"It would not be strange if history came to the conclusion that the perfection of the bicycle was the greatest incident in the nineteeth century."
~Author Unknown
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Dad update with fun quote
"Get a bicycle. You will not regret it if you live."
~ Mark Twain
My Dad gave my sister and I a wonderful gift when we were young, among many others of course. This one though has carried me further than most, that is a gift of the book. That quote is for Dad, who has inspired me in so many ways. One thing I remember him making me do (though I am grateful for now) is read Mark Twain's, "Huck Finn". It was the biggest book I had ever read, but glad I plugged through. Though I didn't understand every aspect of the book, I am glad I did take the time to read it.
Through my love of reading I have been able to learn so much, earn a degree from Hollins University and learn several spects of holistic healing. Travel to places I may never see and study so many other parts of history, life and so on.
My sister and remember fondly our summers with Dad. A police officer for Roanoke City at that time working nights. He would take us, I now realize how tired he probably was, to the Salem City Library (cause we grew up in Salem, Va), where we would spend hours. Hours among the shelves upon shelves of different colored book ends, holding all sorts of tales, knowledge and adventure. Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Mark Twain, and the list can go far beyond the classics. Sitting in bean bag chairs reading all we could absorb. Then hearing Dad's snores resonating to the second floor as he fell asleep reading. I'm sure exhausted from his night serving and protecting.
My Dad has been experiencing a new form of exhaustion these past few months. That of survival and to be able to make it through the day. Tired because he cannot put in enough food to help his body have energy. His throat raw from the radiation burns, from his treatments. Tired because his body is fitting against an intruder. Tired because he wants to live to see another birthday, more holidays with his family and so many other special time in between, and trying to fit so much into everyday.
He is one week and two days past his last radiation treatment. He has to wait until June or July to do a scope to see the amazing results of healing his body has been doing against shrinking the tumors and reducing cancer. You see the radiation is still working for many weeks after the last treatment, so we have to wait to learn of the results of months of radiation. So we wait and continue to enjoy every moment we have with him.
I know it has helped me to pause and appreciate the people in my life more and to be sure to let them know. My sister and I have grown closer. We still have our own families, careers and othe obligations, but we've paused to take time to connect and support one another. Something I feel will go far beyond our Dad's diagnosis. Through our struggles as individuals and as siblings of learning how to live with our Dad's diagnosis of cancer. We have so many fond memories with our Dad, some different and some the same, but still an important part of who we are.
Now take a moment and look around you at work, at home or cafe or where ever you are and reading this. Take a moment and look at everyone and put them in groups of 3. Include yourself in a group of 3. 1 in 3 people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Is this a diagnosis you want to hear? Is that a diagnosis you want your family, friends or neighbors to hear? I am almost certain you are saying, NO! Learn how you can reduce your risks and how you can stop the cycle of disease and death caused by cancer.
Stop the cycle!
-Rhonda
~ Mark Twain
My Dad gave my sister and I a wonderful gift when we were young, among many others of course. This one though has carried me further than most, that is a gift of the book. That quote is for Dad, who has inspired me in so many ways. One thing I remember him making me do (though I am grateful for now) is read Mark Twain's, "Huck Finn". It was the biggest book I had ever read, but glad I plugged through. Though I didn't understand every aspect of the book, I am glad I did take the time to read it.
Through my love of reading I have been able to learn so much, earn a degree from Hollins University and learn several spects of holistic healing. Travel to places I may never see and study so many other parts of history, life and so on.
My sister and remember fondly our summers with Dad. A police officer for Roanoke City at that time working nights. He would take us, I now realize how tired he probably was, to the Salem City Library (cause we grew up in Salem, Va), where we would spend hours. Hours among the shelves upon shelves of different colored book ends, holding all sorts of tales, knowledge and adventure. Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Mark Twain, and the list can go far beyond the classics. Sitting in bean bag chairs reading all we could absorb. Then hearing Dad's snores resonating to the second floor as he fell asleep reading. I'm sure exhausted from his night serving and protecting.
My Dad has been experiencing a new form of exhaustion these past few months. That of survival and to be able to make it through the day. Tired because he cannot put in enough food to help his body have energy. His throat raw from the radiation burns, from his treatments. Tired because his body is fitting against an intruder. Tired because he wants to live to see another birthday, more holidays with his family and so many other special time in between, and trying to fit so much into everyday.
