Final Training Ride

October 11, 2009

Today was the last early Sunday morning training ride but there were smiles everywhere.  After completing 20 weeks of training and logging 1,000+ miles on Sundays alone, everyone is in fantastic shape and ready to tackle the 620 scheduled miles from San Francisco to San Diego next week.  I am sure that many saw the program as a daunting task, but with the incredible support of our ride leaders, coach, and support crew, we all made it.  I was still caught up in the 'high' of winning The Scott and BR Cycling Challenge and was again overwhelmed with kind words and congratulations of fellow Qualcomm Million Dollar Challenge riders, Scott & BR Cycling Challenge teammates, and great friends.  It is a huge honor and I will cherish the journey, the support and friendships it took to get here, and the QMDC experience for my lifetime.


The pre-ride briefing had a special speaker this morning.  One of the challenged athletes and hand-cycle studs, Fred, took a moment to thank us for all that we do for the Challenged Athletes Foundation.  He shared his story, about how he was injured in a motorcycle accident years ago and how "in an instant" his whole life had changed, from how he lived to how others viewed him.  Then he explained how athletics turned that all around.  He went from being a guy in a wheelchair going to see his mother to a competitive athlete and how athletics and competition changed his and others perspective.  Rock on Fred!  Your story and attitude is truly inspirational, we were all touched by your words and proud to support you and the Challenged Athletes Foundation!


The ride was a short one.  A almost 40 miler to recover, relax, and enjoy each others company as we make the final preparations for next week.  I started with Groups 1 and 2 to talk to the folks I haven't had a chance to ride with over the last few weeks.  Even after 20 weeks, I am still meeting great people.  I spent some time with David Crabb this week as we decided to fall off the Group 1 pace and head back to Group 3 for the rest of the ride.  We all had a great time out on the final ride.  It was blessed with great weather and filled with good company.

This Friday I board a plane to San Francisco, and on Saturday we start the epic seven day journey down the coast.  I am really excited, and honored to share this experience with all my new Great Friends in the Qualcomm Million Dollar Challenge.  See you all in San Francisco!

Winner!

October 7, 2009

It started with an on air interview on June 2 when the 30 contestants were announced and ended today with the Sensational Seven in the studio.  Today, I was declared the winner.

Thank you everyone for your messages filled with kind words and support.  My phone has all but exploded with text messages, emails, and Facebook notifications!  I am honored and humbled being chosen as the winner of the Scott & BR Cycling Challenge and team leader/coach for next years group.  This has truly been a memorable experience and I am honored to have been a part of it.

 

I want to thank everyone for your donations of time and funds for the Challenged Athletes Foundation.  This has all been a big job, but all things worthwhile are.  Honestly, 4 months ago I did not think I had what it was going to take to come out of this competition as the champ, but each week I was inspired more and more by the other riders and the challenged athletes.  I saw an opportunity to help on each Sunday ride and jumped in to put all of the skills that I have absorbed from the Trek training series to work.  Whether it was helping out and directing people when Alex crashed, changing a flat tire, or providing words of encouragement to a friend struggling in the saddle, I was happy to help out.

 

I also owe a lot of thanks to my teammates.  We really bonded and worked together the whole way.  We came together as strangers but walk away as great friends.  It was an honor to be surrounded by such incredible people.  As a group we raised over $50K, and with an additional $10K from XX1090 and my $10K sponsorship, we had enough funds for 7 riders to make the trip.  Alex, Joy, Brian, Rob M., Joe, and Mark, thanks for the inspiration and motivation, and see you in Frisco!

 

And many thanks to Brent Smith and Mike Henderson for encouraging me to enter the contest.  When I was planning the Ride-4-Cancer trip in June I did not think I had it in me to handle another big event and big ride.  They both said the right things and got me motivated to tackle this thing...and in the end, I am so happy I did.  Thanks for showing me the way, guys.  By the way, Mike really did stay impartial for the whole contest.

 

I was so filled with emotion this morning that I could not find the words that I wanted to say on the air.  Thanks for listening to the show and following along my blog.  This journey is not over yet.  Stay tuned, folks.

Last Big Weekend, Last Big Ride

October 5, 2009

This weekend was the final push to get some big numbers on the fundraising board, before the announcement of the winner of The Scott & BR Cycling Challenge and the start of the Qualcomm Million Dollar Challenge.  A few teammates and I set up shop at the Scripps Ranch Farmer's Market to sell some more BBQ Island Opportunity Drawing Tickets and promote the CAF and XX1090am.  We set up bright and early.  Thank you Bev for giving us the space for free!  We had the canopy, a bunch of tables wrapped with XX1090am roll banner, a big Challenged Athletes Foundation banner, CAF information, the prized BBQ Burner, a bike in setup in the trainer, and complimentary coffee and baked goods.  We even wore the Scott & BR Cycling Team jerseys.  We had some folks show up that heard the plug on XX1090, thanks to Scott Kaplan for the plug (it was right after former teammate Chris Glossner called in and won the prize pack and asked when they were going to start covering bowling).  We raised about $250 and talked to scores of people about the CAF and QMDC.  I even sold a ticket to a former CAF board member.  Many thanks to Alex, Mark, and Rob L. for the big effort!  And thanks to Pang for all of the support through the long week.

