Getting Past the First Five Miles
- Richard Webster
- Jun 29
- 2 min read
Ken was out on his bike by 6:00 in the morning, continuing his training for the ride around Lake Michigan.
It was a beautiful morning, and before getting too far into the ride, Ken took a moment to thank everyone who has already donated and encouraged him.
“I just want to thank everyone who donated toward my trip around Lake Michigan to help support Operation Christmas Child. It costs $10 to ship each shoebox, and I really appreciate your support.”
Strength for the Road Ahead
Long rides require more than physical preparation. They also require patience, determination, and faith.
The message Ken shared from Deuteronomy 31:8 was especially fitting for this journey. God goes ahead of us, remains with us, and gives us strength for every mile ahead.
Ken summed up the morning simply:
“What a beautiful morning for a ride.”
The Hardest Five Miles
People often ask Ken what the hardest part of long-distance riding is. His answer may surprise them:
“Getting past that first five miles.”
Starting can be the hardest part. The body is still warming up, the destination feels far away, and there are plenty of reasons to turn around. Once those first few miles are behind him, Ken can settle into the ride and keep moving forward.
This training ride covered 39.79 miles and lasted just over five hours. The route took Ken through the Hartford, Slinger, Richfield, and Holy Hill areas.
Why Ken Keeps Returning to Holy Hill
Holy Hill has become an important part of Ken’s training. It gives him a beautiful place to ride, but it also provides the hills and elevation he needs to prepare for the larger trip.
Ken explained:
“Anybody can ride on flat ground, but not everyone can ride a 1,200-foot incline. And that encourages me.”
Of course, climbing the hills has one important benefit:
“Whatever goes up must come down.”
And when Ken saw another hill waiting ahead, he responded exactly as you might expect:
“That looks like a fun hill to climb.”
Every Mile Has a Purpose
Every training ride is helping Ken prepare for the journey around Lake Michigan, but the ride is about more than mileage.
Ken is raising money to help cover the shipping and handling costs for Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts. It costs $10 to ship one shoebox, and the goal is to raise at least $6,000 to help ship 600 shoeboxes to children around the world.
No gift is too big or too small. Every contribution helps, and smaller gifts can add up to make a much larger difference.
Thank you to everyone who has donated, shared the fundraiser, prayed for Ken, or encouraged him along the way. There are many more miles ahead, and we are grateful to have you following the journey.
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