Psych!

Immunity kept me safe this week, but...surprise! No one was eliminated! So, while I thought I was assured a spot in the final four, I'm actually back in the same position I was in before I won immunity...in the final five. I guess you never know what will happen in this contest. So, the playing field has been leveled again with no chance for immunity from here on out. And next week, TWO people will get the boot. Does anyone have a Tums?

Oh yeah, and our latest assignment? Do "something" with a roll of xx1090 signage by Friday at 9 a.m. and then call xx1090 and let them know where you are and what you did. Can I have an extra Tums for the road? ;-)

Stay tuned....

Elimination Drama Tomorrow

It's that time again! Tune in to xx9100 AM Sports Radio tomorrow morning around 6:45. The five remaining contestants in the Scott & BR Cycling Challenge--including yours truly--will be live on the air. I am thankfully immune from elimination this week, but one of the boys will unfortunately be cut. Who will it be? Adam Beck? Alex Hamlow? Brian Brillo? Or Rob Millum?

One of us is going to win a spot to ride in the Qualcomm Million Dollar Challenge to benefit the Challenged Athletes Foundation and I hope it's going to be me!

2 days, 206 miles, and Immunity!

I am so excited and relieved. I won immunity! That means I'm in the final four and my chances of getting to do the QMDC ride from San Francisco to San Diego just got that much better. The challenge this week was to name the ride leaders. Good thing I'd had my coffee because I somehow managed to pull the most names out of my sleep-deprived brain to win it.

The ride up was great. I rode with group three as usual and we poked along the coast enjoying the perfect weather and comraderie. Loved the rolly rollers through San Clemente and made it through the bigger stuff through Laguna. Got to Palos Verdes and was amazed. I'd never been there before and it is absolutely beautiful.

Nestled in along the coast, the Terranea Resort where we stayed was elegant and impressive. It was nice to see everyone in their "normal people" clothes for a change. This was the first time I'd seen most of the the QMDC folks out of spandex, helmet and sunglasses. Some were easier to recognize than others. ;-) Over cocktails and dinner, we had the chance to mix and mingle with those we don't otherwise get to talk to on the road. I finally got to know David Lee. He is hilarious! And apparently very thoughtful and kind. (Thanks for the Carbo-Pro, David!) I shared a room with Julie Shapiro and it was fun getting to know her since we'd really never had a chance to talk before. Turns out we have some interesting things in common and had a lot to talk about. I was actually bummed we had to get sleep because I could have talked all night.

Anyway, the post-ride blog update is a little late this week because I was just flat out TIRED yesterday after the ride back from Palos Verdes. 103 miles out and 103 back the following day is a new distance record for me. Having completed it gives me a bit more confidence that, given the opportunity, I'd be able to handle the mileage on the big 620-mile ride.

The Brew Bash, my big CAF fundraiser, is less than two weeks away on Friday the 25th! So much to do and so little time. Hope to see YOU there!

Final Five!

Phew! Made it through one more week, but I feel terrible that Joe W. has been cut. He really is a great guy and has been so helpful to me personally. I hope he will be considered for a ride leader position for the QMDC...he would be perfect in that role.

Good thing this was on the radio. I look like hell. My eyes keep leaking evey time I think about my Lulu and this morning my face is a puffy mess. Thank God they didn't bring up my dog on the radio or I would have lost it for sure.

On With the Show...

My sweet Lulu has passed away. I miss her so much that my eyes are leaking. Yet the show must go on. Tomorrow morning around 6:45 a.m., I'll be on the Scott & BR Show on xx1090 AM. Adam is safe with immunity, but the rest of us--Alex, Brian, Joe, Rob and I--are all on chopping block. By 7 a.m., we will know our fates. I hope my angel Lu will be smiling down on me for luck.

Elfin Forest Loop - 40 Miles

Ah, the thrill of winning immunity...and the agony of deciding who to give it away to.

So, immunity this week was seemingly simple...literally, a luck of the draw. We each chose a water bottle out of a bag and one of the bottles contained the treasured immunity. Lucky me! As soon as I got the bottle, I could see something inside. Yippeee! And then the news...I get to pick one of my teammates to give immunity to. Oh torture. Who to pick?! I must have looked like a deer in headlights.

Mike (a.k.a. Col. Mike) Hower's suggestion was to use this as a fundraising opportunity. I laughed it off at the time, but looking back, that was a brilliant idea!

In reality, though, I gave it to Adam Beck since we've been working most closely together on fundraising. It didn't even occur to me at the time that he had just gotten immunity the previous week. I don't know how that slipped my mind, since we'd just finished oooing and ahhhing over his latest additions to the immunity pump...a lovely Incredible Hulk replica complete with CAF tatoos and coin slot for donations. Oh, and the break-in-case-of-emergency-type box containing a dose of testosterone. (Cancer survivors only, please.) Clever, that Adam.

