So far so good...

Well, it's been a busy five days and I'm finally able to give an update.
I've been able to ride with some amazing challenged athletes.
I pulled an active duty Iraq veteran the first day. He's now pulling me.

A short synopsis (I'll try and keep updating it as I get more computer access):
Day 1 SF to Santa Cruz 86 miles: Police escort out of San Francisco was way cool. It was awesome seeing Mom, Dad, Paula and Alex in Santa Cruz!
Day 2 Santa Cruz to Big Sur 86 miles: Foggy mornings through the lettuce fields. I dropped my H20 Bottle early and went back to get it and found myself lone wolfing it. I caught up to an older rider and rode with him until the SAG where we caught up with some other radio riders. The fried artichokes were way cool. Monterey is beautiful.
Day 3 Big Sur to Pismo Beach 114 miles: Wow a long day. Big Sur is stunning and hilly! Got some rain on the last leg. 4 of us radio guys got to share a cabin (picture GIFT house with one bathroom) at Big Sur which was fun.
Day 4 Pismo to Santa Barbara 119 miles: Got the hills out of the way early, so the second half was down hill. Much easier than Day 3. The weather is always great in socal.
Day 5 Santa Barbara to Marina Del Rey 86 miles: Beautiful day and 86 miles seems like childs play compared to 100+.

Ride Schedule

Friday 10/16

1:10pm Arrive SFO: Mom's picking me up. Dad arrives at SFO an hour later.

Check in: Hyatt at Fisherman’s Wharf-Presidio Ballroom

4:00pm Rider reception, registration, bike check, meet & greet

5:00-6:00pm Ride orientation presentation

6:00pm Program concludes, riders on own

Saturday 10/17

Location: Hyatt at Fisherman’s Wharf

6:00-7:00am Breakfast-Presidio Ballroom

7:15am Pre-ride Ceremony on Taylor Street (adjacent to hotel)

7:30am Ride out of San Francisco with police escorts

San Francisco to Santa Cruz: 86 miles (Description)

Day Two: Sunday, October 18, 2009
Santa Cruz to Big Sur: 86 miles (Description)

Day Three: Monday, October 19, 2009
Big Sur to Pismo Beach: 114 miles (Description)

Day Four: Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Pismo Beach to Santa Barbara: 119 miles (Description)

Day Five: Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Santa Barbara to Marina del Rey: 89 miles (Description)

Day Six: Thursday, October 22, 2009
Marina del Rey to Newport Beach: 53 miles (Description)

Day Seven: Friday, October 23, 2009

12:30 pm (approx) QMDC riders regroup in La Jolla (location tba)

1:00pm QMDC riders arrive at La Jolla Shores-Kellogg Park-Families
and Supporters are welcome and encouraged! Refreshments
served. There will be a challenged athlete meet and greet
event as well. (This is also final Luggage pick up and you will
need to provide your own transportation from this point)

Adam Beck wins the Scott & BR Cycling Challenge!
The top 7 finalists get to go on the ride as Team 1090 raises over $60,000 for the Challenged Athletes Foundation.
Pictured here in the XX1090 Studio, Radio Host Scott Kaplan, me, Alex Hamlow, Mike Henderson (last years winner and Team 1090 coach), Adam Beck, Joy Muehlenbein, Brian Brillow, Joe Weickgenant, Radio Host and Charger Great Billy Ray Smith, Jr.

Tune in for the winner tomorrow at 630am

Tune into XX1090 tomorrow at 645am to find out who wins the Scott & BR Qualcomm Million Dollar Challenge entry (Joy, Adam, or Alex). They've invited the top 7 finialists in studio, so I'll be there to find out who wins. It's been amazing summer. I've met a lot of good friends. I've learned a lot about cycling. The ride starts a week from Saturday in San Francisco.

I'd like to give a big thank you to Brian Sorokin who signed over some of his fundraising over to Team 1090 to wrap up a 7th spot. As rider number 7 this means a lot to me.

2 weeks until the ride

I can't believe it is only two weeks until we start riding south from San Francisco to San Diego. The Scott & BR Cycling team is still in fundraising mode to get as many of us on the ride as possible as the 7th place finisher in the radio contest I'm on a bit of a bubble, but I still have a week to pull in funds. Don't worry, I'll figure out a way to get it done. My teammates are looking out for me and I really appreciate it.

Adam arranged a booth at the Scripps Ranch Farmers Market on Saturday and we'll be there selling Opportunity Drawing Tickets for an awesome Island BBQ donated by FrameMAX and some cookies baked by my Team Scott & BR Cycling team trophy wife Paula. If you cannot make it to the farmers market, just shoot Adam an email an email (abeck@framemax.com) and pay for your ticket on Adam's fundraising page.

To date the Scott & BR Cycling Team has raised over $46,000 for the Challenged Athletes Foundation!

Above is a picture of Paula and me on our way to Timbo & Jen's Vintage Vegas party last Saturday. Paula won 3rd place in the Poker Tournament! Way to go!

