tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76434675567172158572024-03-22T00:38:48.647-04:00Run Fast Eat LotsI run a lot, I bike even more, but I eat the most. Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger308125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7643467556717215857.post-91161578433721679732015-04-23T10:25:00.002-04:002015-04-23T10:27:06.611-04:00Pearls Olives To Go Review <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I was recently sent some samples from <a href="http://www.olives.com/pearls/">Pearls Olives</a> to try and review their Olives to Go! I've seen these in grocery stores before, but had yet to try them. I enjoy olives in things like salads and pizza, but I rarely eat them straight up as a snack. </div>
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Fun fact about me: I actually disliked eating olives for most of my life. However, for some reason, I kept trying them. And they started to grow on me. Now I actually enjoy eating them (good thing, otherwise this review would've been a bust)</div>
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This is what I received: four 4-packs of kalamatas, sliced black olives, black pitted, and pimento stuffed. An insulated lunch tote was included as well, which is perfect because I needed one!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQS4I03plcikzCPCE5I1N1LF2cdUlj45TcoX9YBHHD59T69VOOUoE-n0odBVfrXeCgNhCqUkr1_9Drc8940obUbORDMVK89FySzAG69ZezTJVudGUnvZR3fwKEjpqhgHdV9XHWq0-dqb0e/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQS4I03plcikzCPCE5I1N1LF2cdUlj45TcoX9YBHHD59T69VOOUoE-n0odBVfrXeCgNhCqUkr1_9Drc8940obUbORDMVK89FySzAG69ZezTJVudGUnvZR3fwKEjpqhgHdV9XHWq0-dqb0e/s1600/unnamed.jpg" /></a></div>
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Have you ever eaten those fruit cup things that are impossible to open without squirting the juice in your eye or spilling it all over the place? Well, these portable cups of olives are conveniently drained of that water/brine, which makes it mess-free. I really appreciated that. </div>
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I tried the different varieties both straight up and in salads. The portions in each cup was a good amount and it was easy to pop one open and dump on top of a salad. My favorite variety is the kalamata. Love that savory flavor.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLeIsSxCg3nIMHBJh7sKRqOHyfPUQBX4-J_FeQ-FbmYsTvxRj3qPJZJ1w0V5a7UwJKrdhrlvI3A3TMz53MnwEIGtjUjKBGicvrFFFLyenk9ZJe4Svn4gL8p1nYNqdchXom5AJxJodoYrEr/s640/blogger-image-1701917148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLeIsSxCg3nIMHBJh7sKRqOHyfPUQBX4-J_FeQ-FbmYsTvxRj3qPJZJ1w0V5a7UwJKrdhrlvI3A3TMz53MnwEIGtjUjKBGicvrFFFLyenk9ZJe4Svn4gL8p1nYNqdchXom5AJxJodoYrEr/s640/blogger-image-1701917148.jpg" /></a></div>
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I used the black sliced olives as a pizza topping. The sliced olives made it convenient since I didn't have to chop up whole olives. There was also the perfect amount to top a medium homemade pizza.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1x4h9If7g5II777DAboBykRv1ziTxWZvDWKuQ8DqfK82DtP0TZ-jwch7-a9YE3h1yAGrWEg10gWliUNW8GL9m1_TO8RmOjr25umQGi9xaDAFRUoAxy3-ntlE011PTLZ_nkNEzunNPcDu/s640/blogger-image--590271392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1x4h9If7g5II777DAboBykRv1ziTxWZvDWKuQ8DqfK82DtP0TZ-jwch7-a9YE3h1yAGrWEg10gWliUNW8GL9m1_TO8RmOjr25umQGi9xaDAFRUoAxy3-ntlE011PTLZ_nkNEzunNPcDu/s640/blogger-image--590271392.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>What I liked:</b><br />
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<li>convenience of pre-portioned to-go packs</li>
<li>no brine for mess-free eating</li>
<li>good portion size</li>
<li>long shelf life</li>
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<b>What I didn't like:</b></div>
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<li>amount of packaging</li>
<li>nutrition facts doesn't list values for the entire cup, since there are apparently 2.5 servings </li>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7643467556717215857.post-33353106430202084072015-02-16T13:58:00.000-05:002015-02-16T13:58:17.134-05:00How to Build a Kale & Quinoa Bowl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Quinoa and kale seem to be appearing everywhere on menus these days. You can usually find a variation of a "quinoa bowl" at any salad restaurant, but they run you at least $8. I sometimes get them at a local restaurant chain and shell out about $10 for a healthy and satisfying meal when I'm too lazy to cook. However, making your own quinoa bowl is so easy, and with a little preparation, you can throw one together in just a few minutes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja26EH4-jF1cVIfFkp__ZiC3vgr1_5CrUNIoeVA5r1bWgF6FI1CDDf9dNFqfekWSWyX9N8j2nPpVdTpJo1OadFwxf8AADopqT2lxQ7E-YVoA1aMBFudYarqJtNe7xYidVBa1lISmK_KDlZ/s1600/Kale.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja26EH4-jF1cVIfFkp__ZiC3vgr1_5CrUNIoeVA5r1bWgF6FI1CDDf9dNFqfekWSWyX9N8j2nPpVdTpJo1OadFwxf8AADopqT2lxQ7E-YVoA1aMBFudYarqJtNe7xYidVBa1lISmK_KDlZ/s1600/Kale.png" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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1. The first step to making a quinoa bowl is to cook the quinoa. Having cooked quinoa on hand cuts down on prep time and you can use the leftovers to make more quinoa bowls or other recipes such as quinoa fried rice. </div>
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Cook quinoa in a 1 to 2 ratio of quinoa and water (1 cup quinoa + 2 cups water). Add a dash of salt and bring to a boil. Cover and turn the heat down low to simmer until all the water is absorbed and quinoa is fluffy, about 20 minutes.</div>
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2. Next, prepare the kale by removing the tough stems and tearing the leaves into small pieces. Drizzle with olive oil and salt to taste, then massage the kale to rub in the oil and distribute the salt. You will notice a change in the appearance; the kale will look more "cooked" and tender. Place kale in your serving bowl and top with a serving of cooked quinoa.</div>
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3. Add whatever veggies, proteins, and garnishes you like. Below is a list of things I like to add to my bowls for some ideas, but this is where you can customize your bowl to your own preferences. Prepping these ingredients beforehand, like chopping veggies and roasting veggies, can also cut down on prep time.</div>
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4. Finish the bowl with your favorite dressing or sauce. In the one I made above, I made a quick spicy hummus dressing with sun-dried tomato hummus thinned with water and some sriracha sauce. Stir it all together and enjoy a nutritious and delicious meal!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Base</span></b></div>
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shredded kale massaged with a drizzle of olive oil and salt to taste</div>
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pre-cooked quinoa </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Veggies</span></b></div>
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corn</div>
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avocado</div>
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radishes</div>
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carrots</div>
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tomatoes</div>
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roasted veggies (brussels sprouts, butternut squash, cauliflower, sweet potato)</div>
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mushrooms</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Proteins</span></b></div>
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grilled chicken</div>
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baked tofu</div>
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beans</div>
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tuna</div>
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hard boiled egg</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Garnishes</span></b></div>
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toasted walnuts, almonds, pecans</div>
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sunflower/pumpkin seeds</div>
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dried cranberries, raisins, figs (chopped)</div>
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fresh herbs (cilantro, basil, chives)</div>
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shredded cheese, blue cheese crumbles</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Dressing</span></b></div>
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vinaigrette</div>
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peanut sauce</div>
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hummus </div>
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tzatziki sauce</div>
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<b>What are you favorite flavor combinations? </b></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7643467556717215857.post-32374223568114262762015-02-01T13:51:00.000-05:002015-02-01T13:51:42.575-05:00Tuna Brussels Sprout SaladHappy Super Bowl Sunday! I don't really watch football at all, so today's kind of like a regular old Sunday for me. I'll be busy studying for my exams on Monday and Tuesday. I know, my life is so exciting, right?<br />
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When I get super busy, I tend to get really lazy about cooking. Especially when I'm cooking for one, my meals are usually very simple. I made this tuna salad for lunch today and added shredded brussels sprouts to boost the vegetable content. It's actually more "salad" than "tuna". The dressing is mayo-free and made with Greek yogurt for more protein. I threw in some shredded radishes and cranberries for added flavor, but this recipe is really customizable with whatever you usually like in your tuna salad. Try adding some chopped celery, onions, sunflower seeds, etc. I had my tuna salad on an open-faced sandwich, topped with some avocado. Yummy :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyXRnGJtfJ-WP9xYQG5nErS_m8FxxHsMOaMAQQESZhFniNqIZazwAFaC12UOxfHZGelOhskl5QuhlUtrq1sSNEdD96JRvLFCq2dTRcncfOmQwdJHfhyphenhyphen_SCen-xBlJCKhFCxrN-ylZzZ_j/s640/blogger-image--22949080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyXRnGJtfJ-WP9xYQG5nErS_m8FxxHsMOaMAQQESZhFniNqIZazwAFaC12UOxfHZGelOhskl5QuhlUtrq1sSNEdD96JRvLFCq2dTRcncfOmQwdJHfhyphenhyphen_SCen-xBlJCKhFCxrN-ylZzZ_j/s640/blogger-image--22949080.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Tuna Brussels Sprout Salad</span></div>
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You will need:</div>
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3 Tbsp Greek yogurt</div>
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juice of 1/2 lemon or lime</div>
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1 Tbsp Dijon mustard</div>
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salt and pepper to taste</div>
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1 6oz canned tuna</div>
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1.5 cups shredded brussels sprouts, about 6-7 sprouts</div>
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4 radishes, shredded</div>
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1/3 cup dried cranberries</div>
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To make the dressing, in a medium mixing bowl, whisk the yogurt, lemon juice, and Dijon mustard together. Season to taste with salt and pepper.</div>
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Drain the tuna and add to the dressing. Add the shredded brussels sprouts, radishes, and cranberries and stir to combine evenly. </div>
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<b>Make it vegetarian</b>- use a can of lightly smashed garbanzo beans instead of the tuna. Add dulse flakes if you desire, for a more umami flavor.</div>
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<b>Make it vegan</b>- do the same to make it vegetarian, and sub 3 Tbsp vegan mayonnaise for the Greek yogurt. </div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7643467556717215857.post-53608279083984667942015-01-28T12:56:00.001-05:002015-01-28T12:56:40.016-05:00I'm the Worst Blogger Ever (but here's a soup recipe)Let's pretend that it hasn't been over two months since my last blog post. And the fact that I am lazy and the only reason I am writing is because I have two snow days in a row due to the blizzard dumping 2 feet of snow in Boston.<br />
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The storm started Monday night, picking up early Tuesday morning and lasting throughout the day. I was notified of my school's closure midday Monday, so the evening was spent with plenty of wine and Netflix.</div>
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It was windy and nasty-looking out, and while I usually love snow and extreme weather, I didn't feel like venturing out. I kind of wish I did go out and brave the storm yesterday while the snow was still fresh. </div>
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Instead, I finally bundled up this morning to explore the transformed city.</div>
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The city did a pretty great job at clearing major roads and walkways. I went down to the river, around Beacon Hill, and the Commons. A lot of the narrow streets were still snowy and cars were mostly buried. </div>
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And now to my soup recipe, the perfect food for a blizzard. I made this on Tuesday and survived, so it's proven to be effective.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Broccoli and Kale Cheese Soup</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2aw7s0mry9TnEp0uzDK7KFsp6-QhTOE8K7wcfXZx2Yb3kqQxMVie7_PN_AIo7-Sd9RvIq8SfWyKzFthFGC4zbzCaDGcu9_B4sySWGLgeC-2xXel4YMkJ67UvjOHAsDBScuPW_Xd5zhgn/s640/blogger-image--1355125748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2aw7s0mry9TnEp0uzDK7KFsp6-QhTOE8K7wcfXZx2Yb3kqQxMVie7_PN_AIo7-Sd9RvIq8SfWyKzFthFGC4zbzCaDGcu9_B4sySWGLgeC-2xXel4YMkJ67UvjOHAsDBScuPW_Xd5zhgn/s640/blogger-image--1355125748.jpg" /></a></div>
