WE DID IT!

I'm happy to announce that the donations goal was not only met, but surpassed!! Thanks in part to not only a few after event donations, but some extremely generous donations from the Graettinger Legion and Ringsted Legion.

The original donation goal was $4,180, representing the 410 miles for the 2014 RAGBRAI route. The grand total raised is $4,325. All donations are going to the non-profit Boot Campaign.

Thank you to everyone that donated during Operation Pedal 4 Vets!

The Boots Are Everywhere!

Part of the Boot Campaign's mission, as well as the object of the Juice Charity Challenge I'm participating in, is awareness. Prior to RAGBRAI, Des Moines Juice did an interview and article of my Op. It was amazing to meet people on the ride that had read the article and told me it was their goal for the week to meet me! I even had a guy from California speed up to tell me his team was passing around the article on their bus on their way to Rock Valley.

DMJuice.com

After RAGBRAI, we did a follow up interview and article for Juice. I posted the article to my Ops Facebook page and the reach (over 2,000 people) was amazing!

...and lucky for the Op, The Des Moines Register picked up the Juice article and printed the photo and article in the paper!

RAGBRAI is planned and coordinated by The Des Moines Register (two columnists were the the original riders in 1973), so the article ended up on the RAGBRAI website blog section!

RAGBRAI.com

Although I wasn't quite 'ready' to have my spandex clad photo shared and printed for thousands of people, I was ecstatic to have Boot Campaign's name out there! I hope service members will check out the non-profit to see if it's a fit for their needs. I also hope individuals see that there are organizations that are in need of donations and choose to help. Boots On!

Op Recap

Ever since I boarded the bus to come home from RAGBRAI, I've been trying to figure out a way to describe the past week, and even past few months, that have been this journey. I lost my voice midway through the week talking about my Op and the Boot Campaign to those that I met on the road and in towns. I hope I can find the words to tell you all just how humbling this experience has been and how appreciative I am of the overwhelming support.

Being a "planner" by personality and profession, I knew going into this journey there would be known and unknown challenges. 

Prior to even getting on my bike with the boots on, these were the challenges I anticipated:

- Pain and blisters from the boots (Thankfully this didn't happen)

- Losing pedal power and having a harder time getting up hills from the lack of clips (Unfortunately, this did happen but I didn't have to walk up a single hill! Every time I felt like it was too hard, someone would yell out "Nice boots!" or I'd see a military branch jersey and I knew I couldn't let them down.)

- Possibility of having to figure out modifications to the pedal cranks to accommodate for the boot being wider than a typical riding shoe (Flat pedals worked better than expected but I did bruise up my shin from slipping a few times)

- Wet feet due to the boots making my feet sweat or not drying as fast as biking sandals. I HATE having wet feet! (My worst 'fear' for this Op happened on Friday. Rain, rain, wet boots, rain, wet feet. But I ran into some National Guard members that were also in their soaking wet boots as they handed out water. A great reminder that I had nothing to complain about.)

Putting perspective on boot puddles!

These are some of the challenges I've experience that I was NOT anticipating:

- Losing my voice from talking so much, especially on the windy days. A lot of people asked questions or made comments while riding. "Did you forget your biking shoes?",  "Nice boots!" and of course "Do those have clips?".

- The reaction I received from people when I told them about my Op. Body language changed, smiles emerged, eyes softened, some voices cracked as they either told me they themselves were veterans or that they had family members and friends that are service members. I knew people would be supportive, it's for a good cause! but the connection between the military and civilians is larger than I anticipated. I hope any service member reading this knows that there are people, and organizations out there that care, that are supportive, that are willing to help and no matter what, you are not alone!

- How emotional I got thinking about the support I was receiving. I shared this story as a status on my Facebook page, it was one of the most beautiful moments of the trip: "Tonight an older gentleman asked about my boots. After hearing the info he informed me he's a Vietnam vet, he reached into his pocket and gave me $1 telling me he knows that isn't enough but he's barely surviving on social security alone but he was grateful for what I was doing. It really puts into perspective the value of a dollar when someone is willing to give you their last one." 

