The title is a quote from Kevin’s text message this morning. Looks like we are all lined up to ride/run today. I’m not entirely awake yet, but I think the few miles down to the Seattle Center will fix that. Today will be an emotional show of support Beth, if you can come out to cheer on people in the challenge please do.
Everyone is registered. Team Bear has wildly exceeded our goal, almost doubling in fact! Everyone feels ready for the ride physically… mentally is the question that we are all dealing with tonight.
Beth has had a rough last couple of days. Her right side weakness has gotten much worse, this morning it was evident in her neck as well. Holding her head up straight was a pretty big chore and after awhile she needed a little help. She slept for most of the day and is comfortable right now as we had an adjustable bed delivered.
With all that went on today and how Beth was feeling it isn’t very likely that she will be making it to cheer on the finish of the ride tomorrow. I do know that she will be rooting us on from home. And we will be riding our hearts out in tribute to her strength, courage, beauty and tenaciousness!
I hope that those who were coming out to cheer on Team Bear with Beth will still be there to cheer us on even though Beth might not be there. We all can certainly use the last bit of energy to get us across the line. Thank you again to all who have supported our efforts! And of course every bit of love you have sent our way have been a great gift and wonderful lift of energy and love to Beth.
Love to you all! Kevin
Hey Team Bear Supporters,
There will be an unofficial Team Bear Cheering Section gathered up at 2nd and Republican (at the red bicycle square on the attached map) in Seattle Center. Beth and crew will try to arrive there between 11:00-12:00 Sunday morning. I am anticipating that the Team Bear cycling crew will roll through the finish sometime after 11:00, although likely closer to 12:00 noon. Feel free to join Beth and many others for the finish of the cyclists and the gather up of the whole Team Bear, runners, walkers and cyclists.
If you have any problem finding the Team Bear cheering section feel free to call 206-303-9072 for location information.
Thanks again to all who have supported Team Bear!
See you Sunday!
Kevin
Link to venue map and finish line: http://www.livestrongchallenge.org/atf/cf/%7BD1308CBF-EFD6-4EFE-8FA1-66FA00E28177%7D/SEATTLE%20VENUE%20MAP.PDF
Kevin and I went on a mini but sweaty and tough uphill ride this evening. Ugh. Warmer air, car exhaust and traffic made me feel pretty vulnerable to the upcoming 70 miles. I keep chanting, it’s a ride-not a race, it’s a ride-not a race. It’s a sort-of Little Engine that Could chant. I have to think too that, I am healthy and capable. No matter how slow or hard riding the bike is, it’s a lot easier than what my brother and Beth are doing.
Beth returned from her trip to Geneva and dramatically lost some physical capabilities. Because the chemo therapies are not working, her tumor is growing and therefore putting pressure on areas of her brain. This has caused her to loose the ability to move her right arm and leg. She is now unable to walk or move from place to place without assistance from Kevin, me or someone else. So, I have to think 70miles-no big deal. I’m healthy and capable to do almost anything all by myself, and I’m thankful and humbled by that.
I’m leaving Sitka tomorrow to be with Beth and Kevin. I finished my last ride (39 miles) here before packing up the bike for Seattle. The ride was free of my ipod and cell phone, leaving me only with the thoughts of landing at their doorstep. Beth returned from her trip and I think they have had some difficult days. I’m looking forward to being with them.
Here are some pictures of Beth. I just wanted to post them. This ride and trip is about her, so here she is.
Kevin and I headed out for a 50 mile ride Tuesday along the Green River. We kept up a hard pace on the way out and worked just as hard on the way back into a head-wind. After about 40 miles the legs were showing some wear just in time for a climb up California Way from Elliott bay – about 300 vertical feet.. Honestly after the climb my legs felt better than before so I think the ride up Village Park Drive at mile 36 in the LIVESTRONG Challenge will help refresh the legs. Kevin posed the question in a previous post and now I can say I feel ready.