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You will need:</div>
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1/2 onion, diced</div>
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1 small sweet potato, diced</div>
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3 cloves garlic</div>
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1 small bunch green kale, chopped</div>
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1 head of broccoli, chopped into small florets</div>
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1 quart chicken or vegetable broth</div>
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3 tablespoons corn starch</div>
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2/3 cup shredded cheese</div>
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salt and pepper to taste</div>
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In a large pot, sweat the onions and garlic for 2 minutes. Add the sweet potato and cook on medium heat until they are softened. Add half of the broth and bring to a simmer.</div>
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Pour the contents of the pot into a blender and blend until completely smooth. Add the cheese and cornstarch and blend again. Be careful to let the steam escape through the lid so that it doesn't pop off!</div>
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In the meantime, steam the kale and broccoli with the rest of the broth in the large pot (no need to wash it) until tender. Add the contents of the blender to the veggies and stir to combine. Simmer on low heat for a few more minutes. If you want to thicken the soup, add more cornstarch dissolved in a little water. Season to taste with salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, sriracha, whatever your heart desires.</div>
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Ladle into bowls and eat, preferably while watching a snowstorm :) I topped mine with a sprinkle of cheese and sriracha sauce because I am obsessed.</div>
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<b>Make it vegetarian- </b>sub vegetable broth instead of chicken broth</div>
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<b>Make it vegan</b>- sub 1/3 cup nutritional yeast for the shredded cheese</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7643467556717215857.post-11019603713013304002014-11-29T16:07:00.000-05:002014-11-29T16:07:04.658-05:00Turkey Chase, Namaste, and Ride to NowhereHope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and is enjoying the long weekend. I am back in Maryland for the holidays! I've been home since Wednesday, and have been busy catching up with family and friends.<br />
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On Thanksgiving, my family kept up the tradition of going to the annual Turkey Chase 10K. My brother, older cousin, and I ran the 10K, and my aunt and younger cousin ran the 2 Miler. I haven't run a race since <a href="http://runfasteatlots.blogspot.com/2014/04/pikes-peak-10k-race-recap.html">Pike's Peak</a> back in April, so it was great to feel that race atmosphere again. I was definitely not running it this year for time, since I am still regaining my running fitness that I lost from my ankle injury.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZ5F_xdOcPTF-FaZeX-cWGON1jzcLe_bxYpZbjwKu6nfpTr3EE0SbyT742CUcvqYpulfBv7qd3WEqyQ5ggrawkdaB9Xbs6uPHbER8KoCVll8VMy-W5joO_k-rN0wCjrtR2pdsVz40j3k-/s640/blogger-image--7365387.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZ5F_xdOcPTF-FaZeX-cWGON1jzcLe_bxYpZbjwKu6nfpTr3EE0SbyT742CUcvqYpulfBv7qd3WEqyQ5ggrawkdaB9Xbs6uPHbER8KoCVll8VMy-W5joO_k-rN0wCjrtR2pdsVz40j3k-/s640/blogger-image--7365387.jpg" /></a></div>
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I started running with my brother, and we kept an easy conversational pace. However, at about 2 miles, he had to stop and walk because of stomach issues, so I went on ahead. Around mile 4, I caught up to my cousin, who started a bit ahead of us in the corals. He was walking, so I slowed down to ask him how he was doing, but then he started running again. I ran with him for the next mile or so, but lost him when he had to stop and tie a shoelace. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9sz4S3wPoYDj3i3TryPIKns6yFycN2kSZKgZcIpNzxZ4kI2S-42-u_VZ0ZpbOAeHWQ6Dd31KAAch7mYHuSxMTiHiRKg1ajANmNPamAejVGPrZQ8cy2z4VpSX1RDVnKcVdBFbcZeeuDkx/s640/blogger-image--2073097325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9sz4S3wPoYDj3i3TryPIKns6yFycN2kSZKgZcIpNzxZ4kI2S-42-u_VZ0ZpbOAeHWQ6Dd31KAAch7mYHuSxMTiHiRKg1ajANmNPamAejVGPrZQ8cy2z4VpSX1RDVnKcVdBFbcZeeuDkx/s640/blogger-image--2073097325.jpg" /></a></div>
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I finished, then my cousin, and brother. My parents were at the finish line to greet us, and we all met up afterwards. I can't believe that another Turkey Chase is over. It's nice to have an annual tradition, and I hope I can come home for Thanksgiving to run it for as long as I can. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsC_iDHt4KMrJa1jq_fou4Rsl0L2G-KOOBWx4OmNYs0zTfuRDCS8V80ueTBDLhTN7Z8bC8TUbrY9-9crJPvcxZrkIU74_okCN6mcLrv5BNMoOmOFobTmhsg7ok4B64_N4_UcJA5t80pPu/s640/blogger-image--1034866963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsC_iDHt4KMrJa1jq_fou4Rsl0L2G-KOOBWx4OmNYs0zTfuRDCS8V80ueTBDLhTN7Z8bC8TUbrY9-9crJPvcxZrkIU74_okCN6mcLrv5BNMoOmOFobTmhsg7ok4B64_N4_UcJA5t80pPu/s640/blogger-image--1034866963.jpg" /></a></div>
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After the race, we went home and I started cooking. Every year, my mom makes the turkey and I make all the sides. I had a seven sides on the menu this year, so I got busy cooking. And then eat. Needless to say, a lot ;)<br />
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On Friday, instead of going out shopping at a ridiculous hour, I went to a my old yoga studio for a class. In Boston, I've been trying to practice yoga at least once a week at the weekly Lululemon class. I haven't found another yoga studio to practice at, and I really miss the one at home. The class was 75 minutes with a lot of core work, so I was sweating. </div>
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The only shopping I did on Black Friday was at a bike shop. I needed to pick up some winter gear, since I am going to try to cycle in Boston for as long as I can. I also needed the gear because I was planning on joining the 50 Miles to Nowhere ride with my bike club. Unfortunately, I didn't really pack cycling clothes, and wish I had my jacket. The Saturday ride was pretty cold! It was in the 30's with a bit of wind. Despite that, there was a good turnout. Lately, I haven't been riding much because of school, so I'm glad I got the chance to ride. </div>
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My Thanksgiving break has been fun and relaxing so far. It's so nice to get a break from my studies. Less than a week before the end of my first semester of dental school!</div>
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<b>How has your Thanksgiving weekend been? </b></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7643467556717215857.post-51414227794418431762014-11-11T11:01:00.000-05:002014-11-11T11:01:02.121-05:00Training Log 11/9- Updates on my Ankle InjuryIt's been so long since I've posted a training log. I haven't raced since... May, which was a <a href="http://runfasteatlots.blogspot.com/2014/05/richmond-road-race-first-foray-into.html">cycling road race</a>. For the entire summer from June to August, I was <a href="http://runfasteatlots.blogspot.com/p/4k-for-cancer.html">cycling across the country</a> and then I broke my ankle on July 20th. It's been a long journey to heal and get back to where I was before the accident.<br />
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Some details about my injury: I broke my ankle on July 20th and found out that I needed ankle reduction surgery. I had the surgery on July 24th, where a metal plate and seven screws were placed in my ankle so that it would heal properly. I was in an air cast and on crutches for 6 weeks, and I progressed to bearing weight and walking in my air cast for another 4 weeks or so. I started walking without the cast around September 25th and have slowly regained the strength that I lost in my left foot. Physical therapy has helped, and I am happy to say that my strength has almost fully returned to normal, though there is still a bit of pain and stiffness.<br />
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As you can imagine, being unable to run and cycle has been pretty tough. Especially after moving to Boston, where I see runners everywhere, especially along the Charles. I had to exercise a lot of patience, but I must admit I jumped the gun on my recovery and started doing more on my ankle earlier than was medically advised. Don't worry, everything's still healing perfectly.<br />
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Right now, my goal is to get back into running shape and regain my speed. My long term goal is to Boston qualify, because heck, I'm going to be in Boston for the next four years. I'm not sure how feasible it will be, especially since dental school will keep me busy.<br />
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As for my cycling, I haven't been able to get out much. I missed most of the fall season because of my ankle, but once I got rid of the air cast, I started cycling outdoors. I actually cycled on my trainer with my air cast! Since moving here, I've met a few cyclists and have gone on a few shop rides with Community Bike Shop. I am trying to do a longer ride at least once a week on the weekends, but it's getting colder and darker earlier, and I am a wimp.<br />
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Here's what I've been up to for the past week.<br />
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<b>11/2 Sun</b>- 4 treadmill miles, progressive run<br />
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<b>11/3 Mon</b>- 30 minutes stationary bike, intervals<br />
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<b>11/4 Tues</b>- 45 minutes cycling on trainer<br />
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<b>11/5 Wed</b>- 4.6 treadmill miles, pyramids<br />
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<b>11/6 Thurs</b>- 5.4 treadmill miles<br />
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<b>11/7 Fri</b>- rock climbing<br />
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<b>11/8 Sat</b>- 37 miles cycling<br />
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<b>11/9 Sun</b>- 60 minutes yoga<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7643467556717215857.post-29573748988601856742014-11-07T07:33:00.000-05:002014-11-07T10:54:00.281-05:00Life in Pictures #1<div align="center">
I was invited to participate in a fun link-up called Life in Pictures, where I share a bunch of photos from the past couple of weeks. No captions, so you can guess what I've been up to! Hint: there's a lot of yummy food involved. I wouldn't be me if there weren't ;)<br />
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Enjoy and happy Friday!<br />
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<a href="http://thefitty.com/" title="Fit Fed and Happy"><img alt="Fit Fed and Happy" src="http://thefitty.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/beige-camera-hi.png" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://instagram.com/p/uyoF-uJCLG/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_top">A photo posted by Jojo (@runfasteatlots)</a> on <time datetime="2014-10-30T21:03:31+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Oct 10, 2014 at 2:03pm PDT</time></div>
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<a href="https://instagram.com/p/uq5lMcpCIa/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_top">A photo posted by Jojo (@runfasteatlots)</a> on <time datetime="2014-10-27T21:02:24+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Oct 10, 2014 at 2:02pm PDT</time></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7643467556717215857.post-63628288261016270512014-11-05T22:18:00.001-05:002014-11-06T22:24:18.059-05:00Catching Up Part 5: Search & Rescue<div class="separator" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; clear: both; color: #868585; font-family: Lora, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13.1944437026978px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Wow, I am the worst... Sorry to keep you all in suspense after my last post about two weeks ago. I had a busy weekend traveling down to Maryland to see my 4K teammates, been busy with exams (as always), and was just plain lazy over the Halloween weekend.</div>
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I am continuing with my story from this<a href="http://runfasteatlots.blogspot.com/search/label/4K%20for%20Cancer" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #ce9d6a; font-size: 13.1944437026978px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> past summer</a>, as I was cycling from Baltimore, MD to Portland, OR with my <a href="http://4kforcancer.org/2014-baltimore-to-portland/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #ce9d6a; font-size: 13.1944437026978px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">4K for Cancer team</a>. Here are the previous parts to my story if you need to catch up:</div>
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<a href="http://runfasteatlots.blogspot.com/2014/10/catching-up-part-4-part-youve-been.html">Part 4</a>- The Part You've Been Waiting For</div>
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<a href="http://runfasteatlots.blogspot.com/2014/10/catching-up-part-3-into-tetons-and-best.html">Part 3</a>- Into the Tetons and the Best Hike Ever</div>
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<a href="http://runfasteatlots.blogspot.com/2014/10/catching-up-part-2-back-to-jackson-wy.html" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #ce9d6a; font-size: 13.1944437026978px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Part 2</a>- Back to Jackson, WY</div>
