Hello everyone,
Today was probably the worst day of the tour for a bunch of reasons. I broke a spoke out just before Regina and rode on a wheel that rubbed against my brake pads for 10km before realizing my predicament. I woke up this morning totally exhausted for lack of sleep, over training, dehydration and calorie deprivation. It was a rough start to say the least. I looked at my self in the mirror and didn't resemble the kid that walked out of his house on the 6th. I looked terrible haha. I had breakfast and just ate it because I know I have to. Food doesn`t really have a taste like it used to. Mashed potatoes are just carbs and steak is building blocks for Lance and Thor. By the way they have actually lost some muscle I think. My body is starting to eat its own tissue and muscle. The only thing that continues to grow is my core and oddly enough my back muscles from holding my body up all day.
Back to my day, I left the Motel wondering how terrible today would be and if I would just grind through it like most days. Turns out it was pretty terrible. There are 3 main compopnents to this ride: 1) the physical aspect of riding hunderds of kilometers everyday and the stress on your body that it yields 2 constantly feeding and hydrating your systems so you don't crash and burn the next hour or the next day and 3) the most important and most challenging aspect, the mental strength needed to endure 7 hours in complete solitaire confinement. Knowing that you still have to bike for 120km and your already exhausted and want to fall asleep every time you stop. I left the motel and suddenly I felt extremely lonely. This was a feeling I have never really felt before to this extent. I felt like I was the only person in the world. It was the most depressing thought! I started to miss home and all my friends and even a girl or two haha. It was actually horrible though....It took me till about 2pm to break out of it. I remember telling my mom how much I hate this ride and how I wish my friends were doing it with me. I don't like to whine and complain but this was different. Suddenly Global TV rolls up....the best timing. The interview cheered me up (people always cheer me up) and the day went on. I was going at such a slow speed because of a head wind and I was absolutely spent..I had only done 70km I think. As I passed through Regina I rode over the rollers on the highway and started to slow down. I kept on riding till I noticed how slow I was going. Turns out I broke a spoke...so frustrating! It was already such a bad day that this was just another thing to add to the list. I lay down in the small amount of shade that a sign provided and waited for my mom while bugs bite my arms. I swapped wheels out with my brother's bike and headed out yet again. I had no strength in my legs and was grinding along at 20km/h. I felt like I was going to pass out and the heat was incredibly strong. (30 degrees). I saw a sign that said Indian Head was 44km away. At my speed that would take 2 hours. This is were that mental strength is so important. I just stared at my feet and kept on chuggin along as Terry would say. I reached a small town and felt ablosultely done. I kept going as usual until my mom forced me into the car. I finished at 135km...I knew I should stop but it kills me to not hit my 160. I am way way ahead of schedule and will finnish 4 days early but thats not the point. We drove into Indian Head and found a beautiful bed and breakfast. Global tv texted me saying that my interview was removed because the dump burnt down and there was no room but they are posting it on their website. I just starred out the window and thought "today was worse than the mountain passes, at least I accomplished something back in Creston. Here I just failed" I didn't really fail but hopefully you understand where I am coming from.
Tomorrow will be another long day probably over 160km. I will get on my bike and ride for another 7 hours at least. I miss so many people and constantly relive experiences when I am on my own. I hate being by myself for so long its like a personal prison...its worse than a time out thats for sure. The one thing I can guarantee is 18 days from now I will roll into Queens. Nothing will stop me from reaching my goal. My mind works differently than most I think. I have so much focus and drive that it actually is a bit ridiculous. This year I was living by my self for a week at the house and it was just before end of term. My math mark was 65 or something terrible because I needed to do a bunch of work. I stayed after school till 6pm every night working on it and studying for 5 tests I had to do in 4 days....seriously. When I got home I would go for a run in the snow to wake myself up than sit down and study till 11pm. The first test i got 96, the second 94, than 95. On the last night I stayed up till 3 in the morning teaching my self a whole unite of identies and some form of anti derivatives and got an A on both. My mark was 93 at the end of term. I am not telling you this story to highlight my abilities in the public school system. I am telling you this because I want to show your that if you want something all you have to do is put the work in. This ride is the hardest thing I have ever done for so many reasons. Riding 160 plus is actaully the easiest part. Tomorrow is a new day and hopefully Manitoba. I am not even half way but the end is already in sight. I just have to bike there.
ps. Thank you to the women at Morse Cafe for giving me free pie, that was one of the few things that didn't just taste like carbs. Thank you to the guy at Esso, your dog is awesome and the gaterade was really helpful. Your story is a great example of why I am actually doing this ride. Thanks guys at the bike shop for fixing my bike spoke so fast, really awesome. To the girl at the gas station back in Christina Lake, your comment makes me smile every time haha you were so helpful! Lastly to the women in Subway, I think about you and your story often. I miss you too haha
Goodnight, I hope my body recovers.
