The salient focus of this podcast episode is the theme of resilience, encapsulated within the narrative of our distinguished guest, Cailee Conlon, as she embarks upon her solo journey through Ragbrai 52. Two years prior, she faced a formidable challenge when she had to withdraw from the ride due to a knee injury, a decision that weighed heavily upon her spirit. However, this year marks her triumphant return, embodying the essence of determination and personal growth as she endeavors to complete every mile. In our conversation, we delve into her profound transformation, exploring the pivotal mindset shifts that enabled her to confront her fears and embrace the arduous journey ahead. Through her story, we illuminate the notion that true strength lies not merely in physical endurance, but in the unwavering choice to persevere in the face of adversity.

The podcast episode showcases an inspiring narrative centered around the theme of resilience and the transformative power of endurance sports, specifically through the lens of Ragbrai 52. Nicholas Kleve, the host, introduces his guest, Cailee Conlon, a solo rider who embodies the spirit of determination and perseverance. Cailee shares her poignant journey of returning to Ragbrai after a challenging experience two years prior, where an injury forced her to withdraw. This year, however, she is resolute in her quest to complete every mile. The dialogue unfolds as Cailee reflects on her past struggles, the mental fortitude required to face her fears, and the importance of maintaining a positive mindset throughout her journey. The episode delves into the profound connection between physical challenges and mental strength, emphasizing that true resilience is forged in moments of adversity. Cailee's story serves not only as a personal testament to overcoming obstacles but also as a beacon of encouragement for listeners contemplating their own journeys in the face of uncertainty. Through her candid revelations, the episode encapsulates the essence of adventure, the significance of community, and the fulfillment that comes from setting and achieving personal goals.

As the conversation progresses, the episode further explores the nuances of Cailee's solo journey during Ragbrai, where she navigates both the physical demands of cycling and the emotional landscapes of independence. Despite riding alone, she finds solace and camaraderie among fellow cyclists, illustrating the communal spirit that defines the event. Cailee articulates how her initial feelings of isolation transformed into a celebration of shared experiences, as she engages with diverse participants, each with their own stories of triumph and challenge. This dynamic interaction underscores the idea that even in solitary pursuits, one can find connection and support, reinforcing the notion that we are never truly alone in our journeys. The episode concludes with thoughtful reflections on the importance of showing up—both physically and mentally—and the courage it takes to pursue one's passions despite the fears that may linger. Cailee's journey is a powerful reminder that resilience is not merely about enduring hardship, but about embracing the adventure of life itself, one pedal stroke at a time.

Takeaways:

• In this episode, we delve into the profound essence of resilience, exploring how individuals confront their past setbacks and emerge stronger through perseverance and determination.
• Our guest, Kaylee Conlon, shares her inspiring journey of returning to Ragbrai after a challenging experience two years prior, emphasizing the strength found in facing one's fears.
• We discuss the significance of maintaining a positive mindset, particularly in endurance challenges, and how mental fortitude can significantly influence physical performance.
• Kaylee illustrates the importance of community support during her solo ride, highlighting how shared experiences and encouragement can enhance the journey of personal growth and adventure.
• The episode underscores the idea that true adventure transcends mere physical exertion; it is about the courage to continue and the choices we make in the face of adversity.
• Listeners are encouraged to embrace their feelings and transform challenges into opportunities for growth, reinforcing the notion that resilience is a vital component of success.

Links referenced in this episode:

• ragbrai.com

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Ragbrai
• Sioux City
• Siouxland

Foreign.

Hey, hey, funky family.

Welcome back to the outdoor funky podcast.

Your home for grit filled outdoor adventure, unforgettable stories, and the freedom that lives outside the walls.

I'm your host, Nicholas Cleave, also known as Mr. Funky Teacher.

Writing and recording from Ragbrai 52, where the corn is high, the miles are long, and the stories just keep on getting better.

Today's episode is about resilience, about what it takes to face something you once walked away from and come back stronger than ever.

