4K for Cancer Website

Hey guys, you can go to this website and view my blog there too as well as go to Team Seattle and read blog posts from my teammates!

http://4kforcancer.org/profiles/lindsay-shulock/

Rest Day and Roller Coasters!

Ten years I have gone without stepping foot in an amusement until today! Our first rest day turned out to be filled with laughter and screams. About 20 of our riders went to Ceder Point Amusement Park today in Sandusky, Ohio for a day a fun. Since I have never really been on a big, bad roller coaster of course the first one we go on was massive to serve as a test on how much I will pee my pants. The first one we went on inched you up to the tippy top of the amusement park so you could look out and see all of the rides along with Lake Erie, which surrounded the park. Taking in that image was beautiful until they drop you down a vertical angle, hurtling into space so fast that you don't have time to catch your breath. It was awesome. The rest of the rides were somewhat scary compared to the first one. It was enjoyable to have a day when we would all relax and have fun like children. Walking around the entire day was a tad unsettling, but we will get back to our reality tomorrow that is our bikes. 

Day 6...food, food, food!

Today is our first Service Day!! WOO! Service days are our day off from riding when we help the community we are currently staying in. Today half of our group went to help do some construction on a deck of some sort, while the rest of us went to look for food donations for lunch. The Ithaca Fest started today which was so much to go to and walk around and ask for donations. I got a donation from a local Starbucks as well as a Pizza store for lunch. Other groups members got some wings and burritos donated which made our tummies happy for lunch. I made friends with a vendor in the festival who was selling hot dogs. His name was Sam and he was kind enough to donate some hot dogs to us for dinner. After we ate lunch we decided to go to some beautiful waterfalls nearby. I wore my vibrams (toeshoes) which was the BEST decision of the day. First, we admired the waterfall from the sightseeing deck that was about eye level to the falls. Then, we went down a trail to the bottom where we jumped off the trail and walked beside and sometimes in the water upstream. With the vibrams I did not slip of fall with my new camera, thank goodness! I got some great pictures and some overdue adventure in those few hours. As we were walking back to the van a young man named Mike drove an hour to meet us and give us a $200 donation that he raised himself to support our cause. What a generous and kind man! By the time we got back to the YMCA it was time to look for more food donations for dinner. Me and three other group members went and did not have good luck at first. When 8:30 rolled around all we had were 12 hotdogs, a bag of bagels, and a bag of rolls for 30 hungry bikers. Thankfully we got to the Ithaca Fest right when they were closing down so at least 6 stands gave us their leftover food from the day. WE HAD A FEAST tonight! Ugh food has never tasted better before this trip.

Day 5... 15 Minutes of Fame

Today we rode from Mansfield, PA to Ithaca, NY which as about 73 miles. (YAY UPSTATE NY!) When we left that morning we expected it to be a 60 mile day, but as I'm beginning to learn plans always change. Overall the hills today weren't that bad, but everyone was tired from the 100 miles the day before. About 10 miles after the first water stop my  group stopped for some fresh picked strawberries from farm stand :] They were the best strawberries EVER! Anyway, Cali started talking with a gentlemen who suggested we should be on the local news so before we know it, Cali gives Steve's number to a new reporter who is going to come and film us riding our bikes and talk about our cause and the 4K for Cancer on the 11pm news. After the lunch stop we meet up with her and she begins to film us riding and taking water breaks and all that fun stuff. When we finished climbing up the gradual mountain to get to Ithaca, we began to descend which was honestly the longest downhill I have ever encountered. Literally 4 miles of beautiful, scenic downhill into the town of Ithaca. When we got down the mountain and entered the lovely NY town with every kind of fast food restaurant you could think of, we thought we were nearly there but ohh were we mistaken. We were at mile 70 and still had 2 miles of mountain to climb to get to our host. Talk about not feeling your legs. Oh my goodness those last few hills were hard. Our host is the local YMCA tonight so we get showers :] Yay!
Check me out on television!  http://www.weny.com/news/All/biking-across-america-for-cancer-053112

Day 4... surprise...CENTURY!

