A fantastic time in the mountains today! The weather was glorious and there was a lot of energy on the course as 2,000 riders took to the streets. I’m tired tonight but will be back on the road tomorrow after a good night’s sleep. Here’s a quick summary of the day:

1. At the start line at 9am

2. mile 10: thighs and calves feel like rocks, heavy. Not a good start.

3. mile 12: rest stop. start back up with a big descent, 10 miles down with a 1,000 foot drop.

4. mile 30: notice a dude on a Harley as he drives by me. A big guy with a white handlebar moustache. That was the guy from Orange County Choppers. His sons were riding with him as well.

5. mile 36: lunch then start the long climb up Vail Pass. About 18 miles of climbing with a 3,000 foot ascent. Pace myself slow to be sure I make it up this beast.

6. mile 53: reach the top of Vail Pass

7. mile 58: descend into Copper and across the line.

We had a great day riding. It was cool to have the team wearing their “I ride for Kai” signs, too. Looking forward to more riding tomorrow.

Wow! Thanks to everyone who donatd to this year’s Courage Classic bike ride on behalf of the Children’s Hospital in Denver. Our total: $2,220… well above my personal goal. This year’s bike ride is special for Rebecca and I, having spent many hours at Children’s Hospital with Kai.

I promised I would get a tattoo if we hit this year’s goal and you did it! So I did it.  My new tattoo, positioned on my right arm shows a Japanese seascape, symbolic of Kai’s name which means “ocean” in Japanese. This is my way of remembering and honoring this little boy who has forever changed me.

We’re trained, packed and ready to start the ride on Saturday. I will provide updates daily on the blog so stay tuned!

-Russ

Your generosity is inspiring! Only $60 left before we hit the $2,000 mark and I put the mark on my right arm. Visit my rider page here to donate: http://www.couragetours.com/2009/makerussride

-Russ

Here we go. My fund raising goal for The Courage Classic this year is $2,000. So far you’ve given $1,290! We’re getting close. As an added incentive this year, if you help me hit the mark of $2,000, I will get the wave graphic below inked on my right arm. That’s right… things just got serious.

I’ve been contemplating this tattoo for a couple of months. As you may know, Kai’s name means “ocean” in Hawaii and Japan. My tattoo will be a tribute to him and a representation of who he is. I’m really excited about it (but a bit timid about the needle).

So jump over to my rider’s page and contribute. $20, $50, $100… any amount is good! Thanks and looking forward to riding for Kai next week.

-Russ

PS: Any recommendations for tattoo artists in Colorado Springs?

Now that post title should get some attention! I was recently listening to Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) address questions by Chris Matthews regarding Sotomayor’s nomination for the Supreme Court. Here’s the dialogue:

Matthews: “Let me ask you about the nominee for the Supreme Court, Sotomayor. She’s been a supporter of the Puerto Rican Defense Fund which says it’s unconstitutional to deny a woman a tax-payer supporter abortion as part of a healthcare plan like Medicaid (read more about the Hyde Amendment here). Do you think that might be a problem for her?”

Hatch: “Well she’s on the board of directors, it’s not just a volunteer job she’s been on there for years. As a matter of fact she signed a document, that I have in my files, against the use of the death penalty and a whole bunch of other very liberal left-wing approaches…”

Did you catch that? Hatch uses Sotomayor’s position against the death penalty as further proof that she’s liberal enough to have a pro stance toward government-supported abortion. Now, forget about the names for a moment… forget about the political parties represented or the “liberal” and “conservative” labels. We have come to a point here in the USA where one person can simultaneously support public funding for abortion but oppose public funding for punishment by death (Sotomayor’s position allegedly). Another person can simultaneously oppose public funding for abortion but support public funding for punishment by death (Hatch’s position). Are you seeing the irony here? Am I going crazy or does it seem like our two primary positions: Pro Choice and Pro Life are REALLY missing the point.

I believe the time has come for us to recognize that the old arguments… the positioning.. the battlelines do not do justice to the true value of a life lived and are fundamentally ineffective. Some people have proposed a third alternative, the “consistent ethic of life.” I don’t think that’s catchy enough. We need something more like “You Always Matter” (YAM) or “I Won’t Kill You No Matter What Your Age”  (IWKYNMWYA). Not enough vowels. I don’t really know the answer… but let’s start praying for a way, a strategy, a plan to share our belief that life is good no matter how screwed up things may appear. That even those babies that seem messed up on a sonogram or after a round of genetic testing, are still a blessing to behold. And that same baby’s life is worth living no matter how defiled he may become when he’s 24 years old. Because we follow a God who has the uncanny ability to redeem us when we least expect it.

-Russ

You can see the full interview between Matthews and Hatch here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/#31896028

Every summer I get to ride with a great group of friends and colleagues from Compassion International. These are guys who dedicate themselves to helping children overcome the circumstances and causes of poverty. They have traveled the world on this mission and have inspired me to do my work with greater passion and dedication. It’s an honor to spend three days a year riding the mountains of Colorado with them. You can learn more about Team Compassion on our team page here.

This year our team will be wearing the sign below to celebrate Kai and the Children’s Hospital as we join 2,500 riders  in the 2009 Courage Classic.

