Regularly, I am not one who trains, for anything. So, it was a big BIG personal step, in January when I actually decided that this spring I would strictly adhere to the training manual provided to me by Bike and Build. In fact, at the gym, it only took about a month for people to stop gawking and saying things like, "CARRIE BADANES, what are YOU doing here?!" or "whoa, I didn't think you knew where the Rec was" or "two days in a row, eh? What's the big occasion?"
Fortunately, I have been blessed with the ability to be able to smile and shrug off such comments. (Read: I was typically so out of breath that I honestly had no other choice.)
I have quickly learned that the gym is a funny, funny place. I used to laugh at my mom when she told me about her Sports Mall friends. I mean, how can the gym foster a sincere relationship with any depth whatsoever.* It is true though. For example, I run into the same friend of a friend every time I go to the rec here. I mean, our relationship is typically her saying hello, me (on a bike) grunting, her asking about training, me smiling (similar to above paragraph).
The other terrible thing that happened at the rec is that I started to get bored. I mean, if the televisions and constant visitors can't keep me entertained, what is to be said about the vast plains of nothingness that you see when you hit, oh about PENNSYLVANIA! Recently, I was notified that we are not permitted to listen to anything (except the rush and whirr of traffic) as we pedal. There goes listening to the entire Bible Experience this summer.
I really should be heading back to the rec center, it has been about 4 hours since I was last seen sweating and heaving on the stationary bike.
*Conversation about mom's gym friend went as such: "Wow, mom, you and your new friend speak in Spanish at the gym together?" Now, if you understand my mother's Spanish skills, then you would realize that her idea of a very close friend is one to whom she says hello, and then smiles at, while neither understands what on earth is going on.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Sunday, April 15, 2007
an introduction to the summer
Before I get started, let me introduce my co-idiot. I think it takes a unique (or crazy) type of individual to decide that months of training all in preparation for a grueling 2.5 month bike ride sounds appealing. Therefore, it is incredible to believe that in my little dorm room, there ended up being not one unique individual, but two crazy girls who both decided this was a desirable summer adventure. So, for further reference, Carys (my roommate at William and Mary) has been my training partner, gear consult, personal motivational speaker, and yes, co-idiot.
Some would say that she single-handedly duped me into signing up for Bike and Build, but I maintain (perhaps only for the sake of my self-sufficiency) that she merely planted the seed. Fortunately for me, as I mentioned earlier, she is my co-idiot, meaning that even if she duped me, she accidentally duped herself in the process and all summer long we will be trudging through this adventure together.
For those of you wondering how I ended up like this, here's the story:
Over a year ago, my roommate Carys, casually mentioned that she was planning on biking across the country to advocate on behalf of those who did not have adequate housing. Just as you might have, when I said the same thing, I laughed, then I said -- WOW, good for you, then I thought "man, I am SO happy that I am not doing that." Funny how things change...
Now, before people start to think that I am an irrational decision maker, I'd like everyone to know that I made this decision over a very long three or four month period. In October, I called Abby and asked her if she wanted to do something together this summer. She jumped at the opportunity to spend the summer with me (perhaps traveling abroad), and then being ever more realistic than I am, stated that we couldn't leave because we had a duty to our big brother and his June wedding. Those plans foiled, I mentioned the Bike and Build trip. Abby didn't bite, but I think this was the first time I actually spoke the words aloud that I might--perhaps--be considering death by pedal this summer.
From there, I started the application process. Now, I understand how colleges can have strenuous application procedures, and even study abroad programs, but let me say -- it absolutely blew my mind that I had to write three essays and pay a deposit for a trip where I was providing all 4,000 miles of transportation. It is hard for me to imagine that they really had so many people dying to do this trip that they were turning people down for poorly written essays.
Carys kept suggesting that I apply to at least save myself one of those coveted spots on the trip so I could keep my options open into the spring. Though I am now excited about the B&B trip, Carys' advice led to one of my all-time backfires. What I didn't know was that as soon as you apply for the trip, they accept you (I don't think my essay really mattered at all) and before I knew it my face and biography was right there on the page of riders. I could refer to that day as the beginning of the end. Once my name was up there in lights, I was committed.
This lengthy decision-making process might be one of the reasons that I constantly ask myself "how did you get into this?" and "when did you decide THIS was a good idea?"
I guess we will see.
Some would say that she single-handedly duped me into signing up for Bike and Build, but I maintain (perhaps only for the sake of my self-sufficiency) that she merely planted the seed. Fortunately for me, as I mentioned earlier, she is my co-idiot, meaning that even if she duped me, she accidentally duped herself in the process and all summer long we will be trudging through this adventure together.
For those of you wondering how I ended up like this, here's the story:
Over a year ago, my roommate Carys, casually mentioned that she was planning on biking across the country to advocate on behalf of those who did not have adequate housing. Just as you might have, when I said the same thing, I laughed, then I said -- WOW, good for you, then I thought "man, I am SO happy that I am not doing that." Funny how things change...
Now, before people start to think that I am an irrational decision maker, I'd like everyone to know that I made this decision over a very long three or four month period. In October, I called Abby and asked her if she wanted to do something together this summer. She jumped at the opportunity to spend the summer with me (perhaps traveling abroad), and then being ever more realistic than I am, stated that we couldn't leave because we had a duty to our big brother and his June wedding. Those plans foiled, I mentioned the Bike and Build trip. Abby didn't bite, but I think this was the first time I actually spoke the words aloud that I might--perhaps--be considering death by pedal this summer.
