Top 20 reasons why i do the challenge…..

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 does it take to shower and brush your teeth. (9)
Slayer has a new meaning and makes me smile instead of squishing my face so I look like a cabbage patch doll
Who has the fastest phone…. Ron

19. Funny stories and happenings- a lot of funny stories. When you are sleep deprived, hungry, and well….. not very clean, you will say anything to make anyone laugh, even if it means throwing yourself under the bus… Not sure Ron will ever be the same after the CARscares. Someone please play with Jeni. Did someone turn off the air back here. Where did Martha Laura and Ashley go? Are they still in the back?

18. Natchez Trace is an amazing place to pray and to feel one with God. You find yourself being held by God’s hands the entire ride. The trace is like a giant hug enveloping your body. The trace makes you feel like you really are loved by your team, by God and the energy that comes off the trace carries you through many many miles.

17. Because I like the recovery beverages, even if I haven’t exercised

16. Snuggling for 5 days straight- sometimes for more than 5 hours

15. No Cell phone reception can actually be a good thing:
It allows you to hug your kids that much harder when you see them
It also allows you to hug your husband even tighter then you normally would when you see him after a looooong sweaty shift of cycling and he doesn’t care…..
It allows you to focus on things like your team mates and what they are experiencing
It allows you to recharge your love for your work.
You think about brushing your teeth more- it was a 10.5 hour day in the van…..what can I say

14. I learn things about myself that I didn’t know before:
How long I can bite my tongue…… 10hours and 33 minutes.
Again, how many bottled waters it takes for a shower
That I can pee anywhere
That I can actually travel 10.5 hours in a car and not go crazy if I skipped my meds
Too much chips and salsa= a long time in a small room with a sink. And they don’t taste good the second time around when on a bike.
I can be as small as I want
That I can pedal when I don’t want to pedal
I can exfoliate in a van
Baby Wipes really do feel refreshing

13. I can get a great AB workout in the Van

12. I feel like a kid in the car instead of an adult.

11. I love seeking out new adventures with close friends

10. People do Crazy Funny things that you would never in a million years expect to see them do normally.

9. It brings out the good in everyone.

8. The Challenge is contagious, infectious, inspiring, empowering, and it gives you a sense of peace, and warm fuzzies when strangers come up and tell you a story….. and then thank you for riding the ride.

7. Because I am using my God Given Talents to give back to others.

6. I have an excuse not to eat healthy

5. Because I like to climb:
Mountains
Cars
Stairs
Into fountains
Statues
Monuments
Cars
Over, Under, around and through
….. and I never thought I would say I like to climb

4. I get to use a walkie talkie

3. I get a free massage almost every day

2. Because it makes a difference- an honest to goodness difference. Strangers thank you for making a difference and you know in your heart, your mind, and your body that you are doing the right thing……. When a stranger hands you $60 after you just finished riding your last leg on Highway 7 and you wanted to quit 30 minutes before that. Having strangers thank you ….. Having strangers thank you, having strangers thank you……

The number one reason why ……. Well of course it is going to be a good one:

Watching Krista dance with her husband and the smile they had on each other’s faces when 1 year and 1 week ago she was given 2 weeks to live….. and because now she CAN ride…. And I CAN ride, and all those that I honored on this ride that are dealing with the effects of this disease and….. I know for every right foot that goes around that pedal… I am investing my sweat and my leg’s to help change the direction of cancer….. That someday I may not ever need to say….. I can’t ride in the sun, or I can’t ride because of my surgery, or that I have lost a loved one or a friend has lost a loved one.

Last year it was accepting the card I have been dealt with for me and my daughter, the year before it was about honoring my father, The first year, it was all about meeting amazing people who truly believe in you, who care what happens to you, who want to see you beat this disease, and who do not judge you on your looks, the level of cancer you have.

This year it was about watching someone else cross the finish line when she thought she would never be on a bike, in Texas, with her husband, and having a team full of people cheering her on every…..step….. of the way…….. Seeing her beautiful smile, listening to other warriors and their cry for hope and their shouts of joy for their accomplishments in their battle. This year, it was about them, not about me….. not about my family and our battle, it was about pushing that behind me, and seeing what the TEAM sees when we honor a warrior. It was about getting to learn more about a person, deeply, truly and telling them DO NOT GIVE UP. It doesn’t matter how old you are or how young you are. What matters to us is knowing we care, we want to see you pull through and not let cancer define you. Empower yourself, get moving, feel good again, and let us help you in any way possible.

Thank you Austin, Thank you Ron and Jennifer, Thank you C3 family, and most important thank you to all of you how have supported this ride, I wish we could take you on the journey when we ride so that you can see how much heart and soul is poured into making this happen. If it were not for the supporters we could not be out there spreading the message. I am sure I have a few more blogs in me…. But until then, continue reading…. Many of us are living off of less than 3 hours of sleep per day for the past 9 days….. so our thought process is a little slack.

Ps
I Love you twins, Thank you Karen and Mark and Nina for taking care of our precious little girls. Thank you to all of my family and friends who asked how they can help.

Krista and TC at the LiveStrong Dinner Saturday Night 2011