An unexpectedly nice ride...

JENNIFER: All day I have been watching the rain come and go, and I wondered whether the crummy weather would keep me from my second ride this week.

I decided to ride, and I'm so glad I did. While I was riding along -- singing songs from the Wicked soundtrack and evaluating how my neighbors' garage doors would look on my house -- the clouds overhead suddenly broke and I saw a teeny bit of blue sky. It wasn't much, but it was enough to make me glad I got on my bike this evening.

For the past couple of weeks, I have been riding only 30-35 minutes each time, but beginning next week I plan to start building up my mileage. For now, I'm just trying to get my bike legs back. I definitely feel it working!

I GOT A BIKE…A NEW BIKE!

LAUREN: A strange sequence of events occurred today. As you may recall, I was supposed to check out a used bike I found on Craig’s List today. For some reason, the seller never responded back to me to arrange a meeting time or to let me know that the bike was no longer available. I was a little disappointed, but it happens.

Coincidentally, Chris saw an advertisement at a local gym promoting the same bike I had been eyeing on Craig’s List, but it was a more recent model and BRAND NEW! It costs a little more than the used version, but it had better components too. Since the original plan of checking out a used bike fell through, Kim and I headed down to Bicycle Sport Shop today during lunch and found the bike in my size. SCORE! Kim also works there from time to time and she connected me with Rick, a very knowledgeable sales guy. Here’s the other cool thing. Technically the bike sale doesn’t start until Friday, but Rick said he would give me the sale price on the bike if I came back and purchased the bike tonight. SWEET! We were short on time so I put the bike on hold and promised to come back later for a test ride.

My husband and I arrived at the bike shop thirty minutes before closing. We found Rick and soon I was set up for a test ride in the parking lot. The frame (52 cm) was fine, but the handlebars were a bit far for my reach. Just to be sure we had the right frame size, I tested a smaller frame (49 cm) and it was definitely too small. Rick changed the stem on the 52 cm bike and it felt much more comfortable. We quickly ran out of time and since the store was now closing, I opted to purchase the bike tonight instead of risking that it might be sold the next day. I also didn’t bring the bike home tonight, but chose to leave it at the store so I could do a “true” fitting when I had more time. Hence, I now have a fitting appointment tomorrow evening.

I am super excited to have this big purchase out of the way. (Although my husband would probably say that he had a little heartburn when we were paying for it. ;-)) It’s funny how things have a way of working out, but I guess that is why they say “everything happens for a reason!”

Thank you to everyone that helped me with this process. I can’t wait to start riding my new bike! (See photo)

March Madness

LAUREN: I meant to do a little riding this past weekend, but it didn’t happen for a variety of reasons. Aside from a “little” home issue, I couldn’t seem to pull myself away from the men’s NCAA basketball tournament. I am a victim of March Madness and I love every minute of it! I have my own bracket and have been cheering on “my picks.” Right now, I am in fifth place out of 19 people. I am not sure I can pull off a victory now, but we’ll see. (Go Florida!)

On a cycling-related note, there is a big bike sale going on this weekend at Bicycle Sport Shop. I have had this on the calendar for a while and can’t wait to check it out. I have been exploring all of my options – both new and used bikes. I even found a used bike on Craig’s List that has potential. My pals, Chris and Kim, are going with me to check it out tomorrow and that makes me feel better about considering a used bike. Both are experienced cyclists and can help me determine if the bike is still in good shape for riding. I’ll keep you posted. If you have any tips on buying bikes, I would be happy to hear them.

One week down, eleven to go!

JENNIFER: I just finished my third bike ride for the week, and just in the nick of time. I guess I waited until the last possible moment to get my third ride in, because the sun was setting as I pulled up in my driveway. Next week I'll be better about spacing out my rides and not cramming them into the end of the week.

Now that I have decided that my spring project is to update the exterior of our house, my bike riding is really coming in handy. On my bike is an easy way to check out all the front doors, mailboxes, address numbers and outdoor light fixtures on houses all around my neighborhood. I am getting some great ideas!

Elizabeth Edwards

JENNIFER: My thoughts are with Elizabeth Edwards and her family as they face her cancer recurrence head-on. I had the opportunity to meet Elizabeth backstage before she spoke at the LAF's LIVESTRONG Summit last October, and she was incredibly genuine and kind. She is the type of woman with whom you want to grab lunch or gab on the phone -- very down-to-earth and unassuming. I look forward to reading her book, Saving Graces. (Just as soon as I finish (start?) my Book Club book.) And I wish her the best as she begins her cancer treatment.

Some colleagues and I watched today's press conference with Elizabeth and John Edwards in Lauren's office. To me, as a newlywed, seeing their demonstration of a true partnership was heartwarming.

Speaking of the news, did you happen to be watching ABC World News Tonight tonight? If you watched closely, you saw a few seconds of footage of Elizabeth at the LIVESTRONG Summit. Yellow stage, huge photo of Lance, Elizabeth reading an excerpt from her book.