He is one week and two days past his last radiation treatment. He has to wait until June or July to do a scope to see the amazing results of healing his body has been doing against shrinking the tumors and reducing cancer. You see the radiation is still working for many weeks after the last treatment, so we have to wait to learn of the results of months of radiation. So we wait and continue to enjoy every moment we have with him.
I know it has helped me to pause and appreciate the people in my life more and to be sure to let them know. My sister and I have grown closer. We still have our own families, careers and othe obligations, but we've paused to take time to connect and support one another. Something I feel will go far beyond our Dad's diagnosis. Through our struggles as individuals and as siblings of learning how to live with our Dad's diagnosis of cancer. We have so many fond memories with our Dad, some different and some the same, but still an important part of who we are.
Now take a moment and look around you at work, at home or cafe or where ever you are and reading this. Take a moment and look at everyone and put them in groups of 3. Include yourself in a group of 3. 1 in 3 people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Is this a diagnosis you want to hear? Is that a diagnosis you want your family, friends or neighbors to hear? I am almost certain you are saying, NO! Learn how you can reduce your risks and how you can stop the cycle of disease and death caused by cancer.
Stop the cycle!
-Rhonda
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
balance
"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving."
~Albert Einstein
As you have already read, we rode 27 miles on Sunday (4/26). It is the furthest we have riden at one time. It was a nice ride even though it was in the heat of the day. We rode one lap, refilled our water bottles and headed back out. We wanted to ride further than the slightly over 23 miles the 2 trips would provide. Even though this as not on a mostly flat greenway surface we've riden around our house, we felt we had it in us. We decided to ride back into the trail to add miles. Afterward our celebration clouded how the last miles really went down.
My hands hurt horrible, my butt (well I won't go there), my shoulders ached and my back was tight. I was low on liquid on mile 25, jaw hanging low and shoulders tight.
Tammy just as perky as can be said "Hey! How far is a marathon?"
"26.2.", I grumbled.
"Ok cool!", was her reply.
My mouth was dry and I was out of water (Tammy had a few swallows to spare) as we begun mile 26, my hands tight on the drop downs. I could only at this point focus on the paved trail ahead. No scenary, though smelled breifly the lilacs as we rode by, that eased the discomfort for a few seconds. 26.50 Tammy fell silent (I didn't know her seat had gone wobbly because a bolt was loose), She said "hey Ra, let's turn around." (not realizing her seat had turned into a sit-n-spin) I replied with, "no I we're going to the marker". I had gone into my zen meditation, counting my exhaled breathes, pulling into myself and finding the energy I felt was lost. There is a hill just before that marker, I dug in and felt all the muscles in my back tighten as my legs cranked around. Tammy scoots up beside me cussing at me (because I didn't realize her saddle was in sit-n-sping
mode). We reached the marker and turned around.
I was still in zen meditation counting and reminding myself to keep moving forward. That if I stopped I would lose balance and fall over. Reminding myself with each revolution of the pedals that it is not just about me and my health, it is for a another purpose.
We got to the car, I slowly pealed myself off the bike. I stretched my body and remembered to bend my back in the opposite direction that we had just spent the last 2 hours. There was the grittiness of salt on my face and a feeling I still quite put a word to, but can explain what I was thinking.
There are two funny pictures that Tammy took of me holding onto the bike rack at the end of the car. One I am inhaling, the other photo my cheeks puffed out as air exhaled. I didn't share this then cause I was to exhausted to speak coherently, but I was pausing in that moment, to thank my body for being able to do what I just did. So many people may never find what it feels like to push their body to the limits and to recover. To push your body past the piont when you feel can't or you should just get off the bike. Mine is by choice, people living with cancer don't have the choice when to choose that time to go beyond their limits. So for that moment between tears and happiness I was grateful for my exhausted, sore and thirsty body.
I was moving forward and keeping myself balanced, because I can.
Keep on, keeping on!
