Just get started
The following post reminds us not to give up, to push past the pain no matter what is causing it and to cross that finish line.
The following was written by the amazing man in my life. He has always inspired me not to quit and when he shared this writing with me about just getting started by getting out the door, I knew it would inspire you as well.
Just get out the door
I signed to be part of the Gran Fondo Florida 35 miler as part of my training for my first TRI. The day started great, I “get out the door!”; since this was my first time doing this type of event, excitement was present. The race started, I was mid group, we go around the first right turn and it hit me this is real, this is grand!
As I continue in a draft of about 40 riders all was well; we hit downhill’s, uphill’s and I felt great, however after about 10 miles I realized I was having mechanical issues, my gears continue to skip as I was going uphill making me lose momentum, my cadence, my speed dropped too fast, after some miles of dealing with this issue in the San Antonio Florida hills, my body started to pay the price.
Then, one of the SAG members tried to adjust my gears and it made it better, however by that time I was feeling the effects, and fatigue was setting in. I get to the time trial section of the ride, around mile 17+, and I’m saying to myself you can do this, so I passed the timer, and I’m going, but now comes the test, I have to go uphill and I’m paying attention to my gears, trying to be really careful downshifting, it didn’t matter, my gear skips, I try to push, and push, and push, however, I come to a complete stop!
Riders are really good about asking, are you OK? Do you need help? As they drive by; and I said things like, I’m OK, I will be OK, I’m good, and sometimes these are all lies. As I walk my bike up the hill a group of riders came by and ask all the well known “do you need help?” questions, and I reply with another lie “good here”.
This time was different one rider stopped and said are you OK?
What’s going on…? I again said, “All good”, however, the rider starts to ask questions and try to help me, then I look at him again, and realize, that’s my coach! “Hi Brad… Hi coach!”
At that moment the real challenge began.
After taking a few minutes getting my HR down, it was time to get back on the bici, but this time I was not alone, I had someone looking out for me. Without going into every detail of my roller-coaster ride, I can tell you, I bunked, I suffered, I smiled (try anyway), I know I cried inside, still, I completed the race, I crossed the finish line and my coach was right next to me.
From the time he found me he never left, he brought me in, kept giving me hope, kept me focused, kept training me, shared his fuel, his knowledge, his kindness. He was able to replace the pain, the cold sweats, the negative thinking, lots of *$@(&#$ with horses, cows, beautiful countryside views, and all that nature has to offer as we rode (including the green lake).
The ride turned out to be 36.4 miles of combined heaven and hell, however, at the end, it felt like paradise, thank you Coach Brad, and thank you me, because I “got out the door!”.
written Istvan Diego
If you have an inspiring story that reminds us to just get started and get out the door and would like to share please add it to the comments or send it to the Ask ReBecca. Stories are what bring us all together, they help us realize we are not alone!
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