I just completed my second year of RAGBRAI with Team Love Shack. It was a little different this year as we had some team members missing and some leave early. We started the week with 13 on the bus and we ended the week with 6. The first few days were very, very hot. A few of us did the extra loop to make Tuesday a 100 mile day. That was a challenge as there were 2 hills on the loop that were killers. I think someone said it was the 3rd or 4th toughest loop ever. The next day I wasn't feeling so good. I think it was a combination of lack of sleep, the heat, and not enough water. I ended up getting a good night's sleep that night and rode the bus for the next half day. After that I felt great and was able to finish out the week. It was my goal to do every single mile of the ride including the loop, but I'm glad I sat out the half day for my health.
I'm not sure how many of you out there have done RAGBRAI, but last year and this year and have been 2 of the most memorable weeks of my life. I am fortunate enough to have been invited to be a part of Team Love Shack. I couldn't ask for a better group of people. The last night we stayed at my Uncle and Aunt's house in Fulton, IL and they kept talking about how great of a group of people the team is. It is crazy how you can spend one week with a group of people and they become some of your best friends and almost like a second family to you. I also met a lot of new people that I hope to keep in touch with to bike and run with. I'm sure most of you are surprised by that since I am such a shy person ;)
Although I am sad to have the week come to an end, I am excited about my next adventure. As many of you know, I started running about 2 years ago. At that time I was so out of shape and pretty overweight and needed to do something about it, so like Forrest Gump I just started runnin'. I signed up for a 5k to start and then gradually moved up. Last year I ran a couple half marathons and this year I have done a couple. My goal last year was to run a marathon, but my surgery prevented it from happening. So, I made that my goal for 2012. Then, I was invited to be a part of Team in Training with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I have a mission to raise money for the LLS and run a marathon in honor and memory of people have been or are being affected by cancer. I thought this was a great opportunity to run for something meaningful. I am about halfway to my goal at this point and the race is in October. Right now I am putting myself in training mode.
One thing I am excited about is to be running for a young guy who lives right here in Grimes. He was diagnosed with Leukemia in May. I learned about him when I bought a bracelet that they were selling to raise money at the Grimes summer festival. I have connected with his family through Facebook and they thought that might lift up his spirits a little. I am planning to get a headband made to wear for the race with his name on it. Also, I am going to get custom shoes made through NikeID, which I am hoping he will be able to help me design. I can't imagine what it would be like to be 8 years old (or any age) and have to go through that, so I want to do what I can to help. I wish I could do more to help, but I think this is a good way to use my ability.
I will keep you updated on this journey. If you want to know more about my efforts, you can visit http://pages.teamintraining.org/ia/nikesf12/anederhoff.