-Rhonda
~Albert Einstein
As you have already read, we rode 27 miles on Sunday (4/26). It is the furthest we have riden at one time. It was a nice ride even though it was in the heat of the day. We rode one lap, refilled our water bottles and headed back out. We wanted to ride further than the slightly over 23 miles the 2 trips would provide. Even though this as not on a mostly flat greenway surface we've riden around our house, we felt we had it in us. We decided to ride back into the trail to add miles. Afterward our celebration clouded how the last miles really went down.
My hands hurt horrible, my butt (well I won't go there), my shoulders ached and my back was tight. I was low on liquid on mile 25, jaw hanging low and shoulders tight.
Tammy just as perky as can be said "Hey! How far is a marathon?"
"26.2.", I grumbled.
"Ok cool!", was her reply.
My mouth was dry and I was out of water (Tammy had a few swallows to spare) as we begun mile 26, my hands tight on the drop downs. I could only at this point focus on the paved trail ahead. No scenary, though smelled breifly the lilacs as we rode by, that eased the discomfort for a few seconds. 26.50 Tammy fell silent (I didn't know her seat had gone wobbly because a bolt was loose), She said "hey Ra, let's turn around." (not realizing her seat had turned into a sit-n-spin) I replied with, "no I we're going to the marker". I had gone into my zen meditation, counting my exhaled breathes, pulling into myself and finding the energy I felt was lost. There is a hill just before that marker, I dug in and felt all the muscles in my back tighten as my legs cranked around. Tammy scoots up beside me cussing at me (because I didn't realize her saddle was in sit-n-sping
mode). We reached the marker and turned around.
I was still in zen meditation counting and reminding myself to keep moving forward. That if I stopped I would lose balance and fall over. Reminding myself with each revolution of the pedals that it is not just about me and my health, it is for a another purpose.
We got to the car, I slowly pealed myself off the bike. I stretched my body and remembered to bend my back in the opposite direction that we had just spent the last 2 hours. There was the grittiness of salt on my face and a feeling I still quite put a word to, but can explain what I was thinking.
There are two funny pictures that Tammy took of me holding onto the bike rack at the end of the car. One I am inhaling, the other photo my cheeks puffed out as air exhaled. I didn't share this then cause I was to exhausted to speak coherently, but I was pausing in that moment, to thank my body for being able to do what I just did. So many people may never find what it feels like to push their body to the limits and to recover. To push your body past the piont when you feel can't or you should just get off the bike. Mine is by choice, people living with cancer don't have the choice when to choose that time to go beyond their limits. So for that moment between tears and happiness I was grateful for my exhausted, sore and thirsty body.
I was moving forward and keeping myself balanced, because I can.
Keep on, keeping on!
-Rhonda
Sunday, April 26, 2009
beyond a marathon
I have to say I am so proud of the two of us!!!! Here's the scoop (please excuse any random spellings or grammer usage proofing will occur when not exhausted)....
Funny thing happened on the way to our first bike location, it changed. We drove out to where our ride was to occur, found out that it is a popular ride among cyclist as we passed multiple pelatons. However, I'm a city girl and like the idea of not needing to wait on Life Guard 10 or some other rescue vehicle to travel to the middle of no-where to take my broken body to a hospital.
So we instead drove to Balcksburg to ride The Huckleberry Trail. If you're unfamiliar it is a nice rails to trails ride that one way is 5.76 miles. Rails to trails are old railroad lines that have been turned over into a great area to cycle, hike or run. Some of the surfaces are different, this one is paved. There is a nice Rails to Trails Guide you can buy for Va, MD & another state that slips my mind.
We have riden the Huckleberry many times! Love that ride!!! It has a varied topograhical layout so you get a good workout. I must say everytime we ride The Huckleberry we talk about our first ride. It is memorable!!! It took us over 3 hours round trip and to beat all this really old guy (no offense to anyone that might be a really old guy reading this) zoomed passed us on his comfort bike. Though we were hurt'n we kept on moving. We had to walk a few times, but we finally finished and we were proud!!!!! We had new hurts that day, because that was the longest we had ever riden.
Today we are proud of ourselves again of our ride on The Huckleberry, because we rode it twice and rode back out to add a few more miles onto our ride. The grand total was 27 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes!!! Woohoo!!!! As a friend said when we sent a picture upon completion, "You both look so proud and exhausted at the same time.". We were both!
