Wildwood Falls!

This weekend I completed my very first bike tour! I went with a group through the University of Outdoor Program. On Saturday we biked 70 miles to a campground near Wildwood Falls (see point B on the map below), camped overnight, and then biked back to Eugene today to total 120 miles over the course of the weekend. Although I'm sore and exhausted, I got to know 7 wonderful people and had good, old-fashioned, out-of-doors fun. I LOVED bike touring--the camping and campfire s'mores, the stopping for lunch and breakfast in Creswell and Cottage Grove, respectively. I also loved making new friends and almost falling off my bike while climbing a hill because I was laughing so hard.

I learned so much this weekend about what to expect during this summer and how it feels to do back-to-back days of long riding (except this summer we will have 68 days of back-to-back rides, not two)! Here are some pictures:

 

Map from Eugene to Wildwood Falls. We biked from point A to point B--this isn't the route we took, but you can see the relative distance!

The view of Dorena Lake from the bike path we took along the lake towards Wildwood Falls.

My bike, along with the trailer that I pulled all 120 miles! 

A Well-Loved Machine

I felt strongly today that the Ride is something that I'm meant to complete, that my emotional and physical investments are worthy, and that the Ride has made me a part of something much larger than myself. Margo, the amazing Programs and Operations Director of FACE AIDS, reminded me today that this summer, I will be out on the road with my teammates, sore from days of biking, and I will see another hill to climb. There will be moments when I want to quit. But then I will think of every person who supported me, who believed in my cause enough to make a donation to symbolize his or her solidarity with those living with HIV/AIDS. So I will not quit, because I will remember that there are people other than myself who know that my generation CAN and WILL create an AIDS-free world. The 4,000 miles in front of me are scary, but my goal is to inspire others with my commitment to a future without HIV/AIDS—a commitment that declares that we must fight this pandemic, no matter how scary, widespread and complex it seems.

Another moment of affirmation occurred when I went to a Pre-Trip meeting today for my very first bike tour that I'm taking this weekend! The University of Outdoor Program coordinates amazing trips for students and this weekend I'm biking with a group to Wildwood Falls--60 miles there on Saturday, camping overnight, and 60 miles back. There are eight of us going, and the 7 people that I met at tonight's meeting made me love the Ride for introducing me to a fantastic, friendly, and open community of biking fiends that I never would have known if it weren't for the fact that I have had to search high and low around Eugene for folks that want to go on very long training rides with me. Luckily for me, I haven't had to search very hard--bikes are well-loved machines in Eugene and especially at the U of O.

I also learned the latest fundraising tally this afternoon, and I have some exciting news: I have raised nearly $1500! Thank you for those of you that have supported me through donating and through encouragement. In the past weeks, there have been moments (particularly yesterday afternoon) in which I doubted whether or not I would be able to achieve what is expected of me as a rider this summer. I have found that moral support from people that care about me is what has sustained my energy, inspiration, and capability. I sent a donation request message to a friend today and her reply back to me contained the MOST loving, encouraging, and supportive words that I have received all week--I LOVE YOU KIM!

If you want to support me, show your solidarity with those living with HIV/AIDS, and help me make a difference, please help me make a positive change in Rwandans' lives. (Click the "You Can Help!" tab at the top of this page to find out how to donate--it's simple and easy!)

And so today, like any bike in Eugene, life was a well-loved machine. Somewhere, somehow, some stars aligned or some gears shifted (I can't decide how I want to phrase it) and I convinced myself that managing school, training, and fundraising WILL be possible over the next month. Because in two hours, that's exactly how much time I have left before the Ride starts--one month!

If you're reading this and have questions or comments for me, but feel hesitant to contact me because you don't know me very well, or we haven't spoken in a while--please disregard those feelings! I encourage you to comment on my posts or e-mail me.

Gratefully,
Nina

My Week By Bike

Greetings!

