Texas 4000: Thoughts from 10 years later

Ten years ago today, forty of us started pedaling toward Alaska.  Much has changed in the past 10 years, but barely a day goes by that I don't reflect on the summer of 2004 in one way or another.  As an Aggie who somehow "infiltrated" a Texas student organization, I always suspected there was a bit of initial resentment that I was an outsider from a hated rival that had made it into the group.  Though, if that was the case, it was never outwardly apparent to me.  No one ever made a comment, it was just purely a feeling I always had.  If there truly was any resentment, it definitely melted away with the miles and over the years.  Those who I keep in contact with and I see treat me as one of their own.

To me, being a part of a "rival's" organization was somewhat of a representation of the in-discrimination that cancer has.  Cancer doesn't care if you are a longhorn or an aggie.  Cancer doesn't care if you are black, white, orange, muslim, jewish, or christian.  We were all there for the same reason, regardless of our backgrounds.  I feel incredibly lucky to have been a part of such a wonderful organization.

Texas 4000 was obviously an personal experience.  I got to see and do things that many people will never be afforded.  Yet the trip was much more than that.  I allowed me to grow as a person and reflect on life in a completely new way.  Hopefully, we affected many people along the way in a similar fashion.

The organization has changed and grown leaps and bounds over the past ten years.  That was apparent just from joining the Atlas Ride yesterday.  The growth and popularity of the organization is a good thing for both those involved and the charity, but its hard for me to imagine setting out on that journey with so much set in stone prior to a single pedal stroke.  For me, part of the journey was the unknown.

Regardless of what you think of Lance Armstrong, one thing he said has always stuck with me: Its not about the bike.  He's right its not; it's about all the things that surround the bike ride.