Thirty Miles Before The Storm
- Richard Webster
- Jul 3
- 4 min read
Ken started his July 3 training ride a little after 7 in the morning, with the temperature around 70 degrees and no exact mileage goal in mind.
He just knew he needed to ride.
In his first video of the day, Ken said, “I thought I’d go for a ride, get ready for my training. Don’t know how far I’m going to go, but time will tell.”
That simple line says a lot about this whole journey. Ken is not waiting until August to get ready. He is putting in the miles now, testing his body, testing his gear, and learning what it will take to ride around Lake Michigan.
Five Miles At A Time
At about the five-mile mark, Ken stopped near Bullhead Pond, a place with family memories. He talked about taking the kids fishing there when they were younger and catching bullheads by the dozens.
It was more than a water break. It was one of those little moments where a training ride turns into a memory ride.
Ken’s plan for the day was simple: stop about every five miles, take a short break, drink water, and keep his legs moving. Those breaks matter. On a hot day, with hills ahead and a long ride coming in August, learning how to pace himself is part of the training.
Holy Hill And The First Big Push
Ken’s next goal was the top of the hill near Holy Hill. He knew that would put him close to his ten-mile mark and give him another chance to stop, drink water, and take a picture.
If you have followed Ken’s updates, you already know Holy Hill is one of his favorite places to ride. In one of the videos, he comes up on the view and says, “Wow, is that ever beautiful.”
That is part of why he trains there. It is not flat. It is not easy. But that is the point.
In a conversation after the ride, Ken mentioned meeting someone who knew the route toward Mackinac and talked about the hills up north. The man said there are hills around the ski areas, but Ken compared them to the hills he trains on near home.
That is why he keeps riding Holy Hill.
The Lake Michigan trip will have long miles, changing weather, and plenty of unknowns. But Ken is using the roads around home to prepare for all of it.
A Warning From Home
At the ten-mile mark, Ken took another five-minute break and explained that he was trying to give his legs a chance to recover before pushing on.
Then came the weather update.
Laralynn, supporting from home, let him know he had about an hour before a severe thunderstorm was expected to move in.
Ken joked that he had not told her he brought his rain suit, but he also knew it was probably smart to get off the road before the storm hit.
That is exactly why this trip will be a team effort. Ken may be the one riding, but Laralynn is keeping tabs from home, watching conditions, making calls, and helping him make smart decisions. On the Lake Michigan ride, that kind of support could make all the difference.
The Roads Worth Riding
By the fifteen-mile mark, Ken was riding near the other side of Holy Hill, coming around Hogsback.
He called it a beautiful ride.
In another clip, he rode through a shaded stretch of road and said he wished everyone could be out there with him. The trees formed a canopy over the road, giving him some relief from the heat.
Those are the moments that make the hard miles worth it. A winding road. A quiet stretch of shade. A view that makes you stop for a second and remember why you love riding.
Heat, Miles, And The Scout Motto
At the twenty-mile mark, the day was getting warmer. Ken said it was around 80 degrees, with the heat index probably close to 90.
He was hoping the rain would hold off long enough for him to make it home.
Then he said the part that sums up the whole training season: “My bike-a-thon around Lake Michigan is going to be in August, so I’ve got to be ready. Be prepared. The old Scout motto.”
That is what today was about.
Not a perfect ride. Not an easy ride. A preparation ride.
Thirty Miles In The Bank
At the twenty-five-mile mark, Ken took his last water break and figured he had about five miles to go.
It was getting warm. The storm was coming. But he kept moving.
By the end, Ken had ridden 30.33 miles in 3 hours, 53 minutes, and 11 seconds, burning 1,561 calories.
That is another training day in the books.
Not because it was easy.
Because it was necessary.
Every Ride Is Getting Him Ready
Ken’s Lake Michigan ride is almost 600 miles. Every training ride matters. Every hill matters. Every water break matters. Every weather warning matters.
Today’s ride had heat, hills, family memories, Holy Hill views, a storm warning from Laralynn, and just over 30 more miles of preparation.
And all of it points toward the bigger reason Ken is riding.
He is raising money for Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan’s Purse. Every $10 helps ship one shoebox gift to a child around the world.
Please follow along, share the updates, pray for safety, and consider making a donation.
Donate through Samaritan’s Purse here:https://fundraise.samaritanspurse.org/fundraiser/7346307
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