Today we rode from Sellinsgrove, PA to Mansfield, PA which was supposed to be around an 80 miles ride but turned out to be a 100 miles ride! SURPRISE!! We woke up in the morning and began climbing some big hills thinking that we would have a semi long day. In the morning I had a little bit of an anxiety attack from all the stress and exhaustion my body has been enduring, but soon got through it and continued on. That morning we climbed some pretty massive hills. By hills, I mean MOUNTAINS. We climbed at least three mountains. They were hard. BUT I didn't get off my bike and walk on the hard ones! I found my inner strength and inched up those hills on my bike which semi trucks were passing us by. Scary. The scariest part of today was when were descending a great hill on gravel on a highway. Gravel is very easy to slip on and if you slip there's no telling what direction you're falling. There were two descends that were SOO much fun because it was gradual and I kept a speed between 20-30 mph and had no fear of falling because of the low traffic and long winding roads. One was on a back road with tree tops connecting over the road so it was like tunnel you were speeding through. The second was after a long, tiring climb up a mountain after lunch and the descend lasted about 2-3 miles. I realize just now that 100 miles is called a century not only because of it's number, but because it also FEELS like a century! The day wouldn't end! It took us 14 hours to finish the 100 miles and I burned over 2,700 calories. In the 4K we are lean, mean eating machines! It's definitely something to get used to. We have to eat so much because of all the calories and energy we burn. When my group finally rolled into Mansfield round 8pm I went straight to the food table that was kindly set up for us by a local church. OH! Just remembered, we had to do a century today because a bridge was out and we had to take a detour. Yes, that dang detour. I couldn't feel my legs going up that last mountain but I didn't stop. My group members words of encouragement kept me going :] Whhat a long day. Okay time for bed. Goodnight!

Today we went from Liekens, PA to Sellinsgrove, PA and rode around 60 miles. It was hilly in the beginning of the ride and then became nice and flat...almost too flat. We rode on a highway with huge trucks for 30 miles...all flat. The thing about flat roads is they're always nicer than huge mountains, but eventually everything starts to go numb. Your butt, your hands, your feet, your toes. My toes hurt because they were so numb. We stopped in the middle of that 30 miles stretch for lunch and then continued. Luckily Liz got a flat at a very convenient spot by the river we were circling the entire day. It was a rest stop for tourists who wanted to look at the view of little what little rapids the river was offering. Casey decided it was time for a dip after a long days worth of boring flat road so he jumped in the river and took a ride down some small rapids. A few of my group member including myself followed. It was scary but fun because of the sharp rocks and semi strong current. The second time I went down I unfortunately banged my back on a rock and now have a small bruise...yolo. We stayed at a local university that night who kindly let us use their POOL!!!! AND DO LAUNDRY! AND HAVE OUR OWN BEDS TO SLEEP IN!! Not the floor! This is huge people!!! Since it was a short ride we got their early and were able to relax. The food was amazing, as all food is after a long biked day. It rained as soon as we got to our host. I have never been more thankful for my own bed in my own room. Good day.

Day 2

Today we rode from York, PA to Leikens, PA which was around 80 miles of riding. We first did a small bike ride with our host from York, Craig, and then began our ride to the mountains. Since it was our first day with our team members driving the van instead of the alumni, it was a difficult day. There was a mountain. A large one for that matter. I'm talking steep, steep inclines that went up and up for a couple miles and then a descend that made you fly. We had lunch around the 50 mile mark and by that time my group was very tired BUT what made it sooo much better was the 30 McDonald meals we got donated :] After lunch my knee unfortunately stiffened up and I was unable to finish the ride today. My seat was probably too low so our bike machanic adjusted it and we'll see how it works out tomorrow. The heat, incline, and mileage of the day was very hard on our riders and in result, we had 9 riders in the van. Only 6 climbed the mountain and got to our host on their bikes. The rest got lost and one of the vans had to pick them up before the sun set. I must say the people of Leikens are so very kind. Johnny and I went to a kind young couples house to use their shower. They had a three bedroom house without air conditioning and four young girls with one on the way and they were kind enough to let us use their shower. We stayed at a local church who stuffed us with home cooked meals until we couldn't eat anymore. SO very generous! Thank you Leikens for your hospitality!