I’m currently training for a 100 kilometer charity ride and two triathlons this year, and this series is me documenting the process.

This is Part 5.

If you want to follow the journey, stick around.

See Part 1 here. And Part 2 here. And Part 3 here. And Part 4 here.

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Week 18: Slow Down

Since this was a recovery week, I figured it would be the perfect time to get my bike into the shop for a tune-up before the 100KM ride. Nothing is really wrong with it, but after months of training I thought it deserved a little maintenance.

Unfortunately, the bike shop was completely booked for the next couple of weeks. That makes the timing a little tighter than I would’ve liked, but thankfully the bike is still riding well. It’s one of those things that’s more for peace of mind than anything else, so hopefully I can squeeze it in before the event.

While training slowed down this week, the city definitely didn’t. The FIFA World Cup had arrived in Vancouver, and Canada was playing their first match here. It felt like everywhere I looked people were wearing jerseys or carrying flags. When Canada picked up their first-ever World Cup victory against Qatar, I couldn’t resist heading out for a run along the seawall just to soak up some of the atmosphere.

I didn’t really have a plan for the run. I just wanted to be outside and experience the big moment. Vancouver can sometimes feel like everyone is doing their own thing, but every once in a while something happens that brings the city together.

This week also marked my last FTP test before the 100KM ride. I had mixed feelings going into it because, if I’m being honest, this training block hasn’t gone exactly how I imagined it would. There were plenty of good rides, but there were also weeks where work got busy, my energy disappeared, or I was just trying to keep my head above water. 

There was a time when I would have beaten myself up about that. But lately, I’ve been trying to change that mindset and give myself a little more grace. 

Over the last five weeks, doing these FTP tests has actually taught me a lot about where I am as a cyclist. The number is useful because it gives me a way to track progress, but it doesn’t tell the entire story of my journey. There are so many variables that can affect a result, but when everything is condensed down into one number, it does give me a quick snapshot of how my week has gone.

And honestly, that’s what this entire project has really been about. The goal was never just about chasing a higher number. It was about being able to spend more time on the bike, handle longer distances, and build the confidence that I could keep going even when things go wrong. 

Looking back at all the FTP tests I’ve done over the past five months, it’s interesting to see the progression. I started this project at 182 watts, eventually climbed to 208, and then settled at 197. So going into this final test, I was curious to see where I would land and how it would affect my overall average. Thankfully, the test felt good, and when I saw the result, I was relieved to see that there was still some improvement. 

My final FTP test resulted in 210 watts. Leaving me with the five month average of 199. 

I think that’s a pretty fair result. And with that, the testing was done. There is no more fitness to be gained. The next step is to start backing off, recovering, and trusting the work that had already been done.

The next day, Sharon, Petey and I headed up to Whistler before continuing on to Pemberton for a little weekend getaway.

We dropped Sharon off at the Scandinave Spa for the afternoon, and while she was relaxing, Petey and I went on an adventure. There was a trail that led straight from the spa, all the way to the Lost Lake. We spent a couple of hours walking at whatever pace we felt like.

Walking through the forest with Petey turned out to be a pretty great way to spend the day too. It was quiet, the weather was beautiful, and after spending so much time thinking about training, it was nice to have an afternoon where there wasn’t anything I needed to accomplish.

Eventually we made our way up to Pemberton, which is somewhere I’ve driven through a handful of times but never really stopped to explore. It’s a much smaller town than I expected. Most people probably remember it because of the music festival that used to be held there years ago.

Shortly after visiting Pemberton, we heard on the news that they were on the verge of evacuation due to forest fires. I’m glad we got a chance to visit before that. 

We stayed in a simple little hotel for the night, and because Petey still isn’t comfortable being left alone in a hotel room, we grabbed some takeout and brought it back instead of going out for dinner. It definitely wasn’t a fancy vacation, but having Petey there was worth it. We also knew that every new experience like this helps build his confidence, so the more we can gently push him outside of his comfort zone now, the more adventures we can have in the future. 

Most of the trips Sharon and I take these days are built around races or training weekends, so it was refreshing to spend a couple of days away without having to think about start times or whether we’d packed all the right gear. It was just a chance to recharge a little before everything starts ramping up again.

When we got back to Vancouver on Sunday, the World Cup celebrations were going strong. This time I decided to take a run down to catch the Egyptian supporters marching toward BC Place before their match against New Zealand. This was such an awesome experience and a pretty fitting way to end the week.

