BBQ today Willows Beach

Today at 3pm at Willows beach park we are having a fundraising BBQ in case anyone was unaware of where to go. I leave in only 6 days, can you believe that? This journey, if completed, will be the greatest athletic achievement of my life. I feel like as I was before my first triathlon. Anxious and excited but scared of drowning haha. I guess you just have to go for it in situations like this. Give it 100 percent and dig deeper than what was known before. If anything, I am interested to see exactly what my limits are. I assure you I will find them within the 30 day trip and hopefully not falter but surpass and surge on...Only time will tell.

A

8 days till lift-off

Hey everyone,

         Things have calmed down a bit after Shawnigan. As I said before I was going on TV for a scholarship I won. Here is the video clip that they made for me. I don't really like that its called "Amazing Kid", I think it should be called "Kids in the Community" or something like that. The interview when I was in my cycling gear was actually about 10 minutes long and they left out some key accomplishments in my life. One example is the solar panel project were 5 students raised 40 000 dollars to put up 2 solar panels on Oak Bay High's roof. Also the photos in the video that look like I was running or just wearing those really long socks are from the Grand Canyon. I ran 30 km in about 4 and a half hours ( down to phantom Ranch than back up). Anyways, here is the clip.



      I am taking a little break on the cycling part of training so I can be fully rested for August 6th. Once I leave there will be no "easy days". My legs will have only about 12 hours to recover each night before biking another 160km the next day. I recently got in touch with an old friend that lives in Creston, this is the only planned place to stay!
I'm more than willing to sleep in the car almost every night though.....I just have to convince my mom.

      I said goodbye to a good friend of mine last night. I keep on forgetting that when I say goodbye on the 6th to all my friends, it will be goodbye for 5 months. I am not even thinking about Queens right now though, the ride is predominant focus on my mind.

That's all for now

The letter

July 21, 2011

Adam Beaudoin

2800 Lincoln Rd,

Victoria, BC                                                                                    

                          

                              

RE: Cycle to Kingston for BC Cancer Agency

Hi Adam,

I would like to take the opportunity to express Betsyn and my support of your commitment to a good cause and sense of adventure as it is quite the challenge to cycle some 4,741 kilometers from Victoria, BC to Kingston, Ontario. Your desire to use this meaningful experience to raise funds for the BC Cancer Agency (www.bccancer.ca) is an admirable start to your first year of University and what an unforgettable way to arrive!

I have witnessed your dedication to training and am confident you will succeed. We look forward to tracking you on your blog (www.adam-beaudoin.blogspot.com). Not only are you adventurous but also conscious of the great work and challenging needs of The BC Cancer Agency, their special research, services and the people they help.

As you may know, over the last year I have undergone successful treatment for Prostate Cancer. The process, support and professional care I received from the BC Cancer Agent in Victoria was exceptional.  They are a well run, organized, considerate and extremely professional organization who are known worldwide for their leading research and treatments.

Betsyn and I would like to contribute a donation of $5 for every kilometer you ride. Further we will match the next $5 per kilometer (or equivalent) of additional donations raised between now and the conclusion of your trip. With the support this cause deserves it’s very possible you could be riding for $15.00 per kilometer! This would raise around $71,000 for the BC Cancer Agency. That should keep you focused and motivated when things get tough.

You are an exceptional young man, right out of high school and not only striving to be your best but also to use this experience to raise awareness for a valuable cause. Betsyn and I eagerly look forward to hearing about your adventure and wish you all the success on your journey to Kingston.

Sincerely,

Steve & Betsyn Clark

Here is that letter I mentioned earlier. When I hear things like this it really gives me the motivation to get up and ride day in day out. I am up in Shawnigan lake now and training is going well, my legs are recovering each night and are feeling great for the next morning. I am having a BBQ on July 31st at Willows beach, bring 5 dollars and you get a meal! plus there will be badminton and Volleyball and VEMF is later that night.(all proceeds go to the BC Cancer Foundation) 

Hope to see you all there!