Today I wore my spiffy new cycling jersey! It was the first time. I really enjoyed it. It is a wool cycling jersey, most people think hot. Today I learned they are not. I have worn wicking shirts many times and certainly felt cooler in those than in a regular Tshirt. Today I stayed dry and cool, never once felt sweaty where my shirt was. Though There was some sweat'n that happened. If interested, my jersey is made by a company called Earth Wind and Rider. Chck'em out!
It was an excellent ride!
Collapsing now!
-Rhonda
Funny thing happened on the way to our first bike location, it changed. We drove out to where our ride was to occur, found out that it is a popular ride among cyclist as we passed multiple pelatons. However, I'm a city girl and like the idea of not needing to wait on Life Guard 10 or some other rescue vehicle to travel to the middle of no-where to take my broken body to a hospital.
So we instead drove to Balcksburg to ride The Huckleberry Trail. If you're unfamiliar it is a nice rails to trails ride that one way is 5.76 miles. Rails to trails are old railroad lines that have been turned over into a great area to cycle, hike or run. Some of the surfaces are different, this one is paved. There is a nice Rails to Trails Guide you can buy for Va, MD & another state that slips my mind.
We have riden the Huckleberry many times! Love that ride!!! It has a varied topograhical layout so you get a good workout. I must say everytime we ride The Huckleberry we talk about our first ride. It is memorable!!! It took us over 3 hours round trip and to beat all this really old guy (no offense to anyone that might be a really old guy reading this) zoomed passed us on his comfort bike. Though we were hurt'n we kept on moving. We had to walk a few times, but we finally finished and we were proud!!!!! We had new hurts that day, because that was the longest we had ever riden.
Today we are proud of ourselves again of our ride on The Huckleberry, because we rode it twice and rode back out to add a few more miles onto our ride. The grand total was 27 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes!!! Woohoo!!!! As a friend said when we sent a picture upon completion, "You both look so proud and exhausted at the same time.". We were both!
Today I wore my spiffy new cycling jersey! It was the first time. I really enjoyed it. It is a wool cycling jersey, most people think hot. Today I learned they are not. I have worn wicking shirts many times and certainly felt cooler in those than in a regular Tshirt. Today I stayed dry and cool, never once felt sweaty where my shirt was. Though There was some sweat'n that happened. If interested, my jersey is made by a company called Earth Wind and Rider. Chck'em out!
It was an excellent ride!
Collapsing now!
-Rhonda
Saturday, April 25, 2009
The Bake Sale was amazing!
Today we had an amazing bake sale! There were all kinds of goodies and wristbands being sold. It was a busy and exciting day! I would like to thank everyone that came out to buy a goodie or two or three and wristbands.
You are all amazing and I am blessed to share this journey with you!!! I couldn't have done without all your help and goodie donations! I am going to attempt everyone and if I forget you I am sorry it is not on purpose, but I'm excited. Of course Tammy, Jessee, Ma, Laura, Casey, Elizabeth, Rachelle, Edye, Val, Sara, Glenna (Seeds of Light) and anyone else I that may have slipped my mind. Because of you and endingout your friends and family old co-workers and sweat equity we raised just over $200 to go to The Lance Armstrong Foundation to help fight cancer.
Many-many-many thank yous!!!!!!!
-Rhonda
You are all amazing and I am blessed to share this journey with you!!! I couldn't have done without all your help and goodie donations! I am going to attempt everyone and if I forget you I am sorry it is not on purpose, but I'm excited. Of course Tammy, Jessee, Ma, Laura, Casey, Elizabeth, Rachelle, Edye, Val, Sara, Glenna (Seeds of Light) and anyone else I that may have slipped my mind. Because of you and endingout your friends and family old co-workers and sweat equity we raised just over $200 to go to The Lance Armstrong Foundation to help fight cancer.
Many-many-many thank yous!!!!!!!
-Rhonda
Thursday, April 23, 2009
hope
"What other choice is there but to hope? We have two options give up or fight like hell."
~Lance Armstrong
We cry, we pray, we plead and we cry some more, but we never give up. Hope is a powerful word and an even more powerful existence, because in hope we can achieve more than most seem possible.