One night while in my team camp I was talking to a teammate as we discussed my Op and why I was doing this. My simple answer all week had been "My father is a Vietnam vet and many of my friends have served."  The more my teammate and I talked, I realized it's more than that, veteran support has always been a passion of mine but before now I didn't feel like I could make a difference. I am not famous, I am not rich, I do not have a large network of powerful people I can call to get things done. I'm a plain jane who just happens to be patriotic and ride a bike! It's amazing what the 'average' person can do however, when we set our minds to it and have such overwhelming support from those that believe in a cause. I hope everyone knows that your kind words were heard and that they helped motivate me every day!

Looking back now it's hard to believe that my 'Op' is over, but I hope it has inspired individuals to do something they think they couldn't. I also hope it showed our service members that there are people out there that support what you have done and are doing for our country. Although I didn't hit my goal for fundraising, I know the donations we made to the Boot Campaign will go towards some fantastic resources and support to those that need them. 

These boots and I were fortunate to stand in front of the stone memorial walls that housed the names of those that gave all, as well as stand next to some of our brave men and women that answered the call to serve our country. This is a week and 400+ miles I will never forget. Thank you all for your support!

UPDATE: The donations goal of $4,180 was not only met, but surpassed! The final total raised for the Boot Campaign is $4,235!!!

One More Day

Only 67 miles and 3,000 feet of climb stand between me and completing Operation Pedal 4 Vets as RAGBRAI comes to an end tomorrow. 

This week has been challenging, uplifting, pariotic and memorable. I was getting emotional tonight just thinking about it coming to an end. Once I get back I'll be uploading photos and give an update blog post. 

Although the bike ride ends tomorrow, I still have a ways to go to reach my fund raising goal. The link to donate: http://www.crowdrise.com/oppedal4vets/fundraiser/laceyh. The 'fee' the website charges is optional and can be adjusted to 0.

Thank you for your support! 

RAGBRAI Update

Wind... Heat... And generous people! 

That has been my experience during the first 3 days of RAGBRAI. While riding I have met community leaders that wanted to show off their memorial and tell me their future plans to expand and I've meet some pretty tough looking guys that even they were even impressed with my choice to ride in boots. I've also been blessed with a lot of Facebook posts and texts filled with encouraging words from those not riding. Most importantly, I've met service members that I could tell were genuinely grateful for what I was doing. 

We have 4 more days to go. Boots On! 

Service Member Spotlight: My Hero, My Dad

I'm extremely excited to share with you the final, and to me, the most important Service Member Spotlight, my father Larry. He raised me to be independent, a little stubborn, and to complete anything I started. He also taught my brothers and I to respect our flag, our country and our veterans. I will always remember looking up to my father as a child as we stood for the national anthem; in that moment, when he stood a little straighter, a little taller, that is when I could see the Marine in him. He will always be my first hero. I love you dad and thank you for everything you have done for me, I hope to make you proud next week.

Military branch / term(s) of service: United States Marine Corps

Tour(s): Viet Nam--1969 --1970

My father with my brothers and myself

What do your boots mean to you? Boots are your connection to the ground, and good jungle combat boots have some protective aspects (lamenated puncture proof metal in the soles), as well as preventatiave features(breathable nylon sides to help your feet dryout in the heat, and also in the monsoon season.
         
Do you still wear your boots? The Marines were not allowed to bring home our jungle boots, but I still have my leather state side boots.  Still polished up, and in a closet.  Just a reminder that I was there, and was lucky enough to come back.  I don't wear them, as they are a little small for my feet now.  Also, I just can't bring my self to "wear them out".

Tips or tricks for breaking in the boots: We used to get a new pair of boots, and fill them with warm water for about 10 minutes.  Then wear a couple pair of dry sock, put them on for the day, and they would "dry fit" to our feet.

Suggestions / advice for getting through the tough times during RAGBRAI?  Think positive with a can do attitude.  When the physical stress and pain starts to appear, just think about good things and good people, and not about the physical pain.  It will help you endure.

What should civilians know about how to support veterans? Many ways.  community actions.  Wearing part of your uniform on Veterans Day.  Support the local Memorial Day programs.  Also don't for get the Paralyzed Veterans Association, Wounded Warriors, and other associations that support the veterans who have returned with physical, and emotional issues from their service time.  Be sure to check out your favorite vet charity for their giving records to the vets.

