There have been a lot of big changes that have raining down on me in the past few months. Some are wonderful and some have been tragic. It's time for me to tie all the changes together into something powerful.
I have wanted to ride the Colorado Trail (CT), in its entirety, for a long time. I've ridden many segments, but never put them all together. My time in Colorado is suddenly limited and it seems like now or never. I've decided if I'm going to ride the whole CT this summer, I might as well do it as quick as I can and I ought to just sign up for the Colorado Trail Race (CTR), a roughly 500-mile, self-supported mountain bike race. My good friend Porsha, constructively pointed out that if I'm going to go all-in with such a silly endeavor, I might as well do it for a good reason. So I decided to fund raise and try to spread some good while I'm pedaling myself into saddle-sore oblivion. I wanted to fund raise for a cause that is meaningful for me, so that I would have something bigger than myself pushing me on the trail. But I didn't know what that would be.
I have wanted to ride the Colorado Trail (CT), in its entirety, for a long time. I've ridden many segments, but never put them all together. My time in Colorado is suddenly limited and it seems like now or never. I've decided if I'm going to ride the whole CT this summer, I might as well do it as quick as I can and I ought to just sign up for the Colorado Trail Race (CTR), a roughly 500-mile, self-supported mountain bike race. My good friend Porsha, constructively pointed out that if I'm going to go all-in with such a silly endeavor, I might as well do it for a good reason. So I decided to fund raise and try to spread some good while I'm pedaling myself into saddle-sore oblivion. I wanted to fund raise for a cause that is meaningful for me, so that I would have something bigger than myself pushing me on the trail. But I didn't know what that would be.
So many of us have experienced loss. So many of us have experienced sorrow and depression. My personal experience with depression was fleeting and luckily, not a lasting period in my life. But that's not to say that I haven't been affected by it. I lost my estranged sister, Melissa, to suicide in 2009. In November, I lost a close friend, Tricia, to suicide.
When Melissa died, I thought that suicide was something that happened to people who are not the kindest or sparkliest. When Tricia took her life, I came to the sad realization that bright, shiny, loving people can fall victim to the darkness of depression, and I felt like I had to do something.
When Melissa died, I thought that suicide was something that happened to people who are not the kindest or sparkliest. When Tricia took her life, I came to the sad realization that bright, shiny, loving people can fall victim to the darkness of depression, and I felt like I had to do something.
I'm partnering with the Check-In Foundation, in order to increase suicide and brain injury awareness through mountain biking. I'm also proud to be working with VIDA MTB Series and Oveja Negra bikepacking.
My dear friend and coach, Liz Sampey, also knew and loved Tricia and has decided that that she is joining forces with me in this good cause. Liz also has a lot to share about brain health and mental illness. I have so much more to say about this project, but I wanted to start by letting everyone know what I'm up to. Now its time for me to get back to geeking out about bikepacking 101.
Please reach out if you have questions, ideas or requests and please, #bekind.
My dear friend and coach, Liz Sampey, also knew and loved Tricia and has decided that that she is joining forces with me in this good cause. Liz also has a lot to share about brain health and mental illness. I have so much more to say about this project, but I wanted to start by letting everyone know what I'm up to. Now its time for me to get back to geeking out about bikepacking 101.
Please reach out if you have questions, ideas or requests and please, #bekind.