I met a writer out here who's doing this week solo Ragbrai, and her story stopped me in my tracks.

Two years ago, she signed up for Ragbrai and partway through the ride she made a tough call to pull out.

But this year she's back.

She's ready for a challenge.

She's working her way through the week and she is every bit in her mind to get through the week.

So we are excited to have her here with us as a special guest.

She is determined to finish every mile.

So I'm gonna go ahead and let her introduce herself.

Who do I have here with me?

Hey, I'm Kayleigh Conlon.

So welcome Kaylee.

She is a solo rider out here and she is out of Sioux City, Iowa, and she is out here to talk about her redemption ride.

She's brave, she's bold, and she's exactly the kind of person who makes Ragbraai what it is.

So I'm so thankful for you to be here with the interview.

First, what we're going to do is we're going to talk about a little bit about your comeback story.

Can you take us back to your first Ragbraai two years ago, your first Ragbrai experience?

What.

First off, what led you to sign up for that ride two years ago?

And after that ride had started, what led you to pull out of it in a matter of days?

So growing up in Sioux City or in the Sioux Land area, you see Reg Braai a lot growing up and I worked at the pools and like fitness centers.

Reg Brai would come through, I'd see it.

It looks so much fun.

And I just told myself that I wanted to do it someday.

And I had a surgery that made it so that I couldn't run anymore.

And running used to bring a lot of peace to my soul.

And I started cycling because I was like, hey, I wanted to try.

Reg Bra, I can't run.

So cycling seems like the best.

Next thing.

Let's, let's do it.

This is my time to do it.

So I Started training, signed up for Reg Bry 50.

It was the year that I had the PTO and the time and I ran with it, and then I was doing really well.

I trained enough for it.

When I got to day four, my knee started getting swollen and it was hurting, and I kind of had to decide, do I want to keep going and finish this or do I want to take care of my knee so I can do this again and figure out kind of maybe how I tweak training a little bit just to get a little bit stronger and go a little bit farther next time.

So I called my mom, and she picked me up.

And then kind of just from there, I just figured out how to train for the next reg bride I sign up for.

So, Kaylee, take us back to that moment, that moment when you said, I can't go on this.

My knee won't allow me to continue.

What was going through your head when you had to make that very tough decision to stop two years ago?

I felt very defeated and very sad because I was very.

My mindset was to finish, to just do all the miles, climb all the hills.

Don't walk up any of the hills.

Like, just do the whole thing from start to finish.

But I just.

When I called and talked to my mom and I and kind of verbally talked about it with her, and the.

The biggest thing I realized is that if I wanted to keep doing stuff like this, I had to take care of what I had right now.

So even though I felt really bummed out and really sad, I was like, okay, I don't want to stay in that mindset.

How can I.

How can I think more positively about it in the future?

So I was like, okay, here's what I can.

How can I pivot?

I can train more.

I can do more hill training.

I can do more strength training around the joint to make it stronger.

So I tried to focus on that mindset instead of the defeat that I felt or, like, being sad about dropping out early.

So talk to us more about that mindset, because it sounds like the thing that stuck with you after you had to drop out is you needed to first work on your mindset and get your mindset right, to focus on what you know you needed to do, even to get to the point where you would say, I need to try that again.

Do you want to go more.

A little bit more into detail on that?

Yeah.

So it's.

It's always so.

I kind of have been taught that it's okay to feel whatever you're feeling.

And feel it and then let it pass, and then you got to move past it.

So, like, if you can move past it, then you can shift and you can pivot and you can make it even better.

You can make maybe an uncomfortable situation, make it turn into something even better.

If you, like, switch that mindset, don't stew in the negative or, like, the pain.

Be like, hey, what am I going to do to make this happen?

Or, what can I do to make this better?

So that's where I just started trying to think.

If I started going back down the path to like, oh, I dropped out, or my knee doesn't work like it used to, I would just be like, no, okay, here's what I'm doing next time.

I'm looking to look forward to this next time.