A brief RAGBRAI FYI

For those that are unfamiliar with RAGRBAI, here is some quick information to get you up to speed:

History: RAGBRAI stands for the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. It is an annual seven-day bicycle ride across the state. Heading into its 42nd year, RAGBRAI is the oldest, largest and longest bicycle touring event in the world.

The route starts on the west side of the state traveling east, passing through different towns each year. It’s tradition to ‘dip’ your back tire in the Missouri River at the start and then ‘dip’ your front tire in the Mississippi River when you finish, a symbol of riding across the entire state. This year, along with my tires, I’ll be dipping the heels and toes of my boots.

Route: Iowa is not flat! Ok, it’s flat compared to some other states but you really get an appreciation of the terrain when you are pedaling up a hill. Add in some head wind and it can make for a tough ride. However, while traveling 16 miles an hour on a backroad highway, you really do get to experience the views of Iowa: farmsteads, beautiful landscapes, and of course CORN.  You’d probably miss seeing a lot of those items while speeding down the main interstates. It’s also wonderful to see the communities welcome the riders. It’s a great opportunity for them to showcase their town (some not even big enough to be towns!) and the hospitality is always welcoming after a long day. This year's route is 418 miles and we will be traveling the upper portion of the state.

RAGBRAI 2014

My team: For the past few years, I have been fortunate enough to ride with a wonderful bike club call the Tall Dogs. There are about 125 of us that will be riding during RAGBRAI. They are based out of central Iowa but we have a large group that are located in the Kansas City area. We also have members that come from all over the country as well as a couple guys from Finland!

Tall Dog Bike Club

My Op's RAGBRAI plan: During the week I'll be stopping at the VFWs and American Legions in each town (if available). Additionally, if the town has a memorial I'll be stopping to pay my respects to those that gave the ultimate sacrifice. I hope this will help showcase the local community support as well as put faces to the inspiration behind my campaign.

Graettinger Memorial

Thank you for your support!

Service Member Spotlight - Sgt. G

Thanks Sergeant G for answering my questions and for the "advice" on getting through the tough times. I'll be thinking of that when I'm pedaling up the hills in a headwind!

Military branch / term of service: Army, 10 years

Tour(s):  1 combat tour Afghanistan


What do your boots mean to you? I've had many boot over the years, they have carried me many miles to many countries. They been clean and polished, they've been stained and dirty, without them I would not have made my trek.

Do you still wear your boots?  I still wear them, they may become a different pair but they are cared for with the same respect as I knelt with before the boots of my fallen brothers.

Tips or tricks for breaking in the boots: The only thing that truly breaks in a pair of boot is wear. Slow wear over time increasing in distance as you go.

Suggestions / advice for getting through the tough times during RAGBRAI? Advice? You're not getting shot at and carrying 80 pounds. Ranger up and push through, no one likes a quitter!

What should civilians know about how to support veterans? The best way to support a veteran is to help build the sense of community and make sure the are part of it. Help them find that higher purpose the had in the army. An ice cold beer is also nice.

Service Member Spotlight - Kevin

A very special thank you to Kevin for taking the time to answer my questions and for sending these wonderful photos of the Graettinger memorial. We will be going through Graettinger during RAGBRAI and I look forward to taking a picture in front of this memorial with my boots!

Military branch / term(s) of service: Army National Guard/1979-2005

Tour(s): Operation Enduring Freedom 2002-2003

What do your boots mean to you? Next to a soldier’s personal weapon, his boots are one of his/her most prized possessions.  Both are similar in that if you take good care of them, they will take good care of you.

           

Over my 25 year career, I have had the privilege and honor to conduct many military funerals for soldiers and veterans.  The image of “The Soldiers Cross” now comes to mind.  As I have lost two soldiers recently from PTSD after their return from Afghanistan.  I am sure many of you have seen the pictures of the display of a pair of combat boots, and inverted rifle with the soldier’s helmet and dog tags hanging from it.  The helmet and identification tags signify the fallen soldier. The inverted rifle with bayonet signals a time for prayer and a break in the action to pay tribute to our comrade. The combat boots represent the final march of the last battle.  So I guess when I pull out my old combat boots these days, it reminds me of the sacrifices our past and present veterans have made and continue to make.

