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Annette Ward

First Responder Ride for Resilience

Help me reach my goal of $4,000

My activity tracking

322
mi

My target 500 mi

Join us in standing strong for our first responders by donating today.

On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, I've committed to raising funds as we ride 343 miles to honor the fallen, support the survivors, and stand with the first responders who still fight battles most of us never see, including cancer, trauma, and the toll of years spent serving others.

Please help me support this cause by making a donation through my page and don't forget to send this page to any friends you think might be interested in donating. I can't do this without you!

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$2,409

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$4,000

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My updates

First Ride in the Rain

Saturday 20th Jun
I started my 23-mile ride this morning around 8:30 because the forecast I saw before bed last night showed clear conditions until 11:00, with winds around 8 mph and gusts around 12 mph. Unfortunately, that wasn't true. About 15 minutes into my ride, it started raining. Now, I knew that was a high probability when I looked at the sky and saw a dark cloud just sort of hovering. I was hoping it would just pass by without dropping any rain, but that didn't happen. When I felt the first sprinkle, I considered turning around since my plan was to complete 23 miles, but I decided to just tough it out. No, I haven't purchased rain gear yet. I guess that's next on my list. LOL  Honestly, it wasn't too bad of a ride. It quit raining about 8 miles into my ride, so I dried out. Then it started raining again when I had about 10 miles left of my ride. It only rained long enough to get me and the roads wet again. I not only wanted to beat the rain, but I also saw that the wind, including gusts, was supposed to pick up in the afternoon and continue for the rest of the day until around 8:00 P.M. I'm not sure how many mph the wind was and the gust, but I do know prior to me riding into the wind forever :(, I was averaging 12.5-12.9 mph. My first two laps (laps are in 5-minute intervals, until the last lap), 23 and 24 minutes, but my third lap took me 31 minutes to complete. I had a moving time of 2 hours and 2 minutes, beating the estimated time by 1 minute. :) I know one minute might not sound like a lot, but for me, anytime shaved off is a win. Today's ride brings my total training miles to 322, and after subtracting the 8 miles from the walks, my total ride miles are 314. I can hardly believe I've ridden 314 miles in 2-months. 

32.7 Miles

Friday 19th Jun
Today I rode from Mansfield to Butler and back. It marks my longest ride to date. I now have 298.7 training miles. Eight of those miles are from the walks I took during my lunch break when I first started training. However, I had to stop walking because my knees and ankles hurt too badly. So, when the 8 miles are subtracted, that puts me at 290.7 miles of biking. I'm hoping to get a 23-mile ride in tomorrow, which will put me over 300 miles of riding time. As always, thank you for sharing my journey with me!! 

Wins

Sunday 14th Jun
I had a few wins today while trying out a new 8-mile route. I finally averaged 12.2 MPH (win #1). I checked the wind direction before my ride, so I decided to take advantage of it at the start. The wind was blowing WSW at 12 MPH. I was traveling E, N, E, N, W, S, W, so I knew the last leg of my ride, the wind would slow me down. I decided to keep my MPH as high as I could in the beginning to offset the decline I knew I would face in the end. I was so happy when that worked out!! 

My other win, I was able to take a drink of water while riding. I was excited that I was able to complete that without wrecking and not affecting my MPH too much. While we're riding during the event, they have planned water stops, about every 10 miles, and that is a long time to ride without drinking any water. Averaging 13.5 MPH, it will take a little over 22 minutes to travel 5 miles, so we're talking 44 minutes without water, if I can only drink while I'm stopped. And that's if I can maintain 13.5 MPH for 10 miles. My 3rd win, I made it past my halfway mark of training miles. 

As always, thank you for sharing my journey with me!!