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<a href="http://runfasteatlots.blogspot.com/2014/10/catching-up-part-1.html" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #ce9d6a; font-family: Lora, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13.1944437026978px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Part 1</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #868585; font-family: Lora, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13.1944437026978px; line-height: 20px;">- Life Updates</span></div>
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So here was my situation:</div>
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1) I was 99% positive that my ankle was broken</div>
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2) I was in a hard to reach location on the side of the mountain, approximately 7 miles and 3,000 feet in elevation from the trailhead</div>
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3) Three of my hiking buddies were MIA because they continued on ahead and were going to meet us later. At least I wasn't alone and was with Chris.</div>
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4) Both our cell phones had low battery and almost no cell phone service.</div>
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After assessing the situation, the next logical step was to call for help. The location I was in wasn't the best, so Chris walked around the area trying to get better cell reception. After a few tries, his 911 call went through. He explained the situation and was transferred to Search and Rescue. Since we weren't the ones planning the hike, we didn't really know how to describe our location. In my current state of mind, I could barely recall anything. All I remembered was the name of the peak across the canyon: Desolation Peak. That name stuck in my mind for some reason...</div>
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The dispatchers tried to pinpoint our location using the cell phone signal, but it kept cutting out. The call was dropped, but at least someone knew we were out here. Chris tried to call again and again, but the signal was lost. The other hikers in our group had phones with them, so we were hoping that when they met back up with us, their phones would get a call through.</div>
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At that point, the swarms of mosquitoes were coming back. It was also getting chilly as the sun sunk behind the mountain peaks. As we were waiting for our friends to find us, the reality of my injury sunk in. Of course I wouldn't be able to complete the cross-country bike ride with a broken ankle. I thought how ironic it was that although I never got injured on the bike (while my teammates had countless mishaps, even flipping over handlebars), I had to get injured on a rest day. Although I didn't know the extent of my injury, I was determined to stay with my team until we got to Portland, even if I had to hobble around on crutches and ride the support vans every day. I was going to continue the trip, nonetheless.</div>
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After what seemed like at least an hour, our friends finally made the descent and found us. They looked very concerned, so I tried to make things more lighthearted with jokes and laughs. I hated to make everyone so worried about me. One of my friends had the best cell reception, and was able to reach Search and Rescue again. He was able to describe our location better, and they said that they were on their way. </div>
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It was a long wait, but we finally heard the unmistakable sound of a helicopter overhead. It made a few passes in the canyon as they assessed the best way to reach me. Two rescuers were dropped off and hiked over to meet us. They took a look at my ankle and tried to see if I could bear weight on it. Just lifting it from the rock it was propped on was painful, and I was too scared to try to walk on it. There was no choice but to fly me out, so they began to prep for a short-haul. I thought they were going to lift me up <i>into</i> the helicopter and fly me down. Nope. I was going to be harnessed, lifted, and flown down essentially <i>dangling from a helicopter. </i>Needless to say, there are some risks, but I had no choice. Part of me was thrilled to able to fly down the Tetons in such a manner. I mean, this is (hopefully) a once in a lifetime experience. And of course part of me was scared shitless. I couldn't help but think about how this could go terribly wrong...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_14fFV2vPCA7lMB0KgoaWWC_oHuCOKNJZa-4UeAyaiblcpCnIHZ1qIESAtqob4vIy7ENtPI59pLoJIcjD-uVUCPD40dIxXMAOy9uOL-FuVax_NGESGrDaorMx8Lw629hgnW4Vgn-bWssP/s1600/GOPR0735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_14fFV2vPCA7lMB0KgoaWWC_oHuCOKNJZa-4UeAyaiblcpCnIHZ1qIESAtqob4vIy7ENtPI59pLoJIcjD-uVUCPD40dIxXMAOy9uOL-FuVax_NGESGrDaorMx8Lw629hgnW4Vgn-bWssP/s1600/GOPR0735.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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First, my ankle was protected in an air splint. I was getting pretty cold, so one of the rescuers gave me his jacket. Then the harness went on and a helmet. One of them was going to fly with me and support my leg while the other stayed behind to hike down with my friends. The helicopter slowly approached us with the ropes and they were attached to my harness. I felt them lifting slowly, bearing my weight in the harness, and I was airborne! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dvTvrIvqm1bzy-0FIJH8AQKMgmyYIul2azCezAWkpzjI5jk3q6WOe_Q8W3bUXjjfj1LnxSzw3QEB75gkMFbH_zd1V3izgWidqcMihcaW4dXf4zNrhOhBGA12ke_Bc-zZ9ddJVt27OOM8/s1600/GOPR0741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dvTvrIvqm1bzy-0FIJH8AQKMgmyYIul2azCezAWkpzjI5jk3q6WOe_Q8W3bUXjjfj1LnxSzw3QEB75gkMFbH_zd1V3izgWidqcMihcaW4dXf4zNrhOhBGA12ke_Bc-zZ9ddJVt27OOM8/s1600/GOPR0741.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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The ride down to the valley was probably five minutes long, but it is an experience that I will never forget. Let me tell you, the view was <i>spectacular</i>. The sun was setting as I was lifted above the peaks of Garnet Canyon. My view stretched for miles across the valley, and I could see the lakes that we hiked around earlier. I tried to take it all in while I could. The wind was also very strong and very loud, almost to the point that it was deafening. I was just glad that I had on an extra layer to keep me warm.<br />
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The helicopter slowly lowered me in a field, where there was an ambulance, stretcher, and many first responders ready to unhook me and load me into the ambulance. There were also a few onlookers gawking at the girl dangling from a helicopter. After I landed and safely in the ambulance, I was headed to the hospital in Jackson, WY. I was a bit worried because my friends were still on the mountain and they had to hike down in the dark. I also didn't have my cell phone on me, so I didn't have anyone's numbers and wouldn't be able to reach them. I tried to relax as the EMT inserted an IV, took my blood pressure, and chatted with me.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7643467556717215857.post-89489704186022830012014-10-23T23:03:00.000-04:002014-10-23T23:24:28.049-04:00Catching Up Part 4: The Part You've Been Waiting For<div class="separator" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; clear: both; color: #868585; font-family: Lora, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13.1944437026978px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I am continuing with my story from this<a href="http://runfasteatlots.blogspot.com/search/label/4K%20for%20Cancer" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #ce9d6a; font-size: 13.1944437026978px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> past summer</a>, as I was cycling from Baltimore, MD to Portland, OR with my <a href="http://4kforcancer.org/2014-baltimore-to-portland/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #ce9d6a; font-size: 13.1944437026978px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">4K for Cancer team</a>. You can read the previous installments here:</div>
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<a href="http://runfasteatlots.blogspot.com/2014/10/catching-up-part-3-into-tetons-and-best.html">Part 3</a>- Into the Tetons and the Best Hike Ever</div>
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<a href="http://runfasteatlots.blogspot.com/2014/10/catching-up-part-2-back-to-jackson-wy.html" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #ce9d6a; font-size: 13.1944437026978px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Part 2</a>- Back to Jackson, WY</div>
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<a href="http://runfasteatlots.blogspot.com/2014/10/catching-up-part-1.html" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #ce9d6a; font-family: Lora, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13.1944437026978px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Part 1</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #868585; font-family: Lora, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13.1944437026978px; line-height: 20px;">- Life Updates</span></div>
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In my<a href="http://runfasteatlots.blogspot.com/2014/10/catching-up-part-3-into-tetons-and-best.html"> last post</a>, you could probably sense the tension building and can guess what happens next. What comes next in my story is probably the most thrilling moment of my life. In both a terrifying and exhilarating way. </div>
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Where I left off last time was nearly 10,000 feet above sea level, precariously perched on the ledge of a mountain in the Tetons. My small group of hikers just split up; Chris and I were staying put while the other three continued to climb. We agreed to meet back together at 6, at the latest. It was only four, and I had an uncomfortable feeling about staying so high up the mountains so close to dusk. We did not have the foresight to bring headlamps and getting stuck in the mountain after dark would be potentially dangerous. Although I wanted to start heading down soon, the other hikers really wanted to reach the summit. </div>
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As the sun was getting lower and the temperatures cooled, the mosquitoes started coming out. They were relentless. We kept moving from one place to another, trying to avoid them, but they would return in swarms. The later it got, the thicker they came. Thankfully, I brought a few long sleeved layers and a bandanna to protect most of my exposed skin, but they were still driving us nuts. When I couldn't stand it anymore, I decided to head back to the trail in hopes that there would be fewer mosquitoes there. We left a message for our three friends who were still climbing so that they would know where we were. </div>
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In order to get back on the trail, we had to descend down that grassy slope that I felt sketched out by, cross a boulder field, and a stream. Chris let me head down first and waited until I was safe distance away to avoid getting hit by loose rocks. I started down the steep slope very slowly and carefully. I knew that there were some patches that were slippery and a lot of the rocks were loose. When I cleared the trickiest section, I hollered to Chris to start descending. I continued on and started to retrace the path I took climbing up. The slope wasn't as steep at this section, so the steps I took were bolder and I didn't step as gingerly. </div>
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It's when I let my guard down that accidents happen. I took one misstep, hopped slightly, chose a poor landing spot, and landed on my ankle wrong. I heard a dull pop and screamed. I knew instantly. </div>
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There wasn't immediate pain. More like a gradual awareness of it combined with fear that made it worse. Panic started to creep into my mind as I realized the implications of my injury and my physical location so high up the mountain. So inaccessible. </div>
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Poor Chris. He was out of my line of sight, though close enough to hear my scream and my calling out to him. I must have scared him nearly to death, which made me feel worse. He got to me as quickly as he could, and tried to calm me down as he assessed my injury. I had already tried to elevate it on a rock, which was not easy because I was sitting on quite a steep slope. I tried to move it a bit, but that made the pain nearly intolerable. </div>
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Chris asked me if I thought I would be able to stand on my ankle. I didn't think that I could.</div>
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Carrying me out was out of the question, since we were seven miles from the trail head down some pretty steep terrain. Not to mention that boulder field full of loose rocks and stream that we would have to cross to even reach the trail.</div>
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Getting rangers/medical personnel to hike me out was also not possible for the same reasons. And it was getting closer to dusk and by the time they reached me, it would be completely dark. </div>
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The only option that I could see would be to get airlifted by a helicopter. The only problem was contacting Search and Rescue and have them locate me. There were a few factors that wasn't working in my favor: I was in deep into Garnet Canyon. I didn't know how to describe my location since the other half of my hiking party was navigating and were currently out of reach. We all had low cell phone battery and very spotty service. Night was approaching, so time was of the essence. </div>
