Seeking Donations

Days until the ride: 116
Length of the ride: 220 km over 2 days.

Fundraising goal: $10,000
Raised to date: $215
Daily required donations to reach goal: $86

Will you donate today and help me to reach my goal? In return, I will amuse you with bike stories, dog stories, life stories, recipes for tasty foods, and general musings wherever my mind happens to wander.

http://www.conquercancer.ca/goto/nhkayakgirl2014

Here is the story of last year's ride to get you started (after you donate!).  

The bike is ready, can you help me to meet my goal? 

Quilt Raffle

The First Parish Church in Dover, New Hampshire is fund raising to replace the original 1829 slate roof on the church. Learn more about the church history here.

This beautiful quilt, created by Diane Fiske, is being raffled to help raise funds. Tickets are $1 each or books of 6 tickets for $5. Email me for information on how to buy tickets.

Drawing will be held on June 15th, 2014. 

Global Community

I'm setting a new goal for the 2014 Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer - a Global Goal.

My goal is to raise funds from as many countries as possible this year. Cancer is a global epidemic. Not only do I ride to raise funds for Alberta, Canada but also for the world. How will these funds be used?

Money I raise for the Alberta Cancer Foundation through The Ride will directly support patients and families at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary, the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton and 15 cancer centres throughout Alberta. The Alberta Cancer Foundation provides funding to a team of top doctors and scientists whose search for new discoveries and improved patient outcomes will have a real impact in Alberta, across Canada, and around the world.

Discoveries made in Canada don't stay only in Canada. They are shared with the world. Won't you help me to raise donations from as many countries as possible in 2015?

My fund raising link: http://www.conquercancer.ca/goto/nhkayakgirl2014

After you've made your donation, I am asking you to share out my story with as many people as you can - though email, social media, word of mouth, however you can. Together we can make an epic impact!

<3

Donations have come in from:
United States of America
Netherlands Antilles
Vietnam

Donations have been promised from:
Canada
England
Ireland

Let's grow these lists!

The Ride Update

Here are the stats as of June 5, 2013:

Date of Ride: June 22nd & 23rd, 2013

Distance: 200 KM (125 Miles)

Location: Calgary, Alberta to Okotokes, Alberta - AND BACK!

Donation Link: http://www.conquercancer.ca/goto/nhkayakgirl

Fundraising required to ride: $2,500.00

Money raised to date: $3,195.00

Personal fundraising goal: $5,000.00

Donations needed to reach personal goal: $1,805.00

Days left for fundraising: 17

Dollar amount needed per day to make Personal Goal:  $106.18

Dollars that I have personally donated towards my goal: $120.00

Dollars that I have personally spent on training, nutrition, & equipment to date: $2,000.00+

The Challenge to you: Become one of my sponsors by donating towards my goal.

 

If you have already donated, THANK YOU! What else can you do to help? Please consider sharing my quest with a friend and asking them to donate. Copy and paste this link on your facebook page or email it to your friends. http://gurlandbike.blogspot.com  

 

Every little bit helps and it goes towards a great cause. Funds raised in The Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer will support breakthrough research, exemplary teaching, and compassionate care at the Alberta Cancer Foundation, a leader in cancer research and treatment.

 

Now, the training update: I've started week 9 in my second 12 week fitness training program at The Boxing Club of Spruce Grove. This training consists of 3 hours a week of intense core, leg, & butt work through both TRX Suspension Training and Butt & Gutt class.  I love it and plan on continuing with this program even after the ride. On top of this I typically ride 5-10 hours each weekend to log 75-150 km (45-90 miles). While I won't log as many miles per week after the ride, I will enjoy a 1-2 hour ride several days per week. I've also included some hiking in my training program as it is always fun to mix it up a bit and I'm planning on doing a lot more after I wrap up the ride. Can't wait to hit the BIG "hills". ;)

The bike update: I'm riding my 1992 Specialized Cross Roads in this event. Look for me on the red bike with gold trim. You'll be able to pick me out from the crowd as I've got straight handlebars like a mountain bike and flashy new street racing tires with blue stripes on each side. Oh, they stand out! First ride on the new tires takes place this week. Speaking of new... I'm biting the bullet and going with clip in pedals and shoes. I'M TERRIFIED! I've ridden bikes since I was a kid and I have always opted not to use the pedal baskets or shoe clips because I am not known for my grace and balance. I just KNOW that I will be the one that falls over on her bike.. Uh, huh! That will be me, tangled up in the bike, shoes still clipped in, and going nowhere fast. :)

