To say I’m exhausted doesn’t even begin to explain how I feel. I should be sleeping but instead my mind is racing and my heart is bouncing between full and heavy. I’ve struggled all day to concentrate on tasks for work and yet now my mind is racing back over the last week. There are [...]
17
Oct
The Top 20 reasons why I will always participate in the Challenge 20. I get smarter: I learn new words like Cartilager Crossword puzzles actually can be solved in 8 hours What not to do on the Trace – Mark H. What happens when you run your wheel through animal poo How many bottled waters [...]
17
Oct
Well, I probably let everybody down if they were expecting to read my blogs. It’s tricky to do on a cellphone from the rumbleseat of a moving vehicle over bumpy roads when reading gives you motionsickness and the most comfortable seating arrangement involves propping one foot at a time on the ceiling. Seriously, the most [...]
17
Oct
What that last blog was supposed to say was that I had to look up “peloton” in Dictionary.com back in May when I did the Stars and Stripes Challenge. Now, I’m seeing pelotons all over the place. I saw a huge peloton of bats leaving from under the bridge over the Colorado River. Not a [...]
17
Oct
I did the “Livestrong Challenge” ride in Austin on Sunday. I finished 5 or 10 minutes ahead of Lance, and he had a head start. Never mind that I only did the 45 mile route, and he did the 65 or 90…possibly more than one lap… The hardest part was clearing enough cow dung out [...]
17
Oct
Somehow the week has flown by and driving, sleeping, and eating took top priority over blogging. I wish I had been more diligent- there is always next year! I keep going over two visual images in my head as I think back over the week. On Tuesday, team dots rode the noon to six shift [...]
15
Oct
There are cow statues everywhere here in Austin, kind of like the mice on main, only bigger, and not mice. They all appear to be cows, no bulls. Hmmm.
15
Oct
So, we were walking down 6th street looking for ice cream when I saw a penny lying on the sidewalk. I didn’t pick it up. I wonder what all of these mysterious splash marks are?…
15
Oct
At last, I found some chocolate milk! Now to find a section of wall with no starlings directly above.
14
Oct
Well, I tried to blog on my cellphone, but even sitting still, it is quite a challenge! So, I saved it as a draft to complete when I have access to a real keyboard. This program is…frustrating, to put it politely.
13
Oct
My story. Many of the C3 group know Jeni very well. But you may not know my story as well or how I got into cycling and running. I will attempt to tell that story, ( sorry if it’s a little long) I have never been a real fitness fanatic, hard to believe being [...]
13
Oct
O my goodness gravy…. so when you have to ride in a wicked uncomfortable van for 10.3 hours you come up with some pretty creative ways to take your mind off of your ADD and wanting to bolt through the van door and just run to the stupid hotel…. A BLOG from Sandman- Jeff to [...]
13
Oct
It’s 7:53 am on Texas Hwy 7 when I started this post. The moon is hanging heavy and silvery in the sky ahead, and behind the sun is crawling out of it’s foggy covers and into a pink sky. The trees look like dusty skeletons. The Dream Team pace line is skimming the shoulder, expertly [...]
13
Oct
For our final shift, we had the honor of bringing the team into Texas. For obvious reasons, this is a big milestone for the team. We are finishing the final legs of the ride today and we’ll reassemble at the hotel on the outskirts of Austin. When Team Livelong rolls in later this evening, everyone [...]
13
Oct
Life’s journey is not to arrive at the Grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ” Holy —–… What a ride!”
13
Oct
It’s ten minutes til midnight, and we are racing to the Texas state line, our transition site with the Lemon Bonkers. Three minutes til midnight one, there’s the bridge! Whoops now replace groans, and adrenaline kicks in, replacing sore thighs. Midnight now…. Dadgum, this bridge is 3.5 miles long! Well… There is the Texas sign… [...]