Of course a ride with Kevin wouldn’t be complete without the camera. He is surprisingly good at keeping it still while riding
Just went for a 12 miler around West Seattle. Started up California to the Admiral then down Admiral, reversed course at the bottom of the hill and cruised Alki, back around the bend past Colman Pool, around Lincoln Park and back up the hill to the house.
Good ride until I headed back up the hill and the bike would not stay in one gear! ARRH! The lower gears kept skipping around, jumping back and forth! Made for a frustrating ride those last 3 miles! So on arriving at the house I packed up the bike, drove up to the shop where I just had the rear cassette replaced two days ago so they could take a look… well, 45 minutes later guy asks, did you have a 8 or 9 speed on this before? Well, its an 8 speed shifter so it needs to be an 8 speed cassette right?! Needless to say, tomorrows ride will be on a 9 speed while the 8 speed is ordered. They were very nice and apologized several times for the mistake but I don’t really have time for this!
Well, tonight I will dream of the Renovo R2 I am sure! 
Just returned from a 51.6 mile ride from West Seattle – along the Duwamish River and the Green River – down to South Kent and back. Great spin! I hadn’t put in that many miles in almost three weeks with the trip to Alaska and then getting that cold that still isn’t completely gone. Kept the average effort low just to keep the cadence up and not have to cut the time short. At just over 16 mph average that 50 miles was done in 3:05:17.
The plan over the next week while Beth is traveling is to put in several long rides. I would like to do at least two, maybe three more that are over 3 hours. With that I think I will be in good shape for the Challenge. Erika is going to come into town early that week so that we might get out on a couple of rides for her to preview some of the course and to get out as a group too. I am really excited for her to be here and get out on the road!
I just got a message from the travelers and they are having a great time. They are in Provence, France staying at Katherine’s (travel partner and great friend from Seattle) Dad’s Inn. Not sure what day they are leaving but the plan was to head out to the North Coast of Italy, maybe Portofino.
Here’s a little video from the ride. Not as fun doing these when you are by yourself… but none the less here you go.
So I have been battling a cold and allergies for the past week plus and haven’t been out on my bike. Its killing me! I plan to get on the saddle tomorrow morning when I head in for an appointment down near Pike Market. Looking very much forward to spinning my wheels a little.
Things around here have been good, although challenging. We had a great weekend with a Saturday picnic (read more on Beth’s new blog http://www.offthetopofmyhead.org ), and a productive day around the house today and some fun running around with Beth this afternoon. Things have recently gotten a little harder for Beth as she has more right side weakness in her arm, hand and leg. She also has had more difficulty with her speech, particularly when she is tired. My heart aches a lot more these days and I find that I am a bit more tired too…
You may notice that we have gone far past our fundraising goal as a team. Thank you to everyone who has put a little something forward in our salute to our incredible Beth. I am only a few steps away from making my goal. I just so wish that somehow we find what is necessary to reach a goal for Beth in halting the tumor growth. We will continue to fight and will never give up hope for Beth!
thanks again for everyone’s support! We love you all!
I woke up early yesterday, Memorial Day, and used the extra time for a solo ride around the North loop of Lake Washington. I was supposed to call Kevin about a ride but that seemed inappropriate at 5:30am. I spent some time lost near the UW where the only vehicles out were garbage trucks moving our disposables about as if it were any other day.
I felt good about the ride which ended up being 48.5 miles. I try not to look at millage while riding otherwise I might have spun around the block until the computer said 50. I was able to average over 14 mph which isn’t too bad given the 2900 feet of climbing. I’ll get a map up once my phone is willing to upload it. The route is interesting where I got lost in Laurelhurst and avoided the speed trap on the Burke-Gilman in Lake Forest Park. Yes, there is an officer on a Motorcycle clocking cyclists and will give tickets.
Kevin did this loop a couple weeks ago and wrote about motivation. One thing clear to me is the motivation provided by hatred for cancer. Cycling affords time to concentrate, relax and release some anger all in one package. Sometimes a solo ride is just the ticket, until you get caught talking to yourself.