A
7 comments:
Too bad about the rough day. Rest, water and fuel are your allies on this mission.
Did you see the link to the Creston paper?
http://www.bclocalnews.com/kootenay_rockies/crestonvalleyadvance/news/127915473.html
I hope this article helps raise a few more bucks. If not, maybe a few imaginations of some young people in town.
Keep going buddy, you're doing well.
Terry
Oh Adam, you are such a sweet guy. We hear you feel alone out there and physically you are on your own on that bike and every highway. Please know, however, that you are not alone in spirit. Everyday your friends are thinking of you and wondering where you are and how you are faring. Their parents (me), your community, everyone you touch with your story and your media sharing are all with you everyday and wishing you nothing but heartfelt good wishes. When your body is 'beat', remember that people with cancer struggle physically and emotionally everyday. You are doing this for them and your resilience is amazing. Rest, take good care, think of all the people caring about you when you are on the road... and for "Lance & Thor's" sake, get a new i-pod FAST! Hang in there Mr. :-)
Adam. Tough day but know that you are not alone. A whole bunch of people are aware of your story and thinking about you and reading the blog everyday.
There was some humor yesterday. You got upstaged by a burning dump! Most of us can't say that.
Grind away guy. With joy.
Dave
“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
- Confucious
Hang in there Adam, we are all praying for you!
Aunt Joan
My friend - an inspiring story and a testament to your will. I have been following you from the first day.
You need to ensure that you are providing your body with enough protein - try whey after the ride with chocolate milk. Eat a slowly metabolizing protein at night before bed, like cottage cheese. More protein the morning of, but an hour before you get on the bike. Eat as much complex carbs off the bike and stay hydrated and ensure ion balance during the ride (calories as well). A whey shake in the mid-day may also help if you can tolerate it. Try to provide energy for you and preserve muscle integrity. Sounds like you are into muscle catabolism, which indicates you are breaking down, despite your ion will.
Also, if you are four days ahead of schedule consider taking a day now to recover before you hit the Canadian shield. You must be strategic now or pay for it later. Take the day to eat and do almost nothing but go for a slow walk, stretch as much as you can, drink water and get into a bath. Take care of your legs and feet.
from a Victoria-based exercise physiologist
Hi Adam!
I just finished reading "138KM..worst day ever". That was a tough day Adam and I can see how today is one of those days when you would wish your friends were there with you in this journey. I for one am glad that there are young men like you, who think and know they can do great things on their own. You are out there accomplishing something so great – it is you and the open road. Out there in that great expansion that this beautiful country of ours offers, you are building courage, strength, relationships, and memories. With every struggle you overcome, you shape out of you something entirely new; like clay in the hands of your surviving spirit, creating building blocks of which real men are made of.
I look forward to reading your next post.
Luvy Gonzalez
Thanks everyone, Terry I checked out the link..have you checked out that bicep! haha I have forgotten, are you doing the trans rockies this summer? Or have you already done it. To "the parent" thanks so much. I read your comment today before I headed out to battle and it made me feel much better. Although I really am alone for 7 hours a day I have tons and tons of support from all over this country. To the sports physiologist, your probably right about the muscles being eaten away for quick energy. I am going to take a day off either tomorrow or in Winnipeg. My right leg felt a bit odd today. The hamestring felt like it was almost ripping along the back in musclular cords on the down stroke. I thought it could be over extention so I put an insole in. If the problem presists I will lower the seat but than my knee tracking on my left leg is off. (cycling talk). To Luvy, this certainly is character building. It is ultimatly making me a more diverse and better person through each challenge I come across. Thanks for the comments.
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