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I fought to keep the negative thoughts out of my head. When you're stuck in a situation that can potentially get much worse, you can't help but think "what if". I tried to stay positive, make jokes, take selfies. Anything to keep my mind off of the pain and the deep shit I was in. We would figure a way out. </div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7643467556717215857.post-25586165765107778182014-10-20T12:32:00.000-04:002014-10-20T19:51:00.018-04:00Catching Up Part 3: Into the Tetons and the Best Hike Ever<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am continuing with my story from this<a href="http://runfasteatlots.blogspot.com/search/label/4K%20for%20Cancer"> past summer</a>, as I was cycling from Baltimore, MD to Portland, OR with my <a href="http://4kforcancer.org/2014-baltimore-to-portland/">4K for Cancer team</a>. You can read the previous installments here:</div>
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<a href="http://runfasteatlots.blogspot.com/2014/10/catching-up-part-2-back-to-jackson-wy.html">Part 2</a>- Back to Jackson, WY</div>
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<a href="http://runfasteatlots.blogspot.com/2014/10/catching-up-part-1.html">Part 1</a>- Life Updates</div>
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July 20th was our rest day in Jackson, WY. I was really looking forward to spending a day here since it's a mecca for everything outdoorsy. They have it all: mountain biking, rafting, hiking, rock climbing, skiing in the winter. The Tetons in the backdrop of our campsite was calling my name, and I knew that I wanted to spend the day hiking into the mountains. Being in proximity to the grandeur of the Tetons enthralled me. We had spent over a month and a half to get to this point of the trip, and being here was pretty unbelievable. We <i>biked to the fucking Tetons</i>. In the beginning of the trip, when we were fighting headwinds and boredom cycling through the Midwest, I would frequently ask myself why we were going across the country the hard way. The winds travel west to east, so going with the wind would've made our lives a lot easier. As if cycling across the country wasn't enough of a challenge. But once we really got to the west, I understood. The incredible views of the mountains that we wake up to every morning is pretty great reward.</div>
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The night before rest days, we usually have fun exploring the town and end up going to bed late since we can afford to sleep in the next day. It was no different in Jackson, and we sat around the campfire late into the night, which meant that no one wanted to get up in the morning. When everyone finally emerged from their tents and figured out what we wanted to do, it was already pretty late in the morning. Some people planned on heading into town to get lunch and do some shopping. Marge, Chris, Max, Ryan, and I decided we wanted to go on a hike. About 7 miles up the mountain to reach a peak, with over 3000 feet of elevation gain. And since it took forever to get everyone organized, we ended up starting the hike around noon. Not the best start to the day.<br />
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Despite our late start, we figured that we would still have enough time to finish the hike and planned to have the van pick us up by 8pm at the latest. Since we were camping and didn't have electricity, most of our phones were low on battery. We turned them off to conserve battery so that we could call the van when we needed a ride back to the campground. </div>
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The trail went around a couple of lakes at the foot of the mountain, then started winding up a lot of switchbacks. As we ascended, the trees were getting more and more sparse, and the view was getting better and better. I would pause every now and then to take it all in (and catch my breath). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCT_tVpuqVQNvAzl6nJc4ete84KE91GL_jWKLBXEiqWcKX1hpKqT8iY9lVQZXDo-gwUaLiIeYQQovcL5GMXeVU8hodIkXHmvX4sPfl5V7EUFkkZwtAm5DFoNHtO7BN0tL01Eve2USBMjZO/s1600/GOPR0708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCT_tVpuqVQNvAzl6nJc4ete84KE91GL_jWKLBXEiqWcKX1hpKqT8iY9lVQZXDo-gwUaLiIeYQQovcL5GMXeVU8hodIkXHmvX4sPfl5V7EUFkkZwtAm5DFoNHtO7BN0tL01Eve2USBMjZO/s1600/GOPR0708.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a>Can't help but smile the whole time when the views are so gorgeous :)</div>
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The trail ended as it approached a boulder field in Garnet Canyon, and that's when we decided to get off the path, cross the boulder field and across a stream to get to a peak on the other side. We were planning on going up Nez Perce as far as we could. </div>
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This is the view from the other side of the canyon. You can see the trail and the stream we crossed to the lower right of the picture. The boulders were a bit tricky, since some were loose and at some points I had to use both hands to climb over them. Above the boulder field was a steep grassy slope with a snowbank that made the surface moist and slippery. I was sketched out climbing up, and we had to be especially careful since there were loose rocks that could come crashing down onto whoever was climbing below. Let's just say there were some close calls.<br />
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After climbing up the grassy slope, there was a leveled out section where we stopped to rest and take pictures. We were getting close to the summit on one side, and the other side was a spectacular view of the canyon, lakes, and the valley. </div>
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Again from this picture, you can see the trail on the opposite side of where we were. That's how far we were off the trail.<br />
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After resting for a bit, Ryan, Marge, and Max wanted to continue on to see how high up they could climb. I was feeling a bit nervous after climbing the last section, so I decided to take it easy and stay behind with Chris. I explored the area a bit, took more pictures and video with my GoPro, and sat back to enjoy the view. With my feet hanging off the edge and looking at how far away the trail head was, I thought how great it would be to turn into an eagle and just soar down the mountain. It would be so easy.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7643467556717215857.post-40877573123127405972014-10-19T10:23:00.000-04:002014-10-19T10:23:17.195-04:00Catching Up Part 2- Back to Jackson, WYIn my last post, I gave you all <a href="http://runfasteatlots.blogspot.com/2014/10/catching-up-part-1.html">an update</a> about what I've been up to recently. Mainly busy with dental school. Exams and fun things like that.<br />
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Let's pick up where I last left off, which is in the middle of my summer cycling journey from Baltimore, MD to Portland, OR. I had left Baltimore on June 1st with the 4K for Cancer Team Portland on our mission to bike across the country to spread awareness for young adults with cancer. At the beginning of the trip, we had no idea what was ahead of us, what an incredibly wild ride it was going to be. We experienced literal highs from climbing mountains, kindness from strangers, crazy thunderstorms, a<a href="http://runfasteatlots.blogspot.com/2014/06/day-13-18-lexington-ky-to-effingham-il.html"> terrible tragedy</a>, and an incredible, unbreakable bond among my teammates, which I now call my 4K Family.<br />
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Our team was scheduled to arrive in Portland, OR on August 9th. However, the last day that I rode on the trip was July 18th, riding from Lander, WY to Dubois, WY. It was a tough day, fighting headwinds all day. I was literally losing speed <i>going downhill</i> if I stopped pedaling. At times, I felt that I was riding into a wall. I was getting weary and decided that I wanted to drive the support van the next day. It was my turn for van duty, anyways. Little did I know that I wouldn't ride again for the rest of the trip.<br />
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The next day, we were riding into Jackson, WY. It was a gorgeous ride through the mountains, and we were greeted by the Tetons as we approached Jackson. Fun fact: the Tetons, which means "breast" in French, are named so because I guess they looked like the breasts of the earth. So we were treated to lovely views of the earth's breasts. And let me tell you, it was breathtaking. I was riding in the van, which I kind of regretted because it would have been an amazing ride. But it's funny how things work out for a reason. I'll get to that later.<br />
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I was in the food van, which meant my job was to go around restaurants and grocery stores to beg for food donations. Our team was running low on food since we were passing through increasingly remote areas. Jackson was our best bet to stock up on food, since it is a touristy town with a lot more shops than we've seen on the road for a while. We also had a rest day in Jackson, so we would have more time to ask around.<br />
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In addition to our food-begging duties, my teammate, Helen, and I were responsible for securing camp sites. We usually stay at host sites, such as churches and schools, but we weren't able to secure one for Jackson. Which meant that we would be camping for two days. Camping is usually fun (and it really was), but when you're on the bike for over 10 hours a day, it's nice to have creature comforts such as a solid roof over your head, showers, and hosts that feed you.<br />
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Helen and I got lucky and we were able to get a huge group camp site for the team. It was three times larger than we needed, and in a pretty great location. With that out of the way (which was a huge concern), we drove into town to try to get shower donations at a gym, and some food donations. We got the food, but not the showers. Oh well, we would just bathe in the ice-cold stream by our campsite.<br />
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Funny story as we were going around town asking for donations. As Helen and I were walking back to the van in the parking lot of a strip mall, a car drives by us and honks. A woman in the car waves and gets out to introduce herself. Turns out, she's the sister of a host that we had back in Louisville, KY. She recognized our van with all the 4K logos and window paint, and knew who we were. Helen and I ended up chatting with her and her daughter. We had a long, pleasant conversation and she was even kind enough to give us a donation.<br />
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After a few hours of asking around and getting a few donations, we decided to head back to the campground to set up. We actually got a box full of raw chicken from a grocery store, and even though at first we had no idea what to do with it, we took it (beggars can't be choosers). I was determined to cook the chicken and have it ready for when our riders got to the campground so that they would have a lovely snack waiting for them, so I got a roll of tin foil and BBQ sauce and planned to cook it over a camp fire.<br />
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Since it was just the two of us with all the camping gear and the rest of the team was arriving later in the afternoon, we got to work setting up the campsite. We set up ten tents, collected a pile of firewood, cooked the chicken, and unloaded the 15 passenger van of all our teammates' duffel bags. It was exhausting, but we got it done by the time everyone got to the campground. And the chicken was delicious, by the way.<br />
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For the rest of the afternoon and evening, the team settled in their tents, bathed in the stream, a few of us went into town for dinner while the rest of the team cooked their dinner over the campfire. I was determined to get an elk steak, so that's what I got. We sighted moose, hung out by the campfire, stargazed and saw shooting stars. Then crawled into our tents to get ready for the next day. It was a going to be a great rest day. Jackson was such a great location to have a rest day since there's so much to do. I was looking forward to going hiking and seeing the mountains up close. And I did. I had the best, most spectacular view of the Tetons, but I'll get into that more next time.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7643467556717215857.post-5558884226303917572014-10-18T18:33:00.000-04:002014-10-18T18:33:13.859-04:00Catching Up: Part 1If you have been following my blog since this summer, you would know that I was posting updates on my <a href="http://runfasteatlots.blogspot.com/search/label/4K%20for%20Cancer">cross-country cycling journey</a> and abruptly stopped blogging in mid-July. A lot has happened since then, and it'll take me a while to fill in the gaps to my story.<br />
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Where to start... before I pick up where I had left off, I'll start with what I've been up to recently.<br />
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<b>New City, New Beginnings</b><br />
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My cycling trip ended in Portland, OR in mid-August, and I flew back to where I started from, Baltimore, MD. Although my home is in Maryland, I spent only three days there packing my things and getting ready to move up to Boston, where I will be going to dental school for the next four years. I had spent the entire summer constantly traveling, sleeping in a different place every night, so settling into my apartment in Boston felt a bit strange and pleasant at the same time. I'll always have that wanderlust, and at times, being constantly in a city feels oppressing after all the wild and open spaces I've ridden through this summer. But it's also nice to feel at home in my own little place. I had been really looking forward to living in this historic and vibrant city and I couldn't wait to explore it and call it my home for (at least) four years.<br />