13
Oct
Team Livelong had a great evening in Columbia, TN highlighted by Applebee’s, shopping at the Columbia (dis)Mall, Applebee’s, and DAVE BENHAM’S BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!! A good night’s sleep for all, with the team having relegated the snorers to a separate room. (Odd that a 3:45 wake up call seems like a good night sleep… Unless you’re Jeff, [...]
13
Oct
My posts thus far have been team posts from Livelong. This one is just from me. I’m sure that each and every person on this journey has said or will say THANK YOU to the many people that made this ride possible. This post, however, is a special thank you to my wife. Without her [...]
12
Oct
Once again, Team Livelong added magnets and friends. In Natchez, we met Cindy and Paula, both of whom are cancer survivors. We had a great time chatting with them and learning about their experience, and I think they enjoyed finding out about the C3 and its efforts. After a restful morning, We hooked up with [...]
12
Oct
Back from commercial break… We meet all sorts of people on this trip, some more random than others. In a not so random incident on the way to the noon transition, we met a Mississippi state trooper. He lost his sister and father to cancer. We added two more magnets to our van: Ginny Jones [...]
12
Oct
Amazing how a year can seemingly go by so slowly at times and yet now I ask myself “where did it go?” This is my second year to do the Ride to Austin, and I was determined to enjoy every moment to its fullest. The sendoff was quite emotional as I listened to Ron speak [...]
12
Oct
In the weeks prior to departure we (need to) install a revolving door. Lots of activity at the Jerina house. Riders and team managers come by to drop off donations or pick up maps or tires or magnets. It is so great to see how excited they are for our journey. We cleaned off our [...]
12
Oct
I am not a blogger but I feel the need to express some thoughts and observations. I am relatively new to cycling, this being my first season. I was introduced to the P3 team through a mutual friend, little did I know how life changing this chance introduction was to become. I had begun biking [...]
12
Oct
I tried to blog on Monday and lost it which is so frustrating and Mike blogged about our first 2 rides. This is my fourth year on this amazing ride and I love to sit back and watch it unfold. We spend a lot of time together on training rides, fundraisers and just hanging out [...]
12
Oct
The proverbial baton is handed off at midnight to the Dream Team. So are lots of hugs and kisses. And a full moon. We have already arranged to share a hotel with the Lemon Bonkers post-transition. So we head off after them. (spoiler alert: we will later learn they have not joined the Church of [...]
12
Oct
A decent night’s rest often brings renewal and a fresh perspective. That is my outlook today. After being in the ‘pain cave’ during yesterday’s ride, team polka dot was able to recover with a nice(!?) dinner and much needed rest. Our dinner at Penn’s Restaurant was fun, despite the mostly fried nature of almost all [...]
12
Oct
“we’re only human. Or are we dancers?” -Jerry P
Posted by Kelly Vanleeuwen Published in UncategorizedAs I write this, it’s 10:30 am, Wednesday. We’re flying, minivan style, across the Mississippi landscape. There are the occasional exciting moments as we go airborne over bumps and skim rumble strips. Ah Mississippi, land of fried food and no-tell motels. In other words, BFE. But I am getting ahead of myself. We were back [...]
12
Oct
I know I should not question God but after our 12am to 6am shift this morning I cannot help doing it. As I mentioned in an earlier post this shift is my favorite shift but it is my hardest shift. The terrian is easy, sleep is not an issue even though we have had very [...]
11
Oct
So. Day 3 already. Third shift done. There is a bicycling expression that relates to riding so hard that you are in the ‘pain cave.’ it is usually reserved for times in which your legs hurt so much, you can’t go on. Well, today was the first time on the bike ( after 11 years [...]
11
Oct
Hello all, Tom from the purple team with a quick check in. Last 36-48 hours has been very excited and LONG. Started Monday with a quick visit to Nashville after our first 3 HR ride. Traveled to transition area late in evening to catch a quick nap (45 min) then onto Natchez trace to transition [...]
