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She Biked 1,200 Miles to Find Her Father’s Final Resting Place | National Geographic


I don’t seek out pain or want to feel

I don’t seek out pain or want to feel pain it’s more that I’ve learned really

pain it’s more that I’ve learned really

pain it’s more that I’ve learned really sticking with something and putting your

sticking with something and putting your

sticking with something and putting your time and your energy in on the other

time and your energy in on the other

time and your energy in on the other side of that you’re a bigger person

side of that you’re a bigger person

side of that you’re a bigger person I do seek out those kind of experiences

I do seek out those kind of experiences

I do seek out those kind of experiences where I am gonna be stripped raw and

where I am gonna be stripped raw and

where I am gonna be stripped raw and it’s not going to be comfortable not

it’s not going to be comfortable not

it’s not going to be comfortable not taking any risk in your life or ever

taking any risk in your life or ever

taking any risk in your life or ever venturing outside your backyard or out

venturing outside your backyard or out

venturing outside your backyard or out of your comfort zone it’s boring and

of your comfort zone it’s boring and

of your comfort zone it’s boring and really limiting my dad was shot down in

really limiting my dad was shot down in

really limiting my dad was shot down in the Vietnam War when I was just three

the Vietnam War when I was just three

the Vietnam War when I was just three years old and so was a house full of

years old and so was a house full of

years old and so was a house full of girls and my mom was on her own my

girls and my mom was on her own my

girls and my mom was on her own my sister and I were home alone a lot when

sister and I were home alone a lot when

sister and I were home alone a lot when we were young growing up that way taught

we were young growing up that way taught

we were young growing up that way taught us to take care of ourselves to be

us to take care of ourselves to be

us to take care of ourselves to be independent to be self-sufficient there

independent to be self-sufficient there

independent to be self-sufficient there was never the sentiment that girls don’t

was never the sentiment that girls don’t

was never the sentiment that girls don’t do certain things are backed that way

do certain things are backed that way

do certain things are backed that way even when I was living out of my car

even when I was living out of my car

even when I was living out of my car with no health insurance my mom never

with no health insurance my mom never

with no health insurance my mom never said well you’re not making the right

said well you’re not making the right

said well you’re not making the right choice

choice

choice she really empowered us and supported

she really empowered us and supported

she really empowered us and supported our decisions

I’ve been an athlete all my life

I’ve been an athlete all my life starting in high school and I’ve done

starting in high school and I’ve done

starting in high school and I’ve done rock climbing running adventure racing

rock climbing running adventure racing

rock climbing running adventure racing kayaking and most recently ultra

kayaking and most recently ultra

kayaking and most recently ultra endurance mountain biking people ask me

endurance mountain biking people ask me

endurance mountain biking people ask me why so many different sports what

why so many different sports what

why so many different sports what motivates me the most is the opportunity

motivates me the most is the opportunity

motivates me the most is the opportunity for exploration and personal growth most

for exploration and personal growth most

for exploration and personal growth most people when they look at a professional

people when they look at a professional

people when they look at a professional athlete they only see the wins but for

athlete they only see the wins but for

athlete they only see the wins but for as many times as you stand on the podium

as many times as you stand on the podium

as many times as you stand on the podium there are twice as many where you fell

there are twice as many where you fell

there are twice as many where you fell down

[Music]

[Music] as a professional athlete I have built

as a professional athlete I have built

as a professional athlete I have built up a strong exterior to not show

up a strong exterior to not show

up a strong exterior to not show weakness and be confident all the time

weakness and be confident all the time

weakness and be confident all the time in this ride down the Ho Chi Minh Trail

in this ride down the Ho Chi Minh Trail

in this ride down the Ho Chi Minh Trail to find my father’s crash site I really

to find my father’s crash site I really

to find my father’s crash site I really had to let go of all of that

[Music]

[Music] this journey became the focus of my

this journey became the focus of my

this journey became the focus of my documentary blood road this ride was

documentary blood road this ride was

documentary blood road this ride was hands down the hardest thing I’ve done

hands down the hardest thing I’ve done

hands down the hardest thing I’ve done in my life physically but really the

in my life physically but really the

in my life physically but really the physical part of the journey didn’t end

physical part of the journey didn’t end

physical part of the journey didn’t end up being the biggest challenge I don’t

up being the biggest challenge I don’t

up being the biggest challenge I don’t remember my dad but I really do believe

remember my dad but I really do believe

remember my dad but I really do believe that he brought me there to teach me a

that he brought me there to teach me a

that he brought me there to teach me a lesson that he was bothering me at this

lesson that he was bothering me at this

lesson that he was bothering me at this point in my life he brought me down the

point in my life he brought me down the

point in my life he brought me down the Ho Chi Minh Trail to teach me I’ve

Ho Chi Minh Trail to teach me I’ve

Ho Chi Minh Trail to teach me I’ve learned that I can use my bike as a

learned that I can use my bike as a

learned that I can use my bike as a vehicle for change whether it’s raising

vehicle for change whether it’s raising

vehicle for change whether it’s raising awareness and funds to clean up bombs

awareness and funds to clean up bombs

awareness and funds to clean up bombs and Laos or simply riding and mentoring

and Laos or simply riding and mentoring

and Laos or simply riding and mentoring women in my own community fear and pain

women in my own community fear and pain

women in my own community fear and pain are incredible teachers whether that’s

are incredible teachers whether that’s

are incredible teachers whether that’s learning to mountain bike and aged 38 or

learning to mountain bike and aged 38 or

learning to mountain bike and aged 38 or taking the biggest most intense most

taking the biggest most intense most

taking the biggest most intense most important ride in my life when we really

important ride in my life when we really

important ride in my life when we really educate ourselves the fear will

educate ourselves the fear will

educate ourselves the fear will dissipate or at least get pushed further

dissipate or at least get pushed further

dissipate or at least get pushed further down the road

”

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