Run down on Sunday
Wow! What a ride... I enjoyed what I learned from the experience and I enjoyed completing the course and being challenged, but because of failing technology and not having a paper map, I did not enjoy many aspects of the ride. I would strongly advise that if anyone does this trail that you take a paper map. I don't know why my technology kept failing on Sunday except that I was close to the university and there were quite a few tall, likely concrete and steel buildings that could have been causing me to have poor phone reception.
I would start heading in one direction with the map supposedly synchronized with Google Maps, according to my interpretation of what my phone was telling me and all of a sudden I'd be redirected or the GPS would say nothing to me as I would pass the street where I needed to turn. That part was really frustrating. I also tried just using the map from the website. It's not easy looking at a map while you're riding a bike particularly a digital, interactive one that moves when you move. I attempted to use the more static map but it was lacking street names in some areas, which in my mind kind of defeats the purpose of using a map in the city.
I am thankful that my health and physical condition was such that I was able to complete the course I selected even with detours. All of the obstacles that I faced, to include misplacing my wallet before leaving my apartment, having difficulty getting my bike in and out of the vehicle, needing to stop for air without having money to pay for air, believing that it was going to start raining really hard at any moment, and some of the more minor health issues that I have been facing lately.... Brought me to realize even more that the struggles along my ride are much less complicated than those children with cancer face daily and even minute by minute depending on the severity of their cancer. I am able to stretch a little longer before my ride, buy a new bicycle seat, limit my ride time or mileage to make myself more comfortable, but unfortunately, solutions are not always available to make the ride of cancer patients simpler and less strenuous.
As a rider and as a person who supports this fundraiser, I need to stand in the gap to help fund cancer research and other resources for cancer patients when quite frankly, this year, our government is not.
Being compassionate, understanding, supportive, encouraging and giving are ways in which we can be strong when others are struggling. In my personal opinion, every effort counts. Large and small, every effort is felt and is a way forward. When things seem to be falling apart around us, this is one way that we can encourage and cultivate stability. Please keep all of this in mind, and please help if you can. This year is even more important than before to help me raise money for kids cancer research. Thank you for your help and support.
