Ride is, as always, going tough but well. I must say, I never thought I would say this, ever, but even I am getting tired of spending 12 hours on a bike every day. I love biking. If I go more than four days without at least an hour ride, I go batty. But this is a little more than my tastes, I guess. The only thing that keeps me going is our mission. While I initially was interested in this as more of a bike tour, now the thing that keeps me going is the families and communities we pass through. I met a family a couple days ago that really, really inspired me (I actually feel a little guilty I haven’t had internet to contact them until now) and they have kept me going, day in and day out.

Parts of the ride, physically, have gotten a little easier. I still get sore, I still get tight, my saddle is still giving me bruises, and we’re all still sleep-deprived. But the level of all of the above has substantially decreased and will probably continue to do so. (And the chafing stopped, oh thank god.) It also is getting much, much easier to go 20 miles to the next water stop. The only part that is getting harder is just boredom on the bike. Since we don’t get music and conversation can get old, it’s getting a little tedious…

Complain, complain, complain. Really, the ride has been the best experience of my life thus far, while also the most challenging. Physically yes, but learning how to try and work so close to so many people and keep my emotions down has been the hardest for me.

Thanks to everyone for the support!

I’m dedicating the next day of my ride to the wonderful people from the Union Missionary Baptist Church who accepted us into their community with open arms and warm food. It was not only one of the most comfortable nights we’ve had, but also really helped us feel much more connected with our mission and the Lansing community. Hearing their stories and their experiences with cancer truly made us all reconnect with the spirit of the 4K. Thanks guys!

There have been physical challenges as well, usually worsened by silly cycling mistakes.  I ended up taking off two days after the saddle sores to end all saddle sores (gold bond WITH euro-style= BAD.) I also got heatstroke on the last ride day (Even if the electrolyte pill package says take 2-3 every hour of excersise in hot weather, it lies. Take 1-2 when you cramp, not before, since they are so dehydrating. I knew that a couple years back, just had to re-learn it the hard way.)

Since I’m really trying to re-focus and worry about other people’s bikes and selfs before myself more often, tomorrow will be a big day for me.  I really want to be up and out in time to help other people get ready and help them with their bikes, since I am an experienced cyclist and my bike/self is probably better off than other peoples’. I want to try and get my team in tomorrow happy and communicated, and help in the evening.

We’ll be in Sandusky tomorrow evening and go to the largest amusement park in the nation then!

Tomorrow is for my two uncles (Uncle Gene and Uncle Art) and my friend Venkatesh Srinivas. My uncle Art has been in remission from hairy cell leukemia for 10 years. When I called him at the last minute two days before leaving from Christmas break and asked if he would talk about his surely-painful experiences for my cancer video (which is on the homepage of the 4K website!) he accommodated me though he was cramming for a gigantic test the next day! My uncle Gene was a generous supporter and has been a constant source of inspiration growing up, since he’s intelligent and driven. Thanks to both of you for letting me invade your home and do the filming!

My friend Venkatesh was one of my early donors, which really got me psychologically prepared for the months of fundraising to come. He’s gotten back into biking and rode the same NCR trail we took out of Baltimore up to Pennsylvania! I’m glad that I’ve converted more people to the biking world. Keep it up!

Postcards to come… I promise!

I’m really excited that the volunteering has started now. To be honest, the first major attractor for me to this program was the cycling, since I’m an avid cyclist. But now that I’ve gotten my hands dirty with cancer related issues, I almost appreciate the volunteering more. Not only does it give you something to ride and fight for, but I also have my whole life to ride my bike. I don’t have a time-less opportunity to talk to all these amazing people who we can all really learn from.

That’s it for the day! Please, please check out my twitter at: http://twitter.com/#!/Rosy4k4cancer. I post daily! I got to raise a bridge today! Mike, the bridge operator, heard about us on the news, saw us riding by, and let me operate the controls! It was a lot of fun and also amazing to see our impact in the community! More exclamation points!

Thank the Randall Baptist Church SO MUCH for their last-minute hospitality! Indoor places to stay for our day off to Niagara, an amazing dinner, showers, and a warm welcome!

Go to: http://twitter.com/#!/Rosy4K4Cancer for the twitter (to which I post daily) and to http://twitpic.com/photos/Rosy4K4Cancer for photos.

The ride is amazing. We’re cutting it short on sleep right now, trying to work it so we get 8 hours a night (which we aren’t getting now, we’re lucky for 7) but everyone has really been trying to push through this initial tough stretch. The initial boot-camp went well, and I would like to thank the YMCAs of York, PA and Jersey Shore, PA for their hospitality. The support we receive from the communities who host us and the people who meet us randomly is what has kept us going during this stressful first week.

I love the trip so far. Community service starts next week, which is when the trip is really going to seem much more altruism-focused for me, and I’m looking forward to it. Thus far, since I’m a cyclist I love the riding part. I went up a bonus 1 mile climb yesterday, I literally yelled at the hill “Come hell or high water I am not getting off this bike!” and indeed, only got off the bike at the top. The only difficult part of the ride for me has been the fact that since I used to do rides for speed it’s much more difficult than expected to ride in a group. I’m used to 6-7-hour centuries including stops, we’ve been doing 8-hour centuries with 3 hours of stops, which makes the saddle-time nearly unbearable. But I guess it’s good practice. I do currently want to try some racing after I get back from the 4K, which should be fun.

A shout-out to my church! They knitted me a mini prayer shawl which I am putting on my bike! Thank you so much for the support! More later….

So, super-fast:

Ride training was from 9 to 5 both yesterday and the day before. We had speakers from the board, alums, and the Ulman Cancer Foundation. We’ve raised over $450,000 to date, which is far and beyond the $370,000 we had been expecting from only 85 riders. So my wonderful donors may know where this money is going, so far we’ve donated $15,000 to the Baltimore Hope Lodge for the continuation of their services.

For those who haven’t been following my original blog (which will now become inactive as this one takes over,) Hope Lodges are places where people who live in rural areas may stay for free while they are receiving cancer treatment. This may sound like a small thing, but when the nearest hospital able to treat you is three hours away, that daily trip can be more than annoying, it can be life-threatening. Hope Lodges also provide a very hopeful atmosphere, focusing on community space and getting people to be optimistic. I’ve been volunteering there throughout the semester, gotten to know a couple of the patients, and really have loved every minute I spend there.

Next, we’re donating $100,000 to the Ulman Cancer Foundation to begin several college scholarships and a navigation program for young adults diagnosed with cancer (17 to 39 years old.) This is a really great group that fills a gap in our national cancer-care– helping young adults diagnosed. Extant programs focus on helping children and the elderly, and leave out the young adult group. Since cancer is still the second disease killer of this age group, this is something that is really needed.

The weekend really helped me see that this (as we were told repeatedly) is not a bike tour. This is a summer of volunteering and community-building. When I first heard about the 4K, what really attracted me to it was the cycling (since I am a cyclist and was looking to get ride more.) The more I learn about the 4K, the more I see that it 1) is not a bike tour and 2) is so much better, so much greater. It’s a network of people helping people. Even measly college students, people trying to help the people they meet along the ride by inspiring them.

We don’t ride for ourselves. We ride for other people.

That has really struck a chord with me, and thus I will leave off with that. Yes, I am nervous, but I am also so ecstatic and excited.

Now for all the photos!