Last June 2011 Ride

So, I finished the month of June with a 54 mile ride in just over 3 hours.  Felt great through-out the ride.  Brady met me along the route with some water at about 29 miles and then at about 47 miles Julie and Brady met me for a refill again...I had been out of fluids since about my 41 mile mark.  Seems like I am consuming a lot of fluid but one of my bottles had some issues so in that 12 miles I only had one bottle to sip from...
So, what sort of critters would one expect to see in Central Illinois when riding?  Deer?  Yup, plenty of deer sightings every ride.  Rabbits and Squirrels?  Of course.  Turkeys?  Yup, see the same pair in the same general vicinity on each ride.  Snakes?  Well, unfortunately I've had my share of snakes along the route...yuck!  Lions, Tigers, Elephants, or Monkeys?  Not exactly.  So, what about a Ferret?  Seriously, would one ever expect to see a Ferret in Springfield or Chatham, Illinois?  Well, as serious as could be, I witnessed a ferret and there were a bunch of birds giving it heck.  That may end up being the nuttiest thing I could see during a ride!
We were published in the Chatham Clarion today.  We have a great 1/2 page article and picture on page 6.  And to get us a bit more excited, we (Gary and I) will be meeting with Trey Paul from WICS-Springfield some time next week and hopefully be on the morning show and in the evening news.  Now if we could figure out how to get The Today Show, The Regis and Kelly Show, and Good Morning America to do a piece on Kailey's Krew!  That would be pretty cool!  Anyone know Conan O'Brien?  Ha-Ha!
So, in June I was able to get on my bike 17 times this month.  On two of those rides I encountered flats and after fixing the flats, cut my rides short...one of which I ended up with a double flat and ended up throwing the tire into the recycle pile.  With that, I still managed 587.89 miles for the month.  I'm good with that.  Hopefully I wont be overly busy in the month of July with work-related issues...natural disasters, man-made disasters, etc. and will be able to ride on 20+ days.  I know I have a few trips planned for both work and family that will allow me to hit some good hills and add the miles.  Woo-hoo!
I want to close with a thought or two of what this blog is really all about.  My participation in the Leadville 100 is just a small endeavor in the scope of what Kailey's Krew is all about.  Kailey's Krew is focused on building a foundation of "Hope" for those families that may have the unfortunate experience of going through a trying time with a sick child.  Our way of providing a sense of "Hope" is to be able to provide that family with some financial assistance and hopefully relieve some of their stress...allowing them to focus on what is really most important, the health and wellness of their child and the family.
And finally, I want to simply say that I can not begin to describe how this simple idea to do this race in support of Kailey and Kailey's Krew has become such an all-encompassing thing for me.  My family, both immediate and extended, has grown together and this truly is a "WE" or "OUR" mission as opposed to me or I.  God truly does do things that many times we do not understand or may not agree with or believe in, but as we step back for a second and take a different view through a wider lense, well, it may not yet make sense, but there is a purpose and a reason and one day we will understand.  Kailey has already touched so many of our lives and will continue to do so...even for those that had never been fortunate to have met her or her family.
Dig Deep, Ride Hard, Stay Strong, and once again, when you think it hurts, it doesn't.  That's just a reminder that you are alive and well and it's time to suck it up and give some more!
TNT OUT-

Saddle Time

It's been a good couple days in the saddle.  Each day seemed to get by me as I didn't get to start the last couple rides until later in the evening.  But regardless, I still managed to get a couple good training rides completed.  On Monday I put a couple hours on the bike and finished with about 37-1/2 miles.  Felt pretty good out there and temps were not bad.  Enjoyed seeing all the deer out along the country roads but the turkeys seemed to have moved on from their "hang-out" along the bike trail.  And for all of the support krew, yes, I drank all of my fluids during my ride!
Tonight was another late start but rewarding none-the-less.  I rolled into the driveway just at 2 hours and 40 minutes in the saddle and 46 more miles warn on the tires.    With two more evenings left to get some riding yet this month, I could reach 530 total miles for June - not bad considering how many days I couldn't ride due to work and the weather.  Speaking of which, the weather has turned for the better lately and you sure can tell by the increase in riders, joggers, and walkers along the bike trail.  Not necessarily big-city traffic jam stuff but still lots of movement on the trail.  It's all good, though. 
So the other day we got some really awesome news.  We have one more member to our Krew going to Colorado...THE Gary Wilmarth will be joining us!  Wow, how awesome is that?  Gary, we are all really excited about having you join us.  Giddy-Up!
If you've been visiting the BLOG, you have probably noticed the updates and changes.  Just want to give a BIG Thanks to my Sis-In-Law, Jandy!  You're awesome and I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate all you've done to get this thing to where it is now.  Keep up the great work and hey, what are you doing now?  Get back to it, I'm sure there is something else you can update or change.  Ha-Ha!
And finally, as of this morning, there were over 600 hits to the blog to include hits from viewers in Germany, Turkey, and Malaysia.  How cool is that?  How many countries can we see views from? 
Have a great evening/night!  Until my next post, Saddle Up and Dig Deep!  It only hurts for a minute and when it seems to hurt longer, rub some dirt on it!
TNT OUT-