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Since moving up here, I started school and met my class of 195 dental students. We started school in the beginning of September, and since then, it's been very busy. Between classes, projects, and studying for exams, I have met and gotten to know quite a few people from my school. We work together, party together, and navigate this rocky first semester of first year together. There have been some rough patches (I'm currently in the midst of an exam block), but overall, it's been a great experience. I'm loving what I do, and I am where I want to be. The hard work will pay off in the end.<br />
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<b>Running and Cycling in Boston</b><br />
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Of course since this is a blog about running and cycling, I should be covering all the great runs I've had along the Charles, right? The truth is, I haven't been running or cycling much at all.<br />
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What?! And I call myself a runner.<br />
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I haven't been running much lately (for the past three months, more specifically), because I <i>wasn't able to</i> run. Believe me, I definitely would've been running more if I could.<br />
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Since July, I had been sidelined by an injury, and that's part of the reason why I stopped blogging. Only recently have I gotten back to running and cycling again. I started with a 1 mile <i>slow</i> jog on October 10th, and a 3.75 mile run last Thursday. And I am still sore from that last one. It's going to be a long journey to regain my fitness and get myself back to where I was prior to my injury.<br />
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So what exactly happened? That's where I'll pick up next time.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7643467556717215857.post-84263815730164519712014-10-17T09:30:00.000-04:002014-10-17T09:30:01.015-04:00To Blog or Not to BlogSo I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, and I do realize that I haven't posted anything on my blog since July. This past summer, from June 1 to August 9, I was on a cross-country bike trip with <a href="http://runfasteatlots.blogspot.com/p/4k-for-cancer.html">4K for Cancer</a> to raise awareness for young adults with cancer. I tried to post updates of my trip as frequently as I could, given my access to wifi, cell phone service, and whether I wanted to sacrifice sleep to blogging. In mid-July, I abruptly stopped blogging, with my last post from <a href="http://runfasteatlots.blogspot.com/2014/07/day-53-west-yellowstone-mt-to-idaho.html">Yellowstone National Park</a>.<br />
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Since then, I had finished the trip in Portland, OR, flown home to Maryland, packed up within a few days, and moved to Boston to start dental school. It's been a busy time becoming acclimated to a new city and a new school. Before I left for my little jaunt across the country on my bike, I wasn't sure whether I would be able to continue blogging regularly. I knew that it would be difficult blogging from the road (it was) and that dental school would consume my life (it has), but I really enjoy writing my little blog. And I miss it.<br />
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For some reason, I had an all or nothing approach to blogging (as with other things in my life). I would either be consistent and blog every day, or if I couldn't do that, I would just throw in the towel and not touch my blog at all. I figured I could make a compromise, and stop making the excuse that I am "too busy" to sit down and write a blog post. So I will try to catch up on all the things that I missed, both during the trip and after. There are so many stories that I want to share from the road! In the next few weeks, you can look forward to posts about:<br />
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1. The story of the end of my trip, and why I stopped blogging<br />
2. Portland, OR<br />
3. Recent bike rides<br />
4. Visit to NJ and MD<br />
5. My running life<br />
6. Dental school<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7643467556717215857.post-59464067756603522822014-07-23T07:26:00.001-04:002014-07-23T07:29:01.753-04:00Day 53: West Yellowstone, MT to Idaho FallsFor the past few days, I've been camping in Jackson and Yellowstone, so I haven't had any service or wifi. My phone had also been off due to the lack of electricity. <div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuj3at3G0yUBr9ihMtubt5nZjtdKXxx9nhXkYGZCeEL_I-OkUAdyg7YBQ-UPJJtMObCHMw6UacRpQEE5mQWndJvsf6_lCioCi7JYDxqJALWsYcyKoWgC9TcWcenm7Kz-_FlcAOnWlhlrF/s640/blogger-image-337035421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuj3at3G0yUBr9ihMtubt5nZjtdKXxx9nhXkYGZCeEL_I-OkUAdyg7YBQ-UPJJtMObCHMw6UacRpQEE5mQWndJvsf6_lCioCi7JYDxqJALWsYcyKoWgC9TcWcenm7Kz-_FlcAOnWlhlrF/s640/blogger-image-337035421.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div>I've been enjoying the great wonders of the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park. I am in awe of the beauty of this place. I can seriously look at these mountains all day. </div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqZkzkJxO_AP3PUlsl-vIxfJXtvzY1FK-g_NKSixIHAhuB0Rn-v8tXkN_yR_NjbXQ_iJUkoudSR3bbdaS6MZ3Ca0ye0iIE-cjzG591d1csGA7vIKSDOknw5-NR6MNjyUBBjY8bHadHd2O/s640/blogger-image-2058231427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqZkzkJxO_AP3PUlsl-vIxfJXtvzY1FK-g_NKSixIHAhuB0Rn-v8tXkN_yR_NjbXQ_iJUkoudSR3bbdaS6MZ3Ca0ye0iIE-cjzG591d1csGA7vIKSDOknw5-NR6MNjyUBBjY8bHadHd2O/s640/blogger-image-2058231427.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpZ08A4-fUDh3OXAPWtGCbKcmcN1Zd51-o13IPlzRcrJ0WD82VOSqMxh2Ki3xQi8lQE6qbAl540DdL5CEhPV_VXdP0X6qHqxKdaInCu0pCW8kxDHM1rfbxR2ffESuADlHXWnmDVhcY6Ls/s640/blogger-image-1153666226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpZ08A4-fUDh3OXAPWtGCbKcmcN1Zd51-o13IPlzRcrJ0WD82VOSqMxh2Ki3xQi8lQE6qbAl540DdL5CEhPV_VXdP0X6qHqxKdaInCu0pCW8kxDHM1rfbxR2ffESuADlHXWnmDVhcY6Ls/s640/blogger-image-1153666226.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div>We spent Day 52 in Yellowstone, driving around, since biking it isn't very feasible. I am cherishing every moment I have with my team, and I am so thankful for this day with them in Yellowstone. </div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ugrzRyzFWOyoj4VIKJ3K03Sy0jtBgSINZeivEKbb-9DQHUjCNjxDaNeeDUaD8lYVbDnohOoHnSEvctG0h-bnqvG-QBNHYjTHU3L-JKSyux4Fxgp3zxOy8hdqu4cqwEaEnJJg-GM29nXu/s640/blogger-image-681265815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ugrzRyzFWOyoj4VIKJ3K03Sy0jtBgSINZeivEKbb-9DQHUjCNjxDaNeeDUaD8lYVbDnohOoHnSEvctG0h-bnqvG-QBNHYjTHU3L-JKSyux4Fxgp3zxOy8hdqu4cqwEaEnJJg-GM29nXu/s640/blogger-image-681265815.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div>We had a really great time seeing Old Faithful, West Thumb, and a spectacular jade-colored waterfall. </div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxgj6sh_doP3oypxC9MSXzv_JFrUU2TGBEMfD86Z3r5dP_ms2M__YXKY8kVsaa0vkcjIQjjJqCUjr9HDhtSEYx2zIfzsXaoTAbYE1Jey1RLX4yJO9EJ-8ujTPbBX6sXYZJYRLoQeolvXm/s640/blogger-image--1328438168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxgj6sh_doP3oypxC9MSXzv_JFrUU2TGBEMfD86Z3r5dP_ms2M__YXKY8kVsaa0vkcjIQjjJqCUjr9HDhtSEYx2zIfzsXaoTAbYE1Jey1RLX4yJO9EJ-8ujTPbBX6sXYZJYRLoQeolvXm/s640/blogger-image--1328438168.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_8pdfgxT5DfBu7oJKNWoUgyi6FwbZriWsFm1bV4AZ8WEup356oK7qtRlkaCz3KFW1nFwsof6xTik-1u7gUrQTRbwCrXf6vDSgWBpT3yYApW20NVAcAe7Cz4KOIk0xn_PBf0OwJ3k_cMq/s640/blogger-image--1201247561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_8pdfgxT5DfBu7oJKNWoUgyi6FwbZriWsFm1bV4AZ8WEup356oK7qtRlkaCz3KFW1nFwsof6xTik-1u7gUrQTRbwCrXf6vDSgWBpT3yYApW20NVAcAe7Cz4KOIk0xn_PBf0OwJ3k_cMq/s640/blogger-image--1201247561.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAxTaWOpKttHwaV77FZPFDPWhIBADaxE06kwqJnPv-FSRJxEra8vAfsnlsg4ZL9U45qoGrqvEFZw3HxpmWXjYLhzyWWCp0cm4dmXnRzGoUTPdzQNLQfeIq5UhzqtTvoT0fAzailbq5cKt/s640/blogger-image--248529108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAxTaWOpKttHwaV77FZPFDPWhIBADaxE06kwqJnPv-FSRJxEra8vAfsnlsg4ZL9U45qoGrqvEFZw3HxpmWXjYLhzyWWCp0cm4dmXnRzGoUTPdzQNLQfeIq5UhzqtTvoT0fAzailbq5cKt/s640/blogger-image--248529108.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vbAQ5VOsZ4e0g1cQTfQkHD0AkW02-aBOolrlZ7zEJ-4B9vK5jy3Pw_PzfqNNfPMglOoBTWYELwMnRHc7PJh8KDDdTOaIUvddFwXcXydNnVdal0KiOHA02RewpsUfx14qYf88Wqgasajm/s640/blogger-image-789994310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vbAQ5VOsZ4e0g1cQTfQkHD0AkW02-aBOolrlZ7zEJ-4B9vK5jy3Pw_PzfqNNfPMglOoBTWYELwMnRHc7PJh8KDDdTOaIUvddFwXcXydNnVdal0KiOHA02RewpsUfx14qYf88Wqgasajm/s640/blogger-image-789994310.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div><b>"<span style="text-indent: -30px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery—air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, "This is what it is to be happy."</span></b></div><div><span style="text-indent: -30px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="text-indent: -30px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">- Sylvia Plath</span></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3ZF5OMETe9xJ0Vu9GHyMwIjJL8NT_ML1xUFw-t29mANg_TmqWck0NMR0766qxQV9Mdx4U1X4U7IO0wIzqrmMuPMadu0J0sbxbLWKxm5KWY4dH0Qut2TlsGjdmn0SLTOyZ_1EOAxVJXKh/s640/blogger-image-870189710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3ZF5OMETe9xJ0Vu9GHyMwIjJL8NT_ML1xUFw-t29mANg_TmqWck0NMR0766qxQV9Mdx4U1X4U7IO0wIzqrmMuPMadu0J0sbxbLWKxm5KWY4dH0Qut2TlsGjdmn0SLTOyZ_1EOAxVJXKh/s640/blogger-image-870189710.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7643467556717215857.post-75021467522189597592014-07-15T01:19:00.000-04:002014-07-16T14:08:05.575-04:00Day 44: Laramie, WY to Saratoga, WY<div>Mileage: 79.1 miles</div><div><br></div>Today was by far the most beautiful ride of this cross country trip so far. Although it would be easier to ride west to east because of the tailwind, today I realized that going east to west is more rewarding. Now that we are really getting into the Wild West, it's been getting more beautiful by the day. It's incredible to see what Mother Nature has in store for us. <div><br></div><div>Our ride today was a bit intimidating: about 80 miles with 4700 feet of climbing. We were going over a mountain pass in Medicine Bow National Forest, which we were told was going to be an amazing ride. And it was. </div><div><br></div><div>The day started out pretty chilly as we left Laramie and headed towards the mountains. At about mile 30, we started the climb. It was about 14 miles of straight climbing, so it would take us quite some time. Lunch was originally at the summit, but it had to be moved earlier otherwise we would have eaten much later. </div><div><br></div><div>I wasn't feeling too great in the beginning of the climb. Maybe due to the lack of sleep or lack of oxygen, I was feeling pretty exhausted. I usually have a lot of energy and am a strong climber, but today I was barely hanging on. As we ascended the mountain, however, I felt my energy coming back. With each turn of a switchback, we were treated to yet another breathtaking scene. We stopped by a mountain stream in the forest, which looked like a scene out of a nature documentary. My adrenaline got pumping, and by the time I reached the summit, I felt like my usual self. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0zUHdfd0wMXZgrkRmRy_aOVcV7XBrx-UojijAGJ4Q8PlhtgiT6gvVMB2awfJzQKYugAgvRDmSvr6nmfA5UUKsL5Z-5fWnFN4qUxsccX9QzLSGeisyqqrQPU0csusJY1ltW6Z9yQ4-ZOI/s640/blogger-image--1933652354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0zUHdfd0wMXZgrkRmRy_aOVcV7XBrx-UojijAGJ4Q8PlhtgiT6gvVMB2awfJzQKYugAgvRDmSvr6nmfA5UUKsL5Z-5fWnFN4qUxsccX9QzLSGeisyqqrQPU0csusJY1ltW6Z9yQ4-ZOI/s640/blogger-image--1933652354.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>One of the highlights, other than summiting a 11,000 foot mountain, was spotting a moose! I threw down my bike and grabbed my GoPro and phone to take pictures on top of a snow bank. I wanted to get closer, but was a bit afraid to. <br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7RU8p7PF3xcfdHAryjaH42JcRZTfEvmSFCCTTe_ck22ArGJguJhqk8-DWSHlnlF5Hw1HbFYC7QJcCFy_UeiU1WGKMADhqGWd9HhB-VcdwvsfPxkhPul3OBgXRQpbRlgj0TowqAVoWuwH7/s640/blogger-image--878330482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7RU8p7PF3xcfdHAryjaH42JcRZTfEvmSFCCTTe_ck22ArGJguJhqk8-DWSHlnlF5Hw1HbFYC7QJcCFy_UeiU1WGKMADhqGWd9HhB-VcdwvsfPxkhPul3OBgXRQpbRlgj0TowqAVoWuwH7/s640/blogger-image--878330482.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div>Shortly after spotting the moose, we summited and were treated to the cheers and screams of my teammates. I feel so lucky to have such a supportive and cohesive team. Seriously, Team Portland 2014 is the best. </div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkF2gZtptltMmDSSCAHN2bpTkkrD9qJrgqe4r8VUm2RLLWv8C9j9kCs92IfZZblHXAM2YX5S98HO_II0eRCY-JjS7izUgZnsNzmCl5FQWXAOz9BiHuee0tCFoKbTM4uOHoN04cU0OBzJi/s640/blogger-image--183897355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkF2gZtptltMmDSSCAHN2bpTkkrD9qJrgqe4r8VUm2RLLWv8C9j9kCs92IfZZblHXAM2YX5S98HO_II0eRCY-JjS7izUgZnsNzmCl5FQWXAOz9BiHuee0tCFoKbTM4uOHoN04cU0OBzJi/s640/blogger-image--183897355.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div>We spent a lot of time exploring the summit and taking a lot of photos. I wanted to get closer to the snow capped mountains in the distance, so I took off running towards them through a meadow full of wildflowers. It was beautiful. </div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfAWHirB_eElyleIpm9gyaRK2lBNUOcPI2QP8QZVNanpK7fTDBQEQGgymibRXIPJhKLvtA0lfsOrUtqWhu4pOJzLH5PFjmC9_br5LhrtAVtrq6A6VTU-ebbBD6aZwbe6z3dguGfIFgM3kd/s640/blogger-image-493405198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfAWHirB_eElyleIpm9gyaRK2lBNUOcPI2QP8QZVNanpK7fTDBQEQGgymibRXIPJhKLvtA0lfsOrUtqWhu4pOJzLH5PFjmC9_br5LhrtAVtrq6A6VTU-ebbBD6aZwbe6z3dguGfIFgM3kd/s640/blogger-image-493405198.