Last day riding for 3 weeks

Well it was very nice to finally get back on the bike today after a very a very hectic week here at home and also at work. I had panned a sort of big week of riding but sometimes the best laid plans just never happen. So I got out on the road early today at 6:30 and decided to meet up with the TREK group up in Carlsbad at the Coaster Stop off Poinsettia. A few minutes into my ride I realized I was going to be going past NYTRO and decided to see if I could beat my personal best of 58 minues from garage to their place. Well maybe it was me or the lack of traffic that early but I made it in 50 minutes flat. So that was kind of nice, took a few minutes to find the TREK meeting place but once I did I saw Mike and Adam from the CAF Sunday rides.
I decided to ride with their "C" group which is their fastest group and I think there was just 10 of us and it was maybe 19 mph so nothing too tough. The TREK riders are or at least seem more like weekend riders compared to the Sunday CAF riders who seem more experienced and spent more time in groups. But it was good to get out and stretch the legs as my last ride before heading out on vacation and spending a few weeks off the bike.
Yesterday at work one of the warehouse night guys asked me if I was selling tickets to our PEPSI/CAF raffle and I told him he needed to go to the front office to buy them and he said he was too busy. So I told him I would walk up there and bring the tickets over to him while he was working. Most guys who work the 2nd shift at Pepsi do a lot of heavy lifting so almost all of them are under 25 years of age and usually NOT the type who are interested in helping a cause. But as the one guy was filling out his tickets next thing I saw was a line forming and by the time the last guy was done I had sold $200 worth of tickets in about 15 minutes. Those guys really surprised the hell out of me by stepping up and wanting to help like that. I have no idea what my total is so far after 2 weeks of starting the raffle but with 4 weeks left my goal of $1000 is for sure in sight. I guess it helps that I have about 11 pretty nice raffle prizes to give away.
As most of you know I am a very stress free guy and most stuff just does not affect me. But I have to tell you this fundraising is by far and trust me nothing comes even close, the most stress I have EVER felt. Getting married, having and dealing with kids, 8 surgeries, finding and buying this house, nothing even comes close to the stress of tying to raise $10K for CAF. But remembering that Sunday morning back in October '09 and seeing all those smiling faces of the CAF kids and soldiers at La Jolla Cove makes me want to finish this thing regardless. So when I come back from vacation I will make that final push and try to get over the hump and finish my fundraising sooner rather then later.
The radio contest for XX1090 Scott & BR Cycling Team, I am not really worried too much about this as it is all out of my control and all I can do is be me and do my best and if it happens so be it and if not then I switch jerseys and keeping showing up on Sundays. Plus being gone for 4 weeks will not help my cause.
Well not sure when I will get a chance to update this, maybe just a few small posts while in Japan and possibly a few pics too. But since this is all about the journey to the MDC I will try to keep it all about the bike.

Thanks

Fiesta Island

Well just wanted to make notes about certain rides and Thursday was Fiesta Island. The goal was 2 hours and 40 miles and I was like 2 hours and 40.15 or so and I took one toilet break around the 45 minute mark. I used both laps, the big loop for the 1st hour and the smaller loop witht he World Championship riders the 2nd hour. They are good motivation to keep one going and I felt prety tired afterwards but pretty sure I can still hit it harder.
Trying to get some last minute mileage prior to being off the bike for 3 weeks while on vacation. I don't want to lose all I have gained during the 3 weeks in Japan so some creative workouts will have to do. Looking forward to some quality time with Sayaji and the girls while away and hope to take tons of photos to post everywhere.
Fundraising at Pepsi is going nicely as I am up to 9 donated prizes to give away with a chance to get a few more. My goal for $ raised at Pepsi will be $1K with a company match of another $1K so a nice $2K goal would be nice and that will get me to the 1/2 way mark of my lofty goal.

Reflecting on 1st month of CAF riding

Well here is it the 1st 4 week block completed and getting ready to start the next 4 week phase of our CAF/MDC training program. Met lots of really nice people and gotten in some good riding and a nice gym workout with coach Patrick Jak from Fitness Quest 10.
So far the fundraising has been the toughest part by far and since this is my 1st time giving it a try I seem to be learning a bit each day, but still very hard. I am not the kind of person to ask people for help and would rather fail 10x and then finally get it right before asking for help, that is just me. So when it comes to asking people to donate that is tough or asking people to help out and donate a gift to my Pepsi fundraising that is also very tough. I wish I could say it is getting easier but really it is not. But seems the Pepsi fundraising is going okay and I have collected 8 gifts so far to give away to those who buy raffle tickets and will be lucky enugh to get the # drawn. My goal at work will be to raise $1K and to have Pepsi match it with another $1K for a $2K total from work. This fundraising raffle will last for 6 weeks and hope I can meet my goals. I have some great help from a few ladies there Nurse Monica and Becky North who have done this in the past and are giving me great advice.
Today I was reflecting on just why I am doing this and how it has motivated me to really work hard and knwing how someone will personally benefit from all the hard work and sleepless nights I am having trying to figue out just how to make all this work. When I think back at the last San Diego Triathlon Challege held at La Jolla Cove back in November and I was there doing the 56 mile bike ride just 95 days post spinal fusion #2 and all the people who were out supporting this great cause. But what rally got me was the stage presentation of the Operation Rebound folks and also the young kids whowere getting their very first CAF devices and to see the smile on their faces, just got to me, and that is why I am here today doing what I am doing.
I am really touched by the number of people who have donated that I have never even met before all through Facebook. They are all great people and I am glad to have them in my corner and will try very hard not to let them down.
Well since this my 1st attempt at a blogging I better end this now. I hope to get on here once a week to tell what all has been happening on my CAF/MDC journey.