Susan & Tom Ride to Fight Leukemia
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Our prayers go out to all the families and victims of the recent terrorist act against our country.
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Please sign out guestbook!
WE DID IT!! READ TOM'S ACCOUNT OF OUR AMAZING RIDE BELOW. YOU CAN READ MY STORY IN MY LAST DIARY ENTRY - Sue.
Also, check out our new pictures in the photo section (Tucson series & more bike rides)-Updated 11/24/01
Tom's Story
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We made it! 113 miles across desert terrain in the Arizona sun. First, I want to thank everyone who supported Sue and me on this incredible journey. Now for the details....
I was recovering from a cold the day I flew out to Arizona only to be hit with diarrhea the day before the ride. With any endurance training you need to start "carb loading" and hydrating several days before the event. Well I lost all of that when I got sick. Then to make matters worst I only slept 1 hr the night before, mainly because I was nervous/excited.
The morning of the ride we started out at 7:00am and quickly got into a tight paceline with my other team members. For those of you who don't know, a paceline is when the cyclists ride directly behind each other to take advantage of drafting. This is very similiar to NASCAR racing. The benefits of drafting can be up to 30% less effort during a ride.
Around mile 14 we had a major accident. Two of the riders in our paceline got into an accident with another rider. It was pretty bad and both riders had to be taken to the hospital. Mary and Heather were 2 people I had trained with since the beginning and it was quite sad to see them get knocked out so early in the event. They are both relatively ok, Mary has some pretty bad cuts and Heather is really sore. The impact of the crash was so severe that the forks on the front of Heather's bike snapped in half.
After the crash I was left with only 2 other riders, Chrissi and Paula and the emotion of losing 2 riders. Ideally you would want 5 or more people in a paceline but we had to settle for 3. I should also mention at this point I'm not sure where my sister Sue is. She, I figured, was with her group in a paceline too. Around mile 50 we picked up 2 more riders to join our paceline and we were now moving really good.
At mile 65 or so everything changed. I started to feel very sick. I felt nauseous and wanted to throw up and I was getting chills. It was hard to admit to my teammates that I needed to stop and rest. The ladies I was riding with were the best. They gladly stopped and took care of me. They poured cold water over my head and sat me down in the shade. I didn't think I could go on. We stayed there for 15 minutes or more, normally we only stop for 5 or 10 minutes at most. The ladies told me we could go very slow because I wasn't feeling well and I could ride in the back of the paceline basically pulling me. What I didn't realize was my diarrhea actually had dehydrated me. I thought I was just getting the flu or something. But finally we got back on our bikes and continued.
At mile 75 we hit Freeman Rd. This is the hardest hill during the ride. It's about 4 miles long and its steepest point is right at the end. My team encouraged me and told me if I could make it over this hill the hardest part would be over. During the ascent I lost my team. I was too weak and too slow for them so I told them to just go ahead and I'll meet them at the next rest stop. I had written the names of my patient heroes on my leg just below my bike shorts. So everytime I was struggling up that hill I would look down at Shauna and Russell's name and think I can't let them down. I asked Shauna and Russell to give me strength. The strength that they had shown fighting cancer. I was in pain but no where near the pain they went through. There was no way I could let them down. I have too many people counting on me. If I have to walk across that finish line that's what I will do. Somehow I made it up that hill and to the next rest stop. My fuel gauge was on empty. I had nothing left but there was still 31 miles to go. How could I possibly go on? I rested there for 20 minutes.
I got back on my bike and figured I only need to make it to the next rest stop which was 12 miles down the road. I would rest there and repeat this ride and rest strategy. At mile 96 I had 17 miles to go. My recovery time was taking longer and I was feeling worse. I won't quit unless my body shuts down. Little did I know my body was shutting down. I had heat exhaustion and was severely dehydrated. I tried to drink but it only made me feel like I wanted to throw up.