Do you still wear your boots? Upon my retirement, I had multiple pairs of combat boots.  I began my construction business in 2005 and they were the best pair of boots I ever had to do concrete work.  I have another pair of cold weather gortex boots I use during these cold Iowa winters when I’m clearing snow.  I do have two old pair that I still use, but will be keeping the others as keepsakes.

Tips or tricks for breaking in the boots: The best tip I could give to break in boots would to wear them a few hours each day for about a week.  Then they should be stretched and flexible enough to begin training for your big ride.

Suggestions / advice for getting through the tough times during RAGBRAI?   I don’t know if this will be of benefit, but whenever we as a group did a 5 mile run for instance, we always stayed as a unit and this always seemed to make it easier.  So stay in a group or at least in pairs.  And of course, you can always soften the pain with a few cold ones at the local watering holes.

What should civilians know about how to support veterans?  I guess by showing love and respect for our flag and country.  Appreciate the freedoms you now have and reflect not just on Veterans Day and Memorial Day, but often, of the sacrifices that our veterans and their families continue to make on their behalf.

"Dedicated to the men and women of our community who came from every walk of life to serve our county in war and peace so that we can enjoy the freedoms of democracy."

The Boot Campaign

I want to keep reminding people about where their generous donation are going. The nonprofit that will be receiving the donations from my Op is the Boot Campaign.

The Boot Campaign is an organization that supports veterans and their families as well as partners with other veterans organizations to provide support in housing, job assistance, veteran wellness, urgent assistance, and family support.

Read more about the Boot Campaign on their website: http://www.bootcampaign.com/about/

My fundraising goal is $4,180 (RAGBRAI is 418 miles this year). The Boot Campaign has some pretty impressive celebrity supporters and I know my 'Op' is very small compared to the national events and attention they can gain. However, I feel my fundraising goal will be going to something good and I hope at the very least I can raise awareness and show veterans that they have people that care!

I hope you can support the cause by donating. If you aren't able to donate, consider sharing this blog with others.

Thanks for the support!

Lacey

There is a donation link on the side of the blog or you can donate by using this link: https://www.crowdrise.com/oppedal4vets/fundraiser/laceyh

Service Member Spotlight - Joel

I've known Joel for many years; he was actually one of the first veterans that I had met of our generation that had been deployed. Thank you Joel for taking the time to answer my questions and for serving our country!

Military Branch: Army

Tours: Afghanistan 2004-2005

What do your boots mean to you? My boots mean a lot to me. I have a lot of different pairs of combat boots and there are a couple pairs that represent much more than just another pair of boots. I have two pairs in particular that I'll never get rid of because they are a symbol of  what I have been through. I have one pair that I wore for the majority of Afghanistan and I still have them tucked away somewhere, cracked leather, worn sole and all. I have another favorite pair that I have worn for the past number of years training stateside, until recently retiring them from wearing the sole down too much.

Do you still wear your boots? I do still wear my boots for training because I am still active in the Army National Guard. I do still have a pair of black combat boots from before we switched uniforms, and I will wear those once in a while for motorcycling etc.

Tips or tricks for breaking in the boots: The best tip that I can give for breaking in your boots is to get them wet and wear them all day long until they dry. This especially works well if your boots are tight on your feet. You might want to change socks a couple times during the day if you do this trick.

Suggestions / advice for me for getting through the tough times during RAGBRAI? RAGBRAI will be a challenge and I'm impressed with anyone that goes the full distance.  My best advice for getting through the tough times is to keep pushing. If in your mind you know you can do it, then that's the majority of the battle accomplished. Drink lots of Gatorade and water, and eat lots of carbs! P.S. beer has carbs too

What should civilians know about how to support veterans? I think one thing that civilians should know about how to support veterans is that we all have families. It is just as important to support our families as it is to support us individually. If a soldier's family is taken care of, it alleviates a lot of stress while a soldier is deployed and helps them perform their job better.

The 'WHY' Question

There have been some people that have asked me why I am doing this campaign. A simple answer is: I have always been patriotic. My father is a Vietnam veteran that served in the Marine Corps. He taught my brothers and I respect for our country, for our flag and for our service members.