But that was a tough decision! There are compelling reasons I could have or should have given it to the other four, too. But...it's done and Adam gets to add another touch or two to the pump for next week.

On to the ride. This one was a real treat because I hadn't been on Harmony Grove Rd. since they repaved it. Sooo much nicer! I loved this ride before and now it's even better!

But...my chain kept droppping and I got separated from the group a couple times. Col. Mike brought me back once, but then it happened again around San Elijo HIlls and I had some unlucky red lights that got me too far behind to catch up. I met up with Mark and Pat and...once again...I/we missed a turn and did a slight detour. We got an extra gnarly hill in, though, so we got our punishment...and I liked it. ;-)

Back in the parking lot, I was suprised to see Bob Babbitt--one of the founders of CAF, Competitor Magazine and the Muddy Buddy race series--along with Rudy Garcia Tolsen, Paralympic Gold medalist bound for the Ironman World Championship in Kona! Keep your eye out for this guy. If he achieves his goal on Oct. 10, he will be the first bilateral above-knee amputee to complete this event! Good luck, Rudy!

And then...some not so good news. With everything that's been going on in the last few months...family issues, sick dog, craziness at work, training, fundraising, contest, etc., my mind has been less than the sharp, steely point of focus it might otherwise be. ;-)

I'm driving into my carport and...WHAM!!! My heart sunk lower than low when I realized I'd just driven in with my bike still on top. Just what I needed.

Actually, this could have been much worse. I've heard of people completely wrecking their bikes AND cars, so I guess I got off easy. It was pretty much a clean break of the seat post. No real damage that I could see to the car or the rest of the frame or components. Took it over to B&L and they luckily had some new seat posts (complete with fancy, schmancy infused gel for a smoooooth ride) in stock. Going to go pick it up right now.

Worse news...Lulu is not eating again. We will be back at the vet tomorrow so they can run some additional tests. Please send your most positive vibes to help her heal. =)

Next week? Back-to-back centuries! I'm so excited for this, but am concerned I may not be able to make it if Lulu doesn't improve soon.

Thank You, Mystery Donor!

Someone just made a $100 donation to CAF on my behalf and I have no idea who it was. All I can say is....Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And then there were six...

And I am one of them!!! Congrats to all who made it through: Adam Beck, Brian Brillo, Alex Hamlow, Rob Millum, and Joe Weickgenant! That was a nailbiter and bittersweet for sure. After giving comeback kid Alex Hamlow a good scare, Scott and BR announced that Pat Thomas and Mark Vandierendonck had been eliminated. I've been riding with these two fine gentlemen in group 3 since the beginning and we've become better and better friends over the many miles. Both of them are straight-up great people and I hate to see them eliminated. Fortunately, I fully expect them both to continue to do the training rides and hopefully we will all make it to the big ride in October.

QMDC Team xx1090 Massacre, part Deux

Queue the Survivor theme music! Just got word that the eliminations are on for tomorrow morning...again. Two more Team 1090 contestants will get whacked and again...I'm hoping to avoid the chopping block. This just gets harder and harder. By now, we've all spent a lot of time together and have become friends. I really don't want to see anyone go.

Tune in to xx1090 AM tomorrow between 6:15 and 6:45 a.m to find out what happens....

Torrey Pines Time Trial

The other QMDC Team xx1090 contestants and I got to Fletcher Cove early again this week for our immunity challenge. Seemed simple enough...should we be fortunate enough to do the ride in October, name the seven cities we will stop in. I got the first one: San Francisco. I missed Santa Cruz, got Big Sur, missed Pismo Beach, got Santa Barbara, missed Marina del Rey and Newport Beach. Hmm....three out of seven is less than 50%. Not good.

Braniac Adam got them all and won immunity. That's a pretty big deal this week since two of us are going to get kicked out on Wednesday. We'll see what he does to"improve" the immunity pump for next week.


The ride this week was short and sweet. We did an easy ride to the base of Torrey Pines, then took turns time trialing up it. As you all know, I'm not much of a climber, but I think I did OK. The Team 1090 contestants missed the first week when the rest of the QMDC riders did the same time trial so we didn't have anything to compare to, but now we'll have a basis for comparison in the future. And that was it!




Back in the parking lot, the remaining Team 1090 riders discussed how the heck we're going to raise enough money so we can all do the ride. The motivation and ideas are definitely there!

I would have done some extra miles along the coast, but wanted to get back to my ailing doggie, Lulu. Got some good news from the vet. Her lipase levels are back down into the normal range, which means her pancreas is healing or has healed. Now her behavior just needs to catch up. Still not eating well nor acting herself, but I'm hopeful she'll be back to happy-go-lucky ways soon.

Still in It!