11
Oct
What’s that re ally mean? well, it goes back to how far ahead of our planned schedule that the C3 team has become. With so many strong cyclists in the group, we tend to ride more miles than expected. As we were sitting at IHOP this morning, and Flat stanley was about to knock down [...]
11
Oct
A quick note, this was written on Monday but I did not get a chance to post it, so take that into account when you read it. After last night’s dinner at one of the last restaurants on Hwy 76 in SC, the Dots decided to travel to Cleveland Tn for some rest. We arrived [...]
11
Oct
Dave’s Birthday!/Another Moon over the Tennessee
Posted by Anderson Horne Published in UncategorizedTeam Livelong had a great evening in Columbia, TN highlighted by Applebee’s, shopping at the Columbia (dis)Mall, Applebee’s again, and DAVE BENHAM’S BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!! A good night’s sleep for all, with the team having relegated the snorers to a separate room. (Odd that a 3:45 wake up call seems like a good night sleep… Unless you’re [...]
11
Oct
After missing the Purple People transition on the Trace itself, we re-route to Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Again, the tidal pull aligning menstrual cycles and changing radio dials shifts the musical theme upon crossing the line. This time it’s hip hop. All I’m sayin’ is is better than country. Has anyone read the Alabama state map? [...]
11
Oct
My daughter, Mimms, and I have the extreme pleasure of doin’ support this year for the Purple Power Team. Mimms (23) is a C3 rookie. I did support on the inaugural C3 ride in ’08 for Team Five, the all ladies team, with young Joe Julian. Mimms and I are Georgians from Atlanta. I came [...]
11
Oct
We stopped several times and met locals who were interested in the reason we do ride. All of my team are inspring souls who live to help others. This is the springboard to raise my drive to a new level. I was having one of the most surreal experiences in my life … last night [...]
11
Oct
Good morning from Tupelo,MS! Team dots arrived last night and we enjoyed a great team dinner and a visit to the laundromat before a good night’s sleep. I should probably back up and fill you in on my thoughts on our first two shifts and our travels through SC, GA, NC, TN, AL, and now [...]
11
Oct
oWith this being my forth year doing this ride I feel like I have seen it all and know what to expect. We all raise our Monet and train very hard to be prepared for riding 6 hours a day with little sleep. But even being a veteran every day I am experiencing new things. [...]
11
Oct
“which way is North? Depends on which way you hold the map.”
Posted by Kelly Vanleeuwen Published in UncategorizedQ: what’s worse than eating Mexican food on a road trip? A: eating Mexican food twice in one day on a road trip. We would sincerely like to thank the Lemon Bonkers for a fabulous dinner last night, but if anyone else asks us to eat mexi with them, we will politely say, “No way, [...]
11
Oct
I am so tired I can’t even think straight. My body is all wiggidy wacked. Not that I sleep a lot normally and the almost full moon (not milts – or Taylors) isn’t helping except lighting the Trace for us at night. I am amazed by the amount of food I can consume in one [...]
11
Oct
This is my ketchup post. I haven’t been able to log on and let y’all know what’s been happening. Lemon Bonkers first night, as you’ve read I’m sure, was adventure filled to say the least. We were very excited to get started on our first leg. My dad happens to live just a mile or [...]
10
Oct
Mexican food on a road trip is never a good idea…
Posted by Kelly Vanleeuwen Published in UncategorizedPost transition, we have a lovely lunch with the Dots and Dream Team, albeit at a Mexican eatery in Tennessee. Mexican in Tennessee. Ok, I did already say that. I have noticed in life that most bad decisions are a result of sleep deprivation (or hunger, or both). We are all both tired and hungry [...]
10
Oct
It is somehow humbling to read the blogs of the people that are on this trip. Their experiences and their feelings make it so hard to blog, because I want to be as funny, or as descriptive, and hopefully as emotional as they are. Well, I am just me, and although a 3 year veteran [...]
