Race
This isn’t the post I planned on writing. It’s not an epic recap of two back-to-back 50 mile bike rides. It’s not even a tale of two 40 mile bike rides. In fact, it’s not a story of two bike rides at all.
It’s about one 18 mile ride on a Saturday morning. The end.
There’s a lot of people out there that could eat an 18 mile ride for breakfast. I’m not one of them, so I’m still proud of my accomplishment, I just wish it could’ve been more.
But let me back up and start at the beginning.
I’m a casual type A {if there is such a thing}. The night before a race or event involves knocking out The List: the to-dos, the prep, the ducks in a row. Equipment ready to go, bags packed, food prepped, maps printed, race numbers pinned, and plans made.
Friday night I put the babe to bed and came downstairs to start The List. I stopped being nervous about our upcoming ride and started getting excited. I detoured out to the garage before making dinner to give the bike tires one last pump of air and check on the husband’s bike-rack building progress.
He was holding the bike latch package in his hand, utility knife poised to cut through the zip ties, knife pointing towards him. Just as I started to utter the words, “Well that’s a good way to hurt yourself”, IT happened.
I saw the blade jam into his wrist, right where that vital artery hides. I looked up at him and said, “Hospital?”. When he barely hesitated before saying yes, I knew it was time to go- and fast.
I darted up the stairs, scooped the babe out of bed, and we were off.
3 hours and 6 giant stitches later we came home. It was way past my bedtime and The List was not getting tackled.
The husband was lucky- he missed all the important arteries and tendons, but he wouldn’t be able to ride in the morning as he was unable to squeeze the brakes on his bike.
Saturday morning rolled around far too soon and I scrambled to get everything together. I dragged the wounded husband out of bed to help me rack my bike and collect my pump supplies while I fed the baby. {Those are 2 things I’ve never had to include in race-day prep.
}
I hopped in the car with a mug of coffee and allergy-friendly granola bar and started the 45 minute trek to the park. I sat at the stoplight waiting to get on the highway and thought about turning around and going home. I was going to be late, I was by myself {my other team members didn’t meet the fundraising minimum}, I was tired, hungry, and didn’t want to leave my family. Most of all, I had serious doubts about my ability to complete even the shortest ride of the event.
I pulled into the park, jumped on my bike, and rode through the grass to the start line where I barely paused before we took off. My number was half hanging off my bike and I didn’t pack any fuel. Not the prepared approach I normally take.
The course started in the park before heading out to the local streets. The park is full of long, gradual hills and speed bumps that aren’t so fun on a road bike. It was a bit of brutal awakening and didn’t do too much to boost my confidence. My feet were already numb {they never get numb} and my hip ached where I tweaked it getting stuck in my pedals during a training ride.
As we turned out of the park onto the roads, I recognized the first part of the course from the triathlon I did in the same park. I hoped I wouldn’t be repeating that sequence of events. {Chain falling off, getting stuck, waiting for help…}
The roads were fairly quite and traffic wasn’t much of an issue. I had a couple riders in sight so I could follow their lead when it came to maneuvering around cars and waiting for traffic. At one point we got stuck behind a Bobcat –the equipment, not the animal {although we do have those in NC}- which slowed us down for awhile, but it was nice to just relax and pedal calmly for a few minutes.
Soon after we escaped the farm equipment we approached the rest stop. That was the moment I knew I could do it. Not only that, I knew I could do the longer ride the next day.The rest stop was the turn around point. The halfway mark. It took me by surprise when it came so soon in the ride.
I grabbed some sports drink and a handful of snacks, took a potty break, and stretched out my hips. As soon as I did that I felt better. The kinks were worked out, I was loose and warmed up, and I was ready to bust out the last 9 miles.
I spent most of the second half of the ride by myself on the rural roads. Instead of being lonely and scared, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I knew I was safe and soaked up the rising sunshine and country scenery. The weather was absolutely perfect and I felt great.
The last couple miles brought a few hills. I had no idea how much of the ride I had left and my confidence started wavering. I wasn’t sure I could do it.
But then I thought about my dad, who has MS and is in better shape than most people I know.
I thought about my mom, who rode 75 miles last weekend and finished her first triathlon last month.
I thought about my in laws, who were happily and lovingly taking care of my son so I could participate in this adventure.
I thought about the last time I rode my bike in this park, when my feet hurt so badly I could barely coast down the hills and I needed help racking my bike because my hands didn’t work.
And then I saw the entrance into the park. I’d done it. I dominated the long slow hill. I let out a cheer for the people pushing their bikes up the side and I let out a little silent cheer for myself for managing to stay on my bike.
I couldn’t help but smile as I crossed the finish line. It may have been the shortest ride of the event, but it was still a ride I pushed through and finished.
