|
The CAR8 Challenge |
|
Updates from Lorri Lee Lown -- Rider #2441 |
|
California AIDS Ride 8 |
|
Volume 1, Issue 5 |
June 1st, 2001 |
Two days. It's hard to believe the AIDS Ride begins in just two days.
Wow! As many of you know, I'm a very focus-driven, goal-oriented person. When I dedicate
myself to something (be it a job, a hobby, a person, or a goal), I give it my undivided
attention. So, for the better part of a year, I've focused on the AIDS Ride.
And now it begins.....
Before giving you my updates, I want to thank each of you again, for supporting me and the
California AIDS Ride this year. We're all truly heroes for making such a huge impact on our
community. Together, we've raised millions of dollars and hopefully, raised awareness that
this dread pandemic is not yet over. I'll keep riding until there's a cure. I hope you'll
continue to support the AIDS Ride as well.
Training News
Ah, retirement! I have to thank Schwab for giving me the opportunity to be in probably the best
shape of my life. Since being laid off on April 30th, I've dedicated myself to training and
really getting into top form for the AIDS Ride. What a gift!
Somehow, I've found myself busier than I ever was while I was working. I sometimes wonder how
I fit work into my schedule! I ride five days a week, and being free to ride during the week has
allowed me to do longer riders during the week, as well as on the weekend. It's made a HUGE
difference in my riding. But I've also been doing a lot of short rides. I've only driven my
car twice in the past month, deciding that I could ride my bike anywhere I needed to go.
When I finished the AIDS Ride last year, I knew that I really needed to learn how to stretch.
I thought yoga would be a good way to accomplish this. So, a year ago, I talked to my trainer
about it, and he gave me this little piece of paper with the name of a yoga studio & their web
address written on it. I immediately looked at the website, then promptly pinned that little
piece of paper up on my bulletin board. I'd occasionally look at it, but never made the
commitment to try it. So, on May 1st, I decided to give it a shot. I now study
Bikram Yoga
three or four mornings a week. For those of you who don't know yoga, Bikram is a 90 minute class
taught in a very hot room (about 90 degrees). You sweat, and stretch, and sweat, and balance,
and sweat, and breathe, and sweat until you just can't sweat anymore. And I love it! Bikram
has really improved my riding, too. I never get any pain or lactic acid build up in my muscles
anymore. Big bonus on the hills!
Riding! Well, considering the fact that I was still too sick to ride for the first week of May,
I logged a ton of miles for the month, primarily due to the fact that I could do four or five
long (75+ miles) rides a week. Actually, this is the highest mileage month I've ever had,
totaling almost 900 miles!
The second week of May, I did a number of shorter rides with friends, including my former Schwab
co-worker (and donor) Nathalie Boucher. Nathalie's in awesome shape, but we'd never ridden
together before. She rides a mountain bike, but had little problem keeping up with me on my race
bike (go, Nathalie!). And she climbs a mean hill, too! That weekend, I rode my fastest century
ever, the I Care
Classic in San Jose, and then led an official AIDS Ride Training Ride on Sunday.
Two day total -- 177 miles.
|
|
But the real highlight of the month for me was the Russian River Campout Ride.
This is an organized, weekend ride from San Francisco to the Russian River. On Saturday,
we rode 80 miles inland, stopping only for cheese in Nicasio, BBQ oysters at the Amsterdam,
and iced lattes in Occidental. We got to camp early enough to go for a cold swim in the
Russian River and to relax a little. Saturday night we camped at Cassini Ranch, and then
returned to San Francisco via the coastal route on Sunday. |
|
Because I'd been sick, I hadn't seen most of my Schwab riding buddies in almost a month. What
an awesome ride! I rode with Roger Schefers, Tom Counts, David Pritikin, and AIDS Ride newbie,
Mike Schmitt. We had a blast! Check out all my photos from Russian River -- they're great!
Fundraising News
What can I say, except thank you!
I'd hoped to raise $25,000 this year, but given the economic turmoil, not to mention the
changes in my own life, I'm very pleased to have raised $16,000. Thanks to my buddy Andrew who
pledged the last $150 when I begged him online one morning.
Team Schwab
Even with the layoffs at Schwab, our team is incredibly psyched! Our roster
includes 8 crew members (crew rocks!) and 71 riders. And we've raised almost $400,000! A
little less money than last year, and not quite the million dollars we'd originally hoped to
raise, but still an incredible effort.
|
|
|
I'm proud to have been part of a company that really encourages employees to invest in their
community by making charitable donations and supporting fundraising & volunteer events such as
the AIDS Ride. While many corporations have completely discontinued matching gift programs,
Schwab continues to make a double match on all employee donations. This is such a huge
commitment to community and philanthropy.
|
The Road Ahead
Ready, set, ride! I'm taking a couple of days off the bike just to be fresh
for Sunday. Packing & getting ready will keep me busy enough, not to mention a complimentary
90-minute massage from one of my AIDS Ride 7 buddies, Rich Seeber (thanks, Rich)!
If you have the opportunity, I'd encourage everyone to come out and
experience the AIDS Ride firsthand. It's a pretty incredible sight, watching 3,000 riders
of every age, size, and ability level, challenge themselves to do something they've most likely
never done before.