So I started just really trying to focus on the positives.

And that's.

That's.

Positives is absolutely everything, you know, because that.

That ties right in with that mindset.

Having the right mindset.

There's so much mindset that goes into being successful with this.

Doing anything that is hard, anything.

Endurance over not just one day or multiple days, but when you look at a whole week, mindset has to be a part of this, and the training for this has to be part of this.

So I think you definitely leaned into the right thing when it came to being successful for coming back.

So let's talk about this year's.

Right now, you are doing it solo this year.

Well, you're not necessarily doing it, like, fully solo.

You are actually with the Sioux cyclists, but you really.

You know a few people in the Siouxland cyclists, but you're essentially doing it solo.

What's that big experience been like for you, riding and camping solo, even though you have a Siouxland cyclist to camp with.

But you're surrounded by thousands out here, but you're a solo woman on a mission to complete this rag.

Your very first rag ride completion.

Go ahead and talk about what that experience has been like.

Yeah.

My close family and friends have asked me, like, what does it feel like to go out there and be alone?

But I don't feel alone on Ragbrae.

And.

And it's.

It's honestly kind of freeing because you're just.

You're just going.

You have a mindset on where to go and where you want to end up.

But people just talk to you.

They're like, hey, how many years have you been on Ragbrai?

That's the most common question, I think, that people get or hear or ask each other, and then they might ask, like, oh, what's your favorite food this week?

So there's always, like, those opening conversations that lead you to just meet all these different people.

And then people just share a lot of things from their lives, like how they got into Ragbrae, or, like, if they're overcoming, like, an injury or a chronic illness or, like, why they cycle.

It's.

It's really interesting hearing everybody else's story.

So I never really feel alone on Ragbrai, even though I'm, like, biking alone.

You just meet so many people and.

And talk to so many people and learn so many things from different people.

So it's.

It's really fun.

And what would you say what's felt different this time around from two years ago to now?

When you think mentally, emotionally, or even physically, what has felt different mentally?

I keep visualizing, like, if there's a hill coming up, I visualize myself on top of the hill or going down the hill.

So I'm like, I know I'll make it up.

If it feels uncomfortable, I just need to push through it.

Because it's not forever.

It's just temporary.

And I think mentally, honestly, mentally, the toughest thing I think that I've faced this reg Br.

I got lost trying to find the campground one time, and that.

That made me feel really nervous because I. I followed the map and there was, like, a little dot.

And so I just.

I just put my kickstand down and I, like, just like.

Like, breathed for a little bit because I was.

You're physically exhausted, so then you have to try to stay, like, mentally positive sometimes, even when you're, like, exhausted.

And I was like, hey, I'm just gonna look at my map.

I'm gonna try to figure it out.

But then I eventually found them, but it took me like, 45 minutes to find the campground.

So, like, that was kind of scary.

So maybe in that moment I might have been, like, off.

Like, you know, if my friend was here, like, if my husband was here, maybe he would have thought of this or that.

But, like, I did it on my own eventually, so I just needed to take a breather and then I figured it out.

So, yeah, absolutely.

Just sometimes just taking a pause, kind of taking a breath, and just to think like, you did.

That's a great strategy.

So it has felt different in terms of the mindset, the.

Your emotions, your mentally feel like you're stronger.

And do you feel physically like you're stronger overall?

I do.

And I think maybe my first reg bra, maybe I felt a little overwhelmed I didn't know what to expect, but I know what to expect this time and I knew kind of what to focus on for training.

So I kind of went into it knowing.

I think just knowing what to expect made it, makes it feel a lot.

I just feel more confident this year.

So let me ask you this then.

Ragbraai, you could stay home and just bike the miles, just put the miles, you know, go out for a long 70 mile ride in Sioux City and.

And not have to leave.

But why do Ragbrai, why come out?

Why bike across Iowa like we're doing it?

What, what's different doing something like this versus just staying home and doing a bunch of miles?

I think a lot of people don't realize how beautiful Iowa is.