Something fun! Record and send me a video! I'll get to see it after I finish my ride. Click here for instructions. You don't have to donate to make and upload a video and I'll love every single one of them! :) Just keep it to 10-15 seconds and the whackier, the better! :D

Fund Raising Update

As of today, I've raised $2,145.00 of the $2,500 that I need to ride in the Enbridge Ride to Conquor Cancer. I couldn't do this without the help of each and every one of you. This is only $355.00 short of the amount that will allow me to get on my bike and ride on June 22 & 23.

Help me to make it the rest of the way?

Boxing Extravaganza

I attended my very first boxing event on Saturday night: The 4th Annual Al Harris Memorial sponsored by The Boxing Club of Spruce Grove. It was quite the interesting event. I enjoyed it very much and got to sit ringside as a Record Keeper. Yes, I got drooled on...


Videos here

Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time, in a cold, northern country, there lived a gurl who loved to bike. She would bike early in the morning, in the middle of the day, late into the evening, and even in her dreams at night. The gurl would bike in the cold weather, in the rain, the wind, and the sun. Though her neighbors saw her come and go, flashing by with a smile and a wave on her red and gold bike, they often scratched their heads and wondered... Why? Why does she bike day in and day out, hour after hour?

What they didn't know was the the gurl was training for an epic event that included a mountainous goal (or 2), figuratively and quite literally.

I am that gurl and I'm riding that bike (21 year old red with gold trim Specialized Cross Roads) in the Enbridge Ride to Conquor Cancer on June 22nd & 23rd. This ride is a 2 day, 200 km (125 mile) ride that leaves out of Calgary, Alberta, Canada with an overnight (in a tent camp) at Okotoks, Alberta, and a return to Calgary on the second day. What is the ride for? Glad you asked! To raise funds for Alberta Cancer Research.

Here are the literal mountains - The Canadian Rockies! I'll be riding with these beautiful mountains as the back drop and, while I have yet to drive to Calgary (I hear Road Trip in my near future) and check them out, I get the distinct feeling that there will be some "hills" to ride.

Here are the figurative mountains -
1. Training - I'm training hard for this ride and have been since January. I ride 1-2 days per week on looooooooooooong rides (think 3+ hours - lately 4+) and I participate in high-intensity total body workouts 3 days a week. Strength and cardio are as important as endurance.

2. Fund raising - I am required to raise $2,500 to participate in THE RIDE. This is the mountain that I need help with. I'm 64% of the way there - to being allowed to ride. Won't you help me make my dream come true for a great cause?

Here are the stats as of May 2, 2013:

Date: June 22nd & 23rd, 2013
Distance: 200 KM (125 Miles)
Location: Calgary, Alberta to Okotoks, Alberta & back again

Donation Link: http://www.conquercancer.ca/goto/nhkayakgirl

Fundraising required to ride: $2,500.00
Money raised to date: $1,695.00
Money left to raise to date: $805.00
(Pledged but not donated yet: $100)

Days left for fundraising: 51
Dollar amount needed per day to make Minimum goal:  $15.78

Dollars that I have personally donated towards my goal: $100.00

Dollars that I have personally spent on training, nutrition, and equipment to date: $575.00
Note: this does not count the 24 weeks of fitness training at The Boxing Club that I have been participating in since January).

The Challenge to you: Become one of my sponsors by donating at least $25.00 towards my goal.
The Mountainous Challenge: Match what I have donated.

Getting Closer!

Fundraising update: $1,575 raised to date. Only $925 left to go to be able to ride in June! That means...

58 Days left to raise funds
$15.95 needed per day to meet goal.

Won't you sponsor me today?

P.S. stay tuned for a new post with story tonight!

THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY SPONSORS SO FAR! I appreciate each and every one of you. :D

Be Epic!

I have an epic goal:

To raise $5,000 before I ride 200 KM (125 miles) in 2 days as part of the Enbridge Ride to Conquor Cancer - June 22 & 23rd, 2013. 

