UPDATE: It's go time on the marathon!

Hello All!

As always, I hope this message finds you happy and healthy!  I am currently in Washington, DC after a whirlwind cycle across Vietnam and two weeks in London, where I was able to officially start my 20-week marathon training program on the actual marathon route that I will be running in 5 short months.  It was a thrill!  The highlight of the last month, however, was most certainly watching as three women on my cycling trip in Vietnam - all of whom were in chemotherapy and radiation fighting breast cancer just 12 months ago - completed 400 miles on a bike to raise money for cancer research.  Talk about inspiring!

Support me in finding a cure here: http://www.tinyurl.com/kylecure2012

Unfortunately, there was a less than awesome event that took place in London.  The friends I was staying with were burgled and my laptop, iThings, SLR camera, zoom lens, external hard drive, and more were stolen!  It was indeed upsetting but fortunately, no one was hurt and in the end, they are just things.  With that in mind, I got to thinking about other "things" that pale in comparison to fighting cancer or losing someone you love to cancer.  Here are the top five:

1. Having all of your electronics stolen.

2. Not getting an iPhone 4S or iPad 2 for Christmas.

3. Cycling across Vietnam.

4. Climbing to Everest Base Camp.

5. Running the London Marathon.

I am taking on all five of these in an effort to help find a cure for cancer and my hope is that you will help me in this journey.  I am training every day to achieve my personal challenge but I need your help to achieve what is arguably our generation's greatest challenge: finding a cure to this wretched disease that affects ONE IN TWO FAMILIES.

This holiday season I ask you to stand with me in this battle, open your pockets, and assist in unlocking the key to a cure.  I have less than 8 weeks to raise another $4,000 and I can't do it without you!  You can donate now here:

http://www.tinyurl.com/kylecure2012

Lots of love this festive season,

Kyle

P.S. I realize the photo is entirely unrelated.  The ones of me in my "gear" were stolen so I went with adorable instead.

Team Flinders Says Farewell

After 12 days, 415 kilometers, 9 different hotels, one overnight train, two flooded towns, and three flights on Vietnam airways it is time for this amazing group of 37 Flinders fundraisers who have raised over $185,000 to say farewell! After our very long ride we had a few days to enjoy this fantastic country and did it in style. No one really knew how to get on with their day not having a morning briefing but we managed, and we did it together. You would never guess that most of us only just met. An experience like this really does bind people.

As I have said many times before, this element of camaraderie and team spirit is probably my favorite aspect of our Inspired Adventures. You can take 37 near strangers, chuck them in a foreign land together, and within days they will think like a team, act like a family, and joke like lifelong friends. It is truly life-changing.

Below are a few pics from our final dinner. Now get ready to welcome everyone home in just 24 short hours. Finally...

GO TEAM!!!

Airplanes, Buses, & Tunnels, Oh My!

The serious challenge of 415 kilometers cycling behind us, it was now time to take in some of the culture, insights, and history of this spectacular country. That started with a full day of rest in Nha Trang and continued with an internal flight to Saigon, where he headed immediately to the Cu Chi Tunnels.

Situated just 45 kilometers from Saigon, this network of more than 250 kilometers of underground tunnels was a bastion of Viet Cong site capability in the south and a major headache for US, South Vietnamese, and Allied troops during the American War (what we call the Vietnam War).

The tunnels themselves range from 3 meters to more than 10 meters underground and are roughly 60 centimeters high and 40 centimeters wide. They once linked underground kitchens, arms depots, bedrooms, wells, booby traps, numerous hidden ways in and out, and even water entry ways into and out of the Saigon river. It is an architectural and logistical wonder as well as a significant site for the war itself.

After crawling through the tunnels ourselves, learning about its structure, and getting a first-hand look at every aspect of the war we hopped back on the bus and zoomed toward Saigon. Dinner this evening was at leisure and tomorrow several of us will be heading to Long Tan, site of the most significant battle fought by Australian troops during the war.