Sunday was a big ride, advertised as 92 miles with 4400 feet of climbing, but logged at 5600'.  It was a chilly start, I had to break out the arm warmers for the first time since my ride down the coast in June.  I rode in group 3 today along with several other radio show guys (Alex, Pat, Mark, and the yogurt-shop-singing-guy Brian).  Straight out of the gate we were plagued with issues.  Flat tire after flat tire, 7 in total for the day.  But morale was high and everyone was having fun, smiling and enjoying the sunshine and scenery.  The climbs were tough but we all dieseled through and worked as a group when we got hit with the vicious winds.  On one stretch in Rice Canyon, Alex pointed out that you could hear the wind blowing through the trees.  A much missed and familiar sound that I do not get to hear very often.  I suppose it is the simple things, sometimes...

Once we cleared the head winds along the San Luis Rey bike path it was back to the familiar coastal route down the Pacific Coast Highway from Oceanside to Solana Beach.  We had a nice double paceline pushing through the breeze, which was nice because I was not feeling 100% at the end.  I fought a fierce headache and was simply tired from the long week fundraising and getting my work tasks accomplished.

Just one mile from the end, I spotted teammate Rob Millum off the side of the road with a flat.  I stopped and gave him a hand and helped pull him back to our cars at Fletcher Cove.

I cannot express how much I have enjoyed this experience.  From the radio contest to the weekly training rides, it has all been a fun-filled and memorable four months for me.  Thank you, Challenge Athletes Foundation staff, Qualcomm Million Dollar Challenge crew, ride leaders, support staff, my family and friends, and mostly thanks to the challenged athletes for the inspiration to get out and make a difference.

The epic ride down the California Coast is less than two weeks from today.  I am very humbled to be included with this fantastic group of 100 riders on this journey of 620 miles.  But first, the winner of The Scott & BR Cycling Challenge has to be announced.  I am in great company in the final 3.  I am very happy to have been able to get to know and grown with them and all of the other contestants.  We have all worked very hard to get this far, but unfortunately only one can be crowned the winner.  Tune in to XX1090am this Wednesday morning to The Scott & BR Show, 5-9am pacific time.  Winner should be announced at 6:45.  No radio?  Listen online.   Who will win, Alex, Joy, or me?

The Final Push

October 2, 2009

Its only 2 weeks until we leave for the San Francisco and the start of the Qualcomm Million Dollar Challenge.  Wow, it has been a fantastic 4 months, the time has flown by.

Well, we are in our final push for fundraising.  As a team, we are trying to get as many of us to San Francisco to make the trip back down the coast.  Collectively we have raised just short of $50,000.

We have thrown together one last event to sell the 200 remaining BBQ Island Opportunity Drawing tickets.  Don't miss out, this is a serious prize.

We will be set up at the Scripps Ranch Farmers Market, tomorrow October 3, from 9 am to 1 pm.  The market is held at the Ellen Browning Scripps school (10380 Spring Canyon Rd, across from Vons on Scripps Poway Parkway.  We will have opportunity tickets for sale, coffee, and cookies.  We will be in our XX1090am, Scott & BR Cycling Team Jerseys too!  So come on by and pick up a ticket to win the ULTIMATE BBQ ISLAND!  

TONIGHT! Rendezvous in the Ranch

October 1, 2009

TONIGHT!
Thursday, Oct. 1, 6:30-10 p.m.
16135 Valle de Oro, Rancho Santa Fe

• Gourmet Chocolate Tasting by Jers
• Organic Burger Bar by O’Brothers Burgers (vegetarian options available)
• Tasty Beverages
• Silent Auction
• Opportunity Drawing, Raffle Items and 50/50
• Possible appearances by Professional Cyclists, Floyd Landis and Chris Horner!

Silent auction from 6:30-8:30 with over $15K in items, including a week's stay in a Kona condo, a plethora of cycling items, bike fit by the legendary John Howard, velodrome classes and training, spa treatments, golf clubs and outings, wine baskets, and so much more.
Tickets are $40 for 1 and $70 for 2 and include drinks and catered dinner.
Children are welcome.

RSVP and purchase tickets online:http://qmdc.kintera.org/rancho

The Final Push

October 1, 2009

My teammates and I are in the final push for fundraising, and there are still a few opportunities to help out and win awesome prizes too.

FIRST, Brian Brillo is holding an opportunity drawing for a Yamaha Acoustic-Electric Guitar (model AEX500N). The guitar is gently used but in excellent condition with new strings. Approximate value is $450. It comes complete with guitar strap and gig bag. Tickets are $20 for 1 or $30 for 2. Pictures here: http://tinyurl.com/CAFguitar.

So far, under 40 tickets have been sold and the winner will be announced today!  To get entered into the drawing, or for more information about the guitar, contact Brian Brillo at savoycourt11@hotmail.com

SECOND, I am running an opportunity drawing for a custom, modular BBQ island! The value of the components alone is over $5,000, but you also get FREE delivery and custom installation (including tile) in the San Diego area.

Tickets are $30 for 1 or $50 for 2. A MAXIMUM of 300 tickets will be sold . The winner will be announced on Friday, October 9, 2009. View the poster for details: http://tinyurl.com/CAFBBQisland

If you are interested in the BBQ, send me an email and I will help you out.  abeck@framemax.com

Thanks everyone for following me and my teammates on this journey and thank you very much for all of your support!  Help the me and the CAF, buy opportunity drawing tickets or donate today!

False Alarm.

October 1, 2009

False alarm folks.  We were all on the air with Scott & BR yesterday morning waiting for the announcement.  They had a little fun by taking a commercial break right as they played the dreaded sharpening knives...  When they came back, they announced that there would be no one cut from the team this week.  So the final 3 remain! Tune in next week to find out what will happen.  Who will win, Alex, Joy, or me?