Hopkins 4K for Cancer

July 11, 2005

Naturita, CO
After a day off in Montrose, we began the last third of the trip with an 86-mile ride to Naturita, CO. Although the terrain was not as challenging as the mountains we’ve ridden over before, today was one of the most difficult days of the trip for me personally. As soon as we rode out of Montrose I started feeling weak and had trouble breathing normally. The dry, dusty air, mixed with exhaust from the road, made it hard for me to ride at an adequate pace without gasping for oxygen. The headwind also added a mental aspect to my struggle on the bike, but thankfully my teammates were there to cheer me on and kept me going. We reached the first water break at mile 26, but I was unable to continue biking.

Fortunately, after a quick visit to the local pharmacy and a few applications of nasal sprays later, I felt better and got back on the bike after lunch. It turns out that the exposure to high altitude and the dry climate here over these past few days have gotten to me eventually. Not having eaten enough at breakfast also made me weaker than usual. However, once I resumed the ride I, had a fabulous time on the road. We had a very nice downhill out of the canyon before hitting the Norwood Hill. The climb up the hill was a challenge for many of us, but the vastness of the river valley and the view of the landscape far away kept our spirits up and made it a fun uphill. As we rode into Naturita, the terrain changed noticeably. It was obvious that we were leaving the mountains and approaching the desert.

Tonight’s dinner was generously provided by the Union Congregational Church in Nucla. After a long day of biking, the dinner tasted so delicious. Just sitting there and having a nice conversation with the church members gave me the feeling that a day’s hard work has been rewarded. Thank you to the Union Congregational Church again!

- Jennie Chung