We've still got Flinders, our accomplishment, and all of our friends and family on our minds! GO TEAM!

All of Team Flinders conquers 400+ Kilometers for FMCF!

It was yet another Brilliant day for cycling as team Flinders took the road on the last of our 6 cycling days. Today's distance was 91 kilometers, which would put our cumulative achievement at 415 kilometers! Today's theme was open-ended, allowing each individual to reflect on what had driven them to take on a challenge like this for a charity like Flinders. While that reflection became quite emotional, it was clear that the group appreciated the opportunity to collectively think about what this serious adventure was really for. For a few brief moments - a few short days in rural Vietnam - you can feel like you are not alone in this, and that can actually do something to help.

We flew through the first 50 kilometers! It wasn't easy but with so many Ks behind us, we were now fairly seasoned cyclists; a whole army of little Lances in training, Louise and Thelma said! Lunch was the usual scrambled eggs, tomato, cucumber, cheese, and peanut butter on fresh baguette (don't knock it until you've tried it) and from there we transferred by bus to the top of a hill to begin our last cycle of the entire trip.

The first 11 kilometers were some of the steepest we have cycled and it felt good to have the wind swirling by! At one point Juliette registered 57km/hr on her bike computer. WOOHOO! As we descended into the coastal valley region of Nha Trang you could feel the heat and humidity descending with us. It was like a big sticky hot hug. After a quick water break we began the final stretch and my goodness, was it tough. A nearly constant incline of 2 or 3 degrees, the grueling accent was paired with the hottest temperatures we had experienced to make sure that we would have to work for every last kilometer.

We stopped one kilometer before the finish line to regroup and ride in as a team. There is no way any of us could have done it without the love and support of not only our family and friends at home but, after 8 intense days together, the love and support of our amazing, incredible, inspiring team. Passing that finish line brought cheers, tears, and everything in between. It was a beautiful feeling that will bind these 37 people forever.

Special shout outs today go to two incredible people who cycled through some serious pain to finish with the team. Thelma blew out her knee around 20 kilometers into the day and pushed through (albeit with lots of pain) to bring it home. Nick was fighting what we thought was gastro then thought was an appendicitis but turned out to be an intestinal infection to bring it home for the team as well! In addition, Rachel, Robyn, and Sue led us across the finish line - a fitting moment for our three hardest workers. While it may seem like a holiday going away to Asia, Inspired Adventures are a whole lot more. 415 kilometers cycled, hundreds of thousands of dollars raised, and lives genuinely changed.

With the cycling behind us, we celebrated with a massive Vietnamese barbecue, cocktails, and a dance party. The group thanked our absolutely incredible crew and showed some love for Juliette, who was there every step of the way to support the team from Flinders. From here, it's onward to Saigon to visit the Cu Chi tunnels and Long Tan.

For real, GO TEAM!

We did it! Team Flinders Conquers All 415 Kilometers!

It's official! We just finished all 415 kilometers! Look for the full story tomorrow. Right now, it's time to celebrate!

Team Flinders Doing It For Us (And The Kids)!

What is amazing about cycling extreme distances is that it makes what used to be extreme distances feel like a relaxed cruise around town. Today we put in a solid 45 kilometers through yet more "undulating" (read: hilly) terrain. It was a terrific ride. The afternoon sun kept us warm while a slight breeze ensured we weren't too warm! At this stage the entire group is fairly expert at dodging cows, motorcycles, large trucks, small trucks, children, chickens, dogs, potholes, and just about anything else that rolls into our path. If it is not bolted to the ground, it is most definitely making a run at one of us!

The true champs today were Nick, Adam, and Robyn. Nick was struggling with gastro and powered through despite a fairly frequent need for a "happy bush." Adam was suffering from some lingering heat stroke but recovered well and finished strong. Poor Robyn lost her balance right at the 20km break and gave us a brilliant stack that left her feeling fine but a touch muddy!