I'm really excited for the AIDS Ride this year. Although I did fine riding last year, the Ride
experience itself was very difficult for me. Having lived alone for almost twenty years now, it was a real
challenge to be part of a 3,000 person community -- standing in lines, living for a week without
personal time or space, having so much structure. And last year, I felt pressured to ride fast.
This year, I've decided to really ENJOY THE RIDE! I'm going to slow down, meet new people, and
have fun everyday.
And most importantly
........thank you all again for your generous support of the AIDS Ride this year.
And a special thanks those of you who sponsored me last year too (denoted with an *). You
should each be proud knowing that your donation is making a significant difference in providing
vital services to those living with HIV and AIDS.
|
| Aida Araya, Schwab |
Joaquin Arellano, Schwab |
Ann Arhontes*, Schwab |
| Bruce Bailey, Schwab |
Aimee Barreto, Baltimore, MD |
Caedmon Bear, Schwab |
| Lita Benton, Schwab |
Lynda Bessette, Chicago, IL |
Frank Bold*, Schwab |
| Nathalie Boucher, Schwab |
Nick Brogolias, Schwab |
Bob & Peg Brussel, Syracuse, NY |
| Carlos Cabezas, Schwab |
Stacey Chretien, Schwab |
Laurette Cisneros*, Schwab |
| Jim & Geri Clark*, Syracuse, NY |
Katharine Clark, NYC |
Ginny Cohen, Schwab |
| Marianne Cook, Schwab |
Deb Coss, Schwab |
Rob Cotterman, Schwab |
| Emilie de la Motte, Schwab |
Lawrence Ebringer, San Francisco, CA |
Mona Enos, Schwab |
| Heidi Francis, Schwab |
Timothy Frazer & Joshua Rymer, Schwab |
April Frederick, Menlo Park, CA |
| Ednil Galera, Schwab |
Bob Gelott, Schwab |
Marcie Goldstein, Syracuse, NY |
| Denise Green, Schwab |
Larry Haveson*, Santa Clara, CA |
Bill Hilliard, San Francisco, CA |
| Betsy Hume, San Francisco, CA |
Astrid Javier, Schwab |
Jonathan Johnson, San Mateo, CA |
| Rashonda Johnson, Schwab |
Ellie Kalenda*, Schwab |
Pearl Kato, Schwab |
| Lou Kempton, Syracuse, NY |
Kerry Kimmel, San Mateo, CA |
Terri & Paul Konu*, Syracuse, NY |
| Tootsie Lansang, Schwab |
Matthew Lea, San Francisco, CA |
Joyce LeBombard, Schwab |
| Mario Leon*, Schwab |
Julie Lown*, Elmira, NY |
Fredrick Mackay, Schwab |
| Sherri Mackay, Schwab |
Jeff Mazik, Schwab |
Cindy McLaughlin, Schwab |
| Sheryl Mitchell*, San Mateo, CA |
Rachel Morton, Schwab |
Robert Moss*, Syracuse, NY |
| Ken Mullen, Schwab |
Ana Nabong*, Schwab |
Isis Nyong'o, Schwab |
| Sal Ortiz, Schwab |
Dolores O'Rourke, San Mateo, CA |
Laura Pan*, Schwab |
| Kay Pappas, Schwab |
Rodney Paul*, Schwab |
Martha Perry, Schwab |
| Yana Posovsky*, Schwab |
Norma Quispe, Schwab |
Elinore Robey, Schwab |
| Lillian Rosales, Schwab |
Rick Rosenberg, Schwab |
Bernie & Audrey Ruelas, Hayward, CA |
| Susan Ruelas, San Jose, CA |
Lynn Running, Schwab |
Martin Sances*, San Francisco, CA |
| Beth Sawi, Schwab |
Andrea Sayers, San Francisco, CA |
Andrew Schauer, Los Angeles, CA |
| Jennifer Shiao, Boston, MA |
Rich Seeber, San Francisco, CA |
Allie Shipps, San Francisco, CA |
| Vickie Stallings, Schwab |
Adam Staperfene, Schwab |
Suzanne Statler, Schwab |
| Paco Summers, San Francisco, CA |
Dick Szymanski, Syracuse, NY |
Karen Szymanski, Washington, DC |
| Elisa Takao, Schwab |
Justin Taylor*, Schwab |
Minga Torres, Schwab |
| Pam Tweedy, Schwab |
Alexandra Urbanowski, San Jose, CA |
Eileen Utter, Schwab |
| Ed Uyeshima, Schwab |
Ann Vandehey, Schwab |
Lynda Wheat, Syracuse, NY |
| Tamika Workmon, Schwab |
Jenni Yoshida, Schwab |
Robbin Zarbo, Schwab |
|
The Charles Schwab Corporate Foundation |
The Liberty Mutual Employee Fund |
| |
|
|
May Updates: |
|
Total miles this year (2001): 2,359.05 |
|
Total miles I rode in May: 883.03 |
|
Total number of training rides in May: 20 |
|
Average mileage per ride: 44.15 |
|
Longest training ride to date: 101.33 miles |
| |
|
Total Donations received to date: $16,000 |
|
Total Donations received in May: $2,195 |
|
Total Schwab Donations: $4,585 |
|
Total Schwab Matching Gifts: $9,150 |
|
Total non-Schwab Donations: $2,265 |
I hope you've enjoyed sharing these past months of training with me. Perhaps I've inspired
you to challenge yourself to do something you've never done before. Who knows? Maybe next year
you'll find yourself riding with me! |
|