Training was definitely a little more relaxed this week, but life certainly wasn’t. And sometimes, taking a step back from the bike for a few days is exactly what I need before the next big push.

Week 19: Small Victories

Nutrition has been a big part of this training block. Sure, I’ve been practicing eating my energy gels during my rides, but this week I also wanted to focus on fueling off the bike. I started tracking a full day of eating just to make sure I was getting enough food in.

I started with a bowl of cereal for breakfast. Sharon made some Rice Krispies squares, and I also had one of these Builder Bars during the day. For lunch, Sharon made me a chicken and rice dish, and while I was watching the NHL Draft, I had one of these protein drinks. I was pretty excited to see the Canucks draft Malhotra. Then, to finish off the day, I made myself a big breakfast for dinner.

You might have noticed a bit of a theme here. A lot of the food I ate was basically breakfast food, and that’s because my ChatGPT coach kept reminding me to eat breakfast. So, I figured I might as well lean into it.

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With training winding down and our trip to Pemberton out of the way, I finally had some free time to enjoy all the World Cup festivities happening around Vancouver. It couldn’t have worked out better because there were six matches taking place that day.

I met up with my buddy Tyler. You might remember him from the camping trip a few weeks ago. We started the day at the FIFA Fan Fest at the PNE to watch England take on Panama. After that, we headed downtown to Jack Poole Plaza to catch Colombia versus Portugal, and from there we somehow ended up on Granville Street.

Vancouver has had such a great atmosphere during the World Cup, and it’s been nice seeing people from all over the world filling the streets, cheering for their teams and just enjoying this city that I love. 

The next morning came a little earlier than I would’ve liked because Sharon was running a half marathon. The plan was to drive her to the start, head back home, ride my indoor bike for half an hour and then jump on my road bike and cheer her on at the finish line. 

Watching races always gives me mixed emotions. Lately I’ve been feeling pretty burnt out with my own training. I’ve still been showing up and getting the rides done, but some of that excitement I’d felt at the beginning of the year had started to fade.

It’s hard not to imagine what the racers were feeling as they came down that final stretch. You can see the relief on their faces and sometimes complete exhaustion. Watching Sharon cross the finish line gave me a little bit of that excitement back. I’m incredibly proud of her.

Afterwards, I rode back home to meet up with my mate, Gareth because there was one more soccer match I couldn’t miss. Canada versus South Africa. It was a tense game. We were dominating but not capitalizing and it felt at any moment we would blow it. But when Canada finally scored and got the win, we were as happy as we were relieved. 

It ended up being one of those weekends where training just became part of the background. Instead, the focus shifted to the little things like taking care of my bike, planning my fueling strategy, and finding inspiration again. Those are small victories, the kind of things that add up over time. 

Week 20: Expectations

On Canada Day, I had something a little different on the calendar. We headed out to White Pine Beach for a 2-kilometre open water swim race. I did the 1-kilometre event last year and had such a good experience that I knew I wanted to come back. More than anything, it’s great practice for triathlon because you just can’t recreate the swim start at a local pool.

No matter how much time you spend swimming laps, nothing really prepares you for fifty to a hundred people all heading toward the same buoy at the same time. It’s chaotic, and it’s something I know I need to get more comfortable with.

I also haven’t been swimming as much as I’d hoped this year. Most weeks I’ve only been getting to the pool once, usually swimming somewhere between 800 and 1,200 metres. So jumping into a 2-kilometre race was definitely a step up.

The T100 is only a couple of months away, and the swim is the full 2 kilometres. I wanted to prove to myself that I could cover the distance. I also knew this race would show me where I still need to improve.

Standing on the beach before the start, I could feel those familiar nerves creeping in. A lot of triathlon is physical, but so much of it is mental too. Just putting yourself on the start line and settling those nerves is part of the experience. I decided to just lie down quickly to regroup. 

When the horn went, everyone took off. The first couple hundred metres were exactly what I expected, but I couldn’t control it. I took off a little faster than I should. And before I knew it, I was trying to catch my breath and calm myself down. I looked up and realized I had gone off course. 

When I looked back at the footage afterwards, I figured out what happened. Here I am motoring along. And here, we see another swimmer come out from the right and push me to the left, and before I knew it, I was following the wrong line. 

It wasn’t anybody’s fault. These things happen and it was a good reminder that I can’t just follow the person in front of me. I still have to look up regularly and make sure I’m swimming where I actually want to go.