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div>What's awesome about summiting a mountain is the descent! I was really looking forward to flying down the mountain after climbing for so long. It was a really rewarding descent</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FZpGrUOJwNIQXVxs2viIN5lEGQajyqhpT84RJpyMgXAsb84QRQ5Ja9lWjus76n977b9WhEowY0mbHIVLZc-aYI504zbuVaZ0l74wT684qXfg5ECPcXB5CgCk-q_DKD4nI7zESCHHLLu_/s640/blogger-image--1513660294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FZpGrUOJwNIQXVxs2viIN5lEGQajyqhpT84RJpyMgXAsb84QRQ5Ja9lWjus76n977b9WhEowY0mbHIVLZc-aYI504zbuVaZ0l74wT684qXfg5ECPcXB5CgCk-q_DKD4nI7zESCHHLLu_/s640/blogger-image--1513660294.jpg"></a></div> </div><div>The cherry on top of this perfect day was arriving at a great host in Saratoga. Most of the team had home stays, and Ashley, Caitlyn, and I got to stay with Diane and Randy in their beautiful home. We were first fed a delicious dinner at their church, and then Diane drove us around the small town to give us a tour. Saratoga has mineral hot springs, so we checked that out and decided to go there the next morning. </div><div><br></div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Gas-7QQqpxaTy0SX0u9Z633MjtfLyyFQ2PldnsxKbWobuYbpvL8BcOfYkM7PNfl2DJHnTi-rtiZKuLSx8eaVIBNDTahYDiUthnwR7Fc7w3e59_ZkORIH9hyphenhyphenjjnOreMRFscbRn6IYrC-V/s640/blogger-image--2093551096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Gas-7QQqpxaTy0SX0u9Z633MjtfLyyFQ2PldnsxKbWobuYbpvL8BcOfYkM7PNfl2DJHnTi-rtiZKuLSx8eaVIBNDTahYDiUthnwR7Fc7w3e59_ZkORIH9hyphenhyphenjjnOreMRFscbRn6IYrC-V/s640/blogger-image--2093551096.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div>Home stays are always much appreciated, especially after so many days on the road. It's nice to have the comforts of a home away from home, and we felt very welcomed. We settled in, showered, did laundry, and just relaxed. </div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZj1dde8e_WJ-4LFcWD0iYHtgz-dLkAwpDdfahB9-mnzHWHWfP3_9MyfO_cimMhrgD3hvh-LCVxiDq7JHQM-wpIW0YyMGbJmpqey1zzbcqDoRYvemzlpJheoAECl-4BMhPp-vwe2MMPQC/s640/blogger-image-1455328483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZj1dde8e_WJ-4LFcWD0iYHtgz-dLkAwpDdfahB9-mnzHWHWfP3_9MyfO_cimMhrgD3hvh-LCVxiDq7JHQM-wpIW0YyMGbJmpqey1zzbcqDoRYvemzlpJheoAECl-4BMhPp-vwe2MMPQC/s640/blogger-image-1455328483.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div>It's been a long time since I've slept on a real bed, and the bed I slept in that night was pillow-soft and so comfortable. I had a much-needed good night of rest, and woke up "late", around 7am. There was coffee waiting for me in the kitchen, and I poured myself a mug and enjoyed it on the large front porch with a great view of the mountains. </div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePFv4iQXtQjsvVF6QrMNX3CQexLW0o3ZgF0OGvwAGmbVM2NDZ1iuSDYSAIVtUrl84LNP7c2cnFeYWg-g9Ni7eBT_cW2U1UKqbNIT_r2nwljoFF7F0vaqmwPKYPZ6ag5qyc1Sc7ybKUn2A/s640/blogger-image--1940657411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePFv4iQXtQjsvVF6QrMNX3CQexLW0o3ZgF0OGvwAGmbVM2NDZ1iuSDYSAIVtUrl84LNP7c2cnFeYWg-g9Ni7eBT_cW2U1UKqbNIT_r2nwljoFF7F0vaqmwPKYPZ6ag5qyc1Sc7ybKUn2A/s640/blogger-image--1940657411.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Diane joined Caitlyn and I on the porch and told us her story. She was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer about a year ago and had a very tough battle. When the doctors thought they got most of it out, the cancer spread to her breast. Although Diane is a lot better, she is not completely cancer-free and her doctors are managing it with chemo treatments every two weeks. She told us about all the support she had from her family and the small community of Saratoga. Although Diane was very sick, I had no idea about her battle with cancer until she shared her story. Diane is an incredibly strong and inspirational woman, and refused to let cancer define her. I felt so grateful to have had met Diane and heard her story. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7643467556717215857.post-30273438895261218002014-07-15T00:54:00.000-04:002014-07-18T22:17:27.065-04:00Day 43: Cheyenne, WY to Laramie, WYMileage: 42 miles<div><br></div><div>Sorry about the lack of blog posts lately. And the fact that they are all out of order. I am currently in Wyoming and cell phone service and wifi has been very spotty. I'll try to post photos and quick recaps of the days that I've missed. </div><div><br></div><div>Day 43 was short, with one big climb into Medicine Bow National Forest. </div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_TayNyMAwhrTkysOW0YvMyR2JyMmT_ZDuiFpSjyYtA2tNpQDt1ciKeyLNTtgvYCimr8v79HR7Jlc3fiXQZ2t646TSeVqYDDtZ4_n4jscSCa-sE34CpKidi_5jPqfsP9etC_qgZhrAvfD0/s640/blogger-image--1867390765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_TayNyMAwhrTkysOW0YvMyR2JyMmT_ZDuiFpSjyYtA2tNpQDt1ciKeyLNTtgvYCimr8v79HR7Jlc3fiXQZ2t646TSeVqYDDtZ4_n4jscSCa-sE34CpKidi_5jPqfsP9etC_qgZhrAvfD0/s640/blogger-image--1867390765.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div>Shortly after taking this picture, I saw a huge rock formation and immediately wanted to climb it. A few of my teammates and I decided to go. </div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnMXrgI1cGnXQJ_0YyC5pLchBXsI3CcGvxZzqkJp05m8UDr_oIfgCNIlN9bdHeYaFmnaGu-kvJXGSA_WYifAbvCO680DAyDThIKRL6sfKB75znM0QQ4KEIAQHFe8eoHmoKiIQ7OnC7Qc4/s640/blogger-image-1514193164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnMXrgI1cGnXQJ_0YyC5pLchBXsI3CcGvxZzqkJp05m8UDr_oIfgCNIlN9bdHeYaFmnaGu-kvJXGSA_WYifAbvCO680DAyDThIKRL6sfKB75znM0QQ4KEIAQHFe8eoHmoKiIQ7OnC7Qc4/s640/blogger-image-1514193164.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div>Climbing up the rock formation was so much fun! I'm like a mountain goat and just scrambled straight up the rock. The views from the top were amazing!</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDNXLoO6FFCWIajt7o-o4qJLUBdjpMq41SOCsEXs_zGzkzp9uwp9JrSME6VRD6nBmLZzOSTMEkMblnc-mWaJV-YYhjml_4T_omWKDEQSFkqutlaeZDw_1TdUeRuJs9r_iyX-Ay5BUmXNR/s640/blogger-image-761584433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDNXLoO6FFCWIajt7o-o4qJLUBdjpMq41SOCsEXs_zGzkzp9uwp9JrSME6VRD6nBmLZzOSTMEkMblnc-mWaJV-YYhjml_4T_omWKDEQSFkqutlaeZDw_1TdUeRuJs9r_iyX-Ay5BUmXNR/s640/blogger-image-761584433.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We enjoyed the views for a while and explored the rock formation.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQyesNRD5aPq77WnSKmG_swkbOW_-5Gsb9QjvaXxog5AOQX59ZqGCX7UFHnI0y6Y8WJHcNVvlv1KIMF5us8abKpgoTrnpK1pTWPEgexEyxp8dPt5sklggjty5TfbUoQuvKsOCiYn3SX6s/s640/blogger-image--151378640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQyesNRD5aPq77WnSKmG_swkbOW_-5Gsb9QjvaXxog5AOQX59ZqGCX7UFHnI0y6Y8WJHcNVvlv1KIMF5us8abKpgoTrnpK1pTWPEgexEyxp8dPt5sklggjty5TfbUoQuvKsOCiYn3SX6s/s640/blogger-image--151378640.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Best detour ever!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qsgPbW3VYLjoK_u2VgIL2Q4aZ78kM1zhA4-QvLkeBZ4wTaR6RqoWORFOYiKYGEKtGxNjA4798xwROzpbCMOC9IvMwxBCbd6lZhvQZzg8o65gLkrAIfQ13utXYQxRrfd0MvS2VfwOf-xW/s640/blogger-image-1096173800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qsgPbW3VYLjoK_u2VgIL2Q4aZ78kM1zhA4-QvLkeBZ4wTaR6RqoWORFOYiKYGEKtGxNjA4798xwROzpbCMOC9IvMwxBCbd6lZhvQZzg8o65gLkrAIfQ13utXYQxRrfd0MvS2VfwOf-xW/s640/blogger-image-1096173800.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We got to the host in Laramie, took showers, and had a home cooked dinner provided by the host. After dinner, I had some free time and enjoyed the sunset with the mountains in the background. More mountains and climbing soon!</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdDzJZRIID0Kwej7-lQdrnas3KsHcMBc1EX0yMGR_8YhyN016UHmDaN47MzrDy8lYnUqaM_ryjnqJ_xEOLQsBqMxqmhYMepR-Q4TBmClOnIiLFMTGgNlUXvl4a_6VBBMf3oLEar-2kI6l4/s640/blogger-image--1328383209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdDzJZRIID0Kwej7-lQdrnas3KsHcMBc1EX0yMGR_8YhyN016UHmDaN47MzrDy8lYnUqaM_ryjnqJ_xEOLQsBqMxqmhYMepR-Q4TBmClOnIiLFMTGgNlUXvl4a_6VBBMf3oLEar-2kI6l4/s640/blogger-image--1328383209.jpg"></a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7643467556717215857.post-27745284333892039932014-07-15T00:49:00.003-04:002014-07-15T00:49:48.403-04:00Day 42: Fort Collins, CO to Cheyenne, WYMileage: 61.75 miles<br />
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We are in another state: Wyoming! </div>
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On Day 42, my ride group was with Max, Chris, and Helen. We also have a few 4K alum with us for a couple of days, so V joined our ride group. After the next water stop, we traded him for Bradley, another alum. </div>
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Today, we went across the Great Plains of Colorado, and then crossed the border into Wyoming. Without trees, the wind really picks up across the plains. The headwind was pretty brutal and I felt that I was exerting a lot of energy to bike not so fast. The route was also a steady climb up to Cheyenne, so with the wind and hills, I felt like I was crawling.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcoesL9gVlUDdySGnO3_ErsvC3lseoxhULDQ-ZxegJBp5l65JTbWOtiCESWBGJiNyFw3MK9dy3ZS9u_h-ZdPnZ7iXNw1TgaQ_dePN5WosN91TCrqwow-tGe6uFnuc8zz9Jpg7lWUD-V3Pa/s640/blogger-image-216486947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcoesL9gVlUDdySGnO3_ErsvC3lseoxhULDQ-ZxegJBp5l65JTbWOtiCESWBGJiNyFw3MK9dy3ZS9u_h-ZdPnZ7iXNw1TgaQ_dePN5WosN91TCrqwow-tGe6uFnuc8zz9Jpg7lWUD-V3Pa/s640/blogger-image-216486947.jpg" /></a>Although the winds were sucky, the views were gorgeous. The sky was so blue and the prairie grasses were dotted with yellow flowers. There were also rolling hills and rock formations in the distance. Sometimes I forget to look up when I am focused on the wheel in front of me in a paceline, but I soaked in the scenery and enjoyed the moment, trying to forget about the wind and my fatigue.</div>
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Getting to the state line was up a hill, but when I saw it, I got a burst of energy and charged up. We took the usual bike photo, and of course I had to climb it. </div>
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Yay Wyoming! I am so excited to be here and I am looking forward to even more beautiful landscapes as I cycle across this wild and wondrous state.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7643467556717215857.post-35612966730804684352014-07-15T00:36:00.001-04:002014-07-15T00:36:46.543-04:00Day 41: Boulder, CO to Fort Collins, COMileage: 47.68<br />
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My team had a great time in Boulder during our rest day and were reluctant to leave. Team San Francisco was in Boulder with us, so we got to hang out with them. In the morning before we headed in different directions, they came to our host church to do dedication circle together. We stood in a large circle, about 56 riders and each shared who we were riding for. We then took turns doing our team cheer. Every team does their cheer differently, and it's fun to watch the creative variations of the 4K cheer. </div>
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4K alumni also met up with us in Boulder and were joining us for a couple of days. Some rode with us, while others rode in the support vans to cheer us on. I got to ride with an alum, Chelsea, who is also from Montgomery County, MD. She had just moved to Boulder, which I am so jealous of! After being in Boulder for only two days, I already know that it is somewhere that I would love to live. </div>
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We had a short riding day, and since we couldn't get into our host in Fort Collins until 4pm, we took our time. It was National Slurpee Day, which meant free Slurpees at 7-11. We stopped by one near our first water stop. </div>
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For lunch, we stopped by a cool sculpture park. Since we had plenty of time, we just hung out for a few hours there. </div>
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After eating, I walked around to look at the sculptures. Some were very whimsical. </div>
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We got into Fort Collins around 3pm. Fort Collins is an interesting college town, and their main street is full of restaurants, shops, and bars. The host didn't provide us dinner, so we were on our own. I enjoy going out to eat and trying local food in different cities, so I didn't mind. For dinner, I was on a mission to try Beau Jo's, a pizza place that I heard about on the Travel Channel. They specialize in "mountain pies", which are ridiculously large pizzas with a ridiculously large braided crust. These pizzas are hefty! Perfect after a day of cycling.<br />
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Beau Jo's has a "14er" pizza eating challenge: two people have to finish a 14 pound pie in under an hour. The reward is free pizza, $100, t-shirts, and your name on the wall. I joked about doing the challenge and even considered it seriously for half a second. But 7 pounds of pizza would most likely kill me. I split a 3 pound pizza with Chris, and we didn't even finish all of it. We each had a slice for breakfast and some odd ends of the huge crust. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7643467556717215857.post-2899739742118345252014-07-11T20:48:00.000-04:002014-07-13T08:06:09.378-04:00Day 34: Fourth of July in Arapahoe, NEI am currently at a laundromat in Fort Collins, CO waiting for my laundry, so I have some spare time to blog. I will try my best back track on the days that I missed. (Actually, I started writing this at the laundromat and didn't finish until today, oops)<br>
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I spent Fourth of July in Arapahoe, NE. I had heard about Arapahoe, with a population of approximately 1,000, since the start of the trip. I was really looking forward to spending the Fourth in the small town. We arrived on July 3rd around mid-afternoon, since it was a short day. Some teammates got homestays, but I stayed at the Hunt Lodge. It was pretty neat; I shared a hotel room with Emily Lake and Jocelyn. There was also a game room, lounge, hot tub, laundry, and wifi.<br>
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Later that day, the hosts at the Hunt Lodge took everyone to go shooting at a shooting club. They taught us how to hold the shot guns, and we took turns shooting clay pigeons. I've shot a gun before, but at a stationary target. Trying to hit a small target flying through the air is really hard! I got 15 shells, and I got two. Some people were really good at it, but I was just glad that I hit one.<br>
