Well by this time today (5:30 p.m. in Ontario), I'm sure most of the cyclists who left Seattle this morning should have arrived at their destination for the day - it was to be an 80 km day so we were told. The suggestion was made that the seatosea cyclists who weren't starting in Seattle should do a similar ride today. Joe and I left just after 8:30 a.m. and had an 80 km ride planned. Once we were on the way home and we had a tail wind, I suggested that we should do a 100 km ride. The route changed and we managed to clock just over 100 km - felt good arriving home just before 4:00 p.m. Mind you we made a few stops on the way - it didn't take us that long to do the 100 km. We had some wonderful scenery along the way - will post a picture later - hopefully as spectacular as the other cyclists had. But we did not dip our tires in the ocean and did not have a royal send off.....
Our plan was to have lunch in Arkell - a small town just over 40 km from home - but it was not to be, they chose to take today and tomorrow off to celebrate Canada Day so we had to do without lunch. We did sit on their porch, ate a granola bar and decided to keep going until the next town which was Freelton and there we had something to eat and drink. The temperature was just perfect for a ride today - high of 21 with thunder storms forecast for both the morning and the afternoon which did not materialize. Wearing rose coloured sun glasses is great for these conditions - they don't let you see how dark the sky really is at times.
Another added bonus to all this training is a drop in my cholesterol reading...mine had been steadily climbing the last few years and my doctor wanted me to go on meds for it. I asked him for another 6 month reprieve before taking meds and promised I would work very had at getting it down. Well last week I had blood work done and it had decreased considerably so I was very happy about that.
Training will be heavy duty for the next few weeks.....we plan to leave the 22nd of July for our drive out to Denver, we will our time getting there....enjoying the scenery along the way and checking out the roads that we will be cycling once we leave Denver.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Monday, June 9, 2008
Article in Local Paper
Flamborough Review
Cyclists pedal to fight poverty
By Dianne Cornish
Sports
Jun 06, 2008
Although separated by an age difference of more than 35 years, Margaret DeWeerd and Hilena Zylstra have a common passion: the two Flamborough women want to make a difference in the cycle of poverty that has gripped many parts of the world.
Their desire led them to sign up last fall for the Sea to Sea 2008 Bike Tour, the largest cross-continental tour ever. Beginning June 28 in Seattle, Washington and ending August 30 in Jersey City, the 6,000-kilometre (3,750-mile) ride will feature 216 riders, 111 of them, Canadian.
The ride, presented by the Christian Reformed Church (CRC), hopes to raise $1.5 million to help the world's poor. Each rider is committed to raising $10,000 for the cause.
"The funds we raise are not for the cost of the trip. There are corporate sponsors that cover those costs," explained 60-year-old DeWeerd of Waterdown. "Every penny we raise goes to the poverty initiative."
Helping erase the cycle of poverty is a big motivator for Zylstra. The 24-year-old Waterdown resident said she feels strongly about raising money for the poor "because I am so blessed." She feels fortunate that she is in a position to help. "To be able to help others is a privilege."
While acknowledging that covering an average of 110 kilometres (68 miles) a day during her nine-week cycle ride will be quite a physical challenge, Zylstra said, "My biggest fear all along is the fundraising aspect."
She has sent out letters and made telephone calls to family and friends, and members of her church family at Bethel Christian Reformed Church on Kerns Road have been "very supportive." But both she and DeWeerd are still looking for donations to meet their goal. They're confident their objective is within reach and that people and businesses will come through as they have for past ventures.
People came through in a big way when DeWeerd's husband, Joe, took part in an eight-week bike tour from Vancouver to Guelph in the summer of 2005. He and other riders raised close to $ 1 million in support of building new CRCs across Canada. Mrs. DeWeerd joined him for four weeks of the tour, not to cycle but to serve as a volunteer cook.
"I saw it was such a neat experience three years ago, I decided to try to do it," she said. "It's also a personal challenge," she said of the tour, adding that she's thankful for the support and encouragement of her husband and family.
"I also believe in the cause. I want to make people aware of poverty and what we can hopefully do to alleviate it," she added.
DeWeerd will be joining the tour about halfway through in Denver, Colo., while Zylstra has signed up for the whole trip. Both women have been training seriously since they signed up.