The more complicated answer is that, the more I met veterans, the more effort I put into learning about the people that serve and the challenges they face and overcome. What I truly learned was that unless I served, I will never understand.

They sign on a dotted line, pledging their life for our country, and pledging to protect and defend complete strangers.

They forge a bond with their brothers and sisters in arms that have become closer than blood, all while trying to maintain a relationship and family back home thousands of miles away.

They experience difficulties of buying a first home because they might not have the credit or 'stable job' to be approved for a loan.

They serve honorably with years of experience, just to be told they're overqualified and disqualified for a job because they didn't take the 'traditional' route of going to college and having a degree.

They have to sometimes feel that the country they love doesn’t want to hear about the wars. They feel strangers stare at their scars, yet they do not know a larger truth: not all scars are visible.

Veterans will tell you why THEY do it: “It’s my job”... “It’s my calling”... “I wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps”.

I guess I could say that supporting veterans is MY calling, my job, my way of honoring the footsteps my father and all service members before and after him took.

Operation Pedal 4 Vets is my way of doing this. I'm honored to be raising funds for the Boot Campaign, which provides assistance to those individuals that bravely volunteer so the rest of us never have to. We may never be able to fully understand what it's like to serve, but I hope in our efforts together, veterans will always understand that they are supported!

"When they come back, we give back."

Operation Pedal 4 Vets Fundraising Page: https://www.crowdrise.com/oppedal4vets/fundraiser/laceyh

Service Member Spotlight - James

James took time out of his flight training to answer a few questions for me. Thank you for your service James and for helping put a face to the reason why I'm getting my boots on!

Military branch / term of service: Army National Guard, 10 years of service.

Tour(s): Iraq ’10-’11

What do your boots mean to you? My boots are actually one of my most prized pieces of gear. Boots truly do decide your comfort level and moral more than anything else in a lot of situations. Choosing the right kind of boots for the environment you're going to find yourself in is extremely important if you don't want to be in pain.

I love wearing combat boots, which is why I still wear my old black jungle boots for riding my motorcycle. Sometimes even when I'm not.

Boots are also extremely symbolic. There's a reason a lot of soldiers memorials have a set of combat boots, a rifle and a Kevlar. As long as a soldier has good boots, a functional rifle, and a good helmet, they can basically accomplish anything.

Soldiers in the older wars owed their survival to having good boots in a lot of ways. Keeping your feet warm and dry is an extremely important part of maintaining a soldiers ability to operate in all climates.

Do you still wear your boots? I wear my boots everyday! I use my old black ones when I'm riding my motorcycle, most comfortable footwear I own! I have to wear flight approved boots, which I do not suggest, as they're very heavy and not very flexible. I'm sure they'd be terrible for riding a bike.

Tips or tricks for breaking in the boots: As far as breaking them in, just comes from wearing them. No real secret to it honestly. Best advice I could give would be to buy the boots 2 or 3 weeks prior if possible, and just wear them around as much as you can. Also, buy some waterproofing spray and give them a couple nice doses of that while you're at it.

Suggestions / advice for getting through the tough times during RAGBRAI? To be honest, when I come to a situation like that, I just convince myself that I literally can't stop. It's not an option.

What should civilians know about how to support veterans? Just trust us....have patience. It's hard to adjust back, and we make mistakes just like anyone else. In the end, we just want to know that there's someone at home who loves us as much as we love them.

It's harder because so much happens over there that nobody at home can relate to. We do still love though, and we do still want the same things other people strive for. We're just generally more passionate about it because we've all come close to losing everything.

Charity Challenge

I am very honored to announce that Operation Pedal 4 Vets was selected as a finalist in the Juice Magazine Charity Challenge!

They will be judging four teams of young professionals on their events to benefit non-profits. Two other teams are also doing race type events but I feel that this Op is a little different than the normal race. Hopefully that will give me an edge!

You can read the announcement and the information about the other teams in this article: http://dmjuice.com/and-the-juice-charity-challenge-participants-are/.

Nerves

Recently, I promoted Operation Pedal 4 Vets to my social media networks. 

I. Was. Terrified. 

At the time, I wasn’t sure why I was so nervous. I had great support from those that were already aware of the campaign and I knew that I was trying to do a good thing. Still, my heart was beating a mile a minute as I hit that ‘share’ button. 

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I have had those same nerves before when I’ve seen service members in public. I wanted to thank them for their service or even buy their coffee or lunch. Sometimes I’d hesitate because I didn’t want to embarrass them, or interrupt their meal or say the wrong thing (which I’m notorious for). Then before I could do anything, the moment of opportunity had passed. I think a lot of people can relate to this feeling of this missed opportunity. Our hearts and our minds are in the right place, but we hesitate on our actions. 

If you’ve been hesitating to share this page or to donate or to thank a service member, please take that step, I know I’m glad I did!

Again, I’m very grateful for the outpouring of support and kindness that I have received so far. Please know the encouragement has greatly helped calm my nerves, and I can’t wait to use that positive energy to bike across Iowa!!

The Cause

I've been waiting to promote my 'Op' until I had my fundraising page set up so I could let everyone know a little bit more about where the donations will be going.

Today my fundraising page is ready to go! There is a donation link on the side of the blog or you can check it out by using this link: https://www.crowdrise.com/oppedal4vets/fundraiser/laceyh

The nonprofit that will be receiving the donations is The Boot Campaign.

The Boot Campaign is an organization that supports veterans and their families as well as partners with other veterans organizations to provide support in housing, job assistance, veteran wellness, urgent assistance, and family support. It was started by some amazing Texas women so I was even more drawn to this organization (For those that don't know me well, I love sweet tea and everything country. I sometimes think in a past life I was a southern bell or should have at least been born in the south.)

Read more about the Boot Campaign on their website: http://www.bootcampaign.com/about/

The Boot Campaign has some pretty impressive celebrity supporters and I know my 'Op' is very small compared to the national events and attention they can gain. However, I feel my fundraising goal will be going to something good and I hope at the very least I can raise awareness and show veterans that they have people that care!

I hope you can support the cause by donating. If you aren't able to donate, consider sharing this blog with others.

Thanks for the support!

Lacey

BC Tees

Some new gear arrived today. If the boots don't grab people's attention, these should! 

Photo Shoot Sneak Peak

Wednesday evening I was extremely lucky to work with Anna from Anna Hardt Design. She took some amazing photos of me with my bike and boots! Anna shared a sneak peak of the photos with me, so I'm sharing them with you!

Anna Hardt Design

Anna Hardt Design

Anna Hardt Design

Since it was a beautiful day the trail was pretty busy. We got some strange looks (one lady even asked if I was taking senior pictures... yea, only 10 years late!) The boots do a great job of grabbing attention and I can't wait to share with everyone I meet about the Boot Campaign!

Have a fantastic Friday and thanks for your support!
-Lacey

Learning to Ride

"It's as easy as riding a bike." After a week of breaking in the boots by walking around, I thought it was time to actually see if I could ride in them without too much discomfort or even see if the dynamics of the bike would allow for the bulky boots. So, today was the day! I did an easy 16 mile trail ride and was quite surprised at how well the boots felt. I still have my clip pedals on my bike so I'm hoping that pedaling will become even easier once I put on wider and flat pedals.

A strong head wind and some rain ended my ride so I hope that isn't foreshadowing our RAGBRAI weather! 

Here's to hoping this smoothy becomes my new normal!

Thanks for your support!

-Lacey 

They are here!

Setting an Idea in Motion

I'm always looking for ways to support those that have given so much for our freedom. I saw The Boot Campaign last year and threw around the idea of wearing the boots for RAGBRAI but it was late in the training season and the idea was stored away. I saw another email from the BC this Spring and something just tugged at me to take action. I had successfully completed my first full week of RAGBRAI last year, why not tackle another week of biking across Iowa but while wearing combat boots and raising awareness and funds for veterans?!

So... with the countdown on:

and my boots ordered:

Source: www.bootcampaign.com

It's looking like it might just happen this year!

Now to create my fundraising page, a social media presence, and of course figure out how to bike 400+ miles in boots!

Thank you for your support,
-Lacey