What did I do now???
 

I have a ton on my plate these days, just incredibly busy between my current business, the business I am working on starting, home life and everything that goes with it.

As some of you know, my mom passed away from Leukemia on April 7th 2008, one day before my 34th birthday. I also lost my grandpa (fathers father) to leukemia back in 1994, he was a hero of mine then suddenly gone.

I am an avid bicyclist, so I thought i might combine my love of cycling, and passion to fund research for Leukemia and do a ride called the Scenic Shore 150. Its a 150 mile, 2 day event in which I ride from a small town down by Milwaukee area to a small town well north of me right up the side of Lake Michigan.

So now, not only do I have a full plate with everything I mentioned, I now have some serious training I need to squeeze in as well. This wouldnt be so bad, but after the head on car crash I had last year on May 31st, I wasnt able to ride a bike at all last year, so I am starting out pretty fresh again this year. I already have more miles on outdoors this year than I did all of last year.

Wish me luck and I will keep everyone updated on my training progress if you care to hear about it, this is going to be an adventure I think.

This is the ride I am doing: http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/all...item_id=263045 or if you really feel like you're in a giving mood, feel free to click the link in my signiture. ;)

Jeff

This has Jeff written all over it. You got this Jeff. Go get it. :D

I read your posts about your mom and know how deeply you feel about this. You'll do it, whatever it takes you'll do it. Seems the harder you push yourself sometimes the more you keep finding inside and end up doing way more than you ever thought you could. Good luck.

What link do I click on that page? I wasn't sure where to go to find your name, registered riders link must be for you because you need a userid and password.

Thanks Hank. With losing two people very close to me in my life, both to leukemia, yes I am very passionate about doing what I can to find a complete cure to leukemia. I have it on both sides of my family, mothers and fathers side. And while right now all doctors say leukemia is not an inheritable disease, I cant help but think the worst for myself.

Even if I never end up with it, I hate every single time I hear of another person getting leukemia, well cancer of any type really, but leukemia in particular. Treating blood cancer is so difficult because you cant just spot radiate or spot treat. The entire body goes through hell and far too often that hell is for nothing.

If my mom could make it through her hell, (she was actually in remission, but an infection after her last round of chemo is what killed her), I certainly can make it through training and riding this ride for her and grandpa. I am more dedicated to this than I have ever been to anything in my life.

As for the link, does the link under my signiture not go anywhere for you? It works for me. It should take you to a page that is set up for my ride. I will be updating it with how my training is going and anything else until the ride and after. I am trying to raise $1000 in donations for the leukemia and lymphoma society and have decided if I surpass my goal I will actually do 175 miles instead of the 150. The first day I will do an extra 25 miles to make it a 100 mile day.

So anybody that hates me, there is a good way to get back at me, make me ride that extra 25 miles :p

Jeff

Im going to give it everything I have Jake. Riding the 75 miles one day wont be so bad, but getting up and doing it again the next day is where the pain is going to happen. Ive done plenty of long rides before, well past this 75 miles, but I have the next day to recover, this time I dont, this time I have to do it again.:( :D

Jeff

Jeff, back in my days of being a "track star" (lettered in varsity track in 7th grade:D), I learned that cool down exercises REALLY help with lactic acid build-up.

I don't know much about distance biking, but I do know that the best way to prevent your muscles from performing anaerobic respiration is by being able to feed them through your own lungs. It seems to me like that is not possible with the amount of miles you'll be turning out. Would it behoove you to do another easy 5 or 10 miles with some good breathing the first day to work the acid out of your legs for the second day?

Jeff I was using the wrong link, the one inside the post. Other one worked, made a pledge.

I am actually interval training several times a week now Jake. I ride for 3 minutes at lactic threshold, 1 minute off, 3 minutes at LT, 1 minute off and so on. I am basically pushing my LT further and further back.

But you are correct the final 5 to 10 miles of the day should be a very high RPM easy cranking ride to settle the muscles down and clean out the lactic acid.

This ride also offers leg massages at the end of each day for $1 a minute, I suspect I will get a 10 or 20 minute leg massage after day 1 to help work the acid back out.

Jeff

Hank I can't thank you enough. I can't express how much I appreciate your generosity. It means everything to me to be able to raise money so other families might not have to suffer through what my family has, and I couldnt do it without your help.

Thank you so much

Jeff

Its a great thing your doing. Only wish I could send more.

