Hey All,

First, I'd like to apologize for not blogging in the last few months. I have no excuse, so I won't make one up. I simply need to be more aware of the fact that I have a blog, that people read it, and that it is a good way to communicate with everyone who supports this ride physically, financially, and emotionally.

So we are just 100 days from departure and the feeling of joy and determination in the team is just amazing. Our rides are getting longer and our legs are getting stronger and all the while I still can't believe I'm doing this. You would think after nearly a year and a half on the team I'd be able to comprehend the extent of this trip. My longest single ride so far has been a cool 40 miles, so 4500 miles just seems an incredible distance sometimes. Then there are other times, especially while riding, where the thought of the approaching ride just takes over and pure joy pumps through your veins as your legs carry you over hill after hill.

Unfortunately, by now we've seen a few riders drop the ride. Though luckily none of them were lost to injury, sometimes the prospect of a dream job offer is just too good to throw away. They'll all be missed.

As I'm sitting at my laptop, shunning my Chemistry homework, its hard to believe how much has happened since I last blogged. Since then, the team has raised tens of thousands more in donations, we've nearly completed another recruitment cycles, I've ridden hundreds of miles, and I've burned more calories doing core workouts at our awesome sponsor bike shop Jack and Adam's than I ever could have imagined.

One of the my favorite parts of the last few weeks has been the "Why I'm Here" part of each meeting. This is new this year. Each week, one member of the team takes as much time as they want to tell their story of what caused them to join Texas 4000. Last week, Jamille, our executive director shared her father's story. Even though she is not technically a rider, her love for our cause and her role as a leader make her an honorary rider to all of us. It was good to hear her reasons for joining the team.

This "Why I'm Here" has provided great insight into my teammates as well as given me more names to ride for. Riding gets easier as you ride for more people. You would think the weight of it all would keep you from pedaling as hard, but somehow, their names and stories stay strong in your head, giving you more motivation to conquer one more hill, even if 10 more are coming after it. The names of all those we ride for, and who ride for us, help push me farther than I thought my body could every go before.

I'll try to be better about blogging in the coming weeks, but for now, as 3 am approaches, my Chemistry calls.

Tonight, I ride for my girlfriend Cathy's friend, who is anxiously awaiting results to see if she has cancer.