This Cyclist Is Riding From Idaho to Utah in Honor of Family Members Who Survived Cancer
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
Name: Jo Ann Sawin
Age: 63
Hometown: Sioux City, Iowa
Occupation: Pharmaceutical sales representative
Time Cycling: 50 years+
Reason for Cycling: While in the past I had cycled for recreation, health, and fitness, I’m now riding to raise money for cancer research in honor of family members, including my husband, niece, and children, who have all had cancer.
Cycling for me began at a young age. Growing up on a farm in rural Iowa, a bicycle meant freedom and independence. One Christmas, I received a red bicycle from a second-hand store, and it was the best gift ever. My next bicycle was a three-speed that I purchased with tips from a summer waitressing job. I’ve always enjoyed the view from a bike seat.
The cycling bug really hit me in 1996 when I did my first RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa), which is an annual 500-mile ride across the state of Iowa, dipping your tire in the Missouri River at the start of the ride, and seven days later dipping your tire in the Mississippi River at the completion.
That experience set the stage of what I could expect for my next big ride this month: Coast 2 Coast 4 Cancer or C2C4C ride, which is a fundraiser for cancer research which benefits the V Foundation (Victory Over Cancer) and is sponsored by my employer.
The C2C4C ride is a cycling relay journey across the United States, covering nearly 3,000 miles from Cannon Beach, Oregon to Long Branch, New Jersey. I will be cycling 225 miles in three days from Boise, Idaho to Salt Lake City, Utah, while others tackle rest of the route.
I am riding in honor of my family members who have been diagnosed with cancer.
My niece, Kylee lost her battle to a very rare and aggressive form of gastric cancer at 23 years old in 2003. She had just graduated from college and was planning her wedding. Unfortunately, she didn’t get to walk down the aisle and passed away six months before her special day. Her wedding dress still hangs in the closet.
My husband, Mark, is a prostate cancer survivor and has been cancer-free for nine years.
More recently, my children have been diagnosed with various forms of cancer. One and a half years after my husband’s diagnosis in 2015, my son was diagnosed with testicular cancer during his junior year of college. Testicular cancer primarily affects young men in their 20s and 30s. He is currently in remission and in his last year of medical school.
Then in February 2022, my daughter was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and underwent treatment to remove her thyroid. She is healthy now and just completed her nursing degree!
My family and I have learned valuable lessons in resilience and determination, and the will to fight cancer through these battles.
This ride is my opportunity to raise money to support an important cause so others don’t have to feel that gut punch when their loved ones are told they have cancer. The community response and support to my participation in the C2C4C ride has been tremendous. It truly amazes me how many have rallied behind me and donated to my ride. We have a goal of raising $1 million for the V Foundation, and we are over halfway there!
During my C2C4C segment, I will be riding in the Rockies so I am currently on a training plan that consists of two days of hill repeats and two days of endurance rides.
Hill repeats consist of climbing a hill at a hard pace for a duration of four to seven minutes. Once I reach the top, I pedal easy for 30 seconds to a minute, and repeat four to six times.
My endurance rides cover 45 to 50 miles with a duration of approximately three hours. At the end of each month, we have monthly mileage markers. This month’s marker is 180 miles in three consecutive days, 55 miles for two days, and 70 miles the third day.
Cycling has been a wonderful experience for me. It has become a passion. I enjoy the health benefits, meeting new people, and getting to see so many new and beautiful places.
These three tips have made my cycling journey a success:
1. Find friends
During the winter months in Iowa, it’s difficult to bike outside, so I joined a spin class at my local health club. I have a group of friends that get together a few days a week and spin for 30 to 45 minutes each session. I also have a close friend and former college roommate who I enjoy going on biking vacations with. Last year, we did a bike ride around the Chesapeake Bay area. This year we are doing a five-day bike ride around the San Juan Islands. My family enjoys recreational biking as well.
2. Compete with others virtually
Utilize a bike app. It’s fun and I enjoy the competition of comparing my rides to others.
3. Focus on recovery
Recovery starts with protein, as protein works to repair and rebuild muscle. My favorite way to refuel is with a protein shake.
Jo Ann’s Must-Have Gear
→ Fairlife Nutrition Plan Chocolate Protein Shake: These protein shakes are shelf-stable, so they are great for storing in the pantry.
→ Skratch Labs Hydration Packets: This is my favorite hydration and electrolyte replacement mix. It’s a verified non-GMO, gluten free, dairy-free, and vegan.
→ Clif BLOKS Energy Chews: These are easy-to-chew sources of carbohydrates. They help me sustain energy during my long endurance rides.
We want to hear how cycling changed you! Send your story and submit your photos to us via this web form. We’ll pick one each week to highlight on the site.
You Might Also Like
