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

Yogurt Extreme Fundraiser!

Greetings!

If you live in the Eugene area, love frozen yogurt, AND want to help me reach my fundraising goal, then you have something to do this Wednesday night! This Wednesday, May 2nd, from 7-11 pm, drop by either Yogurt Extreme location and bring in a hardcopy of this flyer, and 25% of your purchase will go directly towards FACE AIDS programs in Rwanda! A picture of the flyer is below--print it out, and I hope to see you there!

Here's the link to the Facebook event for the fundraiser. Invite your friends and spread the word! https://www.facebook.com/events/206485416135847/

Thank you!

RAA 2012 Route!

Today is a beautiful, sunny day in Eugene. I'm not sure there's anything better than a sunny Oregon day. I am planning to go for a 33 mile, hilly training ride! I'm very excited. Below is the route for the Ride this summer, as it currently stands. Happy reading!

Cheers,
Nina

2012 Ride Against AIDS Route

Date	Day	Start	Stop	State	Mileage
6/18/12	1	Ocean Beach, San Francisco	Fairfield	CA	90
6/19/12	2	Fairfield	Folsom	CA	79
6/20/12	3	Folsom	South Lake Tahoe	CA	86
6/21/12	4	South Lake Tahoe	Carson City	CA-NV	31
6/22/12	5	Carson City	Fallon	NV	64
6/23/12	6	REST DAY	REST DAY	NV	0
6/24/12	7	Fallon	Austin	NV	112
6/25/12	8	Austin	Eureka	NV	69
6/26/12	9	Eureka	Ely	NV	78
6/27/12	10	Ely	Border Inn (NV/UT)	NV-UT	60
6/28/12	11	Border Inn (NV/UT)	Delta	UT	90
6/29/12	12	REST DAY	REST DAY	UT	0
6/30/12	13	Delta	Provo	UT	98
7/1/12	14	Provo	Strawberry	UT	57
7/2/12	15	Strawberry	Duchesne		40
7/3/12	16	Duchesne	Dinosaur	UT	92
7/4/12	17	Dinosaur	Meeker	CO	70
7/5/12	18	REST DAY	REST DAY	CO	0
7/6/12	19	Meeker	Steamboat Springs	CO	90
7/7/12	20	Steamboat Springs	Granby	CO	81
7/8/12	21	Granby	Denver		104
7/9/12	22	REST DAY	REST DAY	CO	0
7/10/12	23	Denver	Wiggins	CO	80
7/11/12	24	Wiggins	Sterling	CO	61
7/12/12	25	Sterling	Ogallala	CO-NE	91
7/13/12	26	Ogallala	North Platte	NE	57
7/14/12	27	North Platte	Lexington	NE	63
7/15/12	28	Lexington	Grand Island	NE	82
7/16/12	29	Grand Island	Lincoln	NE	96
7/17/12	30	REST DAY	REST DAY	NE	0
7/18/12	31	Lincoln	Council Bluffs	NE-IA	68
7/19/12	32	Council Bluffs	Exira	IA	65
7/20/12	33	Exira	Des Moines	IA	79
7/21/12	34	Des Moines	Grinnell	IA	55
7/22/12	35	Grinnell	Iowa City	IA	71
Date	Day	Start	Stop	State	Mileage
7/23/12	36	Iowa City	Davenport	IA	59
7/24/12	37	REST DAY	REST DAY	IA	0
7/25/12	38	Davenport	Peru	IA-IL	90
7/26/12	39	Peru	Batavia	IL	80
7/27/12	40	Batavia	Chicago	IL	42
7/28/12	41	REST DAY	REST DAY	IL	0
7/29/12	42	Chicago	South Bend	IL-IN	100
7/30/12	43	South Bend	Bryan	IN-OH	106
7/31/12	44	Bryan	Toledo	OH	68
8/1/12	45	Toledo	Sandusky	OH	61
8/2/12	46	Sandusky	Cleveland	OH	59
8/3/12	47	REST DAY	REST DAY	OH	0
8/4/12	48	Cleveland	Youngstown	OH	71
8/5/12	49	Youngstown	Pittsburgh	OH-PA	66
8/6/12	50	REST DAY	REST DAY	PA	0
8/7/12	51	Pittsburgh	Connellsville	PA	59
8/8/12	52	Connellsville	Cumberland	PA-MD	90
8/9/12	53	Cumberland	Williamsport	MD	86
8/10/12	54	Williamsport	DC	MD-DC	95
8/11/12	55	REST DAY	REST DAY	DC	0
8/12/12	56	REST DAY	REST DAY	DC	0
8/13/12	57	DC	Baltimore	DC-MD	50
8/14/12	58	Baltimore	Wilmington	MD-DE	80
8/15/12	59	Wilmington	Philadelphia	DE-PA	30
8/16/12	60	Philadelphia	Princeton	PA-NJ	44
8/17/12	61	Princeton	New York City	NJ-NY	60
8/18/12	62	REST DAY	REST DAY	NY	0
8/19/12	63	REST DAY	REST DAY	NY	0
8/20/12	64	New York City	Riverside	NY-CT	44
8/21/12	65	Riverside	Madison	CT	71
8/22/12	66	Madison	Providence	CT-RI	96
8/23/12	67	Providence	Boston	RI-MA	49
				TOTAL	3915