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Praise and Thanks be to God.  Another successful day!  

Today was a great day for riding.  We had our ups and downs.  We started off our morning w/ a flat (not to point fingers, but it wasn’t me…)  Fortunately, Mr. Brummer came to the rescue.  After our bumpy start, we trekked into Effingham for two interviews and had the privilege of celebrating mass w/ the Brummer’s.  After our goodbyes, it was off to the races.  

Mike and I booked it to Charleston in no time at all (48 miles) and had lunch at EIU Newman Center w/ Fr. Titus, as well as staff and students.  We were much appreciative for their warm welcome!  After our wonderful meal (lunch break…Mike fell asleep!) we ventured home to Champaign-Urbana.  In total, we biked 97 miles (today) and 307 miles (3 days).  

DURING THE RIDE:  On the way to Charleston, Mike and I fought some headwind for about 25 miles.  This provide Mike and I a great opportunity to offer up our Rosary.  Thereafter, during the trek from Charleston to Champaign, the “Big Guy” was looking out for us and gave a little tailwind.  Mike and I were sure to take full advantage of this blessing.  For a good hour we averaged out approximately 25 miles.  It was quite exhilarating!

AFTER THE RIDE:  Living Alternatives invited us for dinner.  It was a feast!  It was awesome to hear all the stories and accounts of lives saved!  We also had the opportunity to meet with some of the adopted children/families and we’re given a tour of the building by the director, Greta Henry.  Their work and efforts is truly amazing.  Greta shared that our contributions will be going to help build a maternity home alongside the building.

As always, we appreciate your prayers and support.  We continue to ask that you pray for a strengthening to the commitment of family, the end to the culture of death, and a greater respect for life from conception to natural death.  

Tomorrow is our off day.  We’re looking to go to noon mass and pray outside planned parenthood.  Looking forward to our rest day!

God bless! -J

Thanks be to God, another successful day.  We’re are now 1/3 of the way complete.  (210 miles down!)

It has been a great ride so far.  The first day was filled with rolling hills and today was filled with cross winds. 

 Day One:  We finished out at about 93 miles and had a great warm welcome from the Shaefer’s.  We also had the pleasure of going to mass and received a blessing from Mike’s priest, Fr. Mark.  Mike’s parents were very hospitable and the food was fantastic!  I also had the opportunity to visit with my extended family.  (Uncle Joe, Aunt Kris and kids!)  It was quite the treat!

Day Two:  Today, we finished out at 210 miles.  Mr. Frank Brummer and his wonderful daughter Ms. Anne Marie Brummer, as well as Ms. Stacy Hague graced us with their presence.  Mr. Brummer was our “saving grace” meeting us at about 66 miles and riding us into (leading the way, against the wind)  Mulberry Grove for lunch.  After cleaning up, we went to mass at Sacred Heart (in Effingham).  Now, we’re getting ready and looking forward to some Brummer-style homecooking.

Mike and I greatly appreciate all of your prayers and all of your support.  St. Sebastian -Pray for us, St. Christopher -Pray for us, St. Michael -Pray for us, Mary, Queen of Victory -Pray for us!!

We are quickly approaching the big day! I hope you all are getting excited. I have had some pretty intense workouts this week. Monday afternoon I rode 75 miles (17-18 MPH) and today I rode 25 miles (20-21 MPH). I’m getting pretty pumped! One more exam to go (tomorrow) and then it’s “biking for babies” time!

First and foremost, I wanted to clear up some confusion. We are currently working on updating the route. Obviously, we will not be taking any inter-states or crazy-busy highways. So, we’ll look to get that out to all of you shortly. Secondly, we’ll be sending out a schedule of events, including: ETA and evening plans.

For now, I’ll give you all a rough schedule of our typical day:
Each morning, we will begin w/ prayer @ 7:45 AM and hit the road shortly after around 8:00 AM. Our goal is to ride approximately 16-17 MPH. The mileage for each day varies (85-125 miles). Therefore, the ETA will change. Again, we’ll send out a more explicit itinerary very soon.