Even with that awesome cycle on the books, I think the highlight of our day was definitely the visit to the orphanage this morning. The group pulled together over $1,200 to buy supplies (thanks heaps to Sue for raising $900!) and we were able to buy:

-600 kilos (1300 pounds) of rice
-70 kilos of powdered baby milk
-70 kilos of washing detergent
-100 liters of cooking oil
-5 kilos of dried fish
-5 kilos of peanuts
-10 winter blankets
-22 double mosquito nets
-300 choco pie candy treats

That's a whole lot of stuff and it took a separate truck to deliver it and all 39 of us to carry it into the facility, where we were greeted by several wonderful nuns who told us about their work with the children (219 at present, all needing a home). After learning a great deal and officially handing over the goods, the kids welcomed us into their mess hall singing all sorts of great songs!

We spent several minutes on two separate sides of the hall, everyone unsure of exactly how to proceed. Finally, I just darted across the room and swept one of the kids into my arms. From there, it was absolute mayhem! We laughed, we joked, we chased, and we laughed some more. I think those who have kids at home were particularly touched, as an experience like this reminds us of how fortunate we are and how much we can do to help. We said goodbye by singing "YMCA" to them (not a pretty site!).

It was an amazing morning and I think we would have been happy to hang around a few more days to play but alas, adventure called. Still, I have no doubt this morning will stay in people's thoughts long after we have left Vietnam. I mean, honestly, look at that face!

90 final kilometers to go tomorrow AND we get to sleep in until 6:30am! You know you are working it went that sounds like a treat. GO TEAM!

Today's shout out goes to Louise, who made some friends along the way and nearly picked up a ride! She also took a rather interesting photo for her donors back home. You'll have to check Facebook for that one!

ALL 37 of Team Flinders Conquer 100km! Doing It For The Team!

After a very laid back night in our very beige hotel, it was an early start for this group of 37 ragtag Aussies, as there were 100 kilometers of tarmac to cover before nightfall! Today's theme was "Doing it for the team" and everyone definitely brought their A-game.

The morning cycle was 56 kilometers through what the guides have been describing as "undulating" terrain (read: steep uphills and tiny little downhills) that once again stretched through terraced rice paddies, villages, and, for the first time, jungle. Every single person did a fantastic job conquering every last kilometer. Jacinta (Jax) stayed right up front, showing the boys a thing or two every time we hit an uphill. Juliette tried strapping her video camera to her handle bars and had great success, which means some very lucky people will get to sit through several hours of footage! Symon and Shane stuck together, really looking out for each other. Yo-Yo had the one-liner of the day. She zoomed past me on a fairly serious incline, turned her head to look back, looked right in my eyes and said "eat my dust" then growled. She is one of our oldest participants.

We had another massive lunch of egg and tomato sandwiches, laughing cow cheese, peanut butter, and sugary drinks before a 2-hour bus journey to the starting point of our afternoon 52 kilometer cycle. You know, just a leisurely cruise through the countryside! Thankfully, the first 12 kilometers were almost entirely downhill, which offered some sweet relief to tired legs and bums. The real challenge came in the last 20 kilometers, which was make-or-break for everyone. Having come this far, no one gave up and all of us eeked out every last kilometer, with many of us finishing in the darkness of nighttime.

I can't quite describe the feeling of seeing 37 people complete what was for many, the challenge of a lifetime. There are several cancer survivors on our trip. They are people like Beatrice (above) who were in chemotherapy just 12 months ago and now they are cycling half-way across Vietnam. If that doesn't move you, inspire you, and encourage you to accomplish anything, I don't know what will! Of course, that's what these Inspired Adventures at all about. Early to bed tonight as we are up at 6am again tomorrow to visit an orphanage before putting another 45 kilometers behind us. Go team!

Finally, the shout-out of the day goes to Sarah, who came out of what she thought was the toilet at lunch saying it was "the smallest toilet she had ever seen." Turns out it was the shower and that "tiny toilet" was the drain. Oops!