10
Oct
Most of my team mates have blogged, so I am a bit bogged in my blog. We finally got on our bikes last night at 3:00am, far ahead of our planned transition due to the enthusiasm of the teams that went before us. We were all eager to take our turn after so many hours [...]
10
Oct
It is hard to say what we did “today” because today started sooooo long ago! We discovered that the team that we were to take over from was ahead of where we thought we would transition. Had to wake up everyone quickly and get them moving so we could leave earlier that we had planned. [...]
10
Oct
Greetings from the great state of Tennessee, home of the Volunteers!!! I know that because we went shopping today and I saw all the cute UT clothing!!! We had a wonderful ride at 3am this morning near Cleveland, NC–not Cleveland, Ohio!! We had a beautiful ride until 6am with great team members and support. We [...]
10
Oct
I love this journey. . . . the people, the scenery, the challenges. But mainly I love it because I feel like I’m doing something. It’s not much but it’s something. I have to thank my donors – I wouldn’t be here without you. I especially have to thank my cousin, Jack Payne, for his [...]
10
Oct
There is a lot more food than stomacaf=egWIEG GHP EWOQ EW]TIHPONJRGT HPOI
10
Oct
This morning finds the Purple Power team in Columbia, TN after our first leg from GA to one mile away from the TN border. We had a perfect ride and paced ourselves well on the hills. Although nothing like the Lemon Bonkers or Polka Dots, we did have a few long and steady 2 mile [...]
10
Oct
Well our shift last night was amazing. The weather was cooperative and the support we have rock!! We rolled out of GHS without any problems. One thing I noticed is that this year we only had 2 riders that were leading out of GHS that have had cancer. Me and Siddens. Wierd feeling. Emotions were [...]
10
Oct
So we’ve named our team “Party Rockers,” since a certain song keeps hijacking our radio, and well, because we keep playing it loudly. When your van comes equipped with neon green mood lighting, you really have no choice. It is frightening tho, to not be able to connect to the Internet or my finicky “cellular [...]
10
Oct
Dream Team, up and ready we had an awe inspiring ride into Tennessee and down by the Ocoee River Before meeting up with Team Livestrong. Everyone is pedaling strong so much that the riders opted to pedal another 5-7 mile to our flophouse at The Jameson Inn in Cleveland, Tennessee where the people were most [...]
10
Oct
Monday morning started early for Team Livelong. Dave and Sally (the best Support ever, btw!) got us rousted and rolling ahead of schedule with some exciting news. Our friends on Purple Power blew the doors off over night and put us almost 30 miles ahead of our scheduled rendezvous. (Go Purple!!!) Instead of the metropolis [...]
10
Oct
After our shift, we rolled into Cleveland, Tennessee about 11 pm. We searched for hotels that would be kind enough to help out with our cause… We found a WONDERFUL night manager for Jamison Hotels that gave our team a great rate. But, as is the way of divine providence, Jackie’ mother and uncle passed [...]
10
Oct
Purple power completed our first shift and transitioned with Dream Team at Midnight. Beautiful moonlight night for a ride with perfect temps on upper 50′s. Couple climbs, not bad. Thought Alot about my aunt Barb who lost her battle with Breast Cancer 2 yrs. Ago. Believe she was with me on a couple of those [...]
9
Oct
We’re off! Today the Challenge to Conquer Cancer team assembled to make our departure from the Cancer Center at Greenville Hospital system’s Memorial Campus. The departure is always a very emotional time. Many friends and family stopped by to see us off. There were so many cameras! People were snapping photos left and right. Of [...]
9
Oct
Well, the 2011 Version of the Challenge to Conquer Cancer is now on !!!! Team Polka Dot has now finished stage 1. We left the Greenville Hospital System Cancer Center promptly at 3 pm, and rode to just this side of Long Creek, South Carolina.. Which is west of Westminster: 56 miles, 2:55, with an [...]
