Day 15: Indianapolis, IN to Crawfordsville, IN

• Team distance: 38.39 mi
• Team elevation: 636 ft
• Dedication: Uncle Tim and Gene, our host’s father
• Van group: Eli
• Host: The Queen & I Homestead Bed and Breakfast

Today was an interesting, challenging, and emotional day. It was my first day in water van, which entails setting up water stops for the team and chalking the route. Thankfully our route today was incredibly straightforward and short so we only had to do one rest stop and very minimal chalking. I was also driving with Eli, who did 4K in 2018, so that was a big help.

Eli and I found an awesome rest stop 20 miles into the ride and set up for the riders. We gave the food bins a much-needed reorganizing and had everything ready well before the first team rolled in. Our groups did get pretty spread out and we also didn’t have a host yet (more on that later), so we ended up hanging out at the park for three hours.

While I was there I got some news I had hoped I wouldn’t get for a few more weeks. Early this morning my Uncle Tim passed away after a six-year fight with cancer. I was told two days ago that his health had taken a turn in the last few weeks so this wasn’t a complete surprise, but I also didn’t expect it to happen so quickly. I am so heartbroken that he is gone and that I didn’t get to see him before I left for my trip but so relieved that he is no longer suffering. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.

I kept the news to myself more or less because I felt weird about dropping news like that on the whole team, but the people I told were so supportive. Like I said two days ago, I am with as good of a group of people to go through something like this as I could possibly be. Several of my teammates have already dedicated their rides to Uncle Tim the past two days, which means so much.

After I cried it out for a bit we wrapped up the water stop and directed the riders to another park in Crawfordsville. We didn’t have a host lined up for today but our killer host van squad got us set with an adorable bed and breakfast. We couldn’t arrive until 4, though, so we once again took a crazy long break at the park to eat lunch and, most importantly, nap. This is what happens when you give 4Kers free time and flat surfaces:

After lunch most of the team went off in search of desserts before going to the host. I got a good donut from Jack’s Donuts with Eli and took a nice nap in the van while he ran in to Walmart. Back at the host, Maggie and I coordinated an absurd Chinese takeout order paid for by Bailey’s mom, which was so generous, and most of the team finally watched the bizarre but funny movie Premium Rush, which we’ve been talking about doing since Day 1.

I didn’t take a whole lot of pictures today or have much to share as a result of being in the van and being emotionally and physically exhausted all day. Thank you to everyone who has been supportive the past few days. Go visit your loved ones and give them big, big hugs.

Until tomorrow,

Lauren