You don't have to thank me Jeff, I'm glad I could help at least a little. Like grumpy said I wish I could do more. If you read some of my previous posts, well let's just say my job won't last too much longer.

I sincerely thank you Dave, and you too Jake. It means more to me than words could ever translate. For you guys to give so generously in such hard times to help someone you have never met is just beyond words to me. Truth be told you are helping me on the face, but I truely hope none of you ever have to meet someone that really needs the help your donations provide, I hope in the next few years when I go to ride this ride, its a celebration of a cure and no longer looking for a cure. That is something we could all be proud of.

I want to tell you guys, you have helped more than you realize already.

I was out on a training ride tonight. I left my house about 5:30. I rode out to a state park that has the highest hill in our area. If any of you know what percent of grade is, this one hits 17% for a section, and is about a 1/2 mile or bit longer hill. So I rode up the hill and then cruised around the state park a bit. On the way back, I was about 8 miles from home yet and the temperature had dropped severely, it was down into the mid 30's and the wind was picking up and heading into my face. I was cold, I was really really cold. So I grabbed my phone to have the wife come get me. When I looked at my phone I saw the emails that you guys had donated to me. Right then and there I put the phone back in my pocket and finished the ride stronger than what I did going out. The ride ended up at 25 miles.

You guys giving in such hard times was all I needed to see, it's not easy for anyone to make donations these days, and I wasnt going to take the easy way out either. So I want to thank you for the extra motivation you have given me.

By the way, all of you, Hank, Dave and Jake really have donated double. I had decided right from the onset that I would personally match the first $250 in donations, and my company is going to match the next $250 in donations.

Thank you, you guys have floored me. If the chance arises, I will buy the drinks if we ever meet up.

Jeff

Jeff, I'm glad to be able to support you, and the cause. Of all the things there are already medicine for...

Wow, Mike!! Thank you so much!! I am just dumb founded with the generosity of you guys for someone you have never met. It really shows what kind of people make up this site.

Thanks guys

Jeff

Jeff,
I have to thank you. It is people like you that make a difference in this world. Every day, David and I, try to teach our children that you do things because it is the "right thing to do", not because you think that you might get something out of it. Many people only do things because they will get something in return.

Jeff, after all you have gone through in the past few years, it is amazing that you still have the drive to give so much of yourself. So again, thank you, for showing me and my kids that their are some amazing people in this world.

Best of luck to you !!
Nancy

Jeff I hope you make it to your goal of pledges. I feel like the people here are my friends, so not only am I helping out a good cause, I'm helping out a friend.

Im fairly certain I will make it Hank. I havent even gone to my family yet, I will do that when we are all together on Easter. My mom was a very, very well liked person, throughout the family and community, she was just one of those people that had a smile for everyone, no matter how bad her day was, she would give you the biggest smile you would get all day, and that was my mom every single day. I am just starting to spread the word that I am doing this in her memory, I am confident I will reach my goal.

I can't thank everyone enough, the kind words alone are enough to motivate me to get out and do this.

If you have time, I will give you a quick story of why I am doing this.

My dad died of a massive heart attack at the age of 59 back on Jan 12th 2006. So on April 8th (my birthday) 2006 I saw our local police department was having an auction. So I walked down there and ended up riding a bike home. I started by simply riding to the end of the block and back, and it wore me out, a few weeks later I was riding around town, and it was wearing me out. By June I was riding 15 miles every night, and it wasnt wearing me out. So my wife for Fathers day that year bought me a nice road bike, and suddenly I was riding 40 miles at a time.

So I started doing charity rides, and my mom would come early, and get a copy of the route map and at least 5 times on every ride she would be standing along the route somewhere, out in the middle of nowhere with a big gatorade and a smile cheering me on. She loved to watch me do the charity rides, she was easily my biggest fan. And she would always be at the end waiting to congratulate me on finishing, no matter how many of them I did, or how easy it was becoming, she was there everytime.

So thats why I decided I would do a Leukemia bike ride. And I specifically chose the longest one I could find, one which exceeds any ride I have ever done. I know mom will be along the course for this ride too, cheering me on just like she always did.

I dont know if any of you do the facebook thing, but I created a page on facebook just to chronicle my journey to this ride. I am going to be updating pretty much daily on everything that happens it can be found here if you are interested, not much there yet, but it will grow: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...6235792?ref=mf or you can find it Jeff Piettes Scenic Shore 150 page

Thanks everyone, I cant do this without all of you

Jeff

It ain't a lot,but it was something from me.:)