We had supported the Challenged Athletes Foundation ( http://www.challengedathletes.org/) for a few years now and had recognized the great work that they do. But there was always a feeling of what if I could do more? I heard about the Qualcomm Million Dollar Challenge -- a 7 days 620 mile ride from San Francisco, CA to San Diego, CA and wondered if I could do it. There were several reasons that would make this a "challenge"
1) Although I rode, I had never ridden more that 60 miles in a "sitting"
2) I had never ridden those kind of rides back to back
3) I had started a new job with a heavy international travel schedule
4) Getting ready would require a lot of time away from the family and given the travel on top of that this was a big commitment from them
5) You have to raise $10K to take part!!!
6) I had to lose 20lbs to get in shape!
But... this is a once in a lifetime chance to help a great group of people and to do something meaningful.
I agonized, sat on the fence, missed the first training ride, but one Sunday I was riding down the Californian Coast and saw the ride pass me in the other direction and thought -- ok I got to do this. Several people were instrumental in getting me off the fence, John W from Swami's, Lisa J, Mari H the ride coach, and Hooter and Diane, with the rest of Group 4 from CAF, and Vickey, Katie and Sarah my family for giving me the encouragement and for listening to my back and forward. Also, my employer SAP has been great about being a little flexible.
So the journey
1) Although I rode, I had never ridden more that 60 miles in a "sitting"
2) I had never ridden those kind of rides back to back
3) I had started a new job with a heavy international travel schedule
4) Getting ready would require a lot of time away from the family and given the travel on top of that this was a big commitment from them
5) You have to raise $10K to take part!!!
6) I had to lose 20lbs to get in shape!
But... this is a once in a lifetime chance to help a great group of people and to do something meaningful.
I agonized, sat on the fence, missed the first training ride, but one Sunday I was riding down the Californian Coast and saw the ride pass me in the other direction and thought -- ok I got to do this. Several people were instrumental in getting me off the fence, John W from Swami's, Lisa J, Mari H the ride coach, and Hooter and Diane, with the rest of Group 4 from CAF, and Vickey, Katie and Sarah my family for giving me the encouragement and for listening to my back and forward. Also, my employer SAP has been great about being a little flexible.
So the journey
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