Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Tommy's Birthday 9/12/07

Tommy's Birthday- Tommy now age 5 and little sister Kate age 2.


LOTOJA 2007 Pictures

LOTOJA Bike Race(Logan, Utah to Jackson Hole, Wyoming)
I need to explain what LOTOJA is for those who don't know.
LOTOJA was started in 1983, by ten crazy guys wanting to bring a European style cycling event to the United States. It is a 206 mile bike race that has everything from a pro rider, weekend warrior, relay team, and tandem cyclists. There are three mountains the riders challenge in the first 110 miles that test your physical and mental stamina. The worst of the climbs is 28 miles long and the top near 7,500 feet in elevation. After the three mountain climbs it's endurance that propels you through a beautiful Star Valley that seems to never end. When you are about 15 miles away from the finish line you come into the town of Jackson Hole, Wyoming and you look up at the monsterous Teton Mountains and you know that you are close. I am no pro rider like some of my friends, but just someone who wants to have the thrill of pushing themself to their limit and accomplish a major feat of riding their bike through three states and 200 miles in one day. Not bad for a guy who had major back surgery ten years ago and had to learn how to walk again. You can do anything you put your mind too.
For this year's LOTOJA I decided to ride for someone else and raise some money for charity. People were encouraged to become fundraisers for Huntsman Cancer Foundation so I signed up. I sent a few emails out and had no idea that I would get the response I did. It was like a snowball effect. I set a goal to try and get $1,000 but when it was all said and done we raised $3,611!! The picture above is the banner of 33 names I attached to my jersey for the bike race. There were several times in the ride I felt like the people on my bike were pushing me up the mountains. When I felt like I was tired, I simply remembered those people battling cancer and Luekemia.
LOTOJA Sunrise at 6:30AM in Logan, Utah
(click on the photo to get the real effect)
33 Names on my back- that's a load to carry.

Start line with the family support crew- uncle Joey and cousin Kara. Start line photos- 5900 series racers started at 7:13AM

Montpelier, Idaho rest stop @ 80 miles, 1 climb down and 2 to go. Bottom of Salt River Pass climb.
Top of Salt River Pass 7,630 Feet
Scenic view from top of Salt River Pass, Wyoming

FINISH LINE!! 11 hours 45 minutes @ 7PM

Celebrating with my cousin and her husband (Matt & Kara)

Aunt Kim and me
It's time to celebrate another great year of riding.

Celebrate the little victories in life.

Family Photo- Uncle Joey, me, Kim, Kara, & Matt with the Grand Teton in the background. Our greatgrandfather was the first to place an American Flag on this peak.
Awards ceremony the next day in Jackson Hole.