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Tag Archive - Mike Cacciabondo

Spare a sawbuck for the LAF?

May 5, 2010 in Austin, Texas, Day in the life., LIVESTRONG, Mountain Biking with 3 Comments

Here we are on Cinbco de Mayo and I’m already behind in my fund-raising goals for LIVESTRONG (the Lance Armstrong Foundation). Doyle fashion? To be sure.

But it’s also in my repertoire to occasionally raise money and donate funds to a worthy cause. It’s been awhile, but this spring I feel compelled to raise at least $250 for LIVESTRONG. And you can help me get reach my goal with a simple $10 donation.

It’s a much smaller ambition that I had in 2001 and 2002 when I raised over $10,000 a year with Ole Mike Cacciabondo. The yearly reward for our hard work (as Peloton Project members) was a long weekend in Austin. We got to ride with Lance and connect with this amazing city. Now that I live here, I’ve come to see firsthand just how valuable the LAF is to our town, and even more so to the cancer community.

People affected by cancer visit the LIVESTRONG websites every day. Heck, every minute. It’s the first step for many, and a true inspiration to anyone who’s on the journey to recovery. Since I’ve become the Interactive Director at HC&B Healthcare, I’ve had the opportunity to work with two huge oncology organizations, and everyone in the field knows the prowess of the LAF. They are on the forefront of the cancer movement – helping many with information, resources and even funding cancer research.

In years past I would ride in honor of people I knew who were affected by the disease. But this year I plan to race in the Mellow Johnny’s Classic – a UCI Pro Mountain Bike Race that happens on Juan Pelota‘s ranch. I’ll draw inspiration on the trail from all the people I know who’ve beaten cancer – there are so many of you.

Racing on Juan Pelota's ranch last year. Photo: Jason Smith.

If you feel like you could spare $10, please donate on my LIVESTRONG page. I’m hoping to get one person a day for the month of May, and as you know I’m already late. So please feel free to donate even if you see another person has donated today.

Thanks in advance for considering it. You rule!

Joe

P. S. I’ll update here a bit more frequently this month. Updates to training and fund-raising, kid’s birthday fun and race results/day-of events.

Today I begin training for my first (and likely last) half marathon

December 8, 2008 in Austin, Texas, Runnin' with 5 Comments

My blog’s been pretty dead, but I’ve got some renewed self-interest in the form of a physical challenge. Today I begin training for the Austin 1/2 Marathon.

Half marathon? Why not a whole?
Good question (beat you to it). First, I’m not that crazy. Second, I prefer to ride my bike for exercise. Third, my pal Lloyd Thompson was the generator of this brilliant idea, I’m just along for the run. See Lloyd, like me, is closer than ever to the BIG 4-0, so he wanted to get one under his belt ahead of that time.

The run takes place on February 15th. Mike Cacciabondo has threatened to come down for it and run the race in 50 minutes or something, but he won’t likely show (ahem). Another gent has joined in the effort, and we will run as a threesome on weekends for the larger runs – likely off road at Walnut Creek for more of a challenge (plus it’s 100X more fun that running on asphalt).

Here’s a look at my training schedule:

Later this week I’ll be asking for donations of just $1 per mile (that’s $13.10 for those not in the know). I’m running a micro-sponsorship campaign online to see how it works. Plus the organization I’ll be running for is very close to my heart.

More to come. I’ve got three miles to get in today…

The Cubs curse of 2008 revealed

October 6, 2008 in Chicago Sports, Ripin' on the Cubs, White Sox Baseball with 6 Comments

1969 – Mets comeback from 9.5 back
1984 – Leon Durham’s leg-trick
2003 – Bartman / Gonzalez muff
2004 – Hawkins homer
2008 – It’s gonna happen!

It’s been a rough 100 years for the lovable losers in blue pinstripes. If you follow the media and die-hard fans from Wrigleyville to Des Moines, you know they were supposed to win it all this year.

But baseball is finicky. 162, sometimes 163, games determine final placement into a quick series that requires a lot of talent and a bit of luck to win. Followed by a longer series and then the dance. A lot can happen in those 19 playoff games.

Let’s stick with luck here. When my friend Mike Cacciabondo told me the Sox were lucky in 2005, I took offense at first. But you know what, he was right – they did have some luck on their side. Luck plus solid defense, timely hitting and a playoff pitching dominance not seen in the major leagues since that year.

So while everyone from ESPN to Hillary Clinton knew the Cubs were going to win it all, I think we should follow the guise of one of the smartest managers in baseball, Mr. Lou Piniella: “nothing is shocking”, he said while referring to the Cubs in the postseason.

And with that, I bring you the curse of 2008: “It’s gonna happen”.

The slogan gave hope and was shouted with bravado from rooftops all around the shrine. Heck, even the Tribune publishing people decided to print a book about how it was going to happen, before it happened. But in reality, the guy who started this movement should be run out of town like Bartman. Not only for his curse, but also for using the Red Sox font to make his sign.

I’m not saying that you shouldn’t be proud of your team – we all should root for our favorite. It’s just that you shouldn’t count your chickens before the eggs hatch. It upsets the baseball gods, and they see everything.

Now, let’s go White Sox.
By my accounts, they were supposed to finish 3rd in the AL Central, so I’m just happy they’re still around for me to watch. (See how it works, Cubs fans?)