Hopkins 4K for Cancer

June 10, 2002

Day 9 (109 miles) Perrysburg, OH to La G
Many may think that this trip is solely a physical challenge. I mean what else could sitting on a little wedge and pumping your tired legs all day long be considered? However, so far, so much of this trip has been a mental challenge, just as much as it is physical, and today our mentality was given a new perspective of whether or not we are truly up for this challenge or not.

We arose this morning to an all too glorious wake up call, by our fearless leader Jenn. True, we had an awesome nights sleep last night in the comfort of Rajeev’s family’s house, but the only thing that was on each of our minds this morning was, “I can’t believe we have to ride one hundred miles today!” Yep. That’s right. Today was our first century, and what a century it was. The ride itself wasn’t that bad, as most of it was done on flat land, but just the thought of biking something that some people dread driving was almost insane.

The group started off together to get through the major areas of Perrysburg, but slowly (as usual) everyone started to go at their own pace (I was in the back as always!). Eventually the heat started to pick up and everyone’s Camelbak started to dwindle down, and the only thing that we could all think about was when and where lunch was!! Around the 40-mile mark, we finally hit the lunch spot where we all re-fueled and dreaded the 60 miles left to go. It was now fairly hot and the sun had taken a lot of the energy out of most of us, but there were still many miles ahead of us and we all decided to trek on.

About thirty flat, but exhausting miles later, we were all greeted by a “second lunch” at a deserted fireworks store, right by the Indiana state border. Here we all loaded back up on our traditional lunch of every kind of sandwich known to man, and continued back on the road for the last thirty miles. Now here is where a bit of personal excitement comes in. I am pretty much known to the group as the turtle, or simply the girl who is always in the back. But somehow, today I was able to put my stereotype behind me and I pushed my way to the front, and myself, along with Dave C. and Travis all got to be the first to welcome delight over the sight of one hundred miles on the odometer! I believe the complete mileage of the whole trip right up to the steps of the high school we are staying in was 109 miles. That almost sounds ludicrous. And although every single one of us is drained, the feeling that we all got when we reached the century mark is irreplaceable. I honestly think that today was the first time that we have all honestly felt and understood what the word “Victory” really means!

-Ashley Gurganus