Monday, December 26, 2011

$1000 & training

Looking forward to the start of the new year I am putting together a training plan; to train for both Bike & Build & the Pittsburgh Half Marathon which I will be running May 6th. I really would have liked to try my hand at the marathon again this year, but I realized 500 training miles for B&B (including one 65+ mile ride (as required by B&B)) & training for a whole marathon might be a bit too much. Especially considering long runs of 20+ miles can take over 3 hours. Add that to an internship, a job & 15 credit hours & it all seems like a bit much. Before I can really devise a B&B training program I need to work on completing my 1st $1000 of fundraising, the point at which I will be eligible to order my bike!!! I'm close to halfway, & I have decided to match the next 5 donations made. Affordable housing is a cause I believe in, and one that I'm willing to dedicate more than just miles to.


Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas & is gearing up for a great start into 2012. :)

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Official Dates!

The official tentative 2012 Bike & Build dates are up online! All the fun will begin May 17th, & we will arrive in Monteray, CA on August 3rd. So, the dates and mileage information have been edited under "The Route" tab. By my calculations I have about 21 weeks until all the adventures begin! 21 weeks sounds like a lot, but when you break it down, it's only a few weeks more than a semester.  Semester, graduation, and about a week to pack up all my things & make my way to Jacksonville!

Monday, December 19, 2011

Fundraising

After spending quite a bit of time watching Youtube videos and reading Google articles I finally figured out how to do & use most of the things this blog provides that I am interested in. Most specifically the tab feature at the top. There are now specific tabs giving more information about me, how to donate, why exactly I'm riding across the country & where it is I'll be along the way.
In the meantime the concept of raising $4,500 is a daunting one. I was overwhelmed by generosity yesterday when, at church, I received over $300 in donations after the service. Another $100 donation from my Aunt in the middle of brunch brought a smile to my face yet again. So rounding, I have raised about $500. Meaning 1/9th of the money I need to raise. I have several fundraisers in the works for when I return to the 'Burgh from Christmas Break, and hopefully this will jumpstart my fundraising efforts again. In the meantime, visit the Donate! tab to see more information about how you can help, whether it be sponsoring me for a day, a state or  just a few miles. There is also more information about where it is that donations end up. What exactly is being supported, and where exactly does your money go, this has all the information you'll need.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Official First Posting

So I am still trying to figure out this blogging nonsense.  There are so many possible features and I happen to know what absolutely none of them mean. In the meantime, the important thing is that you have found this blog & that you know I will be biking across the country this summer. My next post will include way more information about my trip, including typical mileage, ways you can help support me, towns we will be stopping in, & all the states we will be visiting along the way.