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On the Fourth, I woke up early to run a 5K Fun Run. I thought it would be a great way to meet some of the locals and see the town. The registration was $15, which would go to help the women's basketball team. The run was great, though I kind of felt like I was out of running shape.<br>
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Later in the morning, we headed to the main street to watch the parade. Candy was being thrown from the floats, and all the kids ran into the street to pick up candy. There were a lot of tractors in the parade, which is typical of Nebraska, I guess. <br>
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After the parade, we headed towards the park where there were food vendors. I got a runza, which is apparently a Nebraska thing. It was like a bun filled with beef and cabbage. I also got some homemade peaches and cream ice cream.</div>
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In the evening, we were invited to a cookout at the mayor's house. A lot of people from the community came to meet us. It was great to chat with them, and they served us delicous grilled chicken, hot dogs, various sides, and loads of dessert. </div>
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One of the host families owned horses and were kind enough to let us ride them. We all took turns riding the horses. I really enjoyed it!<br>
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When the sun set, we went to the baseball field to watch the fireworks display. It was a decent show, but the real show started afterwards. Nebraska sells fireworks only for the Fourth, so people go all out. There were fireworks being set off everywhere it was crazy! These weren't the tiny wimpy fireworks that don't leave the ground. They shot up hundreds of feet into the air and exploded with a huge boom. And these were going off every few blocks or so in the town. I had an amazing time in Arapahoe, and this day will stand out to me for years to come as the best Fourth of July ever. I didn't want the day to end and stayed up until 2am, even though I had to get up at 5:15 and ride 90+ miles the next day. YOLO!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7643467556717215857.post-42762263600449444672014-07-11T00:39:00.002-04:002014-07-11T00:39:38.271-04:00Day 40: Boulder, COGreetings from Colorado! We got to this beautiful state on day 36 from Benkelman, NE to Yuma, CO. Today was a rest day in Boulder, CO and it was a fantastic day. Boulder was one of the cities that I was most looking forward to visiting, especially since I had never been here before. Boulder seems like the ideal city for me; bike friendly, outdoorsy people, mountains, nature, local food and beer. I seriously might consider living here one day.<br />
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I started the day with a macchiato from Fior di Latte. I heard that they had really good coffee and gelato, and it didn't disappoint. I ordered it with house-made almond milk, which foamed up perfectly.<br />
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For breakfast, I decided on a breakfast cafe called Snooze. I was really craving pancakes and omelets, and that's exactly what I ordered. Everything was delicious.</div>
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The one thing I really wanted to do in Boulder was to go mountain biking, so I had to make it happen. I noticed a ton of people here who have mountain bikes, and I knew there must be some fantastic trails nearby.<br />
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Max and I went to Full Cycle bike shop to rent a hardtail mountain bike and asked them about trails that are within biking distance. They directed us to a canyon loop trail, which was pretty accessible by bike.<br />
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Even before we got to the single track, the path to the trailhead was gorgeous. It ran parallel to a creek, with the mountains on both sides.<br />
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The trail was pretty tough, which was very steep sections that I had to walk my bike up. I had never mountain bike with clip less pedals, so it was a bit challenging to get used to them on the difficult terrain. I was also really feeling the elevation, and got winded after climbing a bit. I felt so out of shape, but I hope it was just due to the lack of oxygen.<br />
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It was about 6 miles of paths and trails to get to the canyon loop, which was 3.3 miles. It felt amazing to go down some of the descents with big bumps in the path that I could jump off of. Max and I had a blast and soaked in the amazing view.<br />
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On the way back, we decided to climb a huge rock formation next to the bike path. We got to the very top and had a great view of the canyon. </div>
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Tomorrow, we are going to Fort Collins, CO. Sorry about the lack of blog posts lately. I have been enjoying my time at the host cities and exploring, so I rarely have any down time. I will try to post some of the days that I missed.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7643467556717215857.post-50675369075738902942014-07-04T10:49:00.001-04:002014-07-07T08:48:52.441-04:00Day 32: Fairbury, NE to Franklin, NEDay 32 was a century day (100 miles), but I had van duty with Chelsea. I was a bit bummed that I was missing out on a century day, especially since the weather was gorgeous. Chilly in the morning and high in the 70's. The last century we did was not so pleasant. <div><br></div><div>I was in the food van, again, which meant that I would be going around grocery stores and restaurants to get food donations for the team for their lunch. Coming out of Fairbury, there were few towns scattered between. Many of the towns we tried to get donations from had populations of less than 1000. We tried a few places, including a grocery store and a Subway with no luck. </div><div><br></div><div>We finally got a "yes" at a train-themed pizza restaurant. The manager gave us a box of frozen orange juice, and then a table of men drinking their coffee gave us a bit of cash. The $13 we got was enough for two pizzas. </div><div><br></div><div>Next, we tried a "larger" town called Superior. We really needed to find some good lunch food at this point, since frozen OJ and two pizzas was not enough.<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> At the grocery store, the manager was very generous and gave us $50. He even called up a friend (who owned a bike shop!), who donated another $30. We were able to buy a lot of good food for lunch :)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">In the same town, we got more food donations at a cafe and Dairy Queen. The DQ was generous enough to provide us with enough sundaes for everyone! We just had to pick them up close to lunch time. </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Since we got really lucky in Superior, Chelsea and I had some time to kill. We ended up playing in a park, which had a tank! Of course we had to take a tank selfie. </font></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZdr2xgwf9WGgl2Hwi2KOm98gKGFkIrggjp-IBhuy7VgyLj1sQCvegAezun12Vut5E0oeouCTbWLxcpJaR1j3ccCRx1fU2zK0xs7jaOvkMONsZ8v_CVwZCDDR48g4fx0An4RTEOT1bb8Xk/s640/blogger-image-2031678026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZdr2xgwf9WGgl2Hwi2KOm98gKGFkIrggjp-IBhuy7VgyLj1sQCvegAezun12Vut5E0oeouCTbWLxcpJaR1j3ccCRx1fU2zK0xs7jaOvkMONsZ8v_CVwZCDDR48g4fx0An4RTEOT1bb8Xk/s640/blogger-image-2031678026.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div>Haha we are so silly. </div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnyQG-uyEp6PVCXAvx-_Ju93APG9Smkf1J_zEAwZ4zHxQu9NBvJeuGTNhrSRkEJGngO4vVOsbAJUwI5flgI5gFEJGwcVfBHQSH7rTy-XIldxe4AVFYswe9iYQNqX77kKdhERtoFzQS3Ce/s640/blogger-image--1369432709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnyQG-uyEp6PVCXAvx-_Ju93APG9Smkf1J_zEAwZ4zHxQu9NBvJeuGTNhrSRkEJGngO4vVOsbAJUwI5flgI5gFEJGwcVfBHQSH7rTy-XIldxe4AVFYswe9iYQNqX77kKdhERtoFzQS3Ce/s640/blogger-image--1369432709.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">After delivering lunch to the team, we headed to the host to drop off everyone's luggage. It's a lot of work to unload all the heavy duffels and backpacks! After that was done, I found a room with a bean bag and took a two hour nap. It felt amazing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The team started to arrive around 5pm, and we went outside to cheer them in. Dinner was a potluck with the community, so there was a ton of great food and great company. Nebraska has been good to us so far!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7643467556717215857.post-88039859185020449312014-07-02T06:12:00.000-04:002014-07-02T07:11:20.296-04:00Day 30: Omaha, NE to Lincoln, NEMileage: 50.5<br>
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My stay in Omaha, NE was my favorite on this trip so far. We had our first homestay and were hosted by a few families of a church community. The team was divided among the families to stay in their homes. It was the first time our group has split up since the beginning of the trip, so it was kind of weird to not all be together.<br>
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Emily Lake and I were hosted by Liz and RJ Neary. They picked us up from the church and drove us to their house. We met their daughter, Nora, and their two labs, Sailor and Cadence. After we settled in, Liz and Nora took us to the pool at their country club. It was so refreshing to jump in a pool after days of sitting in buses and vans. For dinner, we went to Nora's aunt's house to have dinner with four other teammates. It was great to have a home cooked meal and relax in their basement watching Game of Thrones on comfy couches.<br>
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Staying in the Neary's home was very nice and relaxing. We felt so welcomed, had our own beds, and woke up to a nice breakfast made by RJ. In the morning, Liz and RJ drove us back to the church, where we met the rest of the team. All the host parents were there to send us off and join us in our morning dedication circle. A few of them even rode the first few miles to show us a route on a bike path. Liz ended up riding to our first water stop at about mile 17! That was pretty impressive, considering she had only recently started road cycling.<br>
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My ride group for the day was with Emily Lipsitz, Chelsea, and Ki Young. The first water stop was at a park with a lake and a playground. Of course if there is a playground, we must play on it! We so silly.<br>
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A few miles after the first water stop, we turned onto a busy road that did not feel safe. At the earliest opportunity, we pulled off into a driveway and called the van to reroute us. We ended up getting picked up and driven to the lunch stop, which was back on the route and on a safer road with a wide shoulder. It was a good call, because being on the original route was just not safe.<br>
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At the last water stop at a gas station, a lady saw our van and came over to us to ask what we were doing. She is an advocate for fighting cancer, so she was curious whenever she sees anything related to cancer. Apparently, her sister is a reporter, so when she found out that we were biking across the country to fight cancer, she ran back into her car to get her sister to interview us. We gladly did so, and took a photo. We will be in next week's local newspaper of Waverly, NE!<br>
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The host in Omaha was a church on the University of Nebraska- Lincoln campus. After showering, I explored campus a little, went to a bookstore and a thrift shop. We had a great home cooked dinner at the host. Later at night, we walked around the college town and went to a bar for live music. There's a surprisingly large music scene in Lincoln. <br>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7643467556717215857.post-49840655963569730912014-07-02T05:57:00.000-04:002014-07-02T07:16:53.406-04:00Day 31: Lincoln, NE to Fairbury, NEMileage: 70.03 miles<br>
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Today seemed like a relatively short day. We had about 70 miles to ride, which seems short after having done over 100 miles. My riding group for the day was with Emily Lipsitz, Katie, and Helen. The farther out west we go, the simpler the route becomes. We basically stay on the same road for the whole day, which makes things a lot simpler. We are notorious for getting lost, so it's nice to only have 9 turns over the course of the day.<br>
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The downside to staying on the same route for miles on end is that it gets a bit boring. Nebraska has some "hills", by which I mean ever so slightly uphill, followed by a flat stretch. There were also some pretty strong headwinds, since we were heading southwest. It was pretty tough, and at one point we were crawling at 8 mph. Not very fun.<br>
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Even though our team was slowly plodding along, we didn't have any flats or other mechanical issues and were making good time. We passed the time by playing some games and listening to music from Katie's speakers. I wish I had some speakers for my bike (hint hint, next<a href="http://runfasteatlots.blogspot.com/2014/06/portland-mail-drops.html"> mail drops</a> are in Arapahoe and Boulder).<br>
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At around 3pm, we made it to our host, a Lutheran church, in Fairbury, NE. I had time to shower, hand wash some clothes, and blog. A few people from the congregation came to serve us dinner and eat with us. They made us a lot of delicious casseroles, salads, pasta and meatballs, and a variety of desserts. There is never a lack of dessert on this trip!<br>
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After dinner, a group of us decided to make the 15ish minute drive to the Kansas border, just for fun. We took a bunch of photos with the state signs.<br>
