Over the hills we go

Sunday, I rode 53 miles along the Natchez Trace with some friends and man oh man, am I tired. On second thought, tired isn’t accurate enough; I think I’ll go with exhausted instead. But as with most hard and trying things, there is a great reward on the other side. As much as I’m dragging the day after, I’m so happy I rode. The Nashville JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes is only two months away. The course starts by Vanderbilt and catches the Trace off of Highway 100 near Franklin. Riding part of the course in advance helped me know what I’m capable of and helped me realize what to work on most during the next two months.

That was the purpose in riding Sunday, to get a feel for the course. I think I rode more hills on the Trace than I have cumulatively in my three or so years of riding. It was brutal. One particular incline, I stared at the white line and refused to look up. When I felt like I’d hit my limit and needed to stop, I gave in and turned my eyes only to see the hill crest. I was close enough I kept moving. It was a small mental victory, but one I’m proud of nonetheless.

The last 4-5 miles of the ride included a long, gradual climb. I thought I was going to die. Literally die. I refused to walk it, but I did stop a few times to catch my breath and allow my legs a minute without screaming. A couple of times my speedometer read 3.7 mph. I’m fairly certain a snail passed me at one point. More than once, I unclipped for fear of riding so slowly I’d actually tip over. When I say brutal, I mean it with every ounce of genuine description in my vocabulary.

My friend Matt stayed by my side and encouraged me the entire climb. He was fantastic, and I’m so grateful he was there. I was huffing and puffing and Matt was chilling a few feet away barely breaking a sweat ’cause he’s awesome like that. (It was like riding next to Jeff.) 😉 Eventually, we reached the crest and my car came into view. It was the most beautiful sight I’d ever seen — an oasis of shade and air-conditioning in perfect form.

We rewarded ourselves with a most-delicious post-ride meal at Loveless Cafe because let’s be honest, you don’t ride 50 miles on the Trace without a delicious biscuit at the end. In the moments I wasn’t in pain from climbing, I imagined how great this route was going to be in another couple of months. I pictured all my Ride friends from last year pedaling their way along the hills that I consider home. I smiled at the thought of all the new friends I’d make this year and knowing my family would be at the finish line waiting to cheer me through. It was a beautiful afternoon, and now I’m even more excited about September. You can support me and a cure for type 1 diabetes here. Sunday’s ride was one of the most challenging and simultaneously rewarding rides I’ve done so far.

So here we go. It’s crunch time riders. Clip in and take off. We’ll be here waiting and ready (with a plate of biscuits and a sweet tea.)