Long Weekend

Hello everyone.  The weekend has come to an end with a few miles to talk about.  I had a 3-day weekend to ride and I am pretty greatful considering the weather wasn't very cooperative.  On Friday I headed out thinking of 30 miles or so and well, just sort of kept going a little longer.  I stuck with the country roads and just took one turn after another.  It was great.  I made it home in just under 3 hours and had plenty of time left in the evening to spend time with the family.  I finished with just over 50 miles and I felt great afterwards.
Saturday was going to be one of those days that the mileage and time in the saddle would be dictated by the weather.  I didn't get going until closer to noon as we spent the morning trimming the hedges and bushes in the landscape.  Hey, drive by some day and look at the cool elephant on a merry-go-round I trimmed into the huge cedar tree...okay, just kidding!  That would be pretty cool though, wouldn't it?  So, I headed out and had a great ride going until the weather changed rapidly, as I rode the last 8.5 miles in the rain.  Things got more interesting later that evening as the "monsoon" swept through Chatham.  It was crazy.  I'm not sure how long it rained or how much rain we accumulated but things are still rather soggy around here.
With things a bit wet and having stuff to do, I didn't get on the saddle on Sunday.  So, my weekend wraps up with 83 miles ridden.  Not a huge mileage weekend as I had hoped but that's okay.  I'm currently hovering around 400 miles for the month with four more week-nights to add the mileage.  Maybe I can get to 520 miles by the end of this week.  That's only averaging 30 miles each evening.  And then I'll start a new monthly log on Friday with July already here.
So, I've spent some effort towards getting the word out.  I have business cards that I am carrying around and giving out as often as I can, simply giving the blog url with our logo on the card.  We alos have a story we sent to the local newspaper and we've reached out to one of the local radio stations and TV news stations.  So, we'll just see how it goes for us.
Well, have to go for now.  Will try to post an update each evening, after I get off the bike.  Let's hope the weather clears up and gives me some opportunity to ride without getting soaked.
To all my fellow cyclists out there, keep the cranks spinning and the wheels a turning.  Dig Deep!

TNT OUT-

Loving the Weather

Hi everyone!  Well, the weather continues to keep me guessing and today it pulled a fast one on me.  I opted to hit the gym instead of the trail and low-and-behold, we didn't get the rain that the skies seemed to threaten us with through the afternoon/evening.  It's all good, though.  I still have to keep some upper body strength and after experiencing last years race, I know hamstring, hip-flexor, and core strength are critical.  I had no idea going into last years race that I would spend time off the bike, pushing it up steep grades.  But imagine being in a huge pack of riders starting a climb and someone up front dismounts, causing a chain reaction.  Before you know it, we're all pushing our bike up the climb section.  Add stiff cycling shoes to the mix and wow, what a hamstring, calf, and hip-flexor burn!  So, as part of my gym work-out, I spend 30-45 minutes running a 5.5 to 7.0 pace at an incline of 15.0 on the treadmill.  I have no idea how all of that translates to the real-world but jeepers, it sure does hurt.
So, instead of talking about tonights ride, how about I tell you about my friend, Gary Wilmarth.  A bunch of years ago I moved to Chatham and wanted to help with the wrestling program since that is what I enjoyed and as a Dad, well, you know how we always sort of steer our kids towards our own passion.  So, I joined the coaching team and within a year or so, was fully engaged.  Initially, I didn't venture too much into the HS practice as I was the new guy but I'm not sure there were many HS meets that we missed as spectators.  Over time I became more a part of the entire program and more a part of the wrestling family.  And there is Gary, a family member and supporter.  Wow, what a incredible person.  A wealth of knowledge in wrestling but most impressive is his most spectacular means of communicating with young teenagers.  Those that have or are coaching know what I mean when I say that sometimes we are challenged with communicating with our young athlete.  But Gary has always made it look so easy.
I observe and learn from Gary over the years and through my ventures coaching the Kids Club as well as on the mat as an IHSA Official, Gary is always there to lean on, learn from, and simply have comfort in knowing that he will always find the positive to whatever the experience.
And the day comes to learn of Kailey's challenge.  This thing called leukemia.  With two kids of my own, I couldn't imagine what it woud be like.  But there is Gary...finding the positive in challenge, looking ahead, and knowing that there is a greater purpose for everything.  Gary has inspired me for many years and through many ways.  And most recently, when I found friendship and a place within the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, I have to give great credit to Gary for helping me see from a better perspective.
So here I am, looking forward to this little thing called the LT 100 Mountain Bike Race, with huge expecatations to raise awareness and gain support to the Kailey Wilmarth Foundation.  And I am only believing that what I am doing is just a rung in the ladder towards greater things to come of the Kailey's Krew efforts. 

Another Day...

Hey everyone!  Wednesday has come and gone and I only manged a short training ride.  It's all good, though.  Had some great help from Mother Nature!  Seems every turn we made put us into confrontation with yet a stronger and more aggressive head wind.  It was great.  Alec enjoyed sitting in my draft and acting like it was tough.  I think he does it as a way to build my pshyche...pump me up, cheer me on, or simply to make me suffer!  Ha-Ha!
We only rode about 18 miles tonight but we pushed hard and enjoyed our company.
So, we're hoping for some cooperation from the weather over the next few days.  Have plans to get over 150 miles over the weekend, as well as a few hours on the lake with the kayak...if I can get it away from Alec and Hanna!  Ha-Ha!
Unitl my next post, remember to ride hard, feel the pain, enjoy it, and be ready for the next ride...DIG DEEP!

TNT OUT-