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Van duty tomorrow, so I will be asking for food donations all day with Chelsea. I am a bit bummed that I won't be riding since we are doing another century (100 miles). Oh well, there will be more.<br>
<br>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7643467556717215857.post-46603108044452398422014-06-27T11:12:00.000-04:002014-06-27T11:12:13.474-04:00Day 25: Blue Grass, IA to Marengo, IAMileage: 82.82 miles<br />
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We had a slow start on Day 25, which was a bit concerning since we had over 80 miles to ride. Our host was at YMCA Camp Abe Lincoln in Blue Grass, IA. There were a lot of campers there, and we got to eat breakfast with them. Since breakfast was at 8 am, we got to sleep in until 7, which is really late for us. I got a full eight hours of sleep that night!<br />
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By the time we were ready to leave the camp, it was close to 10 and already pretty hot. I was riding with Brady, Walt, and Jocelyn. Iowa actually has a lot of rolling hills, which was a nice change after days and days of riding in pancake-flat Illinois. I was so excited to see a hill, I bombed up the first one. Fun :)<br />
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Since we had such a late start and had two water stops before lunch, it was already almost 4pm by the time we finished lunch. Another long day, but we just pedaled steadily.<br />
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At the last water stop, about 15 miles from the host in Marengo, the water van had a surprise for us. Chris had bought the whole team ice cream sandwiches from Dairy Queen! That was the highlight of the day; we were so close to finishing the long day, and the ice cream definitely helped keep us going. You're awesome, Chris!<br />
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The last 10 miles riding into Marengo were gorgeous. Hilly countryside and fields with the golden light of early evening. The temperature was also dropping, which made it more pleasant. Less than 2 miles from the host, we finally saw the sign for Marengo and had to take a team photo. As we rolled into the small town, we were greeted by our teammates and the people from the church we were staying at. It's so nice to have such a warm welcome at the end of the day. We were served dinner first thing, then waited for the last group to arrive.<br />
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For the next four days, we will not be riding since we are going to Maryland to attend the celebration for Jamie Robert's life. We are riding a bus all day Thursday from 4 am to 11 pm, attending the memorial service on Friday, and driving back to Marengo, IA on Saturday.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7643467556717215857.post-69986157373558332472014-06-27T07:46:00.000-04:002014-06-27T07:46:02.167-04:00Day 23-24: Chicago, IL to Blue Grass, IASorry about the lack of blog posts lately. I am trying hard to keep it up, but sometimes it's just near impossible to write with the lack of wifi and cell phone service. I've also been having longer days, so when I have to choose between blogging and getting enough sleep, sleep usually wins. Oh well. I will try to catch up this weekend as we have a longer break from cycling. I will get into that more later.<br />
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<b>Day 23- Chicago, IL to Mendota, IL</b><br />
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Mileage: 70.1 miles<br />
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So Day 23 was <i>supposed </i>to be a 95 mile day, but that didn't happen.<br />
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After a much needed rest day in Chicago, we were ready to get back on the road and head to Mendota, IL. We stayed at a dorm in UIC with Team Seattle, so we did our morning dedication circle and team cheers together. Since our team got up at 4:30 am, we were ready to leave before Team Seattle.<br />
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The forecast threatened rain, and right before we rolled out, it started to to downpour. Great start... at least I had my rain jacket and it wasn't hot. Got to stay positive.<br />
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Whenever it rains, it makes riding more complicated because the chalk on the road that directs us gets washed away. Getting out of Chicago was pretty difficult with all the traffic and traffic lights. We also rode through some pretty sketchy neighborhoods. Eventually, we got onto a path around mile 15. The bike path had a lot of intersections with roads, so that slowed us down a lot as well. And of course, it had to turn into a dirt/sand path that was a b!#$% to ride on. Sorry, but I really hated it. It rained on and off all morning, which made the path even worse to ride on. Our bikes and clothes were caked in mud and sand. It was so nasty.<br />
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We continued on the path for what seemed like hours until we eventually stopped to check directions. Turns out we were far off the route and very lost. It was close to noon by that point and my team was feeling the hanger (hunger-induced anger, it's a real thing). We wanted to give up and just go to closest Dunkin' Donuts. Turned out, the food and water van ended up making the lunch stop at the Dunkin' Donuts that we were going to anyways, so that worked perfectly. It was past noon, and we had gone less than 40 miles. For a 95 mile day, this was bad news. I think everyone was feeling a bit beat by that point. When the food van arrived with our lunch, our spirits were lifted by the sight of a huge box of Chipotle burritos and an even larger box of LOADS of Panera Bread! We had so much bread it was ridiculous.<br />
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After a long and filling lunch, we headed on the road again. We knew that we weren't going to finish the day (only one team did), so we took our time and just tried to get as many miles in as possible. We were on a time crunch since our next host provided us dinner at a Mexican restaurant and we had to be there at a certain time. In the afternoon, we stopped by a cute little town and checked out a bike shop for stickers. We are always on a quest for more stickers to add to our bike. No luck here, though.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigjeTuh5LB-KW1VXG7LbpbIwp5VxQl8CN9o_4h0qUSipy5XFK-viZlwVf3T5ghU7FTx2BupKZyTH6i9E7SZj95uW1cpOY8E0h822TS5H5A4wUIooDGrhQ_j7lF0TyRcTHsHYtutA0CBmq6/s640/blogger-image--1343599184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigjeTuh5LB-KW1VXG7LbpbIwp5VxQl8CN9o_4h0qUSipy5XFK-viZlwVf3T5ghU7FTx2BupKZyTH6i9E7SZj95uW1cpOY8E0h822TS5H5A4wUIooDGrhQ_j7lF0TyRcTHsHYtutA0CBmq6/s640/blogger-image--1343599184.jpg" /></a>By 5pm, we had gone about 70 miles and had to get shuttled the rest of the way to the host. We got picked up by the water van and drove about 30 minutes to Mendota, IL. The rest of the day was spent cleaning out the nasty water van, taking a freezing cold shower at a pool, eating dinner at a Mexican restaurant, cleaning my bike, and sleeping.<br />
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<b>Day 24- Mendota, IL to Blue Grass, IA</b><br />
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Mileage: 112 miles<br />
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Today was the first century for Team Portland! I had already done a century before the 4K, but 112 miles was a personal distance record for me. Since we had a long day ahead of us, we woke up at 4:30 am and tried to leave the host in Mendota, IL by 6:15. My ride group for the day was with Peter, Emily Lipsitz, and Ari. The first few miles flew by as we enjoyed chatting as we rode side by side on very low traffic roads through the Illinois countryside. We play a game called "Hot Seat" where someone is in the hot seat and has to answer any questions that are asked. We like to ask some deep questions, mixed in with sillier questions.<br />
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The day before, we got Chipotle burritos donated for lunch, and there was a leftover one that I stuck in my jersey pocket. I ate the entire thing at our first water stop. We had 112 miles to ride, so I thought it would be a good decision to fuel up with Chipotle. It was a very good decision :)<br />
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We got to the second water stop at mile 40 before 11:00; we were making pretty good time! From the second water stop, we had to hop on a trail for about 31 miles. The trail was actually a tow path along a canal, so it wasn't paved. At first, it was fine gravel, which wasn't too bad (though I really hate riding on anything that isn't pavement. It just slows us down so much).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5JIKUs8ynxMJ1SpyShB9FTktygSM8haJ8ZGRAeWa_E_IuR5S3GUfqkexRFgGNQ20rg_nsh_KJfhE1oPXJA4YlW9eN38LEvIw0cJsiCOp1qy-gA7iBB-fycZlvyO1ZY60r-6CMS36Tl0N/s640/blogger-image--721966691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5JIKUs8ynxMJ1SpyShB9FTktygSM8haJ8ZGRAeWa_E_IuR5S3GUfqkexRFgGNQ20rg_nsh_KJfhE1oPXJA4YlW9eN38LEvIw0cJsiCOp1qy-gA7iBB-fycZlvyO1ZY60r-6CMS36Tl0N/s640/blogger-image--721966691.jpg" /></a></div>
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After a few miles, the trail took a turn for the worse. It was poorly maintained and at some points, we were essentially riding through a jungle. There were tall grasses on both sides and the smoothest riding surface was two narrow tire tracks of loose sand/gravel. There were also random rodent holes in the middle of the path that were unpleasantly surprising to bike over. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnH0HjNAnCV0FslDhuJx14IFEkYXFou97eHJDzB61FBF0YTcgKbWR5NmVsLAptDFkA7IFb4G2zOeyz_99irrDGL1RwUFGyWffCK13-kc9tLc4G8DVDZhRMNuRxCyNjJ887KhwMmg2-uuJ3/s640/blogger-image-1790998735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnH0HjNAnCV0FslDhuJx14IFEkYXFou97eHJDzB61FBF0YTcgKbWR5NmVsLAptDFkA7IFb4G2zOeyz_99irrDGL1RwUFGyWffCK13-kc9tLc4G8DVDZhRMNuRxCyNjJ887KhwMmg2-uuJ3/s640/blogger-image-1790998735.jpg" /></a></div>
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I seriously felt like I was mountain biking through some single track. We were on road bikes, so this was not okay. After about 15 frustrating miles, we decided to reroute (this is the theme for today). At a bridge that went over the path, we decided to climb up and get back on some real roads. I have to admit it was quite beautiful, though.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-_wldYvxgnoWj2ILdY97yQUynRvRubks2d6pwA1a8luOIgRMC0gqNnlHitTUTYWJ-hxRRrV6kVxKv6Xk73gWRbdrClU35tjgE2qsAmE44YMJtgOCefJXtOtS4Ziq69MDKz_CPTX6x8kb/s640/blogger-image-1052556774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-_wldYvxgnoWj2ILdY97yQUynRvRubks2d6pwA1a8luOIgRMC0gqNnlHitTUTYWJ-hxRRrV6kVxKv6Xk73gWRbdrClU35tjgE2qsAmE44YMJtgOCefJXtOtS4Ziq69MDKz_CPTX6x8kb/s640/blogger-image-1052556774.jpg" /></a></div>
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Around mile 60, we met up with the food van for some lunch. Food van did very well with getting a variety of food for lunch, including pizza, lo mein, fried rice, veggies and dip, and a lot of snacks. Whenever I see food when I'm riding, I just want to eat it all. I ate way too much and regretted it later when I struggled to stay awake in the afternoon. </div>
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Shortly after lunch, we came across this barn that we thought would make a good photo op. There was an anti-government message written on the side next to the American flag. We just snapped a few pics and left.</div>
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The rest of the afternoon was the most challenging part of the ride so far. We had a lot of trouble with the route, and had to reroute a lot. The water van was kind of MIA and wasn't chalking the turns ahead for some reason, so we relied on our own directions from Google Maps. Peter, our "mama duck", led us most of the way since he always writes down the cue sheet and has it in front of him. It was a really tough job to have the responsibility of making sure we were on the right track, and I really appreciated Peter for keeping us from getting lost. </div>
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I think our century day was more mentally exhausting than physically. It was just frustrating to have to stop every few turns to look up directions, and we were so ready to be done with the ride as it got later, but we had many more miles to go. Around mile 97, we got to the Mississippi River. The view was so spectacular, we momentarily forgot our exhaustion and stopped to take some photos. There was a bike path along the river, though it turned into a confusing bike route through a commercial area and then kind of disappeared, so that added to our frustration. We eventually made our way across the bridge into Iowa, though we were disappointed that we didn't get to see a state sign. Crossing the bridge got our mileage at 100 miles. First century complete. </div>
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Except we had 12 more miles to go. The sun was getting low and by that point, we were fighting against the clock to get into the host at YMCA Camp Abe Lincoln before sunset. The rest of the way was very straightforward, so we didn't have any problems with getting lost and rerouting. The road conditions were also great, and we ended up riding in a double pace line, with me and Brady leading. Those last few miles went by quickly with little headwind, a perfect ending to a day that was quite frustrating. My group was the first to arrive, a little before 8 pm. We had time to eat dinner before the rest of the team arrived. After dinner, I ran down the gravel path (in my flip flops) just in time to meet my teammates as they arrived. Everyone was so excited and we were cheering and whooping like maniacs. It was amazing that everyone got to finish the day, even though it took over 13 hours. I am incredibly proud of my team for toughing this day out. I think greeting and cheering for my teammates at the entrance of the YMCA is one of my favorite moments so far. The daylight was just about gone, but our team was reunited after a long, hard day.<br />
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