April 29, 200812:34 AMBambi, Left!I went for a 50 mile ride on Saturday, and despite how much futher I was in the mood to ride, I had to stop. It was simply too windy, so much at times that it was unsafe. It was a weird wind too. It wasn't like I was up against head wind and enjoyed tail wind on the way back. It came from all directions. A few times it came from the side, and it was so strong I felt as though I was going to be blown over. I now have irrefutable proof that wild animals do exist in the Chicago area outside of zoos and the occasional crazy person's apartment. Hopefully a cyclist doesn't run Bambi over. And check out the port-a-potty with the red circle around it. As I was approaching this area around the Skokie Lagoons, I really needed to use the restroom. As I approached it, a gust of wind came by and knocked it over! I had second thoughts about entering the other unit, because heaven forbid another gust of wind fly by and knock it over as well....with me inside!
Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Wednesday, April 23, 20084:14 PMThe Cure for the Common TaintOne center cut out saddle: $80 Worth. Every. Penny.
Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Saturday, April 19, 20082:30 PM"The Man"...and his machine. Also check out the picture from my ride the other day. While it was nice weather, it was a little hazy. This view is from the south side. I'm not sure exactly how far south (around 3000 S?), but it's the area of the lakefront trail that juts far out into the lake offering this amazingly unobstructed view. Tomorrow is a group training ride. Let's hope it doesn't rain, and it's about time I meet everyone from Chicago!
Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Thursday, April 17, 20084:50 PMNW OH Century RideThis is my planned century ride for April 26. It will also serve as a surprise birthday visit to my dad. I think he's 8,239 years old now??? Just joking! Any family or friends in the area that day who are willing to serve as a rest stop with food and drinks, please let me know! Clicking on the map will bring up the details of the route. Enjoy. Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Saturday, April 5, 20088:08 PMThe Proof is in the SpeedometerWow. There may or may not be a slight difference between riding on a trainer and actually riding outside. Namely wind, bumps, hills, small woodland creatures, and allergies. Squirrels were everywhere, and I was attacked by my spring allergies. Not a fun combination. I drove back to Chicago from Minneapolis yesterday with the bike. I knew the weather was going to be cooperative, but I didn't realize how nice it was going to be! I forgot my shoes in MSP, but I had an extra pair at home. After getting some clips attached that would fit my pedals, I was on the road. Nearly 65 miles later, I was absolutely exhausted but completely ecstatic that for once I could ride outside. Outdoor riding is addictive. Between the iPod (I may or may not have listened to a ton of SGs) and riding among the cars in the city, it was a thrill I hadn't experienced since last fall. Now my only challenge is figuring out how to incorporate hills into my rides since California will be full of them.
Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Friday, April 4, 20087:21 AMChicago-goHeaded back today! Driving my bike back and meeting up with some other Chicago riders Saturday morning for a 30 mile ride. I'm not sure I'll have time to change the rear training tire back to my regular road tire, but at least I'll be riding outside tomorrow. The weather is supposed to be really nice over the next couple of days, so I'll be sure to get a decent amount of riding outdoors. I'm working in Chicago Monday and Tuesday, return to Minneapolis for the remainder of the week, then back to Chicago for next weekend. We are finally starting to work fewer hours on this project, so outdoor riding is looking more and more promising. Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Monday, March 31, 20087:35 AM"I know the snow outside says otherwise, but it really is starting to warm up out there!" ~ SharonThis past week with training was the best yet. And by "best" I don't mean I rode long distances or rode hard. What I mean is I actually got to sit on my own saddle. It was painful, almost excruciating. It's been about 5 months since I last sat on the bike, and it quickly became a painful reality that I was no longer used to it. Further, my arches killed from how flat and hard the shoes are. I know this post doesn't sound too promising to most of you, but this past week of pain is exactly what I needed to experience now rather than later. I head back to Chicago on Friday and return to Minneapolis on Wednesday morning. I'll miss out on 4 days with the bike, but I'll be sure to ride every day in the hotel room this week. I'll also get a chance to take back all the shoes I may or may not have purchased this weekend at the MoA, and I'll get my tools to adjust my saddle that I forgot to bring with me - and my helmet and cold weather gear as well. It was in the upper 40s lower 50s in MSP on Saturday and Sunday, and if I had those things I would have been outside riding. It's really, really sad that the ride is only two months away, and the weather still refuses to cooperate. We're supposed to get 8 inches of snow today. Lovely. Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Wednesday, March 26, 20087:25 AMOn My Own...This past weekend we were released from work for the Easter holiday. Sharad was kind enough to offer to bring my bike back to Minneapolis in his SUV. Thank you for that! I set it up Monday night, which involved changing the rear wheel to a trainer tire and attaching it to the trainer. Both of these items were firsts for me, and it only took about an hour to do so. While I’ve had the trainer for some time now, this is the first opportunity I’ve had to use it as I’ve been in Minneapolis since I bought it. Ideally I would like the weather to get warmer so that I can be outside riding, but in the meantime I’m more than willing to settle for the trainer indoors as it’s certainly better than any hotel stationary. So glad to actually be sitting on my own bike! Work has been a real drag. 80+ hours a week is torture enough, but piling on an hour or more of riding every day adds up to about 5 hours of sleep a night. At least I’ve been keeping the eats healthy. Hopefully this will end soon…I really feel like my training is starting to suffer, and there’s only a little over 2 months till the ride. To end on a happy note, I passed a milestone with fundraising. I need to raise a minimum of $2,500 in order to participate in the ride. I passed that mark and am closing in on $3,000. Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed. Please continue to forward my link and spread news of this event!
Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Sunday, March 16, 20089:54 AMiPodHaving put in over 80 hours at work in the past 6 days (and more to come today), I finally managed to catch up on sleep last night. I spent the past 2 hours in the gym this morning, which involved a 45 minute weight routine, 16 min of abs (I doubled the "8 min ab" workout I learned from Ray), and an hour on the bike. I can not wait until I get my bike! Per requests from my adoring fans (and by "adoring fans" I mean "generous donors"), a portion of my iPod playlist this morning included the following: Cherie - I'm Ready (Mike Rizzo Club Mix) Yes, pretty old school circa my youthful club days but perfect for riding the bike. A huge THANK YOU to my latest round of generous supporters, especially Shiann, Dawn, Irene, Dana, Rick, and Kevin. In the past week I've raised over $1,300. Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Wednesday, March 5, 200812:12 AMThe Little Sister I'm Glad I Never HadPretty much every weekday for the past two weeks I've been spending about an hour on a stationary in the fitness center of the hotel. This week I'm back at the Marquette. It's clearly the better of the two Hiltons here in Minneapolis, as the entryway and bathroom are to die for. The "other" Hilton (or WTH as I affectionately call it) has a tub/shower combo with shower curtain. Hmmm.....maybe I'm spoiled, but these days I only do steam showers with glass walls and ornately designed tile patterns. I'll totally have to remodel my bathroom when I get back to Chicago. Tonight not only did I spend 45 minutes on the bike, but I also did another half hour of chest and arm exercises. I haven't done much lifting in a while, so I'm sure I'll be in pain tomorrow. I've been pressured to mention the people from my current engagement in my blog, particularly by Katie. She's the "little sister I'm glad I never had." Maybe when her brother slash financial adviser finally gets her $500 donation to come through, I'll change my name for her. Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Thursday, February 28, 20087:15 AMFirst Long(ish) RideYesterday I hopped on the hotel stationary around 11:30 pm after a long day of work. When we left the client late at night, I had every intention of just going to bed. Somewhere a second wind hit me, I threw on my ALC t-shirt, and headed to the fitness center. With my iPod turned all the way up and watching highlights of the Ohio Democratic Debate and an episode of Will & Grace on closed captioning, I got into this zone where for the next hour I rode nonstop. According to the machine I rode a little over 16 miles and burned 400 calories, but who knows how accurate it really is. Btw - the episode of W&G happened to be one of my favorites; the one where Candice Bergen guests stars. She and Karen are pulling pranks on each other at Jack's celebratory "first month of nursing school" dinner. Please note, I did not mention anything about Will or Grace. They are boring. Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Tuesday, February 26, 20086:16 AMBring It On!It looks like I'll be in Minneapolis potentially through June, which means I need to be far more inventive with training than I had planned. While I'm not too concerned at the moment with the weather outside being as cold and snowy as it is, eventually things will warm up to a point where I'll want to be outside riding. A stationary at the hotel gym just won't suffice. Either I can bring my bike and trainer here for rides in the hotel room to get back into riding on my own bike, or perhaps I'll need to head back to Chicago a little earlier on Friday and return to Minneapolis later on Sundays to allow for longer rides over the weekends. Since my last post things have been full steam ahead. I've been eating better, riding on the bike at the hotel, and swimming. Yes, swimming. I've discovered that mornings are best for that because it seems like there's a hotel convention on the machines. The evenings tend to be better for the bike given that everyone seems to be swimming. I can work with it! On a side note, last Thursday a cheerleader convention/competition was held in Minneapolis. I had to fight through throngs of giddy high school girls and their chaperones. One father was even putting a "cheer smackdown" on a competing cheerleader when he laughed at her that the elevator was too full for her to get on. Come on. Seriously? Sooo Bring It On! Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Tuesday, February 12, 20083:43 PMThe World Belongs to ToddThank you Todd for your incredibly and completely unexpected donation. You have single handedly doubled my fundraising total, and words cannot express how thankful I am for your very, very generous support. Thank you! Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Monday, February 4, 200811:19 AMMinneapolis....AgainI'm back in Minneapolis. It's becoming my adopted home. I will be here through at least March, and possibly into April. Love me some Hilton HHonors points and American Airlines miles. The fitness center here is pretty decent. I'm making it a routine to do some running and the stationary bikes in the mornings. In retrospect I wish I hadn't bought that trainer for my bike, because by the time I get back to Chicago, the weather will be decent enough for outdoor riding. Ah, we'll see. I'm sure there will be rainy days where it will be useful. On a sour note, I completely forgot to sign up for the Shamrock Shuffle. I tried today, but I was locked out as it is full. Hmmm...maybe someone has changed their mind, and I can go in their place? Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Tuesday, January 15, 20089:24 PMMinneapolisAs I sit here in the (not so) trendy Crowne Plaza Northstar in Minneapoils, I realize that of the three days I've been here, I've ridden on the hotel bike twice. That's quite impressive given I have barely been training in the past few months. Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | |
I offer my sincerest gratitude to all who have contributed. But don't stop there; keep the donations coming! People suffering from HIV/AIDS need all the help with can give them.
