ADP ns_adp_parse -string failed:
could not allocate 1 handle(s) from pool "subquery"
    while executing
"ns_db gethandle subquery"
    invoked from within
"set db [ns_db gethandle subquery]..."
    (procedure "gt_category_id_list_inner_swcm" line 3)
    invoked from within
"gt_category_id_list_inner_swcm "236734" "static_pages" "Content Type" "1" "0" """
    ("eval" body line 1)
    invoked from within
"eval $tcl_statement"
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"set statement_value [eval $tcl_statement]..."
    invoked from within
"if { ![info exists generic_cache_awhile_value($tcl_statement)] || ( [expr $generic_cache_awhile_timestamp($tcl_statement) + $oldest_acceptable_value_i ..."
    (procedure "Memoize_for_Awhile" line 11)
    invoked from within
"Memoize_for_Awhile "gt_category_id_list_inner_swcm \"$id\" \"$table\" \"$category_umbrella\" \"$limit\" \"$min_weight\" \"$department_id\"" 90000"
    invoked from within
"set list [Memoize_for_Awhile "gt_category_id_list_inner_swcm \"$id\" \"$table\" \"$category_umbrella\" \"$limit\" \"$min_weight\" \"$department_id\""  ..."
    invoked from within
"if {[regexp {article-view|article-upload} $url_stub1]} {
	    set list [gt_category_id_list_inner_swcm $id $table $category_umbrella $limit $min_weigh ..."
    invoked from within
"if {[info exists id] && [info exists table]} {
	if {[regexp {article-view|article-upload} $url_stub1]} {
	    set list [gt_category_id_list_inner_swcm ..."
    (procedure "gt_category_id_list" line 181)
    invoked from within
"gt_category_id_list 1 "Content Type" $page_id"
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"gt_category_name [gt_category_id_list 1 "Content Type" $page_id]..."
    invoked from within
"set content_type [gt_category_name [gt_category_id_list 1 "Content Type" $page_id]]..."
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ACTIVITIES
GORP Rides Across America
Day 1: GORP Big Ride Log Writer Introductions


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Big Ride Logo

In parallel with the Riding Reporter updates, different Big Ride cyclists will contribute regular journal entries and photographs to the GORP Big Ride Log. Three of these cyclists are Ronna Katz (Big Rider #2259), Lia Pugliese, and Ethan Gelber, GORP Biking Editor.

Ronna Katz

Ronna Katz
Ronna Katz
Ronna Katz hails from the West Coast. Why is she taking seven weeks of her life to pedal across the country?"In short," she says, "I don't have a job, I don't have a boyfriend, and I love to bike! Plus, the Big Ride is a great cause that will be overflowing with great people. I also love ALA's clean air advocacy work, especially as it relates to nonsmokers' rights within public spaces. While at Cornell, I won second place for a public speaking contest. My topic: 'Nonsmokers' Rights: Your Right to Smoke Ends Where My Nose Begins.' "

But, as with so many others, there is a big personal issue. Her grandmother died of lung cancer when Ronna was 13, and her sister-in-law's dad was recently diagnosed with lung cancer. She is riding to honor them.

"I'm drawn by the camaraderie, the physical and emotional challenge, and by the opportunity to support the other Big Riders. (I've biked cross-country before and know I can help other riders' dreams come true.) I'm all about making a difference, making dreams come true, and creativity. Making a difference for the ALA. Making dreams come true for myself and for my fellow Big Riders. Creativity through my photography and, now, through writing. I'll explore my limits. I'll do a lot of thinking.

Inspire a Big Rider

The Big Ride cyclists are pouring energy into a ride benefiting those unable to do it themselves. Let them know that you appreciate them.

"The American Lung Association's Big Ride across America is, plain and simple, about doing something really different. It will be one of the greatest challenges of my life. Six and a half weeks of camping and biking 3,250 miles from sea to shining sea. During this time, I'll convey to the heartland of America the commitment and dedication of my sponsors to the health and welfare of America's lungs and to research and prevention of lung disease. It's a powerful message: a powerful opportunity.

"America is one of the most naturally beautiful places . . . spacious skies . . . amber waves of grain . . . fruited plains. I love and respect the awesome beauty of it all. For me, the perfect way to explore it is out in the open on a bike. Finding America while helping others breathe easier."

Lia Pugliese

Lia has a PhD in philosophy and is known in the business world as a psycho-spiritual counselor. This incorporates the psychological aspects with the spiritual ones to create more of a balance.

Lia is still recovering from an auto accident two years ago. In December of 1999, she began inquiring with her muscle therapist as to what he thought about her trying to begin riding a bike. Then in January of this year, while on the Internet, she learned about the American Lung Association's Big Ride 2000 across America. They asked the question,"Do you want to break out of the boundaries of your life . . . " Her immediate response was, "I wish!" But much to her surprise, she found her thoughts drifting back often to that information. She thought, "It wouldn't hurt to at least inquire; it doesn't obligate me in any way."

By the first of February, while still awaiting information on the ride, she decided to attempt getting back on the bike once. Pleasantly surprised, she was able to ride without severe ramifications after. She silently decided to begin a training program (just in case) and to see how her body would respond.

The first day out, she started by riding 50 minutes and 910 miles, attempting 12 miles more each time thereafter. Both surprised and delighted, the goal she had wished to reach by June 15 was reached April 4. She'd achieved the distance goal of 44 miles, five days a week, a full two months ahead of schedule. After that, she set a new goal of 55 miles.

"That's why I felt compelled to make the unbelievable commitment to attempt the American Lung Association's Big Ride 2000," she said. "I began feeling more overwhelmed by the thought of NOT doing the ride than actually doing it. Every cell in my body was telling me I had to do this. It was make it or break it time.

"I have found the best way through anything that devastates you in your own life is to focus on helping someone else. Being able to raise awareness and funds in the fight against lung disease is to me a blessing. My mother and sister suffer from extreme asthma and it breaks my heart to see how they struggle for breath. Breath = Life. It's truly what connects and sustains us to this life. Without it we die. Whenever we do anything we're doing it as much for the collective as we are for ourselves."

Ethan Gelber

Ethan Gelber, a native New Yorker, is the GORP Biking Editor and Expert Cyclist. He brings to the Big Ride a love of cycling, a long-standing respect for the outdoors, and a devotion to clean lungs. His desk-bound duties at GORP headquarters will not allow him to enjoy the full length of the Big Ride, but someone has to take the words that people will be writing and make them available to you here on the Web.

Ethan would like to thank GORP's Ed Faherty for the glorious maps available on these pages, Rob Andrejewski for the daily attention that will make regular updates possible, Nicole Cinco for the ever-stellar art, and to the GORP staff in general for their generosity in contributing to the GORP Big Ride pledge drive.



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