Here is some of what I hope for:
I hope that each of you will never know what it is like to hear the diagnosis of cancer.
I hope that each of you will never have to decide what course of treatment is best for you.
I hope that your children never have to understand why their hair falls out.
I hope that your friends all remain healthy and cancer free.
I hope that you never have to know the sadness of a family member with cancer
I hope that cancer will cease to exist!
Please join me in this Livestrong Challenge ride! There are so many ways that we can strengthen the hope that is within all of us and all around us. Hope is alive and we have what it takes to make it stronger. There are so many ways you can be a part, if you cannot donate online (http://philly09.livestrong.org/rhondachattin), join us at the bake sale this Saturday in front of Seeds of Light (downtown 10-2), volunteer at one of the rides, walks or runs (www.livestrongchallenge.org) or where ever you find where you are most comfortable. Please, don't lose hope!
We're doing it! I look forward to seeing you out there with hope abounding!
Peace and hope,
Rhonda
~Lance Armstrong
We cry, we pray, we plead and we cry some more, but we never give up. Hope is a powerful word and an even more powerful existence, because in hope we can achieve more than most seem possible.
Here is some of what I hope for:
I hope that each of you will never know what it is like to hear the diagnosis of cancer.
I hope that each of you will never have to decide what course of treatment is best for you.
I hope that your children never have to understand why their hair falls out.
I hope that your friends all remain healthy and cancer free.
I hope that you never have to know the sadness of a family member with cancer
I hope that cancer will cease to exist!
Please join me in this Livestrong Challenge ride! There are so many ways that we can strengthen the hope that is within all of us and all around us. Hope is alive and we have what it takes to make it stronger. There are so many ways you can be a part, if you cannot donate online (http://philly09.livestrong.org/rhondachattin), join us at the bake sale this Saturday in front of Seeds of Light (downtown 10-2), volunteer at one of the rides, walks or runs (www.livestrongchallenge.org) or where ever you find where you are most comfortable. Please, don't lose hope!
We're doing it! I look forward to seeing you out there with hope abounding!
Peace and hope,
Rhonda
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
one revolution at a time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoPb_KS39u8
"Are you rid'n or hid'n?" ~Lance Armstrong
http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=76117132635&h=oKS43&u=1H2MG&ref=mf
Don't hide anymore in this fight against cancer! 1,500 babies, children, parents, siblings and friends will find out today that their loved has lost the battle against cancer. 1 in 3 people will find out they have cancer and they will have to find out how to Livestrong.
Support me in my fight, please! http://philly09.livestrong.org/rhondachattin
Thank you, we're changing the world one revolution at a time!
-Rhonda
"Are you rid'n or hid'n?" ~Lance Armstrong
http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=76117132635&h=oKS43&u=1H2MG&ref=mf
Don't hide anymore in this fight against cancer! 1,500 babies, children, parents, siblings and friends will find out today that their loved has lost the battle against cancer. 1 in 3 people will find out they have cancer and they will have to find out how to Livestrong.
Support me in my fight, please! http://philly09.livestrong.org/rhondachattin
Thank you, we're changing the world one revolution at a time!
-Rhonda
Monday, April 20, 2009
cancer angels
One of the most beautiful things that I have experienced with my decision and public discussion of my participation in a 45 mile Livestrong Challenge Bike Ride and my discosing my Dad's cancer diagnosis, are the stories that people share with me, about their experiences with cancer. If you think about it cancer affects us all on so many levels and it affects each of us in different ways. You probably know someone who either has had cancer or knows someone with cancer or has had cancer. It is all around us. 1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer and 1 in 3 women will be diagnosed with cancer. It affects us all!
There are so many angels that have crossed my path over the years and this Livestrong Challenge journey has only put their memories fresh in my mind. Then there are so many new ones. Here are a few. I will continue to write about the cancer angels I meet and have met.
There are all sorts of cancer angels out there. There is the hairdress who helps the cancer patient going through chemotherapy hold onto their self-esteem by going to their home to help them shave their head. They help them find the right wig. They encourage them to take the opportunity to be bold and do something completely unique and out of the ordinary with their hair while they can change their wig. Or the hairdress that trims the hair of the cancer patient as their hair grows back after chemotherapy and does not charge them, because it was just growing back and still sparse.