A hobby cyclist for the past 10 years, DeWeerd said she didn't become "a serious cyclist" until last fall. She bought a Trek road bike at Christmas and has been training rigorously ever since. Five times a week, she takes spin classes and weight training at the Flamborough YMCA. "The more training, the better shape I am in."
Zylstra has also adopted an ambitious training program. She bought a Lemonde road bike last October and cycles 15 kilometres to work most days, as well as about 100 kilometres on weekend rides through the Flamborough countryside.
She also rides the bikes at Runner's Den, takes karate two nights a week and plays squash at McMaster University once a week.
Even though she and other cyclists will be on the road for about six hours a day before reaching a 'tent city' in a farmer's field where riders will spend most nights, DeWeerd said it's important to keep everything in perspective. "It's not a race. There will be time to stop to smell the roses along the way."
DeWeerd and Zylstra will be among the 192 cyclists scheduled to spend the night of August 22 at Redeemer University College in Ancaster during a four-day portion of the tour through parts of Ontario.
To learn more about the bike ride or make a donation, contact the women at hilenazylstra@hotmail.com or jmdeweerd@cogeco.ca or see the registered cyclists listed on the tour's website at www.SeatoSea.org. Donors can also call 1-888-272-2453 or send cheques payable to Sea to Sea 2008 Bike Tour, P.O. Box 5070, Stn LCD1, Burlington, Ont. L7R 3Y8.
Area residents are also invited to share DeWeerd's personal thoughts about the trip by visiting her blog at http://margaretsc2c.blog-spot.com.
Funds generated from the tour will be used to support initiatives that range from trying to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa to programs that help poor farmers improve their crop yields in Central America. The primary agencies that carry out these projects are: the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, the Christian Reformed World Missions, Partners Worldwide and churches and para-church organizations involved in ministry with and for the poor.
The Survivors' Victory Lap
For the last three years our local community has held a Relay For Life event which is a celebration of survival. It's a tribute to the lives of loved ones, and a night of fun, entertainment, friendship, and fundraising to beat cancer. The evening begins with the Survivors' Victory Lap, celebrating success in the battle against cancer. At dusk, a touching luminary lighting ceremony takes place where hundreds of candles are lit in honour or in memory of loved ones. The words HOPE and LIFE are spelled out on the bleachers. We give HOPE to those that see us walk and show them that there is LIFE after cancer.
Last Friday evening I walked the victory lap along with some friends.......
To be cheered on by family and friends swells me up with emotion. I almost compare it to the excitement that was there when the 2005 cyclists arrived in Halifax. For each of us as survivors this is almost just as much of an accomplishment. The course each one of us has travelled has not been the same or as difficult. Some are still undergoing treatment as they walk and others have just finished treatment. There are not too many out there who have not been affected by cancer in one way or another in their extended families.
This summer as the SeatoSea tours North America, we know where the starting point will be and we know where each day will finish but we will not always know the course set out for each day. It has been mapped out for us but we actually will not know exactly what we will encounter along the way until we get there. So it is in life - we know where we started in the family that God has placed us in. The future is in God's hands and the course we follow is different for each one of us. There will/could be obstacles that we have to overcome, hills to climb and valleys to go through but lets encourage one another in our journeys, cheer each other on and help those who are having a hard time. We will experience this on the ride this summer. How and when we arrive is not as important but that we do arrive is. Together we can reach the goal set out before us.
Last Friday evening I walked the victory lap along with some friends.......
To be cheered on by family and friends swells me up with emotion. I almost compare it to the excitement that was there when the 2005 cyclists arrived in Halifax. For each of us as survivors this is almost just as much of an accomplishment. The course each one of us has travelled has not been the same or as difficult. Some are still undergoing treatment as they walk and others have just finished treatment. There are not too many out there who have not been affected by cancer in one way or another in their extended families.
This summer as the SeatoSea tours North America, we know where the starting point will be and we know where each day will finish but we will not always know the course set out for each day. It has been mapped out for us but we actually will not know exactly what we will encounter along the way until we get there. So it is in life - we know where we started in the family that God has placed us in. The future is in God's hands and the course we follow is different for each one of us. There will/could be obstacles that we have to overcome, hills to climb and valleys to go through but lets encourage one another in our journeys, cheer each other on and help those who are having a hard time. We will experience this on the ride this summer. How and when we arrive is not as important but that we do arrive is. Together we can reach the goal set out before us.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
The first of June.....