249 Miles

Thursday 11th Jun
Wow!! I wish I had calculated my projected miles today, I would have ridden 1 more mile, so I would've been at the halfway point of my training mile goals. I will be over my goal tomorrow :) RWGPS estimated the ride time based on past rides at 1:11:31 (moving time), and my moving time was 1:06:15. I was so excited to see that!! My average speed was 11.9 MPH. I was hoping for 12.0 MPH minimum, but I just couldn't pull it off :(  I'll get there, I'm getting stronger with every ride. My personal coach through Google Health (used to be Fitbit) stated that I had an "Efficiency Win" since my average speed was faster than it has been; my cardio load was nearly the same as my slower ride on Tuesday, which means my heart is getting used to this speed. I absolutely love the knowledge I'm gaining from RWGPS, Garmin, and Google Health. 

I've always paid for a premium subscription through Fitbit, but I never took advantage of the perks because I never found it convenient. Since Google bought out Fitbit, they have recently redesigned the Fitbit app to Google Health, and now I get notifications every day. I get them in the morning and after riding. It's also interactive; after I'm given a rundown and advice, I'm asked how I'm feeling. I'll answer, and then I'm given other things to take into consideration. It's like having my own personal coach!! I love it!!  As always, thank you for sharing my journey with me!!  

Reverse 13 Mile Loop

Wednesday 10th Jun
Yesterday (Tuesday), I decided to reverse the direction of my 13-mile loop to see if it would be the same type of ride, or easier, or more strenuous. When I got home, I wasn't entirely sure if it was more strenuous. I knew there were a couple of sections I wasn't too fond of, but I have the same feeling going the other way due to a couple of hills I'm challenged by early on. However, after reviewing the data from my Garmin, riding the loop in reverse is more strenuous because one particular section of the hill I had to climb was a stretched out 6% grade. I knew my legs felt more tired during the reverse loop than they had on the original route, but I thought it was because they were still trying to recover from the 23-mile ride I'd taken a few days earlier. I guess that wasn't the case at all; it just took a little more power than the original route. I actually thought the reverse would be a little easier. 

Family Ride

Monday 8th Jun
My daughter, her boyfriend, and I took a short, relaxing 6-mile ride yesterday. We took our time and enjoyed the ride. Well, I thought it was a relaxing ride, but I'm guessing my daughter didn't. This was a nice reminder of where I was a couple of months ago. I could feel the struggle she was feeling because I remember how exhausting that same ride was for me on my first couple of times riding it. I told her it would get easier for her the more she rides. She hasn't been on a bike for probably 20 years, maybe longer. I enjoyed riding with them. 

23.3 Mile Ride

Saturday 6th Jun
I know it's been a while since I've given an update. I've ridden several times since my lost blog. Last Sunday, my daughter and I headed out for a ride. This was our first ride together in many years, and we got about 3/4 of a mile down the road when my back tire went flat, so I had to ride her bike back home and get my car. No, I don't know how to change a flat tire yet, but I did watch the guy at the bike shop change it out, and I plan to go in on a Saturday very soon to learn how to change a flat on my bike. So today's ride put me at having 208 miles on my bike!! Sometimes I have a hard time believing I've ridden that many miles so far. I know I'll have 135 more miles to ride over the course of 5 days, in about 92 more days, but I believe I've made massive improvements in the last couple of months. I'm pretty proud of myself. I believe the roads I've been riding on are helping me build stamina and preparing me for the course I'll be riding on. Today's ride was about 5 miles shorter than my first longest ride, but it was intense. I had a lot of hills to contend with, as well as riding into 13-mph winds and 25-30-mph gusts, for 8.1 miles. This was the first day of riding that my legs felt like jelly, and I had 3.5 miles left to finish my ride. At one point, I thought, "Oh my gosh, I think I'm going to have to call Donna to come and get me." Then I said, " Nope, you have way more miles than this to do in one day, you need to push through it." I had to take a couple of extra breaks; I never had to do before, but it was better to take them than to give up!!

