I’m a big talker. Here I sit roughly 30 hours before the start of the Death Ride. Endurance events require a slow build of training and it takes a lot of time… time that got shifted to other life priorities over the last 3 months. Here’s a recent conversation with my friend Paul…
Paul: “David, are you ready for the 129 miles and 5 mountain passes?”
Me: “No.”
Paul: “Are you still going to do it?”
Me: “Yes.”
Paul: “That makes no sense.”
Actually, it makes perfect sense. Even if I do not finish, I will fail in a blaze of glorious effort. In other words, I will make the most of the experience.
Several cycling buddies recently reached out with public and private messages of support when I posted my doubts in Facebook. These people are the same ones I cheered on, coached and supported before and now it is coming back to me. They believe in me, so why shouldn’t I believe in me?
One thing I have learned from past events… if you plan to quit early, your mind will make sure your body follows through on that promise.
So I am planning to do all 5 passes this Saturday. I will handle the cold, the heat, the smell from the forest fire, the 15000 feet of climbing and lack of oxygen. I will settle in and slog it out. My mother taught me never to talk to strangers, but I will be doing that as well. The only thing that can stop me is an injury or mechanical failure.
Here we go, Mr. Goad. Let’s make the most of it.
Good luck David! I know you will make us proud!
However it turns out, Dave, you’re a winner!
Forget about making us proud, we already are. Make yourself as proud as you should be.
We should all have your resolve! Go do it! (Safely!)
Go brother go!
Remember those uphill drafting techniques we discussed and the saddle is just an extension of your sore keister:) Relish it all, highs and lows because that’s how we know we’re livin!
Go get it, David!! Whether you make it every single mile or not, I’m prouder than proud of you!!! I believe you’ll do it though:)