I'm originally from a small town by the name of El Campo, but I've been living/going to school in Austin for over a year now. I pretty much consider Austin my home except for I miss my pet chickens in EC and my family. I've had several majors from microbiology to biochemistry and now I think I'm heading for nutrition. I'm really interested in food and being physically fit. Probably the best decision I made when I came to UT was joining Texas Crew. It really helping me in my transition from sedentary life to being addicted to working out. Seriously, I row six days a week in the morning, have a swim class twice a week and even do extra workouts in the evening, but I still tell myself all the time that I should be doing more workouts. I probably wont be satisfied until I'm able to get 3 hours of cardio in almost everyday plus weightlifting 3 times a week (I want more muscles!). But my other problem is I like eating a lot of food and the more you workout, the more you need to eat right? So I like to do anything active like rowing, swimming, biking, hiking, weightlifting...someday I would like to get into rock climbing and try out fencing or some type of boxing or martial art. Something I really enjoyed was hiking in Big Bend national park this summer. It was really hot, but all I wanted to do was run up the trail and on the way down I did jog some of the way because it was just easier to let gravity pull you down. I guess you could say I'm into nature. That's why I like being out on the water every morning and I enjoy hanging out with my pet chickens. I have five of them and they are so cute. The oldest two are over 5 years old now, and I hate not being able to hang out with them everyday like I used to. O.K. That is all I will write about myself for now...

Most of the riders for the Texas 4000 seem to have been involved more closely with cancer in their lives than I. But my grandfather did have cancer, and I remember when I was younger visiting him in the hospital. He always seemed to be happy, but at the same time I could tell he didn't enjoy laying in that hospital bed feeling weak and having to eat hospital food. Now he is pretty much recovered from the disease which I'm thankful for. So I haven't been affected as much by this as some who have actually gone through the experience of actually having cancer or having a really close loved one with the disease, mostly because I really haven't had that much contact with my grandfather. In truth, my main reason for wanting to do this is because my friend JJ from crew suggested it to me. She wanted to do it and wanted to have a friend with her. She told me that she thought I was the only person who might be interested and she was right. Finding out later that what I would be doing would also be benefiting a charity was just an added surprise. I've never done anything that would truly help a good cause, and I'm excited about finally being able to do so by participating in the Texas 4000.