The nature, the wildlife, even just like the even stormed on us a couple nights.

But even the weather, like the fog and the hills in the morning.

Seeing the corn for some reason makes me smile when you drive past it.

There's just a lot of beauty in Iowa that you won't see if you just cycle around your hometown.

And then it's really interesting seeing all the different towns and how they're set up and the different people and the community vibes.

The food vendors are great.

It's like really fun trying something different in every single town that you wouldn't get exposed to in your city.

And then honestly, just the people like I.

It's just so much fun meeting all of the different people and everybody sharing their stories or just everyone's just silly and having a good time and it just brings a lot of joy to your heart.

Like it's very fulfilling.

So what, have there been any tough moments this week where that old voice of doubt shows up again and kind of creeps into your head?

What would you say to that?

There was on Wednesday, I think that was mentally the hardest day.

I had pulled over on the side of the road and one of the Air Force cyclists stopped by and talked to me and my eyes were kind of watering because I was kind of stuck a little bit on.

Is this going to happen every year where I'm going to get to the middle of Ragbray and my knees just going to kind of give out on me.

And I think honestly I just needed for my knee and my situation, I just needed a bit of a break.

But the Air Force guy that stopped and talked to me was so nice.

I apologize for kind of my like crying a little bit.

Like I wasn't sobbing, but my eyes were watering and he goes, hey, don't apologize.

For being human, you know, you're feeling a very human reaction.

And he told me about an injury he had himself, but he pushed on it and he wished he wouldn't have because it hurt him even longer pushing himself on it.

So I think just remembering that it's okay to stop and take care of your body and take care of your mind, because I took a break that day, and then if I would have quit, I wouldn't have experienced all the great things I experienced the next day.

And when I woke up, I felt.

I felt great.

Like my body rested.

I had enough food to eat, I had enough water to drink, and then I went, and then I cycled the full day.

And it was so much fun.

And it.

It wasn't hard, like, in the sense where my knee was in pain.

It was just like a great day.

And I was like, if I would have quit yesterday, I wouldn't have experienced.

Experience all of this.

I just needed to know when my body needed a break.

And.

And then I started off fresh the next day, and it was like, I think I want to make sure I remember that.

Like, you can quit, but then if you quit, you'll never know the other side of that coin or the.

What's going to happen next.

So just knowing when to take the break and then to continue your journey or continue making your way towards your goals, because you never know what's going to happen if you don't try.

What are you most proud of so far this week?

I think.

I think not giving up and then getting up the next day and then just going for it.

And I'm just.

I think I'm most proud to know that if I just took that break and woke up the next day, and I'd be like, I'm just gonna go for it.

Like, just realizing that I didn't have to drop out of Ragbrai.

I just needed a break and then I could continue.

And so how.

Absolutely, that makes complete sense, and I appreciate that.

How has this journey changed how you see yourself?

I think so.

So I'm 34, and a lot of my friends talk about how we're getting old, but I really don't think that age is, like, you're stuck in, like, this description that people, like, when they think of, like, old, they think of, like.

I think if you keep moving your body, then you won't lose it.

Like, you can still be there's.

Just because you're a certain number doesn't mean that you have to fit into a certain box.

Like, it's all up to you.

Like, you can push yourself and try to achieve goals with your body or, like, with your fitness goals, or, like, I think people just think that they are stuck in this box, but you're not.

Does that make sense?

It makes complete sense.

Yes.

Yes.

And.

And I think, like, so with that, what I mean by that is, like, I think I'm just happy that I don't.

I'm not.

I. I'm proud that I'm not stuck in, like, a mindset where I think I have to be a certain way or I'm stuck a certain way.

Like, I'm always willing to grow and learn and, like, push myself.

Pushing yourself is absolutely.

And I can definitely see that just through how you're sharing your story and how you came back, that story of growth, grit, resilience, and how you're living your life.

So let me ask you this now.

If someone's out there listening and thinking about trying something big, but they're afraid to fail, what would you tell them?