Then there are the countless number of hospice nurses and grief counselors lending a kind ear, encouragement or suggestions to help. Holding support groups and offering shoulder to hold you up.
The friends that move to the of the theatre for you when they usually sit in the front, because they know you just found out a loved one in your life has a grim diagnosis.
The friends that listen over lunch, dinner, tea and chess.
The cancer angels who have survived the disease and are there with a kind ear for someone that just got a new diagnosis. Or the cancer survivor who has feet so numb from the neurapthy from chemotherapy they still standing strong as they listen to all of the fears of someone after their new diagnosis.
A woman fluffing pillows and making sure there is nothing you need as you sit for many hours receiving your chemotherapy drip. Listening patiently to anything you have to say, know that you are scared, nervous and just need to talk about something other than what you are experiencing.
We are all angels. We are all one. We are all in this fight together.
Keep sharing, it keeps those pedals moving around. It helps me to remember why I ride!
-Rhonda
There are so many angels that have crossed my path over the years and this Livestrong Challenge journey has only put their memories fresh in my mind. Then there are so many new ones. Here are a few. I will continue to write about the cancer angels I meet and have met.
There are all sorts of cancer angels out there. There is the hairdress who helps the cancer patient going through chemotherapy hold onto their self-esteem by going to their home to help them shave their head. They help them find the right wig. They encourage them to take the opportunity to be bold and do something completely unique and out of the ordinary with their hair while they can change their wig. Or the hairdress that trims the hair of the cancer patient as their hair grows back after chemotherapy and does not charge them, because it was just growing back and still sparse.
Then there are the countless number of hospice nurses and grief counselors lending a kind ear, encouragement or suggestions to help. Holding support groups and offering shoulder to hold you up.
The friends that move to the of the theatre for you when they usually sit in the front, because they know you just found out a loved one in your life has a grim diagnosis.
The friends that listen over lunch, dinner, tea and chess.
The cancer angels who have survived the disease and are there with a kind ear for someone that just got a new diagnosis. Or the cancer survivor who has feet so numb from the neurapthy from chemotherapy they still standing strong as they listen to all of the fears of someone after their new diagnosis.
A woman fluffing pillows and making sure there is nothing you need as you sit for many hours receiving your chemotherapy drip. Listening patiently to anything you have to say, know that you are scared, nervous and just need to talk about something other than what you are experiencing.
We are all angels. We are all one. We are all in this fight together.
Keep sharing, it keeps those pedals moving around. It helps me to remember why I ride!
-Rhonda
Sunday, April 19, 2009
wanna FREE cookie?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHtFixj0cWk&NR=1
Hey! Wanna FREE cookie?
If you drop by the bake sale Saturday, April 25 from 10-2 (though we may run out before 2) downtown on the market in front of Seeds of Light sporting an official Nike Livestrong (Nike gives 100% of the net profits from the Livestrong gear to The Lance Armstrong Foundation) T-shirt, baseball hat or technical shirt, I will give you one of my popular chocolate chip cookies for FREE. People call me to make these chocolate chip cookies and ask when I'm baking them again. So get a cookie and buy a cooke, because 100% of the money raised will go to my $2,500 fundraising goal which is benefiting the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Please! :0)
See you Saturday in your Livestrong gear!
-Rhonda
Hey! Wanna FREE cookie?
If you drop by the bake sale Saturday, April 25 from 10-2 (though we may run out before 2) downtown on the market in front of Seeds of Light sporting an official Nike Livestrong (Nike gives 100% of the net profits from the Livestrong gear to The Lance Armstrong Foundation) T-shirt, baseball hat or technical shirt, I will give you one of my popular chocolate chip cookies for FREE. People call me to make these chocolate chip cookies and ask when I'm baking them again. So get a cookie and buy a cooke, because 100% of the money raised will go to my $2,500 fundraising goal which is benefiting the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Please! :0)
See you Saturday in your Livestrong gear!
-Rhonda
sun screen & reality
We did it! We have wanted to do it since we got our bikes. Well more me, until this year. We have wanted to ride our bikes to Salem. We thought it would be us riding our bikes to my sisters house and asking if anyone could give us a ride home. LOL! We didn't ride there, but we now know that we can.