If you'd like to make a donation to CAF on behalf of my ride: http://mdc2009.kintera.org/markvd

Joy's Brew Bash a big success/Better Links

I went to Joy's fundraising event last night. It looked like was a tremendous success. She worked really hard and it was so much fun. The night ended with the auctioning of single men and women for dates on Harbor Cruises, Theater, Zoo, etc. It was quite entertaining. One women fetched $300!





I sent out a recent email where I painstakenly put links to lots of sites. Of course I did this in Microsoft Office Word 2007 and when a pasted it into Windows mail, all the links were broken, so here is a quick link recap:





1) XX1090 Scott & BR Cycling Challenge
2) http://markvdteam1090.blogspot.com/

3) Qualcomm Million Dollar Challenge

4) Challenged Athletes Foundation

5) Operation Rebound

6) My fundraising Page: http://mdc2009.kintera.org/markvd

7) Joy's Brew Bash at LJ Brew House: http://tinyurl.com/brewbash

8) Poker Ride

9) Opportunity Drawing for an amazing Island BBQ.

10) Rubios flyer



Tomorrow we ride 80 miles out to Fallbrook and back.

A Quick Qualcomm Million Dollar Challenge Update

It's been a couple of weeks since I've "blogged".

I'm still continuing my rides for the QMDC.

I've done a Century up to Laguna and Back and a ride from El Cajon, out past Sycuan Casino and to Jamul. I'm still riding to places that I've never been before. I barely blink at the milage now.

Alex “the boy” started playing Soccer Saturday mornings, and I’ve been fortunate to be assistant coach on his B6U team “The Green Flames”.

This summer has been amazing. It has been a pleasure and an honor to represent Team 1090. I'm fortunate to meet many new people and friends and I can’t wait to do the ride with them down the coast next month. Mike Henderson and the rest of the ride leaders are great. I’ve learned so much about cycling this summer.

Some great happenings presented by my Team 1090 teammates:

I hope to see you all at Joy's big fundraising event at the LJ Brew House (Friday, September 25, 2009)

http://tinyurl.com/brewbash

Adam has a Poker Ride Saturday, September 26, 2009 and has an Opportunity Drawing for an amazing Island BBQ.

If you print this flyer and present it at select Rubio’s Restaurant locations Saturday, September 26, 2009, 20% of your purchase will go to CAF.

I’m amazed and so grateful at your generosity. Together, we’ve raised over $4585 for the Challenged Athletes Foundation! My fundraising continues to reach my $10K goal by the QMDC deadline next week. If you would still like to contribute, here’s the link: http://mdc2009.kintera.org/markvd

Finally, I need to thank my wife Paula for her encouragement and support for me. Without it, I could never have made it to the #7 spot. I love you always.

Elfin Forrest

First off, thanks for all the support well wishes everyone has given me. I really appreciate it.

Today was my first CAF ride since being cut from contention for the coveted Team 1090 entry in the Qualcomm Million Dollar Challenge. It's kind of a relief not to worry about "the cut" anymore. All 10 of the Team 1090 finalists rode today in a short but sweet 40 mile ride.

This week we took a 40 mile ride from Solana Beach, out Del Dios to the Elfin Forrest, back through San Elijo Hills and back along the coast. We rode the newly repaved Harmony Grove Road, which a great bike riding experience. It's a country road with no stop signs or stop lights to slow you down until you get plunked into San Elijo Hills. Almost everyone said this was their favorite ride (perhaps because it was about half the distance we had been going). We had good marine layer going out so we stayed cool!

Peace Out

-markvd

PS: I'm almost halfway to my Challenged Athletes Foundation Goal of $10,000. Thanks for all you generosity! http://mdc2009.kintera.org/markvd

And thats all she wrote...not necessarily

Well I got cut from contention to win the Scott & BR Team 1090 spot in the Qualcomm Million Dollar Challenge. This just means I have to raise $10K for the Challenged Athletes Foundation. I'll still be there doing this thing. Because of all you generosity, I'm almost half way there! If you'd like to make a contribution to CAF in support of my ride: http://mdc2009.kintera.org/markvd. Its been a great experience and I'm stoked to finish in a tie for 7th.

Elimination tomorrow morning

Just got the late word. 2 of the Team 1090 8 will be cut tommorrow (wed.) between 615am and 645am. Tune in (http://www.doublex1090.com/) and hopefully not hear my name.

Another imunity challenge

QMDC update: This was our off training week, so all we had to do today was ride from Solana Beach to Torrey Pines for a time trial up the hill. My time 8:39 was 3 seconds better than the average, not bad. Before we embarked we had an imunity challenge as they are cutting 2 of us this week. We had a pop quiz. We had to name the 7 cities where we would be staying in hotels during the QMDC. I lucked out here as I had read up on this last night.
My answers:
1) San Francisco
2) Santa Cruz
3) Big Sur
4) San Luis Obispo
5) Santa Barbara
6) Marina Del Rey
7) Laguna Wrong! (correct answer Newport Beach)
6/7 second place. Congratulations Adam on getting them all correct!

