Poker Tourney a Success

Our first fundraising event for the Challenged Athletes Foundation was a success. The people, food and poker playing were all good! As a major supporter of the foundation XX radio was prominent as well. Brendan O'Kane was the big winner and will be the official photographer for the day at the Chargers/Broncos Monday Night Football Game. Greg Michaelson sales manager at Kia of El Cajon finished second followed by his associate at Kia, David Nearing. Cory Foster of Veys Powersports was fourth, then Brian Millum and Scott Bradford. Thank you for your support and congratulations on winning! We also want to thank everyone else for their generous contributions. Manny Diaz-Conti, Jim Cheek, Jon Millum and Jennifer Congernaum of Notorious for Hair for her spa and salon donations. It was awesome that all of the salon raffle prizes were won by the women. Way to go ladies! Our Sunday group ride the next day was really good. The weather cooperated and we didn't have many flat tires or other problems. We rode 77 miles from Del Mar to Oceanside then on to Bonsall and back. Oh man that chocolate milk at the end of the rides is sooooo good. My fellow radio contestants have fundraising events coming up also. Efrain Arvisu efra071764@hotmail.com will be fundraising at his next big boxing event. The Summer Showdown is this Thursday 7:30PM at the Four Points Sheraton. There will be 5 matches of good quality boxing. More info is available at http://www.sandiegofights.com/. Joy Muehlenbein is throwing the Brew Bash September 25th at the La Jolla Brewhouse, for more info click on Joys name above. Adam Beck follows the Brew Bash with a Poker Bicycle Ride September 26th you can contact Adam at abeck@framemax.com or check out his blog at qmdcbeck@blogspot.com. Remember all monies raised go to help the men and women supported by the Challenged Athletes Foundation. Thank you again everyone for all of your support whether it be financial or moral!

Flats, Flats and more Flats

Our Sunday group ride was from Del Mar to Hwy 67 via Scripps Poway Parkway then north to Ramona and back to Del Mar. We shortened the normally 72 mile ride a bit due to delays from all of the flat tires we had. One of our riders had three flats and I had my first. Changing the tube in the field was no problem. I was glad that Hooter (one of our ride leaders) was ahead of me as he likes to change the tube for you and I needed the experience. The change went smooth especially with Diane Brown's help (our other group 4 ride leader) getting the rear wheel back on. I found a big goats head thorn in the tire. Once we were back on the road all went well and the four of us who were together when I had the flat pedalled hard to catch up to the main group. The SAG stops (Support and Gear) were especially well done. Don't get me wrong they are always great but last Sunday they were outstanding! We had fresh fruit all cut up on skewers and bananas cut in half so they were easier to peel in addition to the peanut butter filled pretzels, raisins, peanuts, power bars, goos etc. Tina ( I call her Saint Tina) and her friends who help with the SAG stops are awesome! They are unpaid volunteers who generously donate their valuable time. I so appreciate all that these wonderful ladies do for us. In fact in the photo you see me eating at one of our stops. It is good to refuel and rest a bit before pedaling on. Sunday we had 2 SAG stops and of course multiple stops for flat repairs. I think the training is helping as I was sprinting at the end of the ride and felt like I could have gone another 20 miles. I am looking forward to the Challenged Athlete Foundation event at B&L Bike and Sports in Solana Beach Wednesday evening. Of course my big fundraising event is this Saturday night 7PM at my house. The Poker Tournament should be a ton of fun and the prizes are over the top. There are 20 or so spots still available so if you or anyone you know likes poker or is a Charger fan call me (619-322-8894)or e-mail me rjmillum@sbcglobal.net to register. Having the chance to be on the field as an official Chargers photographer during the Charger/Bronco Monday Night game is a terrific opportunity. This is also the Chargers Legacy home game so the boys will be in their throwback uniforms and many of the former Charger greats will be there for you to photograph! Two lucky tournament players will end up with these prizes and there is so much more! For example an Antonio Gates autographed football, Charger signed apparel by Shawn Merriman and other players too, a Ken Caminiti autographed baseball, massage gift certificates etc. etc. Thanks again to all of you who are supporting me in my quest conquer the challenge of riding the 620 miles from San Francisco to San Diego in October. It is a wonderful cause and I appreciate all of your support!