-Russ

Russ has been a participant in the Annual Courage Classic for the past two years. The Courage Classic is a 3-day 160-mile bike ride through the Rocky Mountains that benefits The Children’s Hospital in Denver.  Every year we go to the mountains with a group of friends from Compassion International.  Some ride and some drop off, pick up and cheer at the finish line.  Every year Russ makes a valiant effort to raise money to benefit the hospital (and he does a pretty good job at it). However, this year Russ will be more than just a participant raising money for a good cause. This year Russ will ride as one who has darkened the doors of that hospital personally. This year he will ride as someone who knows what it’s like to bring your child to a place where, in an ideal world, children shouldn’t have to go.  He has been there as a father.  He has made that early drive to Denver to assure we’re not late for coveted appointments.  He has sat nervously in the waiting room waiting to hear his son’s name called.  He has watched as fathers have wheeled their child down the hall in specialized wheelchairs or cradled their newborns in their arms along with all of the accompanying medical equipment.  He has seen the look of exhaustion and tireless effort in other fathers’ eyes.  He has exchanged knowing glances with a passerby in the Metabolics hallway . . . glances that say a thousand words in one second . . . glances that say “we shouldn’t be here.”  My child shouldn’t be here.  And he has sat in an exam room while some of the most knowledgeable and compassionate doctors we have ever encountered gently examined our son.  He has sat in a room while a Genetics Counselor named Cathlin Rice who is kind and generous and everything any counselor should be explained Lowe Syndrome to two scared and overwhelmed parents.  This year Russ rides as more than a participant.  This year he rides to honor Kai whom we were blessed to have as our son for two months.  But he also rides to honor the people who made those dreadful trips to Denver just a little easier.  He rides to honor the courteous young men who valet park your car for free because when your kid is sick, parking your car is something you shouldn’t have to bother with.  He rides to honor the phlebotomists who were masters at drawing blood from Kai’s tiny veins.  And he rides to honor all of the Cathlin Rice’s of the Denver Children’s Hospital.  These are the people that brought glimpses of grace into some very dark days for us.  And to these people, we will be forever grateful.

- Rebecca

Currently there are approximately 20,000 nuclear weapons worldwide. 95% of those weapons are controlled by the USA and Russia. So when the presidents of these two countries come together to talk nuclear reduction strategies we should take note, especially as Christians who pray the Lord’s Prayer.

Today, President Obama and President Medvedev met in Moscow and signed an agreement that sets legally binding targets for decreasing strategic warheads. This builds on the treaty signed between Bush and Russia in 2002 known as the Strategic Offensive Reduction Treaty (SORT). While today’s agreement is only seen as an incremental improvement (the “legally binding” part is a new level of accountability, read more at CFR here) it is something for us to celebrate.

I was recently introduced to a Christian project to raise awareness and impact change toward a nuclear-free world. Can you imagine it? I must admit that it’s hard for me to get my mind around a world that says “no” to the devastating power of nuclear war. I’ve grown up thinking nuclear weapons were “normal.” But that assumption is a mistake. Why is it a mistake? Because we pray, “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.” And the impact of just one of these 20,000 weapons being used would be SO devastating (in primary and secondary effects) that it would cause generations of harm.

Is nuclear proliferation a matter of faith? Yes. To learn more visit the Two Futures Project here.

-Russ

Just returned from a great week in Kauai. We were looking for the right place to recuperate and I think we found the perfect location. At the start of the week I “accidentally” deleted the connection between my mobile phone and my work email so I was completely clueless about work all week. I highly recommend this accident to all of you who need to get “off the grid.”

We knew Kai’s name was a common word in Japan and Hawaii… but I had NO IDEA how commonly “kai” (meaning “ocean” or “sea”) is used throughout the islands. His name was everywhere! I was riding my bike one morning and saw “kai” on so many signs (see Java Kai below). Honestly, I was thinking to myself, “Dammit, I came here to forget… not to be constantly reminded.” Then I had a different thought. We weren’t really there to forget (we certainly will never forget Kai). We were there to rest. We were there to start taking early steps toward living with the memory of Kai and his presence as he grows up away from us. To remember that joy is still all around us. All the sudden the “kai” signs became good. God took my negative thought and twisted it back to something good. He reminded me that Kai is exactly where he needs to be and we are where we should be.

-Russ

Bike ride along the eastern coast

One of our many good reminders. And good coffee, too.

We took a Kayak to this waterfall

On the beach

Breakfast at our room. Great view. Great food.

Hike above north coast

me and my coach

The summer is here and that means it’s time to train for the Courage Classic  3-day, 150-mile bike tour. The Courage Classic is an annual cycling event to raise support for the Children’s Hospital of Denver. If you’ve been tracking the blog lately and know about Kai… you know that this year’s ride holds special meaning for me. It’s an opportunity for me to give back in a little way to all of those great people in metabolics, neurology and genetics who helped us determine a diagnosis for Kai. That diagnosis took about 4 weeks of regular visits to the Children’s Hospital. The people at Children’s are exceptional at what they do. I know firsthand.

This year, every pedal stroke will be for my little man, Kai. So what can you do to help? I have a few ideas:

1. Send me a comment to motivate me to train! I’m out of shape and need every bit of help I can get. Make it creative. A song would be nice.

2. Donate! I’ve set an audacious goal of $2,000 this year but I think we can do it! Visit my page here to make a tax-deductible donation. Any amount is good.

-Russ

Rebecca and Kai at The Children's Hospital (April 2009)