Living The Motto: Marquardt Bikes Across USA To Support Fight Against Children's Cancer
1/11/2021
Time and time again, Princeton student-athletes have embodied the department's motto of “Achieve. Serve. Lead.” One of the most recent Tigers to live the motto is Matt Marquardt of the men’s swimming & diving team, who is currently biking across the United States for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and its mission of treating and finding cures for children's cancer.
Beginning in San Diego, California, on December 30, Marquardt is on a cross-country trip that will end in Jacksonville, Florida, on or before January 21. He is accompanied by his father who is driving the route and staying in a hotel with him each night.
“I have always enjoyed pushing myself to my limits, and I have enjoyed biking since I was very young,” said Marquardt. “Around middle school, I remember hearing about people who biked across the country (some as a race and others at leisure pace) and thinking how cool such a challenge would be to undertake. In high school I raced triathlons (even qualifying for the U.S. Junior National Championships), but as I rapidly progressed in swimming, I decided to focus on that instead. When COVID-19 shut down pools across the country, I rediscovered my love for riding. Throughout the summer and into the fall, I would ride about 3-5 times per week for 30-40 miles at a time mainly for the joy of riding, without any intention of 'doing something with it' or a real purpose."
Marquardt found a purpose this fall when his Princeton swimming career was cut short.
“When the season was canceled in November, my swim career was effectively ended in an instant. However, as they say ‘when one door closes another opens’ and I suddenly found myself with six weeks of free time from December to through the end of January, something that I had never had since before high school because I was always swimming during that time. I started to think about different things I would do with that time. I wanted to do something that I might not have the time to do again in my life. I am heading to medical school next year so I won’t have much time after graduating before I start the next phase of my life. As I thought through different ideas, it became clear that fulfilling my dream to bike across the country was feasible. I have never seen many corners of our great country and what better way to get off the beaten path and interstates and to see those than by a bike! In addition, biking across the U.S. requires a special combination of mental and physical strength and endurance that I wanted to test myself against. The undertaking is so great that I wasn’t sure I would be able to complete the journey. The thought of failing was scary but at the same time very attractive to me. I wanted to push myself and see how close I could get to my limits, even if it meant failing publicly.”
Shortly after committing to the trip in early December, Marquardt felt a calling to do more than just ride.
I have always tried to live by Princeton’s informal motto ‘In the nation’s service and in the service of humanity’— to me this means serving others and doing my part to make a difference in the world— so I couldn’t let an opportunity to help others pass me by. My personal connection with cancer made that the obvious cause to support.Matthew Marquardt
During the first 11 days, Marquardt averaged 130 miles per day (going anywhere from 110 to 160 miles in a day). On day 12, he took a rest day because it snowed five inches in College Station, Texas, then on day 13 he only rode 77 miles because he had to start late to allow for the snow from the previous day to melt.
This isn't Marquardt's first time using an endurance sport to help support the cause of fighting cancer. When he was 15, Marquardt and his mother climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation to support a close friend who was in a battle with cancer.
“That was the beginning of my connection with raising money for to support causes related to cancer," said Marquardt. "That experience impressed upon me the good that can be accomplished when a community works together to make a difference. Sometimes, all that is needed is a spark to create an impact that touches hundreds or even thousands of people. This past year, two family members and a close childhood friend have been undergoing different forms of cancer treatments. As a result, cancer has once again had a particularly significant impact on my life and I wanted to do something to make a difference. St. Jude provides world-class care to children battling this disease, and they do so free of charge. It's a great cause to support, enabling a family to focus on caring for and loving their child without the stress of future medical bills that can burden families for decades to come is an incredible gift."
Matthew's Daily Schedule
6:15 a.m. - wake up
6:15 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. - eat breakfast, pack up car and leave hotel
7:30 a.m. - drive to starting point
8:15 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. - start biking
Every 45 minutes stop to eat a 100-200 calorie snack (apple sauce, raisins or almond butter)
1:00 p.m. - stop for a 45 minute lunch break (eat a bag of prepared rice, eat a box of deli meat, two bananas, bottle of coconut water, maybe a few gummy bears or some cereal)
2:00 p.m. - sundown (around 5:30 p.m.) - continue to bike and stop about every 45 minutes to eat a snack
Around 6:00 p.m. - get to next hotel
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. - eat dinner, shower, use the Normatech, foam roll and stretch, clean/maintain bike and prepare it for the next day
9:00 p.m. (or earlier) - lights out
You can follow Matt’s journey on Facebook and Instagram. He also appeared on a SwimSwam podcast, which you can listen to HERE.
