Life is chaotic, and I love it that way. What’s new?
Rebecca has been busy interviewing and traveling around. She went to DC where she was supposed to run a half marathon with her friends. Her bum knee kept her from running but she got plenty of time to hang out there. Soon she’s heading to NY for a wedding. We travelled together down to Kentucky for Derby and to see my family for a little bit there. My aunt throws the best Derby party every year. There you can sit on the couch, eat awesome southern cuisine, have some bourbon, and bet on the races which are fully televised in Kentucky. We went to Oaks the day before, which is usually tons of fun, but this year the weather wasn’t so great and something was off with the mood. I took the wheelchair and it just wasn’t the same. When everyone else is standing, being in a wheelchair pretty much sucks. I think Rebecca and I ended up down a whopping $30 or so. I even got in free since they didn’t have anyone taking tickets at the wheelchair entrance. My brother Marc, his girl Alyssa, and our friend Nick came up from Dallas to hang out, too. So that was really cool.
Oaks is about breast cancer awareness, thus the pink.
Eating with the parents at Captain’s Quarters down by the Ohio River.
Marc once again failing at doing a wheelie.
The other cool news is that I did my first handcycling competition. Rebecca and I drove up to Grand Rapids, Michigan for the weekend, where my team was already gearing up for Saturday’s race. It’s the biggest 25k run in the country. The Fifth Third River Bank Run. It has very well-organized handcycling and race wheelchair divisions. The weather was awesome and while I didn’t come even close to winning, it was a great time and I am pumped about doing it again.
That’s after the race. I’m sporting one of the Papa John’s jerseys I had made in China for our biker delivery guys if you can’t tell.
1:08 was my time. I’ll take it. The next race is up in Wichita, Kansas at the end of this month. It’s entirely for handcyclists. Something called the Wichita Cycling Omnium. That Friday there is a time trial where they release riders every 30 seconds or so and you go 14.4k as fast as you can. Saturday is a 24 mile race. Sunday is a Criterium, where you go around a 0.7 mile loop as fast as you can for 30 minutes. Then they have some sort of point system so there will be awards and whatnot. Should be pretty sweet and I’m looking forward to it!
Overall I’m just trying to walk as much as possible, bend my knees more to make walking more normal, and try a few other challenges at home. Yesterday I had therapy for the first time in weeks and was tested on strength and functionality. I’m definitely getting faster. And for the first time, I was able to turn a full 360 degrees without using any assistive devices. It’s balance, mostly.
Thank you all for your continued prayers. This is a lifelong battle but I think with your help and God’s, I am winning.
Thanks,
Chip
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