100 Mile Wrigley Field Bicycle Road Tour - Curahee's Blog

Curahee's Blog

100 Mile Wrigley Field Bicycle Road Tour

Posted on March 3, 2014 at 12:47 PM.

(0)

My 100 Mile Road To Fitness.

I am a 39 year old Army veteran. I�m married with 2 kids. My background is in restaurants and restaurant management, but for the last 8 years, I have been a stay at home dad. My life had become complacent and void of energy. I was sacrificing my health by sitting at home and not exercising or being active with my kids like I should have. One day last Autumn, I got on the scale and I was shocked, at 5�10�, to see the numbers �2-6-0� staring back at me. Then my Doctor told me I had high blood pressure. I knew that a change needed to be made. I had already quit almost 20 years of smoking but I needed to do more. I�m not a gym kinda guy. I dont like to lift weights or run on a treadmill or sweat to the oldies. I need to be outdoors enjoying nature and feeling free. I decided it was time to grab my old bike and hit the road. Drop the kids off at school, jump on my bike and just ride. Ride wherever the 2 wheels would take me.
I began to set goals for myself. 5 miles, then 10. 15 miles, then 20. My first real goal was to participate in the 30 mile Pumpkin Pie Ride in Ottawa IL. CHECK! Then complete the 40 miles of the Old Plank Trail from beginning to end and back. CHECK! Those goals took just over a month to realize and were realized while shedding 12 of my 260 lbs. The Pumpkin Pie Ride was fun. It was my first �real� organized ride and I felt like it was a big deal. My wife and kids and even my mother-in-law were there to cheer me on. We even got Pumpkin Pie afterwards! My 40 mile ride on Old Plank Trail was a dual accomplishment. Not only did I ride 40 miles from Richton Park to Joliet and back, but I also surpassed 500 total miles in just over a month. My next goals are to ride 60 miles, then to complete the 100 mile Wrigley ride.
The Wrigley Field Road Tour begins at Historic Wrigley Field, continues 50 miles into the suburbs, then 50 miles back. I�ve often said this will be my �26.2�. This will be my marathon. And hopefully, with my continued training, it will be my marathon at 200 lbs�.. or less!
Registration for this ride is $100 and I am required to raise an additional $400 for the World Bicycle Relief. My goal is go beyond that and raise $1500 for this worthy cause.
The World Bicycle Relief raises funding to support communities in Africa and a dozen other countries around the world. I remember as a young child what it was like to not have a bicycle because my single mother of 4 just couldn't afford such luxuries. I remember the feeling when a family friend donated their old bike to me and how much I loved that old bike. Most of us take a bicycle for granted and would rather be in our cars, but for the communities that are supported by the WBR, its not just a bicycle: it�s an engine for economic and cultural empowerment. A bicycle to them means the difference between going to school or staying home. It means being able to ride 30 min to school rather than walking 2 hours. It means that the only Doctor in the community can visit more often and faster than usual. These bikes will change their lives -- economically, emotionally, physically. It also allows them to experience the love of cycling that is felt by so many people around the world, including me. The love of cycling that I discovered as a way for me to be active and healthier, not just for me but for my family.
Will you please support me in my effort to achieve these goals and be a part of such a great cause? You might think a small donation won�t make a difference, but it will. Support in the amounts of $10, $20, or $50 will help a great deal. No donation is too small and every dollar is greatly appreciated by both myself and those in need.

100 Mile Wrigley Ride Donation Page

Thank You