We instead rode to the other side of Salem, to the kite festival at Greenhill Park, which is past my sisters house, though not by much. We were meeting up with my sister, her kids and Mom, along with The Craven Crew. Dad didn't have the energy and was uncomfortable from back pain (more on that tomorrow).
While there, we bummed sun screen from Jamison (who was up there with her fab fam). That was not enough though. In addition to getting sun burned, we did not hydrate enough while sitting in the sun. So when we hopped on the saddle to return home we weren't as sharp as we should have been.
Then reality hit me. I realized half way home that in August I am going to have to do that ride twice, plus a few miles. That made my jaw hang lower as I dug in to get home. Trying to decide who to call to pick us up on the side of the road. Then a little voice said, "Keep turning those pedals, you're doing this to make a difference". So I kept pedaling, even announced that I think I'm dying. Tammy must have seen my struggle, because she chirped out a word of encouragement. I learned a lot on this ride.
One, a road bike is much easier than a mountain bike. I was on a road bike and Tammy was on a hybrid, that a friend was tired of looking at in his basement (thanks Walter!). FYI, the hybrid is also easier than a mountain bike. Two, we also learned that the roads in Roanoke are better than the roads in Salem. You don't realize this in a car. However, when your butt is on a saddle and your hands feel the vibration (even with bike gloves on) you realize the condition of the road. Three: Hydration is KEY! Even though I knew this from Track & Field in high school I had forgotten, that we should have drank more water while sitting in the sun. Four, I have an amazing partner that is not only supporting me in my Livestrong ride, but riding along with me. Cycling is often called a solitary sport, but I have someone I am sharing it with. I also have friends wanting to join us. That is great! Five, we ride more on flat greenways and not unpredictable ever changing roads. We had more hills and steady inclines yesterday, which made our almost 22 miles seem tougher. Six, sun screen is also a biking need! We look like lobsters!
Don't worry we will have sunscreen next Saturday (4/25) at the bake sale downtown on the market in front of Seeds of Light from 10-2. Look forward to seeing you there!
Wear protection and hydrate!
-Rhonda
We instead rode to the other side of Salem, to the kite festival at Greenhill Park, which is past my sisters house, though not by much. We were meeting up with my sister, her kids and Mom, along with The Craven Crew. Dad didn't have the energy and was uncomfortable from back pain (more on that tomorrow).
While there, we bummed sun screen from Jamison (who was up there with her fab fam). That was not enough though. In addition to getting sun burned, we did not hydrate enough while sitting in the sun. So when we hopped on the saddle to return home we weren't as sharp as we should have been.
Then reality hit me. I realized half way home that in August I am going to have to do that ride twice, plus a few miles. That made my jaw hang lower as I dug in to get home. Trying to decide who to call to pick us up on the side of the road. Then a little voice said, "Keep turning those pedals, you're doing this to make a difference". So I kept pedaling, even announced that I think I'm dying. Tammy must have seen my struggle, because she chirped out a word of encouragement. I learned a lot on this ride.
One, a road bike is much easier than a mountain bike. I was on a road bike and Tammy was on a hybrid, that a friend was tired of looking at in his basement (thanks Walter!). FYI, the hybrid is also easier than a mountain bike. Two, we also learned that the roads in Roanoke are better than the roads in Salem. You don't realize this in a car. However, when your butt is on a saddle and your hands feel the vibration (even with bike gloves on) you realize the condition of the road. Three: Hydration is KEY! Even though I knew this from Track & Field in high school I had forgotten, that we should have drank more water while sitting in the sun. Four, I have an amazing partner that is not only supporting me in my Livestrong ride, but riding along with me. Cycling is often called a solitary sport, but I have someone I am sharing it with. I also have friends wanting to join us. That is great! Five, we ride more on flat greenways and not unpredictable ever changing roads. We had more hills and steady inclines yesterday, which made our almost 22 miles seem tougher. Six, sun screen is also a biking need! We look like lobsters!
Don't worry we will have sunscreen next Saturday (4/25) at the bake sale downtown on the market in front of Seeds of Light from 10-2. Look forward to seeing you there!
Wear protection and hydrate!
-Rhonda
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