I can’t say much about the event itself. Although it prides itself on being accessible to all levels, it was clearly geared towards the longer rides of the day and the focus was on the individual fundraising teams, as opposed to riders as a whole. I planned to hang out and partake in the post-ride festivities, but there was nothing going on when I finished {even after I took a timeout to pump in the car}.
I headed home a little disappointed, but pumped for the next day’s ride.
And then at 4am I woke up to a baby and thunderstorms. I crossed my fingers and hoped it would subside in the next couple hours, but no luck. Lightening + bike spokes don’t mix. Bike ride day 2 = no go.
So instead of doing a victory dance and relishing in our amazing “endurance event” accomplishment, the husband and are I wallowing a bit in what could’ve been. We’ve decided to do another ride at the end of October when his arm has healed to make up for it- we don’t want to let those that sponsored us down!
Not the way I pictured this going, but at least I have my first post-baby event under my belt.
Race
24 hours
1,200 riders
400 reboot riders
400 volunteers
99 degrees
110 degree heat index
4 meals
15 between meal snacks
4 team members
$1.25 million dollars
10 years
8 bajillion Powerades {exactly}
Countless waters
=
The one & only 24 Hours of Booty
We knew it was going to be a tough one this year when the car thermometer read 101 degrees Friday morning on the way to the event. By the time we’d pulled up to Queens University at noon, unloaded our bikes, staked out a camping area, and moved the car, we were already jonesing for cold drinks.
We spent the first four hours of our adventure volunteering- the husband and our other teammate Andrea directed traffic like pros, and my mom and I helped with stuffing bags and packet pickup.
The drinks didn’t arrive until we were mostly through our shift, and we snatched them up before they even had a chance to get cold. It was the beginning of the Powerade-drinking marathon.
We had a little bit of time between the end of our volunteer shift and the official start of the event, so we set up our tents, prepped our bikes, and took ice cold showers in the campus athletic center- a complete and totally luxury of the Charlotte event.
The hour before the first lap of the evening was spent with introductions and awards. The Charlotte event alone surpassed the $1.25 million dollar mark this year; an incredible accomplishment.
Awards were distributed to the highest fundraisers, and the 2011 edition of the “Booty charm’” was given to a handful of deserving survivors and influential participants. One of them was my mom!
A local meteorologist & two-time cancer survivor gave an official weather report of “you don’t want to know how hot it is”, although she gave us the clue that the reported forecast temperatures are taken in the shade, and you can expect sunny areas to be 15 degrees hotter. Yikes.
Spencer Leuders, the man that started it all, was surprised with a scholarship in his name to go to four students at Queens University dealing with cancer themselves or in their family. It’s hard to imagine 10 years ago a lawyer borrowed a bike and rode it for 24 hours to raise money for cancer- just look at what it turned in to.
By 7, it was time for the ride to start. First up, the survivor parade lap, led by Sir Purr of the Carolina Panthers and Bob Roll, former professional cyclist and Tour de France announcer.
There goes mom!
The Booty loop is a 2.97 mile loop through the gorgeous neighborhood of Myers Park in Charlotte. The road is lined with skyscraping trees and humongous houses. The neighbors came out, set up chairs and tents, and cheered for the riders late into the night.
We spent most of our 24 hours brainstorming words that accurate conveyed the temperature. “Hot” just simply wasn’t enough. By the middle of the night, the temperatures had cooled slightly- still hot, but bearable. I waited until the sun started going down before hopping on my bike, and rode as late into the night as I could.
Even at night, the course was crowded and packed with cyclists. The number of serious, skilled cyclists surprised me compared to last year’s ride. I can’t tell you how many times I was startled by a flying paceline of cyclists soaring just inches past me. Fairly intimidating, while at the same time, pretty inspiring. If only they knew how lucky they were to not have me swerve into them in surprise!
After attempting a few hours of sleep, it was back on the bike at the crack of dawn. I’d ridden 32 miles by early breakfast. After grabbing a quick bite to eat {oatmeal included!}, we headed to the survivor hour event. My mom is a 16 year survivor, and this year friends and family were invited to join the survivors for a special breakfast.
We not only heard inspiring stories of courage and survival, but we learned exactly what kind of power raising money for 24 Hours of Booty has, and what kinds of programs it makes possible. We learned about where cancer research is going and why, and we learned about the progress Lance Armstrong and the Livestrong Foundation are making.
As we sat in the survivor tent, we could feel the temperature soaring. By the time it was over, we were back to coming up with new expressions for the insane heat.
I don’t do well with heat. I drank and drank and drank, but by the time survivor hour was over, I knew it was time for me to hang up my helmet. I was disappointed that I wouldn’t even meet my mileage from last year {on a better bike and a better course}, but I knew it was what I had to do.