I spent the better part of this afternoon working with our awesome, amazing video production company friends at Alpheus Media and the ever-helpful local ABC affiliate to send our Summit footage to ABC in New York so they could include it in the package. It was quick, but it was there! Today's PR victory.

Have a good evening.

And here's a little about Lauren!

LAUREN: Last year’s LIVESTRONG Challenge in Austin was my first time to be back on a bike since I was a kid. When Jen asked me to consider doing the 40-mile ride with her, I thought why not? It’s for a great cause and it’s a good way to get some exercise. Deep down, I must admit that I was a little intimidated by the distance. Plus, I didn’t even have a bike to ride. Luckily, I was fortunate to borrow a hybrid bike from a friend (Thank you, Steph!) and was able to train and fundraise for the event. Through my job last year, I worked the LAF booth at most of the LIVESTRONG Village sites. However, being an event participant was such an amazing experience that it inspired me to ride again.

This year, I am challenging myself to ride 70 miles, which means that I am also in search of my very own road bike. I am educating myself about frame sizes and bike components, have visited nearly every bike shop in Austin and am looking into previously owned bikes too. I am also grateful to have a handful of friends who are pretty knowledgeable about bikes (Thank you – Kim, Chris, Rodney, Michael B. and Lisa!) and don’t mind all of my questions. After the initial sticker shock of road bike prices wore off, I knew that saving up to get new bike would also be a challenge.

I am eager to start training again and to start fundraising too. I raised a little more than $2,500 for the LAF last year and I am not sure if I can top that, but it will sure be fun to try.

I hadn’t thought about this earlier, but this year’s ride in Austin occurs on my two year wedding anniversary. I mentioned this to my husband earlier today and he might join me and Jen on our ride. He’s much faster on a bike than we are, but it would be nice to have him join us. We’ll see what happens!

A friend shared this quote with me a while back and it really spoke to me. I hope it speaks to you too.

Above all, challenge yourself. You may well surprise yourself at what strengths you have, what you can accomplish.--Cecile M. Springer

Learn a little more about Jen...

JENNIFER: Yesterday I learned that my husband owns eight guitars, not just the three that are leaning against the wall in his study. Most recently he went over to a friend’s house to play music with some guys and everyone had nicer guitars than his, and the next morning he came home from Guitar Center with a new Martin acoustic in his passenger seat.

To his credit, Matt wakes up early to play his guitar while I snooze, and often I’ll come home from work and find him playing guitar again. He writes his own music and played in a local band for the past two years. He recognizes the importance of supporting a hobby, and he was more than willing to make me a deal:

As soon as I ride my current bike three times a week for 12 weeks, I can buy the new road bike I’ve been eyeing since December, a couple of months after I rode in my first-ever cycling event.

Last summer my birthday was coming up and I wanted to do something special to celebrate turning 30, so set myself a goal to train for and ride in the LIVESTRONG Challenge 40-mile ride. I hadn’t ridden a bike since I was 12, but I trained up and down Shoal Creek on my light blue hybrid for a month, and when I mustered up the nerve, I started riding in circles around the three-mile veloway and then the eight-mile loop on the nearby highway.

Lauren and I began riding together when she decided to do the Challenge, too, and I was comforted to have a beginner cycling partner who rode as slowly as me and would push me as I pushed her when we felt unsure of ourselves.

Once I had my first cycling event behind me, I was hooked. Cycling was going to be my new hobby. But I didn’t want to stick with 40-mile rides, and my hybrid can only take me so far. So I decided I needed a new goal – and a new bike.

That brings me to today. My new personal goal is to train for and ride the 70-mile course this October at the LIVESTRONG Challenge. I’m working on my fundraising goal, too. Last year I raised more than $4,000, and I just don’t know if I can raise that much money again.

But first things first: I have to get out there on my bike and prove to myself that my 40-mile ride last year was not just a one-time event, that I have the dedication and the discipline to ride enough to make it 70 miles in October and earn myself a new bike in the process.

Will I do it? Stay tuned to see.

the beginning

Last year we decided to do the LIVESTRONG Challenge 40-mile ride together. We trained for months and raised money and rode our bikes 40 miles, and we had so much fun that we’re back in 2007. Except this year, we signed up for the 70-mile ride!

Right up front, let’s just put everything out on the table. We both work for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which puts on the LIVESTRONG Challenge. Jennifer works in Marketing and oversees marketing and public relations support of the LAF’s programmatic initiatives. Lauren is part of the Advocacy team, where she serves as the liaison for advocates interested in becoming more involved in LAF grassroots advocacy initiatives and events.

We are participating in the LIVESTRONG Challenge not as LAF employees, but as two friends trying something new together. And we are excited to write this blog together, too – something else neither of us has ever done before.

Check back to read about our training and fundraising leading up to the LIVESTRONG Challenge. This is going to be fun!