The Connector: Part of my 28.69 Mile Ride

Wednesday 27th May

28.69 Miles

Monday 25th May
I rode my longest ride today. A friend of mine and I met down at North Lake Park and rode to Bellville and back. But not before we went to the ice cream stand, Clear Fork Dairy Belle, and got a Chocolate Ice Cream Cone. It took us two hours and 50 minutes. Oh my friend wanted to show me the connector in Mansfield from the trail to Trimble Rd. Wow, we went uphill for about 1 mile. At one point, I didn't think I was going to make it to the top without stopping and taking a break. My friend heard me breathing pretty hard and reminded me to breathe through my nose and out my mouth. It was fun coming down; our top speed was 23.5 MPH, and I had to hit my brakes a lot. Sometimes it was because we came upon other people and couldn't pass; other times, it was because I felt like I was going too fast. LOL 
I didn't take any pictures today, but my friend had a GoPro and took at least one video of me riding back from our ride. If he's able to send it to me, I'll upload it and share it with you all. Thank you for sharing my journey with me. Please donate if you can. I appreciate you all!!

5 Extra Miles

Sunday 17th May
I was able to get 13 miles in today. I'm super excited about this!! I know I have many more miles to go in one day, but I don't think this is too bad, given I have 14 rides under my belt and 1 month of training. Especially after not being on a bicycle for many years. Please excuse my non-smiling selfie. I'll try to smile after the next 13-mile ride. LOL

Learning More and More

Saturday 16th May
My ride was delayed this morning because it started raining when I had planned to ride, contrary to last night's weather forecast. So, I decided to use this time wisely and watch some videos about the Garmin 840 Edge I purchased. After the videos, I uploaded a couple of routes I mapped out on RWGPS to the Garmin, then mounted the Garmin 840 and the headlight on my bike. By the time I got through all that, I wasn't sure how long I would get to ride because my Garmin showed the rain was supposed to start 15 minutes into my ride; 4 hours later, and it still hasn't rained. I'm glad I decided to take my chances and didn't let the forecast deter me :) Thanks for sharing my journey with me!!

Decent Ride

Sunday 10th May
My ride today was pretty decent. The wind was blowing SE at about 6 MPH. There were wind gusts, but not too bad. Today's ride was the easiest so far. I was able to get in a couple extra miles today, which was great!! I was able to get a picture of myself while on my bike, courtesy of my daughter.  

Wind

Saturday 9th May
This wind is absolutely horrible. I made it to where I usually turn around, and decided to turn left and ride a little further today. Well, I was headed directly into the wind (16 MPH), and decided to turn around. Thank goodness I did, because with SW winds, the wind was against me the whole way back. I don't have a picture to post today. Sorry!!

40 miles

Tuesday 5th May
This bike has 40 miles of riding, and a lot more to go. My ride last Sunday was another rough ride. Actually, riding to my halfway point wasn't too bad because I was heading North and the wind was blowing SW at 17 MPH. Unfortunately, my ride back was pretty intense since I, of course, was heading South. There were times that I was peddling my little heart out, but only moving 5-6 MPH. I was surprised to see my average speed was a little over 10 MPH, which is what I've been averaging anyway. Of course, as you all know, the wind has been pretty bad this Spring, so most of my rides have been on windy days. I was lucky I wasn't fighting the wind in both directions like my ride not long ago. I will be ecstatic the day I get to ride, and there is no wind blowing. LOL I'm anticipating that day to find out how much easier the ride will be. Thanks for sharing my journey with me. I've really been inspired by this ride!! Yes, the training has been tough, but I actually look forward to the days I'm able to ride. Please donate if you can, and share this with everyone you know. I still have a long way to go to reach my goal. Just a quick reminder: when you donate, the amount is a one-time donation, not per mile. Thank you!!

Another Ride in the Books

Saturday 2nd May
The weather in my area has been so crazy lately. Not only is it a little chilly, but the rain is also hard to predict. Even meteorologists are having trouble keeping up. I'll look at the hourly forecast to map out my ride time, and the next thing I know, they are calling for rain during the time I've chosen to ride, even though 2 hours earlier it wasn't supposed to rain. So, I look at the radar, and it shows no green anywhere near where I'll be riding. I threw up my hands, put on layers, and took my chances. I'm glad I did because I was able to get another ride in. There was only one time that it started to sprinkle, but it stopped about as soon as it started. Feeling grateful today!! Please consider donating if you are able to. Every little bit helps!! Thanks for sharing my journey with me!!