I’m still amazed at the number of people that kept going strong throughout the day. I’m both in awe and impressed by how little they let the heat affect them.
After touring “Bootyville” and visiting some of the vendors, the husband headed out for a few more laps {determined to beat my mileage}. He did great, but came back with the report that it was just too hot. Saturday’s loop was even more crowded as the loop was cut down to one lane, and 400 more riders joined the course for the day.
By the time lunch rolled around, we were struggling to find shade, stay cool, and drink enough. At some point my team realized none of us were riding, and we were just going downhill in the heat. We made the ultimate decision to pack up our stuff and head home a little early. Both disappointing, necessary, and an intelligent decision in the end. {My stomach is still paying for the mass quantities of Powerade consumed.}
Despite the outrageous heat, 24 Hours of Booty was yet again an incredible event to be a part of. You could feel the heartbeat of the Charlotte cycling community serge through the campground. There were people that had been doing this for years, and you can feel the dedication and commitment. The staff that runs the event is incredible, both in their ability to keep such a large event organized, and in their friendly demeanor. The volunteers that come willingly come out in such heat and insane hours of the night show what it’s really all about.
The two events I’ve done now, one in Columbia and one in Charlotte, are completely different from each other, and it was great to experience both of them. I can’t wait for what next year may bring.
Biking
The day is here: it’s time for a 24 hour bike ride!
24 Hours of Booty is a unique event were cyclists of all ages and abilities gather together and ride their bikes for 24 hours, all in the name of fighting cancer.
The 24 Hours of Booty is an
extraordinary cycling event that
is safe, fun, and open to all levels
of cycling ability, while bringing
cancer awareness to the community
and raising funds for noteworthy
cancer charities.
Last year, my mom and I participated in this event in the town I grew up in. This year we’re headed to Charlotte, the place where it all started 10 years ago.
This year’s already shaping up to be an adventure due to the record breaking heat that seems to be sweeping the country.
At a temperature almost 10 degrees hotter than usual, it’ll make for an interesting ride.
It’s so hot, in fact, the event organizers have issued a code red warning implying the potential for dangerous course conditions and are stressing the importance of safety, hydration, slowing down and taking care of yourself.
If it bumps up to black, the ride is shut down. Fingers crossed the heat’s not only bearable, but that the course stays open!
What’s a 24 Hour Bike Ride?
A 24 hour bike ride isn’t the most standard of events, and I’ve gotten a lot of questions about it.
How does it work?
24 Hours of Booty in Charlotte is a 2.97 mile loop around a neighborhood called Myers Park. While it’s open to traffic, lanes are blocked off and well marked for riders.
You can ride the loop as many or as few times as you want over the course of 24 hours. There’s no winner; there’s no set distance goal; there’s no minimum requirement to ride. It’s just about riding, having fun, and raising money for cancer.
Where do you go when you’re not riding?
Home base is called “Bootyville”. It’s full of tents and tables for eating, vendor booths, and a huge campground for all our tents.
Where do you sleep?
Most people stay in tents on a field in Bootyville. Some people head home for the night or grab some sleep in an air conditioned hotel. Staying overnight’s half the fun though. 
What do you eat?
Lots and lots of food. There are at least 4 meals served; usually 5. If you volunteer before the event like we do, tack on another meal to that. The Charlotte event is 7pm to 7pm, so they serve dinner, a midnight pizza party, an early riser breakfast, breakfast, and lunch. The food is provided by local restaurants. Of course there’s snacks and drinks galore to be found in between.
There’s always a chance to grab something and refuel- you burn a lot of calories in 24 hours!
How far do you ride?
As far as you want! Last year I rode 50+ miles. I’m hoping for a little more this year. Some people ride 300 or more!
Do you have to do the whole 24 hours?
Nope. In fact, the Charlotte ride is so popular they have a special event called “Reboot”, where riders can sign up to join the course during the day on the second day of the ride.
How many people do it?
Charlotte, the largest of the 3 events, has 1,200 riders this year {plus 300 volunteers}.
A little perspective? That’s 1,500 people lining up in Bootyville. That’s how many people die each day from cancer. And that’s why these events are so important.
How much money does it raise?
Charlotte has already passed the amazing milestone of ONE MILLION dollars this year, and the event hasn’t even started. That’s beyond impressive, considered the grand total raised so far is $6 million.
What in the world do you pack?
Lots.of.stuff. A tent, sleeping bags, bikes, helmets, shoes, clothes, and more.
Here’s a list of what I brought last year.
This year’s essentials are parred down a little thanks to experience. I’m loading up on a few extras though, like ZICO coconut water, Arctic Ease ice compresses {in case the knee or ankle flare up}, and Grease Monkey wipes to clean up messy hands after messing with bike chains, etc.