9
Oct
And we’re off! Thanks to the lovely crowd that gathered at the Cancer Center to cheer as we rode away. Just coming up on the first transition in a few moments. Already we’ve bonded in ways we can’t print. At issue is our team name. Last year my van was the Beach Ball team, after [...]
9
Oct
And we’re off! Thanks to the lovely crowd that gathered at the Cancer Center to cheer as we rode away. Just coming up on the first transition in a few moments. Already we’ve bonded in ways we can’t print. At issue is our team name. Last year my van was the Beach Ball team, after [...]
9
Oct
I am having trouble writing this first post. Putting my thoughts into words in some sort of clear, understandable way is proving to be much more difficult than I thought it would be. You see, my reasons for participating in the Challenge to Conquer Cancer this year focus on the title of this post. For [...]
9
Oct
This will be my third year. I had hoped to “ride” this year…but life gets in the way alot of times. So I will go as a Team manager—Team “Mom” again. I have been going at SUCH a frenzied pace since June. I really don’t know if I have been at home for more than [...]
9
Oct
9
Oct
Two years ago, I wasn’t aware of the affects Cancer has on so many people. Since I did the C3 in 2009, my eyes have really been opened. There are so many people who have suffered the effects of cancer it just astounds me. As I prepare to make the departure later today, I think [...]
9
Oct
Wow, I do not know how to explain the excitement I am feeling. It has been great to meet all the people involved.(Although if you know me I am terrible with names), I will surely know all these individuals by name at the end of our journey. It has been insipring to me to have [...]
9
Oct
This is year 4. My husband and I, along with a small band of folks, sat around a table and planned this ride we call “Challenge to Conquer Cancer” back in 2007. I wasn’t so sure we could recruit enough people to take 6 days off of work and raise $5000 to ride on a [...]
8
Oct
Miss you Dad. This rides for you.
8
Oct
Getting ready for my second round with this amazing group brings back memories of where I was in my life last year at this time. It’s amazing to be able to change so much in one year, yet see the things that are important to your heart remain. I am stronger this year, yet I [...]
8
Oct
Last year I answered this question with a simple answer; “For Scott Shuey”. This year I ride for all the people who have battled cancer, fought hard, and always seemed to battle in dignity respectful of why God gave them this challenge to overcome . I also ride for those who have fallen in the [...]
8
Oct
That is a loaded question. Just how much do you really want to know, after all? Life hurts. Sometimes it hurts more than we think we can bear. I have found that sweat seems to be a much more effective cathartic than tears. For one thing, it’s generally associated with quite a lot less mucus, [...]
7
Oct
FRIDAY!!!??? yikes! Where has the time gone? We leave in 2 days. wow. I am not ready. I have been so busy this week with my new job that I have put the bike on the back burner. Well, as of this afternoon (except for the emergency surgery I have to do tomorrow morning) I [...]
7
Oct
To all of our “Warriors” out there – those who are currently battling this cruel disease called cancer, for those in remission, for the surviors and those who fought the fight we are riding to Austin, Texas for you. Although our journey’s in life are all so very different one fact remains the same – [...]
6
Oct
We’re down to 3 days before our departure. It’s an incredible feeling to be so close to such a grand adventure. Bonding with the people associated with this Challenge to Conquer Cancer has been a big highlight of the last several years. It is amazing to meet such a group of selfless individuals. Many of [...]
5
Oct
A HUGE thank you to everyone who has worked so diligently on this ride as well as those who are still working to make sure everyone has their funds. What an honor it is to be part of such a wonderful group and cause. I have learned so much and am so grateful to have [...]
5
Oct
The following is a post from Kenya Taylor, the mother of Davis and daughter of Ken Holsombeck who are two of our warriors. “About a year ago, I went to Fall for Greenville with friends. I was introduced to a woman there in the middle of the street. I remembered her as nice and friendly. [...]
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