Did you hear that?! Yep, I'm still in it! Phew! Congrats to all who made it through! =)

Rob and Efrain, I'm so sorry. I really hope you'll continue the training and fundraising so we can all roll down the coast together.

Now I need to go tend to my baba-Lu. She must have felt my anxiety because she's not eating...which is an absolute first. =(

Two Contestants Eliminated Tomorrow

This just in: two people will get the boot tomorrow, Wednesday, between 6:15 and 6:45 a.m. This will be the beginning of a Team xx1090 massacre as two more will get the axe next week! As always, the announcements will be made on air during the Scott & BR Show on xx1090 AM Sports Radio.

I really don't want to see anyone go, but I sure as heck hope it's not me. Listen in and keep your fingers and toes crossed for me, please! =)

Circle R Vista Twist - 77 Miles

The xx1090 contestants got a few extra minutes of sleep this morning since there was no immunity challenge this week. Still, Pat brought the pump back with some new accoutrements: squeezy horn, license plate, and a lovely lizard forever frozen in place there on the base of the pump. I believe Wednesday is the big day when 2 of us will get tossed. =(

But let's not dwell on the negative. Instead, let's review today's splendid ride. =)

I'm happy to report that I successfully accomplished my goal for the ride: hang with group 2 (which turned out to be a combo group 1/2) until the first SAG at mile 24. It was mostly flat so everything went pretty smoothly until toward the end there. Some of the riders seemed to get antsy and really started pushing the pace. I was able to keep up with a push from Mike Henderson and a couple more from Mari. It was so fun flying up the coast in that big pack and I got to meet some new people I hadn't really had a chance to talk to before.

At the SAG, Lisa Jennings took the time to give me a few tips about more efficient climbing, gearing, and anticipating changes in the pack by looking ahead a couple riders. Where else could someone like me get tips from a National Champion?!

Having met my goal, I had time to chit chat with Tina and Mr. B while waiting for group 3 to arrive. And then we were off! And the climbing was on! Good call on switching to group 3 at that point!

Ride Leader Mike Hower and the group 3 xx1090 boys (and Joe, who rode with group 3 today even though he's a super speedster and can easily ride with group 1) should get extra credit for chivalry. While we stopped to regroup, an unfortunate lady was pulled over with a flat tire (on her car). Being the honorable and courteous gentlemen that they are, they of course changed that tire for her. Apparently, she also became quite well acquainted with the Challenged Athletes Foundation. Way to go, guys!

Back in the parking lot, we once again talked fundraising and a new pact was formed. Pat, Brian, Joe and myself have each agreed to raise at least $2500 for a minimum total of $10K. Whoever makes it furthest in the contest will get to use the money to do the ride. If one of the four of us wins the contest, the money passes to the next longest-lasting contestant, and so on.

On a similar note, the Brew Bash is coming together nicely. It is going to be a blast for sure, to be followed by yet another sure-to-be-a-hit event: Adam's "morning-after" Poker Run the next day. Be there!

My goal for next week's ride? Bring my camera!!

Homework Submitted

Well, it's in....on time and one word under budget. 100 words is not very much! Here's what I came up with for our little assignment:

First game of the basketball season. Crunch! In a flash, everything changed. Three knee surgeries and rehab kept me sidelined for a year and in pain for many more. That was my first real experience with the torture of watching without being able to play, and that’s part of why CAF’s mission to get folks with physical challenges back in the game is so compelling to me.

The other part is…well, we all have challenges to overcome. Seeing CAF athletes in action is a humbling reminder to put the excuses aside and just get out there and do it!

Extra Credit: Regardless of how this contest turns out, it is truly an honor to have been given the opportunity to ride with Scott & BR's xx1090 team in support of the Challenged Athletes Foundation.

I have no idea what's next. Do we get graded? Lowest grade gets the boot? It's an enigma wrapped in a riddle shrouded in mystery. And only the man behind the curtain knows. Oh wait...that was something else. ;-)

“Brew Bash” Singles Auction Sneak Peak

Hey, ladies! Don’t miss your chance to win a date with Rick Kozlowski, owner and race director of KOZ Enterprises. This is going to be one extraordinary date!

Your date will include an entry to the All-Women's Triathlon held right here in San Diego. You’ll get VIP parking and a reserved spot in the transition area. (Anyone who’s raced knows what major perks these are!) After the race, you’ll enjoy lunch with Rick and his staff and have a chance to get all the inside scuttlebutt about the race.

But wait, that’s not all! You’ll also get a $100 gift certificate for a new swim suit at Paradowski's Swim & Sport. And, in case you’re still on the fence…how about a one-hour massage from Cassidy's Massage Clinic?

Yep, it can all be yours if YOU are the highest bidder on September 25 at the Brew Bash to benefit the Challenged Athletes Foundation!

Don’t miss it!