Once everything spread out, the swim became much more enjoyable. I settled into my own pace, stopped worrying about everyone around me, and just focused on swimming my race. There were plenty of faster swimmers splashing past me and then disappearing into the distance, but trying to keep up with them wasn’t even an option. 

The biggest surprise was how tired my arms became after about 1,500 metres. That honestly wasn’t even something I had thought about going into the swim. Two kilometres is long enough that fatigue starts creeping in, and it’s a good reminder that it’s definitely something I’ll need to work on before the T100 because, unlike this race, getting out of the water is only the beginning.

Eventually I made my way back to the beach and crossed the finish line in 51:52. Overall, it felt great knowing I’d completed my first-ever 2-kilometre swim. But it was very far from perfect. 

Even with my FORM goggles helping me navigate, I still swam about 100 metres farther than I needed to. I was hoping to finish somewhere around forty minutes, but I ended up in the fifty-minute range instead. Honestly, I’m okay with that.

This race was about learning what 2 kilometres actually feels like. If anything, it reminded me that while the 100KM ride has been my main focus lately, I can’t completely ignore swimming. Once the ride is behind me, it’ll need to start spending more time back in the pool.

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It’s the final week of training and there were still a few things left to take care of before the event, including picking up my race package. Getting that done early made the weekend a little less stressful, so it was nice to have one less thing to think about.

And there was a lot to think about with my mind still on the World Cup. We got up early on Saturday morning to watch Canada take on Morocco. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the result we were hoping for, but I still couldn’t help feeling proud finishing where we did. After all, when you look at the results, we exceeded expectations. 

Then came Sunday. The final long ride of the entire training block. It’s hard to believe how quickly the last few months have gone by. To mark the occasion, I broke out a new pair of Outway socks. These ones are called Jasper.

For the ride itself, I didn’t want to overthink it. I decided to finish the training block the same way it started, with a few laps around Stanley Park. The weather couldn’t have been much better.

By the time I rolled back home, I realized there wasn’t really much else I could do. The training was done. I’d ridden the kilometres, learned a few lessons, made plenty of mistakes, and hopefully become a stronger cyclist because of them.

Do I feel completely prepared? I don’t know if anyone ever does. But I’ve put in the time that I had. I’ve balanced this with work, with life, and with everything else that’s happened over the last few months. This isn’t my career, and there isn’t any pressure for me to prove something to anyone. I signed up because I wanted to see if I could do it. Now it’s time to find out.

Week 21 – 110 Percent

On Friday, we travelled to Chilliwack and stayed at a hotel with Petey, who was, as always, extremely excited about the adventure. 

For dinner, I grabbed some food from a place called Bozzini’s. It was a real lifesaver the last time I was here for the Cultus Lake Triathlon, so I thought I would give it another try. This time, I went with the lasagna special. It was good, but it didn’t quite compare to the spaghetti and meatballs I had before.

MS Bike Chilliwack Day 1

The next morning was finally here. The 100KM ride. The weather was rainy, but we were really hoping it would pass. I got the bike ready, packed everything up, and we headed out toward the start line.

The charity ride was MS Bike, an event that helps bring resources and awareness to multiple sclerosis. It’s an incredible cause, and I want to take a moment to thank everyone who donated and everyone who supported this charity and my fundraiser. It meant a lot to have people behind me throughout this journey.

Looking at the 100KM course, it honestly seemed a little complicated. I did as much research as I could beforehand, studying the route and trying to understand where I would be going, but I figured once I was out there, I would just have to trust the process and follow the signs.

My bike was ready. I had arrived in one piece. But I was more nervous than I expected. I couldn’t even finish my croissant. After months of training, this was the day I had been working toward, and now there was nothing left to do except start.

After the opening ceremony, everyone got into position. We were all ready to head out, still unsure of exactly what the day would bring. It was still a little wet outside, but we could see some breaks in the clouds and hoped the worst of the weather had already passed. 

With that, we were off. All those long rides had finally led to this moment. This event marked a milestone, not just in my cycling journey, but in this entire year. I remember when this day felt so far away. But now it was here, and before I know it, it will just become another memory.

That’s the interesting thing about events like this. Of course, you can always go out and ride a long distance by yourself, but having an event on the calendar gives you something to work toward. It creates a reason to show up, even on the days when motivation is low. And that’s what makes these challenges worth doing.