The countdown continues....for those starting in Seattle, it's only 27 more sleeps and you are off.... the final month of training is starting. Those of us starting in Denver have a few more weeks but it's creeping up on us as well. Those needs/wants of equipment/clothing should all be bought by now as well. I did make a trip to MEC and spent lots and now have to return there to exchange some of the purchases. Waiting for a rainy day before making the trip to TO.
The cycle shop where I purchased my bike had an invitation for a "Ladies Night" a few weeks ago - this private function was a forum based on ladies cycling needs, apparel, basic mechanics and the quintessential...the TUBE change! I went and did I learn stuff I didn't know. She had a new product with her called "Chamois Butter" and suggested to put this butter on the chamois in our shorts as well as other places - this is probably too much information for the male readers to this blog. She also recommended "Udderly Smooth" as a product to use and I did manage to buy some in a Wegman's store across the border. It's getting harder and harder to find it where I live.
A female rep from TREK bikes was there to show and tell us how to change a tire without getting our hands dirty and it's possible - she had no grease anywhere. Now it will be interesting to see how much we remember when reality sets in on the side of the road. They also offered a complimentary pilates class specific for cyclists. Now that's a form of exercise that gets right to the "gut" so to speak - very good for before and after a ride.
Training continues...this past week I mastered "Snake Road" hill two times in a row - an accomplishment for me - met a trainer at the Y who is doing the Ironman this summer and she suggests repeat hills as a good training. Our local newspaper ran an article on a cyclist who will be taking part in the cycle across Canada for Cancer that will take place soon and will be done in 19 days. She also does Snake Road hill and she does 10 repeats in a row. I will have to increase my repeats this week. Those doing the 19 day tour will average 240 km per day - not sure if I could ever do that. I also ventured out for a 70 km ride along roads and hills that I had never taken before. Beautiful farm country that offered lots of smells, some not so pleasant. This picture shows the easy part of the ride - going downhill.
I do live in a beautiful part of the country that has lots of challenging hills - this week will have to venture out more than last week. Our area had very strong winds the last week which made for a tough ride but we did have plenty of sunshine to go with the winds. On my days with too many other commitments, I can still go to the Y in the early morning and get a spin class in and do weights so am not shirking my training. I feel sorry for those who hold down regular full time jobs and have to get their training in after hours.
The cycle shop where I purchased my bike had an invitation for a "Ladies Night" a few weeks ago - this private function was a forum based on ladies cycling needs, apparel, basic mechanics and the quintessential...the TUBE change! I went and did I learn stuff I didn't know. She had a new product with her called "Chamois Butter" and suggested to put this butter on the chamois in our shorts as well as other places - this is probably too much information for the male readers to this blog. She also recommended "Udderly Smooth" as a product to use and I did manage to buy some in a Wegman's store across the border. It's getting harder and harder to find it where I live.
A female rep from TREK bikes was there to show and tell us how to change a tire without getting our hands dirty and it's possible - she had no grease anywhere. Now it will be interesting to see how much we remember when reality sets in on the side of the road. They also offered a complimentary pilates class specific for cyclists. Now that's a form of exercise that gets right to the "gut" so to speak - very good for before and after a ride.
Training continues...this past week I mastered "Snake Road" hill two times in a row - an accomplishment for me - met a trainer at the Y who is doing the Ironman this summer and she suggests repeat hills as a good training. Our local newspaper ran an article on a cyclist who will be taking part in the cycle across Canada for Cancer that will take place soon and will be done in 19 days. She also does Snake Road hill and she does 10 repeats in a row. I will have to increase my repeats this week. Those doing the 19 day tour will average 240 km per day - not sure if I could ever do that. I also ventured out for a 70 km ride along roads and hills that I had never taken before. Beautiful farm country that offered lots of smells, some not so pleasant. This picture shows the easy part of the ride - going downhill.
I do live in a beautiful part of the country that has lots of challenging hills - this week will have to venture out more than last week. Our area had very strong winds the last week which made for a tough ride but we did have plenty of sunshine to go with the winds. On my days with too many other commitments, I can still go to the Y in the early morning and get a spin class in and do weights so am not shirking my training. I feel sorry for those who hold down regular full time jobs and have to get their training in after hours.
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