“A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.”

Dear Friends,

Its no big secret that I'm training like an animal to ride my bike from San Diego to Taos, New Mexico this June. Most everybody reading this has heard me whining about training in recent months or suffered with me through extended climbs, brutal intervals or even downward dogs in yoga class. However, I am so much more needy than you think.. I need even more of your help! Lets start with race updates:

OVERALL:

My race entry is FORWARD MOTION in the Race Across the West, a 1034 mile continuous event from Oceanside, California to Taos, New Mexico. There is a time limit of 92 hours, a route touching five states and a start at 12 noon on June 17, 2009. This is a race and (borrowing from my NASCAR heritage) plainly: We Are In It To Win It.

FORWARD MOTION? You mean the FOUNDATION? I am so pleased to introduce you to the Forward Motion Foundation, which is dedicated to giving recovering alcoholics and drug addicts the opportunity to experience and learn about the natural beauty of San Diego from the seat of a road or mountain bike. FMF exists to provide these people with an opportunity to see a different side of San Diego, to expand their understanding of what they can personally achieve, and to make personal connections with the natural world (continue reading more on FMF at the bottom).
Help support, Donate TODAY! All funds go directly to our charity!!! http://www.active.com/donate/forwardmotionraw
Are you on Facebook?? Join our Cause! Tell your friends! http://apps.facebook.com/causes/253405/39608389?m=e5767d02

WE HAVE CREW CHIEFS BUT WE NEED VOLUNTEERS! THIS MEANS YOU!!!!

We've landed our crew chiefs but we need volunteers for the road crew! What's that mean? We learned a great lesson last year from a great competitor (Shanna Armstrong) that a race is only as fun as the people and the positive attitude of the van & crew. So we're going to make the "on the road" experience as absolutely fun as possible from now on... Music, disco lights, the best friends.. And a new plan:

We're going to keep you fresh and fun by going full Race Across America style with having a day crew and a night crew swapping out shifts. So, you'll have the opportunity to run off to a hotel to rest and shuttle back into the rolling party extravaganza. Crazy? Maybe. Fun, definitely. Where we really need help is fielding the additional 6 - 8 crew persons to keep the show on the road all the way to Taos.. Please email me today about joining the Forward Motion team!

PRACTICAL DATES FOR PLANNING:

What's needed? Pretty easy really, we need you from the 16th of June (Tuesday) to the 22nd of June (Monday). Starting in San Diego (or somewhere in So Cal where we can retrieve you) and back to San Diego / So Cal on 23rd June (Tuesday or possibly earlier). We can also deliver you to Albuquerque if you need a quicker flight on Monday.

SO...
That’s it. I won't bother you again about crazy cycling. I appreciate your support in crazy things like this. I'm going to borrow a quote from John Lennon, “a dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.” Thanks for dreaming and believing with us. We're going to have an epic ride and an unbelievable experience while raising funds and awareness for a great local cause!

All the best,
Mike Wilson

p.s. I would really like to thank our wonderful sponsors and supporters! Hammer Nutrition (hammernutrition.com), Nuun Active Hydration (nuun.com), Mavic (mavic.com) and the Trek Bicycle Superstore San Diego (treksandiego.com).

Read about the Racer!
http://forwardmotioncycling.blogspot.com/

Check out our foundation!
http://forwardmotionfoundation.org/

Read about the Race!
http://www.raceacrossamerica.org

MORE BACKGROUND on the Forward Motion Foundation:
Forward Motion Foundation believes that their positive, physically challenging, educational road and mountain bike outings, can make an unquestionable difference in the lives of recovering alcoholics and drug addicts by opening their minds to new possibilities, arming them with greater self-esteem, and giving them a chance to achieve demanding goals.

Since I first dreamed of entering in the Race Across the West and qualifying for RAAM, I have been searching for a charity who shares my commitment to life changing decisions, hard work in the saddle of a bicycle and a deep abiding love of San Diego. I am very pleased to be working with Tony DiLorenzo (also a decorated double century rider!) and his entire group of passionate, committed and caring board members in our mission of raising awareness about Forward Motion and the good work being done by the group.

I intend to use every media opportunity from participation in ultra cycling to convey the strong message of the Forward Motion Foundation. Every dollar we raise together goes back to helping our community in the greatest city in the world, San Diego.