From there, I started the application process. Now, I understand how colleges can have strenuous application procedures, and even study abroad programs, but let me say -- it absolutely blew my mind that I had to write three essays and pay a deposit for a trip where I was providing all 4,000 miles of transportation. It is hard for me to imagine that they really had so many people dying to do this trip that they were turning people down for poorly written essays.
Carys kept suggesting that I apply to at least save myself one of those coveted spots on the trip so I could keep my options open into the spring. Though I am now excited about the B&B trip, Carys' advice led to one of my all-time backfires. What I didn't know was that as soon as you apply for the trip, they accept you (I don't think my essay really mattered at all) and before I knew it my face and biography was right there on the page of riders. I could refer to that day as the beginning of the end. Once my name was up there in lights, I was committed.
This lengthy decision-making process might be one of the reasons that I constantly ask myself "how did you get into this?" and "when did you decide THIS was a good idea?"
I guess we will see.
Monday, April 9, 2007
against my better judgment, I have a blog
For those of you who haven't had the pleasure of visiting the Bike and Build website, here is my B&B biography, which should shed a little bit of light as to my involvement with B&B, and affordable housing, and, well -- cycling.
Hello. My name is Carrie Badanes and I am from Cincinnati, Ohio. In May, I will graduate from the College of William and Mary located seconds away from the heart of Colonial Williamsburg (a living history museum representing the 18th century). Needless to say, this has been an appropriate place to study early American history and I have loved my time here. In my case, the 15th century English proverb rings true, that “all good things must come to an end.” Hopefully, by the time the summer rolls around, I will have a job, or have had an epiphany regarding my future. But for now, as I am not yet sure what the next year has in store for me, this adventure seems to be both an exciting way to celebrate of the completion of about 93 years of formal education, and also perhaps, an extended opportunity to think about what it is I want to do next.
I heard about Bike & Build a few months ago and the idea really worked itself into my head. Truthfully, I found myself thinking about it all the time. I have built with Habitat a few times with my family. However, I have never participated in a build in my own community, so it has always been hard for me to comprehend the extent to which the issue of inadequate housing permeates the country. Bike & Build seems to be a really cool way to stretch a summer of eye-opening experiences and service across an entire continent. Yes, continent, not just country. I recently realized that the trip crosses the entire continent of North America. So, you can be sure that even as I write this, I am imagining how intimidating those mountain ranges are going seem as they loom in the distance.
Furthermore, “limited’ is a generous word to describe my cycling experience, and 4000 is a really big number. Thankfully, I do believe we are all capable of achieving whatever it is that we sincerely set our minds, and hearts to. Additionally, in regards to the mountain ranges, I have found encouragement (and solace) in the rule of gravity that states “what goes up must come down.” That -- and the idea of traversing the continent with a really cool team of people lending a hand, and a voice, to effect change in regards to this pervasive cause.
I have no idea how frequently I will be able to post, especially during the trip, but this is my best idea as far as how to keep everyone posted. Feel free to email me at carriebadanes@gmail.com with any questions or comments (read: encouragement). Thank you again for all of your overwhelming support.
Hello. My name is Carrie Badanes and I am from Cincinnati, Ohio. In May, I will graduate from the College of William and Mary located seconds away from the heart of Colonial Williamsburg (a living history museum representing the 18th century). Needless to say, this has been an appropriate place to study early American history and I have loved my time here. In my case, the 15th century English proverb rings true, that “all good things must come to an end.” Hopefully, by the time the summer rolls around, I will have a job, or have had an epiphany regarding my future. But for now, as I am not yet sure what the next year has in store for me, this adventure seems to be both an exciting way to celebrate of the completion of about 93 years of formal education, and also perhaps, an extended opportunity to think about what it is I want to do next.
I heard about Bike & Build a few months ago and the idea really worked itself into my head. Truthfully, I found myself thinking about it all the time. I have built with Habitat a few times with my family. However, I have never participated in a build in my own community, so it has always been hard for me to comprehend the extent to which the issue of inadequate housing permeates the country. Bike & Build seems to be a really cool way to stretch a summer of eye-opening experiences and service across an entire continent. Yes, continent, not just country. I recently realized that the trip crosses the entire continent of North America. So, you can be sure that even as I write this, I am imagining how intimidating those mountain ranges are going seem as they loom in the distance.
Furthermore, “limited’ is a generous word to describe my cycling experience, and 4000 is a really big number. Thankfully, I do believe we are all capable of achieving whatever it is that we sincerely set our minds, and hearts to. Additionally, in regards to the mountain ranges, I have found encouragement (and solace) in the rule of gravity that states “what goes up must come down.” That -- and the idea of traversing the continent with a really cool team of people lending a hand, and a voice, to effect change in regards to this pervasive cause.
I have no idea how frequently I will be able to post, especially during the trip, but this is my best idea as far as how to keep everyone posted. Feel free to email me at carriebadanes@gmail.com with any questions or comments (read: encouragement). Thank you again for all of your overwhelming support.
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