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support. (RMS 12:12)

Closer and closer to the big day!  I thank you all for your continued encouragement and support.  I would appreciate some prayers this weekend for all those participating in the Koinonia retreat at U of I.  It should be great time.  I will be helping out at the retreat and hopefully getting in a run or two.  

My training has taken a slight turn for the worst, I seemed to have sprained by ankle while swimming…  I have utilized the standard R.I.C.E.  and I hope and pray that it heals quickly.  No one ever said that this was going to be easy!  

Again, I’d really like to thank everyone for the continued prayers and support.  As we draw nearer to the week, please offer up more prayers and intentions for the women and children.  

It has been a privilege standing along side each of you combating the “Culture of Death” and it’ll be an honor riding alongside Mr. Shaefer in the upcoming week.  Together let us  continue to provide for the organizations that work stand for the rights of the individual and provide for woman an alternative solution.

The weather was b-e-autiful!  We could not have asked for a better day.  Great weather to bike and run.  Clearly, I would have been in the wrong to pass on this blessing.  

More good news:  The shirts are in and they look pretty stellar!  Thanks to the joint effort of John Paul and Steve.  Time is rapidly approach and it is exciting to see things coming together.  The power of prayer is truly amazing. 

We Thank you for all your prayers and continued support.  -J

First official ride outside!  Simply stated:  It was windy.  I biked for an hour and got in about 20 miles.  It was an intense ride.  I went out with a couple guys on the triathlon team and we hit it pretty hard going out (against the wind).  That made for smooth sailing coming back.  

Please pray for good weather/conditions during our trip.  As always, Mike and I thank you for your continued prayers and support.  May we work to end the Culture of Death!

Each and every day is one day closer to the endeavor.  There is definitely much excitement, anticipation, and a little anxiety.  Mike and I just returned from a FOCUS conference in Wisconsin.  The trip was very fruitful and quite the blessing.  

As for my workouts, I ran 10 miles this morning in the ridiculously colder Wisconsin weather.  In all honesty I was not 100% prepared for the conditions, but took advantage of my ill-preparedness to offer it up for the upcoming experience.  The run also provided me the chance to pray my daily rosary for the women and children.  

My goal for the upcoming week is to ride each day for a minimum of 1 hour.  I hope to ride on a few of those days for 2+ hrs, if time will allow.

Mike and I really appreciate all the prayers and support.  Please continue to pray for the women and children.  In addition, please pray for our health and strength, as well as pray for time!  Thank you and God bless, -J

Training has been going!  I’ve added 1 hour bike workouts (1 hr / day) to my usual 12-15 hour workout week.  It’s been a difficult adjustment, but who ever said it was going to be easy.  Most certainly worth getting the word out and working to save the life of an unborn child!  I thank you all for the continued prayers and support.  I hope you all had a peaceful and reverent Ash Wednesday.  Peace, -J

Training has successfully picked up.  I’ve set up my trainer in the living room where it will remain (semi-permanently) until race day.  My goal is to ride as much and as often as time will permit.  This past weekend, I got in four hours of riding along with a 30 minute tempo run and an hour and 1/2 swim.  I’m really working to build a stronger endurance base.  Mike and I appreciate all of the prayers and support!  Keep praying for a greater respect for life and pray that God be w/ the women and children.

Spring break is rapidly approaching!!  That said, it’s time to get serious.  Admitingly, my training up to this point has been minimal.  It’s been very hard balancing academics and extra-curriculars.  Bikers and non-bikers, I’m sure everyone can relate and understand the difficulty of finding open windows of time w/in the day (in addition, weather permitting…)  I appreciate all the prayers and support and I ask for your continued support as the endeavor draws near!  

As for prayer life, I’ve been offering up daily rosaries for the babies and expected mothers.  Those interested, feel free to follow suit.  In addition, please pray for the continued success and support of this event.  Pray that Mike and I will be blessed with abundance of time to commit to our training and preparation.  Pray for good weather.  Finally, pray for an end to the Culture of Death and a greater respect for the dignity of the human person.

Bro. in Christ,

Jimmy