Training is going great. Last week I biked a total of 250 miles! I love cycling more every day that I go for a long ride. Nothing compares to the feeling of finishing a 60-mile ride and being able to get off the bike, shower, and then eat some of the several thousand calories that were just burned!

My first 60-mile ride was last Sunday, and I took a loop around Wolf Creek Rd.--a very tough route that had more hills that I expected. A gracious bystander named Don, however, saved the day when he refilled my water bottle for me at his house! Monday was a rest day and I went for a short run. Tuesday was the best day of biking of the week: I biked back to Corvallis, my hometown, with my friend Elle to surprise my Mom as an early Mother's Day gift! That trip totaled about 55 miles. Wednesday and Friday I did my favorite 18-mile loop up Lorane Highway and Bailey Hill in Eugene. Then came Saturday, when I traveled back to Corvallis for a family event that evening and spent the afternoon biking 60 miles through Kings Valley with my awesome friend Signe! I forgot my camera, so I don't have pictures of the gorgeous Mid-Willamette Valley scenery in 85-degree weather, but take my word for it when I say that the exhaustion was worth it! Another piece of good news is that I feel like I'm improving my performance on hills. I still don't feel comfortable on extremely steep inclines, but my endurance on sustained climbs is better every week. Irritated at me for not taking pictures on my rides this week? Don't worry, so am I. In lieu of providing you with photographs, I have created another visual for you:

My Week By Bike:

Yesterday I went to a free "Yoga for Cyclists" class and it helped my muscles recover from the week's exertion. My training plan for this week is very scary and is as follows (my friend Kurt, a professional trainer, made it for me):


Monday 20 recovery day
Tues 35-50. Moderate pace
Weds 35-50 use intensity
Thur 35-50 fri use intensity
Fri day off or make up miles at recovery pace, use fri if rain or life has kept you off the bike during the week
Saturday 50 +++
Sunday 50+++. Try to get as many miles as possible.


Note that I have been told to redefine "rest days" as including what are called "recovery rides"--basically, more biking. The schedule above, which I'm supposed to also repeat for next week, scared me when I first looked at it this morning. And then I looked again at the route and schedule for this summer. And then I decided that I'll just need some really, really good workout music this week! I feel ready to power through the miles.  


Thank you for your support!


Cheers,


Nina

Western Regional International Health Conference

Two weekends ago I traveled to Seattle, WA with my fellow members of Students for Global Health, University of Oregon's chapter of FACE AIDS.

I enjoyed the conference because of the emphasis the key note speaker, Kavita Ramdas, placed on the fact that the concept of "Global Health" included the United States. Kavita quoted the amazing Eleanor Roosevelt to further develop her argument:

"Where after all do universal human rights begin? In small places, closes to home - so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any map of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person: The neighborhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world."

Remarks at the United Nations, March 27, 1958

Kavita's speech reminded me to be mindful of the health inequities that are present in my local community of Eugene, OR (of which there are many) in addition to the ones that exist abroad. 


And to everyone who came to my Yogurt Extreme fundraiser, thank you! We raised $125 that night. Woohoo! I'm about 1/5 of the way towards my fundraising goal of $5,000!

Cheers!

Nina

104.7 KDUK Interview

Happy Thursday!

My week got off to a great start! I was lucky enough to be able to be interviewed on 104.7 KDUK Tuesday morning on the Morning House Party radio show--a HUGE thanks to host Chino for having me on the air! It was a wonderful opportunity to be able to spread the word about my Yogurt Extreme fundraiser Wednesday night and my goal for the Ride Against AIDS.

I couldn't have done the interview without the help and moral support of Sarra and Violet, two of my friends from Students for Global Health, University of Oregon's chapter of FACE AIDS. Also, a big shout-out to my friend Ellen, who recorded the interview for me and uploaded it on Youtube. Feel free to watch and listen to it below.

Thank you for listening and for supporting me!

Cheers,

Nina