Many regular readers know I recently had an opportunity to witness the Tour de France in person.
My wife, Carol, and I were about 50 meters from the Stage 7 Finish in Bordeaux earlier this month. It was simultaneously one of the coolest experiences I’ve had and one of the most challenging events to spectate because of its here-and-gone nature.
We parked ourselves on giant concrete slabs over an hour before the riders departed Hagetmau for their 109-mile ride through southwest France.
Having plenty of time sitting in the steamy shade allowed me to reach out to a potential guest recommendation from $80 for 80 Circle of Champion member, Jim Coleman. Jim thought I might like to speak to his former co-worker, Mark Yeaton, who, it turns out, rode his own version of Le Tour, departing each day for 21 straight days from his own driveway in Columbus, IN, riding a different daily route 100 miles at a time to roughly equal the 2,000-plus-mile overall distance of Le Tour.
Mark billed his ride as the Tour de IDES (International Disaster Emergency Services), a non-profit headquartered in Noblesville, IN, that hosts the charity Mark was riding for: Milk for Mothers, which supports young Haitian mothers.
Mark, who teaches sixth grade, strikes me as the type of teacher I’d have liked to have. With boundless energy and a positive outlook on everything, I’m fairly certain that will become evident during our Conversation.
To support Mark’s cause, Milk for Mothers, please visit the Donate page at IDES and scroll down to “Ride for IDES – Mark Yeaton.”