All proceeds benefit Alberta Cancer Research

Where it all started

Why I am riding

My Training Programs:
TRX
B&G
Spin
Hiking

MY CHALLENGE TO YOU! - Be Epic! I can't do this without you. Will you help me to reach my goal?

Spinning - Day 1

Training re-commences today with an open spin with the Bulls-Eye Bike Shop Club (drop in whenever) and a scheduled spin class with The Boxing Club. The goal is 2 hours of riding (spinning) today. The protein and electrolytes are mixed and ready to go. Stay tuned...

1st hour down - 25 KM completed. Finally met Herb of Bulls-Eye Bike shop and spent an hour on a bike for the first time in a week. My inner thigh muscle on my right leg is a bit tender after yesterday's hike (would help if I had actual hiking boots, not the 20LB Boots of Death that I wear) so I took it fairly easy but managed to kick out 25 KM anyway. Still learning to ride while standing on a stationary bike. Not as easy as you would think. Nice to be dry, warm, and on a flat surface but I really can't wait to start riding outside!

Next up - 1 hour spin class at The Boxing Club - taught by Svetlana. Small class today, myself, Ashley "Crunchy Frogs" Lydia, and Crystal.

Did you know that you can do push-ups on a bike? Neither did I until today. I have never attended an actual Spinning Class before so today was a day of firsts. First time spinning in a class, first time doing push-ups on a bike, first time doing squats on a bike (yes, while riding). Another hour under the belt (along with 30 jumping jacks and 30 actual squats) and I'm looking forward to pushing it up to 2.5 hours total next weekend.

Gear note: I love my Camelbak, I managed to get 2.5 liters (litres) of water/protein/electrolytes down in 2.5 hours. Padded bike pants are a blessing too!

If you've just joined my blog, you may be wondering why I'm doing all of this. You can read about it here.

Beautiful Skies

 

We get some beautiful skies here in Alberta. And yes, I quite frequently stop my truck in the middle of the street to check them out. :) Fortunately it is a very quiet street (dead end) and I work in that building down there on the left. 

If you missed yesterday's post on the Enbridge Ride to Conquor Cancer and my challenge to you, you can read it here.

If you'd like to see some beautiful pictures of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, visit my album.

Lastly, if you'd like to donate to my Ride to Conquor Cancer, I'd appreciate it!

Have a fantastic day!

My Challenge to You

Hello There!
      By now many (most) of you know that I am participating in the Enbridge Ride to Conquor Cancer on June 22nd & 23rd. While I have registered for the ride, I must raise $2,500 in order to actually participate. And I want to ride this one, not just sit on the sidelines!

The money I raise for the Alberta Cancer Foundation through this Ride will directly support patients and families at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary, Alberta, the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, Alberta and 15 additional cancer centres throughout Alberta, Canada. The Alberta Cancer Foundation provides funding to a team of top doctors and scientists whose search for new discoveries and improved patient outcomes will have a real impact in the community, across Canada, and around the world.

A bit about the ride:
Date: June 22nd & 23rd, 2013
Distance: 200 KM (125 Miles)
Location: West of Calgary, Alberta
Donation Link: http://www.conquercancer.ca/goto/nhkayakgirl
Fundraising required to ride: $2,500.00
Money raised to date: $610.00
Money left to raise to date: $1,890
Days left for fundraising: 80
Dollar amount needed per day to make Minimum goal:  $23.65
Personal fundraising goal: $5,000.00
Dollar amount needed per day to make Personal Goal:  $54.88
Dollars that I have personally donated towards my goal: $100.00
Dollars that I have personally spent on training, nutrition, and equipment to date: $300.00 (note: this does not count the past 12 weeks of fitness training at The Boxing Club nor does it include the next 12 week session that starts next week).
The Challenge to you: Become one of my sponsors by donating at least $25.00 towards my goal.
The BIGGER Challenge to you: Match what I have donated.

Questions for me about this ride, my goals, my training, etc? Email me.

Want to learn more about my training, my life musings, my dog, and myself? Read my blog.

A couple of posts about the fitness training I've been participating in:
Butt & Gutt
TRX Suspension Training

The dangers of becoming a zombie in Alberta are high!

And I cook a lot!  So expect to see a few food pics and perhaps I'll share the recipes. 

And above all, a HUGE thank you to my family, friends, clients, and co-workers, on both sides of the border, who have sponsored me to date. I can't do this without each and every one of you!