Finally!!

Saturday 25th Apr
I finally got to squeeze a ride in this morning. The rain in Ohio is really putting a damper on my training. Since I'm currently participating in the Livestrong program at the Mansfield Y (2 days per week) and I work late on Mondays, that leaves me with Wed, Fri, and the weekend for bike rides. Unfortunately, this week has not been in my favor by the time I get home. I know there will be better days ahead!! Oh, and I'm learning how to take selfies. I learned the other day that I can ask Google to take a selfie, which gives me time to get situated and means I don't have to snap the picture. Thanks for sharing this journey with me!!

Rained Out

Saturday 25th Apr
I tried to beat the rain yesterday (4/24/26), but I didn't. Thank goodness I turned around when it started sprinkling because by the time I got home, it was raining pretty good. I don't have rain gear yet. 

Ride

Sunday 19th Apr
Today was a rough ride, but a great experience. I was riding in 18 mph winds from the West. My ride began heading East for 0.50 mile, then I rode North for 2.5 miles, South for 2.5 miles, and finished riding West for 0.50 mile. I was grateful when I came upon a row of trees that blocked the wind. I don't have any pictures to upload because I'm not good at taking selfies. 

Grateful For The Support Of My Donors

$107.82

Dolores Restelli

You are doing great!!! Keep up your good spirits😃❤️

$44.47

Sherry And Joe Sloan

$200

Anonymous Anonymous

$28.43

Kate May

$50

Chuck And Charlotte Page

$22.72

Ashley Ackerman

You’re amazing Annette ❤️

$28.43

Tammy Knudson

Your an inspiration to others.

$55.66

Camille

Wish it were more lady. Good luck.

$28.43

Anita Hickinbotham

I am so proud of you for doing this, Annette! Cheering you on!!!

$28.43

Joe Hays

Amazing goals. Keep it up. And best wishes for a succesful ride.

$28.43

Amanda Wolfe

Proud of your hard work and determination for a good cause.

$107.82

Cody P.

you are amazing!

$54.86

Wyatt Brecheisen

Good luck on your journey Annette! If you want someone to ride with you while training, you know where to find me!

$106.82

Penny Smith

God's got you!!!

$200

Samantha And Danny Dipuccio

$257.75

Sharon Ward

You go girl!

$54.86

Amy Parker

Proud of you and excited to watch your journey!

$20

Anonymous

Keep it up! Best of luck to you!

$106.82

Anonymous

You're an amazing person Annette ❤️ I look forward to hearing about your ride!!!

$54.86

Charlie And Lisa Peak

$106.82

Anonymous

Hi Annette , Very honored to be part of this journey! So cool!

$27.88

Lorie Mclaughlin

I'm so proud of you! You inspire me to be a better person ❤️😊

$106.82

Belinda And Kevin Williams

Proud of you! Love you!

$54.86

Brooke Taylor

You're awesome!! Love you!!

$106.82

Jim And Shanna Gress

Keep it up Annette you are doing great!

$27.88

Tom And Melinda Roepke

adventure is the best way to leverage life!

$33.15

Anonymous

$6.12

Rebecca Pore

You go girl!!!

$38.55

Phil & Elaine Cheesebrough

Good luck and stay strong! Love, Phil & Elaine & Gwennie & Miss Fuzzy Kitty.

$27.28

Catherine Wall Emerson

This is amazing! You’re amazing! Wishing you much growth and enjoyment during your training and then a smooth ride!

$27.88

Mary Bolin

💪❤️

$54.86

Anonymous

$54.86

Sonny

Love you cuz'. Let's have coffee. 🙂

$11.46

Tracie Phillips

Good luck!!

$16.86

Karen Quinn

Good Luck!!

$120

Annette Ward

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