Skate4Water: Just Roll With It
It started with the idea to do a relaxed and leisurely adventure. In-line skating 119-miles across across the Florida Keys from Key Largo to Key West…
2 minute read
It started with the idea to do a relaxed and leisurely adventure with a friend. In-line skating 119-miles across across the Florida Keys from Key Largo to Key West crossing 44 total islands over the span of four days. 31-miles or an ultramarathon a day. New setbacks arise during every endurance challenge, and this one takes the cake — or (key lime) pie.
If you followed the Skate4Water on social media, you would have seen that Day 3 of the four day journey ended with a visit to the ER. The combination of skating fast and being abruptly greeted by a stretch of rocks did not bode well, leaving my knee and wrist in a sad, twisted state. The x-rays showed that no bones were broken, and the journey continued another 31-miles on Day 4 to reach the end, with a “pain as tolerated approach”.
Continuing the journey was hard. If there is one thing harder than finishing a 119-mile skate with a bum knee and sore wrist? NOT doing it.
My fear of regret is stronger than my fear of facing challenges. While quitting would have been the more reasonable and sensible option, it would have undoubtedly filled me with a sense of regret. Giving up on your goals is tough when you consider the alternative.
🤔 plagued with lingering thoughts of “what if’s” and “if only’s”,
📖 a feeling that a chapter in your life got deleted that belonged, or
💔 a gnawing in your heart + emptiness in your soul from having an unrealized dream.
My hope to you is this: let your fear of regret be greater than your fear of failure.
Every day, we are writing the stories of our life. Wishing you good stories to share, even better memories to keep, and strong wrists and knees to take you on all life’s adventures.
FUNDRAISING UPDATE
We did NOT meet our fundraising goal for the Skate4Water across the Florida Keys with the goal of ensuring access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene education for 500 people in Haiti on behalf of H2O for Life. We SURPASSED it!💦
Because of this, we’ve been able to fund one more clean water project in need of funding in Sierra Leone, the Kankalay Islamic School, meaning that another 1,800 students will have clean water and hand-washing stations at their school.
Thank you for empowering the next generation to grow stronger than ever. Supporters like you help make it all possible. Special shout out to Shutterbugs4Charity for your generous contribution to surpass the fundraising target. Learn more about all the water projects we’ve funded at katiespotz.com/impact.
Adventure Grant for H2O
Cycling, running, rowing, swimming, skating, even some yoga and barre. Thousands of miles have been taken by my body on land, river, or sea, mostly solo but never alone. Every journey has been a real team effort.
1 minute read
Cycling, running, rowing, swimming, skating, even some yoga and barre. Thousands of miles have been taken by my body on land, river, or sea, mostly solo but never alone. Every journey has been a real team effort.
The potential for impact is real when combining adventure and endurance challenges for clean water with 41,531 people helped across 13 countries and 93 projects. I’ve asked others to support my dreams and ambitions, and now I’d like to support you on yours!
We're looking for adventure athletes seeking to use their passion as a platform for good. Does this sound like you?
Bold, creative, quirky and passionate world-changers are asked to apply. Nothing is crazy when it comes to raising money for clean water. You are invited to apply for up to $500 in funding to offset project costs for embarking on your own adventure in 2022.
The fact that 1 out of 11 of our fellow human beings would suffer without access to clean water is crazy! But, we can change that. Grant winners are expected to create your own campaign by choosing a fundraising activity, setting up a simple campaign page, and spreading the word. Then, 100% of the funds you raise will support global water projects your campaign helped fund on behalf of H2O for Life.
Submissions due by March 1, 2022 and winner(s) announced on World Water Day on March 22, 2022.
Ride4Water: Let’s roll
Doing ultra-endurance events often puts my mind and body in the ultimate state of flow and allows me to be completely focused on just that one step ahead. During Run4Water across Maine…
2 minute read
Doing ultra-endurance events often puts my mind and body in the ultimate state of flow and allows me to be completely focused on just that one step ahead. During Run4Water across Maine in 2020 - running 138-miles nonstop across the state in 33 hours - mile 50 had me pondering whether there could have been a better, more fun way to see the state than by legs alone.
Ride4Water across Maine is just that chance to both pick up the pace by cycling and slow down the pace by stopping to discover the beauty along the long, rocky Atlantic Coast. Ride4Water is a ride I’m embarking 360-miles across the state of Maine covering about 60 miles every day from West Quoddy Head Light near the Canadian border to Kittery, Maine just across the river from the New Hampshire state line. Even more fun — my adventure pal + church friend Hannah is joining the adventure!
Here are some of the reasons I am excited to explore and share this journey with you!
🌞 Starting with the sun. The nation’s most easternmost point on the mainland is at West Quoddy Head Light in Lubec, Maine, the start of Ride4Water.
🍇 Riding past the wild blueberry capital of the world and, hopefully, fueling up on some of the best berries.
🌊 Passing through Acadia National Park and experiencing the thunder of the sea against the rocky shores at Thunder Hole!
Cycling past Old Orchard Beach, Portland Head Light, Kennebunkport, and beaches like Popham are all areas I cannot wait to explore and share with you.
But, most of all — water. The “why” behind what I do. Adventures can last a day or a week but the impact can last a lifetime. Funds raised will go towards funding a clean water project in Uganda on behalf of H2O for Life. Donations are encouraged and accepted here: give water here. There are too many people on the planet we share without clean water and we can change that, my fellow water warriors!
As always, I hope you know you can do big things even if you don’t believe you can. You can do big things despite having fears, worries, or doubts. You can even do big things even if you don’t feel like it all the time. All you have to do? Show up and start.
📣 Shout out and huge thank you to Giro, Garmin, Reelight, ORTLIEB, Sinewave Cycles, Spurcycle, Tailwind Nutrition, and Backcountry for sponsoring the Ride4Water! 📣
