Milestones and a Full Heart in Colorado Springs
It’s hard to put into words just how deeply supported I felt in Colorado Springs. I’ve posted photos, shared bits and pieces over the past week—but none of it fully captures the warmth, the generosity, the overwhelming encouragement I experienced there.
It started with Hank—my mom’s first-grade buddy—who offered up his home address so I could have gear and packages shipped ahead. Clean jerseys. My puffy jacket (rescued from Kearney, NE). Contact lenses. Salt tablets. Energy Bloks. Even a fresh white Pedal to the Pitch shirt. Small things, maybe, but they meant everything.
Lou City FC team meet up on the Fourth of July.
Then there was the surprise joy of the LouCity FC players—offering big hugs and smiles on the morning of the Fourth. Some have been following along, even messaging me with encouragement, athlete-to-athlete questions about self-talk, curiosity about my mental state and how my body is holding up. It’s humbling. It’s powerful. It reminds me: I’m not doing this alone.
The LouCity & Racing Foundation showed up in full force. Board Chair Steve Poe, team owner Tim Malloy, and our fearless Executive Director George Davis IV all flew in to be there. Emily Beck, a fellow board member, joined too—along with friends from Boston and Louisville, player family members like Jeff Wilson and Ami Dia, and others who wrapped me up in care.
A round of golf at the Broadmoor!
I knew the LouCity FC vs. Colorado Switchbacks match would be a milestone on this trip—but I never could’ve imagined the weekend I ended up having. After a tough push through Kansas City to Kearney, Nebraska, it felt like landing in a spa. Golfing at the Broadmoor, hiking, cliff diving, whitewater rafting… paired with great food, laughter, and the kind of company that fills your cup all the way up.
And now, I’m ready to ride again.
After over a week off the bike, I’m chomping at the bit to begin the next leg of this journey: from Bellingham, WA, all the way down the Pacific Coast to San Diego—roughly 1,500+ miles to go. I’ve cycled parts of this route before—22 years ago, from Lincoln City, Oregon to San Francisco—and I can’t wait to experience it again with new eyes, new legs, and a different kind of purpose.
This new route feels like a gift. I’m moving away from the remote terrain that was wearing me down—the stretches where I had to carry a gallon of water, plan meals days ahead, navigate extreme heat, and stress over where I’d sleep each night. Coastal riding won’t be without its challenges, but the rhythm is different. More populated towns. Cyclist-friendly campgrounds that don’t require reservations. Less survival mode, more being present.
Crossing into Oregon yesterday brought on a wave of emotion. I left this state in 2013 and have loved every chapter that’s come since - helping raise three kids in Morehead, building a life in Kentucky, growing a community in Louisville. And yet, I felt a tug. A wondering. What would it look like to carve out time for Portland again? For the coast? For snowboarding on Mount Hood?
There’s something beautiful happening now: this next stretch of the ride won’t be quite so lonely. Tomorrow I’ll be back on the bike with Kristin, a Canadian friend from Vancouver who I met through a New Zealand music scene back in 1998. She’ll be riding with me from Bellingham to Portland. Ashley and Lane, two more beloved friends, will join for a portion of that time, too.
Lou City players wearing Pedal to the Pitch shirts on way into stadium.
Next weekend, I’ll be in Portland—among friends, sharing meals, catching up, even cheering on the Portland Timbers with my friend Matthew. As a former season ticket holder, I’m so ready to be back in that stadium, yelling and chanting and feeling the energy again.
So, here’s to change.
Here’s to re-routing—by choice or necessity—and leaning in.
Here’s to new legs, old friends, and 1,500+ miles of coastline ahead.
Let’s go.