I think don't be afraid to fail.

Fail.

Be more afraid of not ever finding out what you're.

What you're capable of.

Go for it.

I say go for it.

If it's something, research anything involving safety, and then go for it.

Absolutely.

Great advice right there.

Great advice.

So we have a lightning round.

Now.

What's your favorite food so far on this ride?

Ice cream.

What's the best town vibe?

Cedar Falls.

Why was that?

What had.

What gave it the best town vibe?

Honestly, it reminded me of Sioux Falls and all the fun times that I've had there with my friends.

So that's why.

What's the funniest moment from the week?

So I was cycling one of the days and I heard a bird chirping.

And I looked over and this guy had a green parrot on his shoulder.

And I was like, hey, is that your pet bird?

And he goes, well, yeah.

And he has this pet bird, like flight train.

So the bird will leave his shoulder and fly around and come right back to him.

It was incredible.

What song gets stuck in your head while you ride?

So before I left for Ragbrai, my daughter, she watched this movie called K Pop Demon Hunters.

Sounds really silly, but the music in that movie is phenomenal.

So, like, the song golden is stuck in my head this whole week and.

Sounds like a song I want to hear, or it might get stuck with me, though.

What's the first thing you're going to do when you dip that tire in the Mississippi River?

Send the photo to my daughter and My husband.

Yes.

To celebrate.

To celebrate with your family and be proud of that moment, that moment of accomplishment that you did it.

You finished some.

You.

You did something hard.

You did something that you set your mind out to do.

Well, as we wrap up here with our closing reflections here.

Wow.

This.

This interview has been great.

We got to reflect on what it means to face fear and even to come back stronger.

We also celebrate the idea that outdoor adventure isn't always about strength.

It's about choosing to show up again.

And our guest, she had to choose to show up again.

She could have said, you know what?

I did Ragbrai.

I tried Ragbrai.

I got four days in, had my knee not work out for me.

And Ragbrai is just not for me.

But no, she worked on her mindset, then she worked on her physical health, and she came back stronger than ever, and she chose to show up again.

And, boy, if we want to do something hard, a lot of times it's just about choosing to show up again.

Of course, you need to have strength and you need to train and you need to prepare.

But.

But none of that strength really matters if you don't choose to show up.

And that's what this is all about.

Every morning, we have thousands of cyclists choose to crawl out of their tent, pack up their tent with their butts hurting, put on sweaty bicycle shorts and bicycle shirts, and choose the bike 40, 50, 60, 70 miles, day after day after day over the course of a week.

And that's a choice.

And our guest here has chosen to navigate the mental challenges of just being here, getting through the week after her setback two years ago and the physical challenge.

So what a perfect example of someone who overcame grit and growth here.

And we get to also highlight the power of a solo journey, not just a solo journey, because she's not out here alone, as she was able to share with us, because she has a community rallying behind her.

She's got family at home who's cheering her on, who's looking forward to that picture of her dipping her tire into the Mississippi river.

Who will celebrate this accomplishment with her?

We have cyclists who are biking alongside her, veteran cyclists along with new cyclists who will share words of excitement and wisdom and just everything in between.

Just loving being out here on a journey with her.

Well, we're alone.

We're not alone because we're in this together.

We're biking across Iowa.

Do you have any final, one final piece of tip or advice for any of the listeners out there?

If you're going to try rag Bri check out their website because they have a training program and a lot of like tips on what to pack and stuff like that.

And then in, in terms of resiliency, just, just remember, don't, don't.

So remember to feel your feelings but don't let them hold you down.

And just look for forward and figure out where to go from there.

Yes.

I love that.

That is great advice.

I want to thank you.

A huge thank you for being here with us, sharing your story today.

This ride isn't about the miles.

It's about the moments of courage and she brought that in every word.

If you've ever faced something that felt bigger than you, just remember it's not about never quitting.

It's about the choices to keep going with when you're ready.

So go explore, be yourself, get outside, get funky.

Bye now.

Sa it.