Other 24 Hours of Booty posts:
24 Hours of Booty: Last year’s ride recap.
24 Reasons Everyone Should Sign Up for a 24 Hour Event
Packing for a 24 Hour Bike Ride
Let the Ride Begin: last year’s ride goals
Booty Round 2
So, there you have it, a 24 hour bike ride. Now it’s time to toss the bikes on the car and head to Charlotte for a day of volunteering, and then tonight it’s time to ride!
Whew, good thing I carbo-loaded on salted caramel shortbread last night!
Psssst: Read this year’s 24 Hours of Booty recap here!!
Travel
Guess how much The Great Fundraising Act raised yesterday in a single day?
$26,432
Yeah, you read that right.
If you didn’t believe in the power of social media before, or you were losing faith in kindness and charitable giving, you were wrong.
$23,210 came from winning bids on auction items, and another $3,222 came from straight monetary donations. It’s so impressive it blows me away. I’m so proud to be a part of community that has both the thought and power to do something this amazing.
If you didn’t get a chance to bid, or you didn’t win an item, don’t worry- you haven’t missed your chance! Stayed tuned for “After the Act” details on how to buy items at a set price.
Now on to significantly less important things. Like taunting you with beach pictures.
Imagine my surprise when the temperature increased about 20 degrees on the drive home. It was actually cooler at the beach than it was in the middle of the state. Thank goodness the ridiculous heat wave hadn’t yet reached the coast, because it was certainly hot enough for me to be hiding in the shade all day, every day.
We stayed right in the middle of two beaches: Oak Island and Caswell Beach. So much in the middle that the beach was zoned as Caswell Beach and the condo was officially in Oak Island. They were a dune and a parking lot apart.
Either way it was a quiet, un-crowded beach that was so safe everyone left their awnings and beach chairs out in the sand every night. Let me tell you what a difference it makes to lug all your stuff to the beach day after day when you don’t have to carry a chair or giant tent!
I spent most of my days curled up under the awning with one of my 13 books {shame on me, I only made it through 8} and periodically running into the progressively rougher & rougher waves when I couldn’t stand the heat. Or had to pee. You know.
After the husband talking about going fishing every single day of the trip, we finally made it over to the pier for some night fishing on the last evening of our vacation. Of course we chose to stay by the pier with the NC record for largest tiger shark catch. Oh my.
It’s not as easy as it looks to tie hooks to a clear line in the windy darkness, but eventually everything was all set up.
There was a lot of sitting…and only one fish caught. I really don’t relate to the appeal of fishing for fun…
As much as I love vacation and the beach, I’m happy to be home. Technology was not my friend on the trip {my family will likely tell you this doesn’t surprise them in the least} so I have lots of catching up to do!
Posts were sparse on the trip, but here’s what you missed:
– Ready to Ride?
– Crab cakes at the Dead End Saloon
– My 7 Links of beautiful, controversial, and surprise posts…aka my rare participation in a meme. If you haven’t done 7 links yet considered yourself tagged in my post because I’m having fun reading them. 
There’s also some fun things coming up over the next week or so:
– An insanely delicious {yet messy} treat. Hint: Lesson learned- don’t attempt to make caramel during the hottest week on record.
– A HUGE bike ride. Please everyone cross your fingers that the forecasted 98 degrees for Friday and Saturday is extremely wrong. I’m thinking 70 sounds good…but I’ll take something in the 80s. 
– Some fun news that I will now make you wait in suspense for, because that’s really the only way to make it fun.
– Surely I’m forgetting something…
What exciting things do you have going on this week?
charity
Can you imagine what it’d be like to be stuck in the hospital fighting cancer at 25 instead of in the gym personal training? How about having to pay for all that treatment? That’s the boat Susan’s in right now.
And today, we all get the chance to help her out. The Great Fundraising Act online auction and bake sale is TODAY! Bidding opens at 8am this morning and goes through 4-11p {check item for end time}. All bids start at just $10.
I under-exaggerated before when I mentioned there were over 100 items up for auction- there’s 200!
From online services {including free nutrition counseling from yours truly} to blogger baked goods to fitness products to gift cards oh my!
A few I have my eye on:
Vega Products Gift Basket from Vega
Bob’s Red Mill Gift Bag from Bob’s Red Mill
Love Grown Foods Granola by Love Grown Foods
Kettlebell Coaching from Girl Heroes
Live Well 360 Core Bag from Live Well 360
Lululemon Groove Pant
Perhaps I should narrow down my choices? 
To learn more about how the auction will work visit the official auction page. Updated bids will be available on the meals & moves homepage after bidding has opened.
So what are you waiting for?! {Besides 8am…} Go BID!!!
What do you have your eye on?
