The Home Stretch
4 days until the ride begins! I am beyond excited! I have hit the training hard, ramping up to some big miles every day the past few weeks. Now I've reached my recovery week where I lighten my riding load and let my body rest and prepare for the 547 miles to be ridden next week.
The tricky thing about training so hard is it's so easy to get bored or just tired of always riding or working out. I had a few moments where I caught myself dreading getting back on my bike that next day. But I only had to remind myself WHY I was doing all of this to get my spirit back.
I do this to show support for those who are battling cancer, for those families dealing with the loss of a loved one due to cancer, for those who are in remission but can never truly be free of worry. This is me saying 'I've got your back.' I'm not a millionaire who has plenty of money to throw towards cancer research, but I do have time and friends and purpose, so I use those to help raise money for that much-needed research.
Thank you to all my family and friends who have donated to my ride, to all businesses who have sponsored my ride, and to those who have cheered me on during my training the last 7 months! And a special thank you to my husband Tim for always supporting me on my mission to raise money and ride the Empire State Ride!
The prep work is done. I'm confident I've trained as hard as I could have. Now to ride!

by Anastasia Austin on Wed, Jul 25, 2018 @ 9:27 PM

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Getting Close Now!
My ride is right around the corner. I'm closing in on my fundraising goal and I'm amping up my training. I've been fighting with the weather a little to find a nice day when I don't work so I can go out and ride but I make sure to at least hit the gym if I can't make a ride. I'm excited for next month's adventure and I'm doing all I can to make sure I'm ready for it.
This past month has been a big reminder to my why I am doing this ride. A few friends lost their battles to cancer and it stings to see a life cut short, but we also had one friend celebrate the end of her treatment and enter remission!
I also want to say a huge thank you to Crystal Run Healthcare for being a corporate sponsor for my ride, as well as Fire Maul and Crossfit Takeback! Thank you for showing your support in my ride and for joining me in the fight against cancer!

by Anastasia Austin on Tue, Jun 05, 2018 @ 3:02 PM

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NCAA Men's Basketball Boxes Fundraiser
To help diversify my fundraising efforts and give my generous supporters a chance to make some money too, I am running a NCAA Men's Basketball boxes pool. It's run just like Super Bowl boxes but instead of the Super Bowl, it is the Championship game of the NCAA Men's Basketball (Div. I) Tournament. No skill involved, just pure luck. Boxes are $20 each; winner of halftime score gets $400 and and winner of final score gets $600!
If all boxes are sold this means an additional $1,000 is donated to Roswell Park through my Empire State Ride fundraising page!!
If you are interested in getting a box (or several) please text me at 518-697-9133. Championship game is April 2nd, 2018 so boxes must be bought by April 1st.

by Anastasia Austin on Sun, Mar 18, 2018 @ 6:38 PM

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Every Little Bit Helps
Chances are you know someone affected by cancer. And I bet you would love to help. But maybe money is a little tight right now. I've been there! (And am still sometimes there!) I want you to know this: Every. Little. Bit. Helps. If you can only stretch a dollar this week, then donate a dollar!
There have been times I have literally donated a dollar. I saw a cause that was important and needed my help but I was pretty strapped. At first I felt silly donating just a dollar. But then I saw what happened. Someone else saw it was ok to just post a dollar if they were tight on money, and they donated a dollar. Then someone else did! And those dollars added up!
I encourage you to donate in any way you can, even if that's just a dollar!
Thanks for helping me fight against cancer!
-Ana

by Anastasia Austin on Fri, Feb 16, 2018 @ 5:47 PM

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