Done.
468 miles. 19k feet of climb (that’s over 3.5 miles of elevation). 7 days.
I’m sure we’re all a little tired of hearing about my bike adventures by now, but I did it. I finished what I set out to do, and I’m proud of that.
Halfway through the week, I remember thinking it was as difficult as I expected but doable, but the last half was a fight. The big mistake I made was thinking Tuesday was gonna be the hardest day because it had the most climb—joke’s on me. I couldn’t have trained for the back-to-back long days which caught up with me.
This was the hardest physical challenge I’ve done. It gave me a lot of confidence I can train for something and do it. I’m trying to figure out how to apply that to goals that have a less clear finish line.
I met the most incredible people out there. People who push themselves, but have a lot of fun doing it. I’ve been asked a lot if I would do it again. I would do the event again, but never that route. And I learned a lot about how to camp better.
I really enjoyed the hometown pride these tiny towns had. It was wholesome and unfamiliar.
My biggest takeaway was what a nice (and very rare) feeling to know all week that was exactly where I was supposed to be.
I had a clear sense obstacles would work out - lost wallet, lost helmet, etc… My brain has a hard enough time keeping track of belongings in normal times, but when I was that tired it was getting sloppy. But for every problem that arose, I had peace it would resolve and be okay and it did.
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Looking for my next role
Now that my ride is done, getting a full-time is my next challenge. My sabbatical has been exactly what I needed. I finally have the energy to contribute to a company again.
What I’m looking for:
I’m looking for a creative leadership role in preferably a tech space with a product design focus, but open to the right opportunity. I enjoy solving meaningful problems with great people. In-office (Nashville), hybrid, and remote jobs are cool.
How you can help:
Thoughts and prayers are appreciated I find the right fit at the right time
Keep an ear out if you hear of anything
Site:
Art I Like
The artist Grant Wood is from Iowa. He painted one of the most famous 20th century paintings - American Gothic in 1930 using his sister and dentist as the models. I’ve always loved his landscapes as well. There’s something very realistic yet whimsical in his point of view.
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As I was leaving RAGBRAI, I did a quick search to see if there was a museum for his work. Even better - his studio/home was on my route. It was moving to be in that space. In some ways, it was like his work - humble, yet playful. A reminder that iconic work can be made in a small town by a simple life.
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“Have fun at all costs.” - Julia Louis-Dreyfus
So proud of you!! You killed it!