EDITOR's NOTE:  Mari wrote her "Invitation to Ride" back in 2007, when the Red Riders were just a brilliant idea.  With the help of Marcey Robinson and Sandria Barrett, Mari saw the Red Riders truly come into existence.  Now, this program is part of the Tour de Cure nationally - and has even segued to the American Diabetes Association's Step Out event!  We are tremendously proud of Mari and the Colorado Tour de Cure for making this a reality!  As Mari would say, "If you have diabetes, you are a Red Rider!  YOU are why we ride."

You are officially and cordially invited to join me. "To what?" you ask. I could say things grand and broad such as: to embrace life, to enhance humanity, to make a difference. In the end, my hope is that by accepting this invitation to do one relatively small thing, you will end up doing those grand things. This invitation is to ride your bike. No matter who you are, or your abilities, as long as you can ride, you can do this. You can ride as fast or slow as you'd like. I invite you to ride with me on Saturday, August 23, 2008.  It's the Colorado Tour de Cure and there are routes of 12 miles, 31 miles, 62 miles or 100 miles. You pick the perfect distance for you. Be on my team, the Red Riders, or start your own team with your family and friends. Just choose to ride. Here's why I invite you.

I don't consider myself weak or a whiner or a wuss, but when I tell people about the physical health challenges I live with, I think it's easy for others, and for me inside me, to think that I am. To counter that impression, I feel compelled to tell you that last summer I did a sprint distance triathlon 30 minutes faster than I did the summer before last. And that two summers ago I did 7 different century bike rides, and that I'm in training to do an Olympic distance triathlon this coming summer. I want to tell you that I do a minimum of 6 hours of aerobic exercise a week and on high training weeks I'll do 10 or more hours. Did I mention that in my free time I'm a high school principal? But telling you these accomplishments doesn't tell you why I want you to ride your bike in August.