The first 10 kilometres were really smooth. We cycled out of town and started heading toward the farmland, and I followed a small group that slowly began to thin out as we continued. Eventually, I found myself riding mostly alone, with the occasional encounter with other participants along the way.

This part of the route wasn’t completely unfamiliar to me either. A lot of this section through Yarrow was part of the route from my triathlon the year before, so it was nice to recognize some of the roads and surroundings.

That being said, I did miss my first turn of the day on the way to the first rest stop. Luckily, I caught it pretty quickly, turned around, and got myself back on course. Following the signs was going to be one of the biggest challenges for me.

The first rest stop was a nice opportunity to take a quick break. It was located at a park, and I forced myself to eat something. So far, everything was feeling good. I was comfortable on the bike, my energy was solid, and I was exactly where I wanted to be.

The route to the second rest stop took us deeper through the farmland, and this was probably one of my favourite parts of the entire ride. The scenery was incredible. It felt like something straight out of Jurassic Park. If the rest of the ride was going to feel this calm and enjoyable, I was going to have a great day.

Most of this section I was riding on my own, but every once in a while I would catch up with another rider, share the road for a little bit, and then continue on. Just like I had practiced during training, I consumed one of my energy gels and kept rolling. I was holding a steady pace and everything felt under control.

Then I rolled into the second rest stop, which was Birchwood Dairy Farm. Apparently, the ice cream there is supposed to be amazing, but I didn’t get a chance to try it. Instead, I settled in for a moment, grabbed my lunch, and took a look at what was waiting for me. It came with a cookie, a salad, and a wrap, and honestly, it was a lot more food than I expected. I ended up eating about half, saving the rest for later, and then got back on the road.

Leaving the second rest stop, I headed out on my own. This section slowly took us away from the farmland, leaving Chilliwack and making our way toward Abbotsford. There were a lot more turns than I expected, and eventually, I caught up with a couple other cyclists.

Looking back, what I should have done was stay behind them and let them lead the way because they clearly knew where they were going. Instead, feeling strong and confident, I decided to pass them and take the lead. That was my first mistake.

My second mistake came shortly after. At first, everything seemed normal, but eventually I noticed that the bike lanes and shoulders had disappeared. Nothing seemed too strange at first, but then I came up to a confusing roundabout with no obvious signs, and the road ahead just didn’t feel right. 

I tried to remember the last sign I had seen, and I was pretty sure it told me to continue straight. Unfortunately, as I expected might happen at some point during this ride, I was lost.

I doubled back to the roundabout and figured if I was on the right path, I would eventually see other riders come through and I could just follow them again. But nobody came. That confirmed it. I had missed a turn.

Looking back now, I know exactly where it happened. Rewind. Right here. This was the sign I missed. That turn would have taken me up and around a much more forgiving climb. Instead, I was left standing at this roundabout trying to figure out my next move.

I could turn back and try to find the missed sign, but at the time I wasn’t even completely sure where I had gone wrong. Or, according to the map, I could take Vye Road and reconnect with the route that way.

And this is where Vye Road entered the story. The camera doesn’t fully capture how steep Vye Road was, but it was roughly around a 9-degree climb for a block or two. 

The decision was difficult because either option was going to cost me energy. But, I had to decide, “So screw it, let’s climb the hill.”

It was not a pleasant climb. I had to cross a driveway to an industrial area, and there were screws and bolts scattered all along the pavement. I carefully picked my way around them as I climbed, which added another layer of stress and difficulty to an already annoying situation.

This was the first major adversity of the 100KM ride. But I survived. Eventually, I met up with a few more riders and was able to laugh about the whole thing. That’s part of going on adventures. 

The section toward the third rest stop took us along a road beside the Abbotsford airport, and it felt like it went on forever. But eventually, we made the turn toward Aldergrove Regional Park, and I let out a sigh of relief. I didn’t stay there too long. Just a quick 10-minute break, a chance to reset, and then I was back on the road.

This was the farthest point of the ride. From here, I was officially heading back toward the finish, and unlike the first half of the course, this section was supposed to be mostly downhill. After the climb up Vye Road, I was very much looking forward to that.

A large part of this section took us through farmland again, and it was one of the most peaceful parts of the ride. The roads were quiet, the scenery was beautiful, and it was a nice reminder of why I enjoy cycling.

This also felt like the perfect time to take one of my caffeinated gels. Yes, caffeine was exactly what I needed. Up until this point, I felt like my fueling had gone really well. The rest stops, the snacks, and the wrap I had earlier had all helped keep me going. This was different from the triathlon, where nutrition was much more limited, so I wanted to take advantage of having access to more food and make sure I was staying ahead of any issues.

I turned back into a residential area, and that’s when I noticed something strange on the road. At first, I thought they were leaves blowing across the pavement, but when I looked closer, I realized they were tiny little frogs hopping their way across the street. I tried my best to avoid them, but there were so many. 

Looking back, I guess all those things on the road were a bit of foreshadowing. Because not long after that… It happened. I got a flat tire. And I could almost feel it coming. We were riding along that same stretch of road. Yep. You guessed it. Back on Vye Road, this time heading in the opposite direction. 

I heard it before I felt it. The sound of air slowly escaping from my tire. It was a sound I hadn’t experienced before, but I immediately knew something was wrong. It was my back tire.

When I stopped to inspect the damage, I saw the problem right away. A piece of glass had pierced the tire and created a small gash. 

In that moment, I had a decision to make. I could try to repair the flat myself, which I knew could take a long time and potentially create more problems, or I could contact the support team and let them help me. I decided the best option was to get support.

The plan was for them to pick me up, bring me back to the second rest stop, and get the tire repaired there. So, I waited at a goat farm, which was probably one of the more random places I could have ended up. Thankfully, the awesome MS Bike support team arrived and picked me up.

The disappointing part was that I missed the downhill section of the big hill I had climbed earlier. The funny thing was, while I wasn’t supposed to climb that hill in the first place, the actual route would have taken me down it.

Checking the map after, it’s pretty funny. Almost all of my bad luck during this ride happened within this one small section of road. That one block radius around Vye Road really became the unofficial nemesis of the day.

The car ride back to Birchwood Dairy Farm gave me a chance to reset. Thankfully, the mechanic were ready and available, and so was the rest of my lunch that I had saved earlier. The flat was fixed quickly, taking less than ten minutes, and from there I decided the best thing I could do was take a moment and eat the rest of my food before heading back out.

I asked the people driving me back how much distance I had missed and how many kilometres I would need to make up. The last thing I wanted to do was go back out onto Vye Road, but I also didn’t want to feel like I had skipped a part of the ride.

Thankfully, it was only about five kilometres. That really wasn’t too far. So I made a plan. I would ride 2.5 kilometres out into the farmland and then turn around and come back. After that, I would continue the route and make my way back toward the finish.

After everything that had happened over the previous couple of hours, it was actually really nice to be back in the farmland. This was probably the most peaceful section of the entire ride. I was alone again, just riding through the countryside, slowly making my way toward the end.

Then it was finally happening. The feeling that this ride might never actually end. After hours on the bike, after all the excitement and chaos of the day, I was getting tired.

I knew it was real when groups of older riders started passing me. I was impressed. That’s something I aspire to now. The days of thinking I’m going to become a professional athlete are behind me. I’m not exactly in a position to win any races right now, but maybe when I’m in my 50s. For now, the goal was simply to keep moving forward.

I eventually reached the final rest stop, although I didn’t even realize it was there until I arrived. Looking back, I probably should have stopped, eaten something, and taken a proper break. But at that point, I felt like I was close enough to the finish line that I didn’t want to spend any more time standing still. So I got back on the bike.

Not long after leavin g, I had a group of children shouting at me from the side of the road. I’m pretty sure they were cheering me on, although it’s sometimes hard to tell what kids are actually saying these days.

The final stretch continued to be a solo grind. This was when I started checking the clock more often. I knew Sharon and Petey would be waiting for me at the finish line, and that thought was becoming one of my biggest sources of motivation. I was excited to see them, excited to finally stop riding, and excited to just sit down. But the road seemed to keep going.

One of the difficult things about this section was that it became hard to tell exactly where I was going. A lot of the roads started to look the same, and I felt like I should have been heading back toward the mountains, somewhere closer to the highway and the Heritage Centre.

But at different points, it felt like I was going in the complete opposite direction. Then I noticed I had already gone past 100. Now I was approaching 110 kilometres. Immediately, that familiar doubt started creeping back in. Did I take another wrong turn? Was I somehow going the wrong way again?