Exciting news!

      Hello everyone, as the ride departure date approaches things in my life seem to get busier and busier. I barely have time to ride! haha I have some wonderful news to share. A good friend of mine has committed to donating to 5 dollars a kilometre. Considering I am riding over 4500km now depending on the exact route I take - if you do the math that’s $22,500. Not only that but he has committed to matching donations you guys make up to 15 dollars a kilometre....This is exciting for a couple reasons. One being that this ride has now taken flight and is bigger than just me. Reason two being that now you guys have some motivation to give and donate that 5 dollars that’s been lying around. I am going to post a letter later that Steve sent me so you can see for yourself.

      In other news I recently was awarded the Amazing Kid award by /A\ Channel and was interviewed about the ride and my life. Hopefully that gains some attention when it airs next Thursday July 28^th at the end of the 5 o’clock news. Things are started to really heat up and I feel as though time is running out! I leave in just 15 short days. I have a new website to donate to and I hope to see some donations soon. The link is http://donate.bccancerfoundation.com/site/TR?pg=fund&fr_id=1250&pxfid=9721

Goodbye for now!

Cross Training and Donating

I write from the true west coast, Tofino.The last 2 weeks have been pretty incredible. I went camping with a bunch of friends to Sidney Spit which has become sort of a ritual for us each year. There is so much to do on that island I find it hard to get bored. The day after I came home from that trip I left for Whistler. I biked to the ferry and then biked to Vancouver to meet a friend who was giving me a ride up the mountain. Cycling downtown was an adrenline rush I won't forget. For 40 minutes I felt like a bike messenger in New York, sprinting intersections and passing cars. After an hour or so I finally met up with with Mish and headed up the mountain. All in all the trip was awesome. "Commit to the team" was a our big motto throughout the trip. There were a couple other mottos that don't really belong on here haha. Now I am in Tofino..there is a special vibe here that lets you just totally unwind. The swell was unreal on S. Chestermans tonight. I caught this one 6 foot face and dropped in with incredible speed. The rush of water propelled me for many meters while my brother flailed about next to me. I have surfed in a couple countries but tonight, in Tofino, it was unmatched. I cant wait for tomorrow and the next day....and the next day. I never want to leave! haha

I finally have a link from which you can donate to the BC Cancer Foundation. http://donate.bccancerfoundation.com/site/TR?pg=fund&fr_id=1250&pxfid=9721

Every dollar counts.


    
 Thanks for visiting and have a nice day.

Training and Summer

       I figured I should update this blog every once and a while to keep you guys interested before I head off. Training for a ride like this can be done a couple ways. One being ride everyday like your training for RAM (race across America) which consists of eating, riding and sleeping. Another being ride just for fun and enjoying life instead! I am somewhere in between. I injured my hip flex er while playing in islands this year for soccer and it is still looming over my head. It's super frustrating because I feel it every time I ride or swim or run...as a result it has thrown my triathlon season out the window this year. Unfortunate yes, but as long as this ride is a success I am cool with that. I ride just about every day, 20km-130km generally. I try to make it fun, time trialing up to my friends house 40km ( my record is about 70 min) or riding with a group of friends in a pace line to train for provincials. When I am not riding I am sleeping or eating mass quantities of cheerios and nectarines. I have found that it is really important to balance out the athletics with friends and family. Summer in Victoria is by far my favorite time of year. I am going camping in 2 hours and than up to Whistler for a couple night and than to Tofino to surf shortly after. I plan to ride instead of drive to most of these locations haha (Sea to Sky highway is going to be an adventure).

      Some of you are probably wondering how to donate to this awesome cause. I contacted the BC cancer agency and they are setting up and account for me.There will be a link on my blog within a couple days, sorry for the delay. How it would work is you make a donation using a credit card and than the amount would be placed in my donation account within the agency. Super easy and simple. Have a great week and enjoy the sun, I am going for a quick dip in the ocean. Another update will follow soon....mystical.