When I got back on the bike I had 17 miles to go. I literally spoke out loud and asked God for some help. I needed some intervention from the highest authority, God. A minute after saying this, Team San Diego rode by in a 20 person double paceline. They were moving about 18 mph and I was going a pathetic 12 mph. Since I just left the rest stop I had saved up some energy and I decided this is a sign so I used everything I had to catch them. I'm thinking that once I catch them I can draft behind them. God had answered my prayers and it was my responsibility to take advantage. I caught team San Diego and settled in for the next 15 miles. We were moving at 20 mph and I was using less energy than before. About 8 miles from the finish line I see another cyclist from Illinois. As we were passing her I realized it was my sister Sue. How weird is that? I've travelled 105 miles across the Arizona desert and I run into my sister. I told her to jump in behind me because San Diego was pulling us in.
We were now around 3 miles out and we lost the San Diego team. The rest of the way was going to be on our own. Since I was beyond exhaustion I asked Sue to take the lead and pull me in. That's irony for you. My sister who supposedly is the slower of the two pulling me in. I don't remember much from that last 3 miles. Sue and I talked but I was so out of it I don't recall.
As we turned the last corner we saw the finish line. I pulled up along side Sue so we could finish together. I reached out to hold her hand and we simultaneously crossed the finish line.
THIS JOURNEY WE STARTED 6 MONTHS AGO BY SIGNING UP FOR THIS EVENT HAD ENDED JUST AS IT BEGAN...TOGETHER.
Shortly after I cross the finish line I collapsed on the grass, I had tears rolling down my face. I'm not generally an emotional person but I had given everything I had on that course. My dad and coach took me to the first aid tent. I don't remember much but I refused to go to the hospital. They wouldn't give me an IV unless I would go. After 20 minutes or so I was strong enough to get up and make it back to my room. I hugged some of my teammates and thanked them for helping me. This is truly a team event. No one person can do it alone. I'm living proof of that. My sister came out of nowhere to ride across the finish line with me. I didn't have the best time, it took us 9 1/2 hours to complete but I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
Thanks to everyone,
Tom
Our prayers go out to all the families and victims of the recent terrorist act against our country.
********************************************************************************
Please sign out guestbook!
WE DID IT!! READ TOM'S ACCOUNT OF OUR AMAZING RIDE BELOW. YOU CAN READ MY STORY IN MY LAST DIARY ENTRY - Sue.
Also, check out our new pictures in the photo section (Tucson series & more bike rides)-Updated 11/24/01
Tom's Story
-----------
We made it! 113 miles across desert terrain in the Arizona sun. First, I want to thank everyone who supported Sue and me on this incredible journey. Now for the details....
I was recovering from a cold the day I flew out to Arizona only to be hit with diarrhea the day before the ride. With any endurance training you need to start "carb loading" and hydrating several days before the event. Well I lost all of that when I got sick. Then to make matters worst I only slept 1 hr the night before, mainly because I was nervous/excited.
The morning of the ride we started out at 7:00am and quickly got into a tight paceline with my other team members. For those of you who don't know, a paceline is when the cyclists ride directly behind each other to take advantage of drafting. This is very similiar to NASCAR racing. The benefits of drafting can be up to 30% less effort during a ride.
Around mile 14 we had a major accident. Two of the riders in our paceline got into an accident with another rider. It was pretty bad and both riders had to be taken to the hospital. Mary and Heather were 2 people I had trained with since the beginning and it was quite sad to see them get knocked out so early in the event. They are both relatively ok, Mary has some pretty bad cuts and Heather is really sore. The impact of the crash was so severe that the forks on the front of Heather's bike snapped in half.
After the crash I was left with only 2 other riders, Chrissi and Paula and the emotion of losing 2 riders. Ideally you would want 5 or more people in a paceline but we had to settle for 3. I should also mention at this point I'm not sure where my sister Sue is. She, I figured, was with her group in a paceline too. Around mile 50 we picked up 2 more riders to join our paceline and we were now moving really good.
At mile 65 or so everything changed. I started to feel very sick. I felt nauseous and wanted to throw up and I was getting chills. It was hard to admit to my teammates that I needed to stop and rest. The ladies I was riding with were the best. They gladly stopped and took care of me. They poured cold water over my head and sat me down in the shade. I didn't think I could go on. We stayed there for 15 minutes or more, normally we only stop for 5 or 10 minutes at most. The ladies told me we could go very slow because I wasn't feeling well and I could ride in the back of the paceline basically pulling me. What I didn't realize was my diarrhea actually had dehydrated me. I thought I was just getting the flu or something. But finally we got back on our bikes and continued.
At mile 75 we hit Freeman Rd. This is the hardest hill during the ride. It's about 4 miles long and its steepest point is right at the end. My team encouraged me and told me if I could make it over this hill the hardest part would be over. During the ascent I lost my team. I was too weak and too slow for them so I told them to just go ahead and I'll meet them at the next rest stop. I had written the names of my patient heroes on my leg just below my bike shorts. So everytime I was struggling up that hill I would look down at Shauna and Russell's name and think I can't let them down. I asked Shauna and Russell to give me strength. The strength that they had shown fighting cancer. I was in pain but no where near the pain they went through. There was no way I could let them down. I have too many people counting on me. If I have to walk across that finish line that's what I will do. Somehow I made it up that hill and to the next rest stop. My fuel gauge was on empty. I had nothing left but there was still 31 miles to go. How could I possibly go on? I rested there for 20 minutes.
I got back on my bike and figured I only need to make it to the next rest stop which was 12 miles down the road. I would rest there and repeat this ride and rest strategy. At mile 96 I had 17 miles to go. My recovery time was taking longer and I was feeling worse. I won't quit unless my body shuts down. Little did I know my body was shutting down. I had heat exhaustion and was severely dehydrated. I tried to drink but it only made me feel like I wanted to throw up.
When I got back on the bike I had 17 miles to go. I literally spoke out loud and asked God for some help. I needed some intervention from the highest authority, God. A minute after saying this, Team San Diego rode by in a 20 person double paceline. They were moving about 18 mph and I was going a pathetic 12 mph. Since I just left the rest stop I had saved up some energy and I decided this is a sign so I used everything I had to catch them. I'm thinking that once I catch them I can draft behind them. God had answered my prayers and it was my responsibility to take advantage. I caught team San Diego and settled in for the next 15 miles. We were moving at 20 mph and I was using less energy than before. About 8 miles from the finish line I see another cyclist from Illinois. As we were passing her I realized it was my sister Sue. How weird is that? I've travelled 105 miles across the Arizona desert and I run into my sister. I told her to jump in behind me because San Diego was pulling us in.
We were now around 3 miles out and we lost the San Diego team. The rest of the way was going to be on our own. Since I was beyond exhaustion I asked Sue to take the lead and pull me in. That's irony for you. My sister who supposedly is the slower of the two pulling me in. I don't remember much from that last 3 miles. Sue and I talked but I was so out of it I don't recall.
As we turned the last corner we saw the finish line. I pulled up along side Sue so we could finish together. I reached out to hold her hand and we simultaneously crossed the finish line.
THIS JOURNEY WE STARTED 6 MONTHS AGO BY SIGNING UP FOR THIS EVENT HAD ENDED JUST AS IT BEGAN...TOGETHER.
Shortly after I cross the finish line I collapsed on the grass, I had tears rolling down my face. I'm not generally an emotional person but I had given everything I had on that course. My dad and coach took me to the first aid tent. I don't remember much but I refused to go to the hospital. They wouldn't give me an IV unless I would go. After 20 minutes or so I was strong enough to get up and make it back to my room. I hugged some of my teammates and thanked them for helping me. This is truly a team event. No one person can do it alone. I'm living proof of that. My sister came out of nowhere to ride across the finish line with me. I didn't have the best time, it took us 9 1/2 hours to complete but I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
Thanks to everyone,
Tom