Today, a lot had gone wrong. I got lost. I climbed a hill I wasn’t supposed to climb. I got a flat tire. I had to get picked up and restart. I was tired, and I was questioning myself. But I kept going. Slowly. And eventually, I made it.

And just like that, it was over. It was a full day, and honestly, I think I experienced almost everything you could experience during a 100KM ride.

Seeing Sharon and Petey waiting for me at the finish line was probably the best reward I could have asked for. After spending most of the day alone on the bike, seeing familiar faces brought everything back into perspective.

Then came the beer, the pasta, and just getting to sit down and enjoy the atmosphere. I took some time to appreciate the whole event, the massive venue, which I assume is usually used for live animals, and the feeling of finally being done.

But I wasn’t done. One thing I haven’t really mentioned is that this was actually a two-day event. There was another ride happening the following day, so I couldn’t celebrate too much because there was still another challenge waiting.

Tomorrow would be a 40KM ride, including an “apparently” big hill climb near the end. So for now, I headed back to the hotel, rested with Petey, and watched the Argentina versus Switzerland semifinal game. It was exactly what I needed.

MS Bike Chilliwack Day 2

The next morning, I woke up feeling surprisingly fresh. My legs were definitely tired from the ride the day before, but overall, I didn’t feel nearly as bad as I expected. I got ready, put on my MS Bike jersey, and once again, I want to thank everyone who donated and supported this fundraiser.

When we arrived at the venue, I got my bike prepared and started debating whether I actually had the stomach for a sandwich. After yesterday’s ride, where I came pretty close to running out of energy, I figured it was probably a good idea to eat as much as I could while I had the chance.

Throughout the morning, everyone kept talking about one thing. The hill. I had looked at the elevation map beforehand, so I knew what was coming. It was roughly a 100-metre elevation gain over a kilometre, with sections that reached around 11 or 12 degrees. It wasn’t going to be an easy climb, but at the same time, there was no question that I was going to do it.

When the ride started, though, everyone seemed to have a completely different idea of what a recovery ride was supposed to be. I thought people would take it easy after the previous day, but everyone immediately started putting in the pace.

I eventually found myself near the back of the climbing group, riding alongside one of the race marshals. That worked out perfectly. It gave me someone to chat with rather than worrying about keeping up with everyone else.

Then, about 15 minutes into the ride, something happened. I looked down and noticed my GoPro was hanging strangely off the side of my bike. Looking back at the footage now, I’m actually surprised it stayed attached at all. 

The problem was that one of the screws attaching the adapter to the mount had come loose. I had to stop and take a look, but I didn’t really have the time to properly troubleshoot it. So, for the rest of the ride, I would have to go without my usual camera setup.

After that, we made our way through the neighbourhoods of Chilliwack, enjoying the quiet roads before eventually arriving at our rest stop, Kent’s Ice Cream. I grabbed a scoop of chocolate, and it really hit the spot.

Eventually, everyone got back on their bikes and continued on. This time, I made a conscious effort not to get dropped as the route opened up into beautiful farmland.

And then, in the distance, we saw it. It’s difficult to capture just how intimidating it looked on camera, but trust me, it was a serious climb. It wasn’t a straight shot upward. Instead, it curved around and just kept going, maintaining that steep incline for what felt like much longer than it probably was.

I tried not to think too much. Little by little, at my own pace, I kept moving upward. Eventually, I reached the middle where it levelled off. I stopped for a moment to appreciate what I had just accomplished before continuing onto the second part of the climb. This was the section people had been warning me about, although I wasn’t completely sure what they meant until I got there.

The hardest parts were behind me. And looking back, I really wished I still had my camera mount because the descent was probably one of the most fun parts to capture. Instead, I’ll just have to rely on my memory of weaving through the residential streets on the descent, finally making my way back toward the main road and the city.

As I rolled across the finish line, I tried to actually appreciate what I had accomplished. This journey often felt like a solo one. Most of the hours on the bike were just me, my thoughts, and the road ahead. But from the beginning to the end, there were so many people who played a role in this story. Sharon and Petey waiting for me at the finish line. All of them became part of this experience.

It’s easy to get stuck inside your own head, focused on your own struggles and your own problems. But experiences like this remind me that everyone is out there living their own story. Everyone has their own challenges they are trying to overcome.

This was one chapter of my journey. There are still more races, events, and rides ahead. My triathlons are still waiting for me, and now it’s time to start preparing for them. But for now, I’m just happy that this 100KM ride is over. So, let’s keep rolling.

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