RAGBRAI Day 2

First of all, I would like to give a little shout-out to my photographer, Roger. He has been a trouper dealing with spotty internet service and non-existent cell service. He even offered to bring me a salad today, because I can't handle another pork chop on a stick.
It was another hot hilly day. A few of my teammates took the Sag Wagon, and I'm not going to lie, I might very well be one of those sometime this week.
I've realized that the last 5 miles are the key to my success. Yesterday I was almost done with RAGBRAI all together. I was sitting in the shade without water and I had no clue where the campground was.
I had turned my map around and around. That's when I saw a little unassuming church with a sign that said, "Welcome RAGBRAI". I thought to myself, they at least have a water fountain. They did have a water fountain. They also had ice cold water, free pie and great conversation.
Today, the key to my success was a bomb pop in Willy. It hydrated me and inspired me to keep going. I made it the last 7 miles in record time and I busted it up the hills like Lance Armstrong.
Well, tomorrow is the Karras Loop, the option to do 100 miles. I will not be participating. I'll be luck to make it 70 some.

RAGBRAI Day 1

We rode from Glenwood to Atlantic today. And it was HOT! It was HOT and HILLY and I have HEARTBURN. The thing about all of this is that I can't complain in my camp, because my team has a whiner award... and if I complain they will give me a pacifier to wear all day. I don't need a pacifier tan.
It was so hot and hilly that I considered who could come get me and what the repercussions would be of just up and leaving RAGBRAI.
I saw some cool stuff. The largest bike in the word was Lewis, at the top of a hill... And there were two guys with "ordinary" bikes. I had to ask around camp what they're called, and there's some debate. But ordinary sounds the best. But they have giant front wheels and one little tiny bottom one. I should have watched to see how to get on the bike. It's still a mystery. But props to those guys.
Also, I heard a rumor that there's a woman with one leg riding a bike. Not a hand crank, not a recumbent... She is rocking a real deal road bike! I want to meet her SO BAD. If nothing else just to shake her hand. This day almost ended in tears for me. I can't imagine doing the whole ride on my right leg.
Well, I have to get back to my team. Wish me luck on day 2. I hear it's going to be hilly...
FYI: Iowa's NOT FLAT!

I'm Leaving... For RAGBRAI!

All my bags are packed I'm ready to go

I'm standin' here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye

Looking at my bags packed I hear this song… Not the John Denver version, definitely the Armageddon version. When I was younger I owned about 3 VHS movies,( and now I own about 3 DVDs). But Armageddon was one of those. I watched it more than I’ve ever watched any other movie.

But It’s true, every place I go, I think of you! I’ll be blogging and constantly thinking of a tweet to send out to our viewers and my followers. Anything tagged #RAGBRAI13 will show up on our webpage at http://www.whotv.com/sports/ragbrai/.

I set up my tent in my apartment this week. I works. I tried to set it up on top of my bed, (the wood floors just weren’t appealing,) but it hit the fan.

I dropped off my bike at the load site this evening and I leave for Glenwood tomorrow morning. Here are a few great tips I’ve gotten in the last few days

-Hydrate!

-Ear plugs and eye mask are a must-have

-If you hurt, stop. For, at least, a little while.

-Strike up conversations. Not only does it make the miles fly by, you hear some amazing stories.

Now the time has come to leave you. (but I’ll be blogging all week!)
One more time let me kiss you (or shake your hand)
Close your eyes I'll be on my way
Dream about the days to come
When I won't have to leave alone
About the times, I won't have to say…

See you on the road! RAGBRAI XXXIX

Remembering RAGBRAI

This is the last of three installments of my childhood RAGBRAI pictures. (I promise.) I am remembering so many little things about RAGBRAI as a kid, and I'm so excited to make new RAGBRAI memories as an adult.
As far as training goes, I have recorded about 250 miles since I got sick in June. This week I'm going to taper off as the week goes by, with a few 20 mile rides at the beginning and a slow 6 miler Thursday and Friday.

RAGBRAI at age 3 for your Viewing Pleasure.

It's just a few short days away from RAGBRAI and I'm getting excited. I did a 20 miler and stopped for lunch with my co-worker Krystle and then we went on a 15 miler. Chatting with Krystle made the time FLY, so I'm going to be looking for some Chatty Cathys along the RAGBRAI route.
I'm still editing old RAGBRAI pics, so feast your eyes on these babies.



















































































































People loved me at age 3. Hoping I get the same welcome this year!

A Million Spokes: A RAGBRAI documentary

I follow Bikeiowa.com on Facebook and they posted a story about this documentary about RAGBRAI.

It’s called A Million Spokes, and when I watched the promo I cried… There have been a lot of emotional stories that we’ve covered here at WHO-TV lately, soldiers killed, tragic deaths, and none of these make me cry. I feel like a terrible person, but I just have to hold it together to tell their story and I just never have a moment to let the tragedy get to me. But there’s a man in the documentary who lost his wife 5 months after they all rode RAGBRAI together and he comes back to ride in her honor. They show him scattering her ashes in the river and I lost it.

Watch the promo here:

The Fleur Theater in Des Moines is showing the documentary from July 15^th through the 21^st. Definitely a flick I’m going to catch. They’re also showing it in Carroll, Boone and Grinnell during RAGBRAI.

This is what Bike Iowa had to say about the documentary:

This feature-length project was filmed during the largest, longest and oldest bicycle-touring event in the world RAGBRAI.

The annual bicycle ride takes place over seven days in Iowa. Every year, over 20,000 bicyclists descend on the state to partake in an adventure that is singular in its ability to attract some of the most unique people you
will ever meet. We explore RAGBRAI through the eyes of a host of characters like Ray, Chau, Erik and many more. Some come for the
challenge, some come for speed, some come just to party. Not everyone rides for the same reason but the common thread is the ride. It becomes far more meaningful to the riders as they build community along the road.

RAGBRAI Memory Lane

During my RAGBRAI training I've thought of so many little RAGBRAI memories from when I was young. I went back to Ames over the 4th of July and went through my scrap books and found loads of great photos. Here's the first set of memories:

RAGBRAI is exhausting.




















No really, it's exhausting!














I ride with Team Skunk. Here's a great family photo op.








Keeping cool. Notice the orange thing I have in my mouth. That's the first thing I'm looking for on the RAGBRAI journey. It's an orange flavored sherbet that's out of this world. There are so many photos where I'm tackling one of these bad boys.





Santa and Rudolph hanging out on RAGBRAI. He didn't bring me any presents, but when I lost a tooth on RAGBRAI I got a few empty beer cans under my pillow... It sounds bad now, but I think it was just a recycling joke.








Check out the fanny pack.



















My fine photo skills. Mom and dad look great though!








Sweet shades! I made those sunglasses holders on the bus trip out to the first town and sold them to anyone and everyone.

I might do it again this year. You know, snack money.





Family looking great. I see my dad has one of those tiny-brim hats. I wonder where that thing went!











Food in one hand, money in the other. I also made that headband. Sold a few of those too. Wish I still fit in those shorts.














My dad and I on the tandem.












A slave to fashion, even at a young age.

















RAGBRAI is getting closer! I had a few emails about logistics when I got back in the office today. If you haven't heard, My name is Alisa and I work here at Channel 13. They're sending me on RAGBRAI and I've been chronicling my training here on my blog and on Twitter at @alisa_who. Look for me on The Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa!