Archive for the ‘Mike’ Category

Day 5 down, only one more day to go. So far we’ve put in 550 miles. Today a guy passed us outside of Peoria and gave us $20 when we told him about what we were doing. Other highlights included a new single day high of 127 miles, a generous tailwind, and some big hills that were pretty fun to ride up and down. Father Brownsey made us a  great breakfast at Bradley this morning to send us on our way. Lunch was in Ottawa where we had a radio interview with the local radio station. The people at the Newman center at NIU made us a great dinner of lasagna. Keep praying for us!

114 miles down today and I think that me and Jimmy were definitely extremely challenged today both physically and mentally. We were riding into a very strong headwind (about 18mph) from the straight west…and we were riding nearly straight west. What we usually covered in about 6 hours we took over 9 hours to cover today. I felt horrible about arriving very late to lunch @ the Newman center in ISU and late to dinner at the Newman Center at Bradley.  I think  all of us involved with b4b were extremely thankful for everyone who worked so hard to set these meals up to refuel us along the way. I think that the weather will be a bit more kind to us tomorrow. It’s supposed to be sunny with a high of 60 and mostly a light crosswind.–should be able to make good time.

Just finished up our third day of riding today from Teutopolis to Champaign being carried in on the tailwinds of the south. Legs starting to get a bit sore. We were graciously welcomed by the wonderful people at the Newman Center at EIU. We were also treated to dinner at the Living Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center here in Champaign–great food and great people. Frank Brummer, whose house we stayed at last night, was great in getting a lot of media coverage for us in Effingham yesterday with the local newspaper interiewing us upon our arrival, led in by Frank and our friends Anne Marie Brummer and Stacie Hague. There were also two radio interviews this morning as well as daily mass. Looking forward to the second half of the trip as well as some rest for these sore legs! I want to express thanks (again) to all who have continuously helped make this ride possible!

Okay, hello to everyone. Just finished up our second day of riding. Yesterday we rode on some pretty hilly terrain from Carbondale, IL to my hometown of Freeburg in the “deep south” of Illinois. Put in 94 miles overall. It was great seeing friends and family throughout the end of our ride as well as the beginning of it this morning. Today we put in 116 miles from Freeburg to Teutopolis. Not as hilly, but still probably one of the hillier sections. It was great meeting up with Anne Marie and Stacie, friends from U of I, and Anne Marie’s dad a little past the halfway point today. It was a big boost. Two guys can only entertain each other so much spending 12 hours on a bike together in two days. Got a shorter day tomorrow–just riding to Champaign with lunch at the Newman center in EIU and dinner with Living Alternatives–one of the charities we’re riding for–in Champaign. Keep praying for the safety of our ride and the babies we’re riding for!

Hey guys! Tomorrow’s the big day! I think that me and Jimmy are definitely excited to get this ride going. The weather looks pretty solid for all of our days–maybe getting a big cool on the last day up in the north, but I think it will be doable. Thanks again to everyone who have helped in any way thus far–if you’re letting us sleep at your house, feeding us, donating, cheering us on or praying for us…thank you very very much. Believe me everyone of you who have done any of these things has been just as instrumental as the ride itself.

Just checked weather for the few days before our ride in Carbondale, IL–highs in the low 60s with full sun. It’s looking real good. I’m anxious for tomorrow to be able to see the forecast for the first day of our ride. Got in a little tune-up run today before my (running) race Saturday back home in St. Louis. Feeling good about my overall fitness for the ride. T-shirts have been on sale this week–hopefully all of you are putting in orders for those. If you go to school here in Champaign, you can buy those at the Illini Market in Newman Hall or, if not, you can order them online. They cost $13, unless you have a group, then I can give you the group discount where they cost $10 each. Logistics for the ride just about set. I think about the only practical things still needed are getting my bike tuned up and getting a few miles in on my bike next week.

I know I’ve been out for a while, so sorry to those who have been following these. Got in a good 9 miler today. Felt pretty comfortable. Stayed off the bike mostly last week–devoted most of my time to running. I got in a couple of good workouts though–hard 11 mile run on Weds. and a hard 16 mile run on Friday afternoon. Feeling more and more confident about everything for the ride–weather getting better, fitness getting better, and almost ready logistically for the ride. Happy trails to all out there.

Hello to all…

Had a great running workout today–6 mile tempo run in the afternoon was the big one. Big boost to confidence in my fitness. Sit tight everyone. Another video should be coming out soon. Days are getting longer. Just waiting for some consistently warm temps now!

Just under 4 weeks until the ride! Definitely time to start praying for warm temps! Was able to put in a lot of biking this weekend on the rollers. I think I got in around 90 miles this weekend. Was able to get in a few Rosaries for the families we’re riding for during the rides. Things are really picking up momentum I think with the preparation. Keep praying for us! God bless.

Excited to see that things are really picking up with Biking for Babies. It seems like the word is getting out and people are excited about helping out with the cause. Join our facebook group if you haven’t yet–almost at 1000 people! Training has been well the past couple of days. Got in a good hard running workout yesterday morning+1 hour on the bike rollers. This evening I was able to put in a few hours on the bike rollers. Good thing I picked out Dances with Wolves to watch in order to fill the time. Stay tuned–I think that we’re going to be having a new video coming out soon from our video expert Stephen Barany!