Final 10

Thursday morning the 10 radio contestant finalists met at 6am at the XX radio station for on air interviews. We had a good time together and enjoyed watching the Scott and BR show that morning. Scott is definitely in charge and Billy Ray is really laid back. All of the contestants are worthy of winning and I am sure this will be a tough decision. Of course I want to and expect to win but the other 9 are deserving too. Its too bad we all can't win. I hope whoever is eliminated is able to fundraise and goes on the October ride anyway. Not sure why Billy Ray is so serious in the photo maybe I forgot to use deoderant since it was such an early morning? Good luck to the other contestants. Next post will be after the 72 mile ride from Del Mar to Hwy 67 and Scripps Poway Pkwy road, then on to Ramona and back to Del Mar this Sunday. Oh Yeah don't forget my big poker tournament this Saturday e-mail me at rjmillum@sbcglobal.net for more info. If you are a Charger fan you have to be there the prizies are amazing!

Climb Climb and more Climbs

This weekend offered a strong challenge. On Saturday I rode the optional climbing clinic with Mari and Lisa. It was a 52 mile route up and down the hills around the Lake Cuyamaca area. We gained 4,000 feet in elevation over the route. It took a little under four hours to finish. Sundays ride was tougher and longer. We had the longest continuous climb I have faced at the beginning of a ride. After four miles or so we climbed for 13 miles continuously! Whew what a climb. Rob Tennent and I rode and whined together. Actually we finished pretty strong completing the 57 miles of ups and downs in about 4 hours and 40 minutes. I am happy that I did not cramp up or get too sore after back to back tough rides. David Lee who is in the photo in the top of this blog rode with us too. David is amazing and an inspiration to me. Man he can crank those hand pedals and really flies on the downhills

I also made some new friends, Angie and Daisy. Angie is Rob's wife and Daisy is their little dog. Daisy is the cutest pup I think I have ever seen. Everyone loved her and we all decided we want our own Daisy so if anyone knows where to find a dog like this please let me know. The best part though was the awesome lunch and dinner that my wonderful wife Jayne cooked . I was so hungry all day and she had plenty of nutritious food for us.

I am hosting a poker tournament August 22nd to raise money for the Qualcomm Million Dollar Challenge ride. The big winner will have the chance to be an official NFL photographer for a day with all day full field access to the Chargers/Broncos Monday Night Football game! This is a chance of a lifetime opportunity. There will be prizes for all tourney finalists plus food, raffles and more. If you are interested or know anyone who is please e-mail me at rjmillum@sbcglobal.net or call at 619-322-8894.

Serious Workout

Yesterday I went for it. I workout with Brad Gamsom at Progressive Fitness in Ocean Beach twice a week. Brad is awesome by the way. He uses gravity training machines where your body weight is the resistance and takes almost every muscle group to exhaustion in an hour. I decided I would ride to the workout and back yesterday. It is 25 miles each way and I had quite a headwind going east to west. After the workout I stoked the fire with a frozen yogurt with fruit and two fresh bottles of Poweraide for the ride home. I underestimated how tired I would be on the ride home. I averaged 14.9mph against the wind going but only 13.4mph with a tailwind on the way back. I had to stop twice for a breather on the way home as well. I was whipped by the time I got home. I am taking today off but looking forward to the climbing clinic sponsored by the CAF Saturday followed by our Sunday 52.5 mile group ride from Descanso to Julian and back. Even though the training is hard I really enjoy the challenge. Now if I can just win the XX radio contest......

Fitness Quest 10 Workout

This Sunday instead of a group ride we met at Fitness Quest 10 in Scripps Ranch for some weight training relevant to those who cycle. Pat Jack carefully took us through the benefits of weight training and dispelled some myths about cyclists and why they should consider weight training in addition to aerobic only workouts. Pat really knows his stuff and kept us involved.
After the lecture/instructions we went outside for some nontraditional style workouts. We broke into 5 groups and took turn switching between running the ladders, pushing the weight sled, pounding a giant truck tire with a sledgehammer, throwing a medicine ball back and forth with your partner and swinging a huge length of rope that was looped through a heavy kettle bell. We all learned that we can get a great aerobic and weight training workout at the same time with movements and working muscle groups that will benefit our cycling form and fitness!
Back inside Pat showed us about a dozen stretches in standing, sitting and lying positions. This was awesome as I did not know many of these stretches and I am a slacker when it comes to stretching out. I have to admit I felt better and looser afterwards and will use many of the items I picked up from this clinic. On the funny side it was hilarious to watch most of us do the lizard walk. We were supposed to keep our butts down but you could really tell who spends time in the gym or who stretch versus those who don’t. There were lots of bums flying high as we crawled our way down the alley behind the gym. Hope no one took pictures!