2 Cut later this week. Probably Wednesday at 6:38am

And now there is 8

At 638am, xx1090 announced in a dragged out fashion the Efrain and Rob L had been cut. At this point, I wish all 10 could have made it to the end and the winner picked then. Hopefully, Efrain and Rob can keep riding. If we raise $90,000, all 10 of us would get to do the ride.
http://mdc2009.kintera.org/markvd

Elimination tomorrow morning

2 of the 10 remaining get eliminated.
Listen in to XX1090AM between 615am-645am
I hope I make it. All 10 of us need to do this ride.

13 Week recap

Thursday, May 27: After Paula suggests for the third year in a row that I apply for the Scott & BR Cycling team, I finally apply.

Tuesday, June 1 6:45am: We hear my name on XX1090AM that I'm one of the 30 people selected for the Scott & BR Cycling Team.

Tuesday, June 1 6:48am: What have I gotten myself into. That old tri bike I have hasn't moved in a year and that's just because we moved into a new house.

Sunday, June 7 7am: 1st QMDC group ride from Flower Hill Mall to Oceanside and back.

Sunday, June 14: QMDC group ride from Solana Beach to Scripps Poway Parkway all the way to the 67 and back.

Sunday June 21: ride from Solana Beach to Oceanside to Bonsall to Vista to Carlsbad and back to Solana Beach

Sunday, June 28: Take a train to Angels Stadium of Anaheim and ride back to Solana Beach

Sunday, July 5: Track clinic. Got go to the Balboa Park Velodrome and learn how to ride a bike with one gear, no breaks and the only way to stop pedaling is to stop.

Sunday, July 12: Del Dios Hwy to Escondido, Lawrence Welk Village, Bonsall (right by Terry's house) to Oceanside and back to Solana Beach

Sunday, July 19: Solona Beach to San Clemente and back. On the way out I got caught up with a really fast group. Getting back was tough.

Sunday, July 26: Climb up Palmar Mountain. I had to miss it as I was in Nebraska for a family reunion. (perfect attendance until now)

August 2: Clinic at Sportsquest 10. This is the place that works LT, Drew Brees and more. Great workout with sledge hammers, monster truck tires. Awesome!

August 9: Biking in the Mountains. Around the backside of Mt Laguna to Sunrise Highway to Cuyamuca and back to Pine Valley

August 16: Del Mar to Poway to Ramona and back to Del Mar

August 23: Solana Beach - Oceanside - Bonsall - Valley Center - Bonsall - Vista - Carlsbad - Solana Beach

Here's a picture of me and Alex at Jr Padres Photo Day on the field Saturday at Petco Park.

Yesterday we rode from Solana Beach-Oceanside-Bonsall (right by Terry's house)-Valley Center-Bonsall-Vista-Carlsbad-back to Solana Beach. It was not too hot. We've been blessed with not having horrendous heat for our rides.

Kudos to Joe W. for changing the car tire for the woman in Valley Center.

Two of us get cut this week. I'm hoping my fundraising will keep me around. Thanks to all of you who have donated to the Challenged Athletes Foundation in my name. You guys are the goods! More information on CAF and/or to make a donation go to http://mdc2009.kintera.org/markvd

Three years ago, when Scott and BR announced they were forming a Qualcomm Million Dollar Challenge cycling team, I thought to myself, “I listen to Scott and BR and I have a bike. I could be on that team.” I never got around to applying and when I heard the amazing resumes of the people that they selected, I thought I would never be able to do this.

My wife Paula encouraged me to sign up each of the last 3 years, so I finally sent in my application since it now required less than 56 words. I never thought they would pick me, but lo and behold in June I heard my name on the radio and they picked me.

Apprehensively, I showed up for the first ride. I was thinking, “can I ride with these guys?” and why are they asking me to fundraise? I figured I had nothing to lose. The worst thing that could happen is that I get into better shape. My plan was to keep showing up until they told me to get lost. There were originally 30 of us radio people. Now I can say I’m in the top 10.

The first 2 rides I got dropped from “Scott and BR” group. Each week I noticed my cycling get stronger and stronger. I decided to get a fundraising page. I could raise some funds. I’m so excited to have raised over $3100!

The CAF is an unbelievable organization. The rides are so organized. The 4-6 hours riding just fly by. The ride leaders are such nice people. I’ve learned so much from them. It feels good to get into the fundraising spirit after a year off. 2006 and 2007 I raised money for MS. So far this year I’ve almost surpassed both years combined.

The contest, immunity challenges, and fundraising have been a great distraction that I may be embarking on a 620 mile bicycle ride. I don’t think it has actually sunk in how far that is.

In college, my friends G and Suz made the ride from the Bay Area to San Diego, so guess I figured I would do the ride someday, and I figured what better way than on the Scott and BR cycling team.

If you would like to donate to CAF in support of my ride: http://mdc2009.kintera.org/markvd