Warriors Finish What They Started!!!

The hardest test of life is the test of success. Any warrior will go out on a journey knowing they are going to be tested. For me, the return to endurance cycling turned into that exact test. There are many life lessons to be shared from this past weekend in the mountains of New York. As a 46-year-old, this heart rate chart shows the level of effort it took to finish what I started!

Life Lessons From This Race:

1) PICKLES WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE! (Keep reading for that story)

2) The best plans require revaluation & realignment to current circumstances.

3) Pivot with change & be present in moment.

4) Get comfortable being uncomfortable.

5) You are exactly where you are meant to be - all is perfect.

6) Pedal into the unknown.

7) Dig deep.

8) Don't compare to others.

9) Break the negative noise in your head.

10) Go after it even with fear, as that is when the greatest work is done.

11) If you want something badly, act like no one is going to help you get it.

12) Look at the possibilities not the circumstances.

13) Your BATTLE CRY will keep you going..... #LinkedIn Recap Video & Quick Recap Post

WHERE THIS BATTLED STARTED

It has been 2 years since racing the Leadville 100 mountain bike race, my last endurance race. It is a day I will never forget as the entire race and experience went as smoothly as any person could ask for. After crossing that finish line, it was time to readjust life a bit. It required shifting away from racing for a season. While parts of me missed it, others parts were dealing with a much more serious battle. One that would take a Battle Cry to win!

This past Saturday, October 19, 2019, it was time to return to endurance racing. While I was not in my normal fitness or weight category, I was still excited for what was to come and ready for 50 miles of racing on some of the gnarliest mountain bike terrain in New York State. This course is not for the faint of heart - with the rocks, roots, and grinding climbs it forces riders to be in battle mode the entire time. My target was to finish in around 6 hours. To put that into perspective, the Leadville 100 took 9 hours and 36 minutes and quite frankly is a road race compared to this brutal terrain!

Last Saturday morning was a perfect 32 degrees to start and all systems were go. Got to the race and could tell my body and mind were ready. My fitness level didn't matter as I had years of endurance in my body and knew I would be able to push through this beast no matter what. Once I arrived, I did the normal warm-up spin while talking trash with friends. My SMART friends signed up for the 25-mile-race, which is one lap. All of them had their "nice" words of encouragement for me to remember when I would head out for my 2nd lap of 25 miles. I jokingly said to them,

"I like to do STOOPID things!"

After some pedaling around and temps getting into the upper 40's, it was time for the mandatory pre-race meeting and staging of riders. My preference is usually to start in the first few rows of a race. This allows for getting in position and avoiding the cycling jams at the start. After about 10 minutes of jokes from the race organizer and 175 guys trash talking each other, we were ready to go!

The start of this race is a 1.25 mile police escort out of town at a neutral pace. As we get to the final half mile into the park the escort pulls away and racing begins. Then we enter the park, where riders are working to get into position for the upcoming 1-mile climb. This race provides plenty of time to break up the pack leading into the tight, narrow, rocky single track at the top of the climb. It becomes extremely challenging to pass anyone once you enter the woods for about 5 miles. My strategy has always been to maintain being in the top 20% of riders coming over the climb so I can settle in knowing the bulk of traffic is behind. The strategy started out as planned and at the top of the climb I was in 14th place with a group of the top 25. The body was feeling great after the initial heart rate explosion and I knew my fitness was going to be perfectly sufficient to complete the race.

Little did I know what was about to happen. When racing, you trust the trail markings and the riders in front of you and follow them diligently. I'm fairly familiar with the trails we were riding and suddenly it dawned on me that something was off. The group of leaders at the front had missed a turn! We were off course and had to turn around. As we did that we saw that there were about 40 riders who went the wrong way with us. This led to a complete traffic mess in the trails as everyone was turning around. And then an even greater challenge of having to pass ALL the riders we had already dropped who did not miss that turn. PURE. CHAOS.

THIS IS THE MOMENT.....

MY PLAN HAD TO PIVOT!!!!

It required a new immediate strategy of being present in the moment. Not focused on maintaining a pace but focused on getting back in the race. The next 5 miles were a complete blur. They involved chasing rabbits (other riders in front of me) and being a lion. The lion roar included screaming "on your left, on your right" to warn the rider in front to expect being passed. In this tight, narrow single track, this was not ideal. AT ALL. There were riders crashing all over, myself included.

REALITY NOW IS STRIKING.....

GET COMFORTABLE BEING UNCOMFORTABLE!!!!!

A seasoned racer learns how to deal with battles and pain in a race, but this was a new variable. The level of effort to keep pedaling through all the riders kept my heart rate elevated. Or as many say, "burning matches". That is not a good thing early for endurance racing as you need those matches later in the race. This comeback story was about to shift fast. The plan of a perfect race turned into complete chaos!

FACT WAS....

I WAS EXACTLY WHERE I NEEDED TO BE AND EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT!!!!

I was beginning to pedal into the unknown. I just got done passing 40 riders over the last 5 miles and stopped counting. It was impossible to figure out where I was in the race. I knew that to reach my destination required taking this race mile by mile going forward. I looked down at my stats and realized I was 10 miles into the race in just over an hour, I began to readjust into a pacing mode. A quick review of my Garmins heart rate monitor revealed I burned too many matches too fast. Maybe I should have left that monitor off like I did at Leadville 100. The first mind-battle began - knowing that I went too hard too early.

For the rest of the lap I settled into a pace I could maintain. This course consistently beats you down as there is no place to get in flow with the terrain. You are either bouncing along rocks, climbing up off-camber single track or grinding away on the trails. The few minor descents happen so fast you barely get to enjoy them.

For the rest of the first lap, I played the game of rabbit chasing and lion roaring . Whenever I saw someone in front of me (rabbit), I would pace myself to catch them and then ride with them until one of us dropped the other. Also, whenever I heard a lion roar behind me it was motivation to pedal harder to pick up my average pace. This worked well but also had me spiking my heart rate again. At about Mile 18 there is a climb called "Painted Apron" that my kids love going DOWN, but is a grueling climb in the other direction. My earlier efforts were starting to be felt. I knew I was going to be in climbing mode for the next 4-ish miles and I cut back my pace dramatically. Eventually I made it to the final aid station before the 2nd lap out.

As I refueled, two of my buddies doing the 25-miler went by me. My mind and body were already telling me to call it a day. And knowing they were about to be finished was a bit of a mind-blow for me. However, I knew that telling my kids I quit because it got hard was not an option. What example would that be for them for when they pursue their dreams and it gets hard? They would look back and see an example of quitting when it was hard and taking the easy path out. I have always been a warrior in any battle in life. And the only times I quit a bike race involved a completely broken bike or body part.

As I pedaled forward it was time to rip DOWN a FUN trail called "Cosmic Charlie". This had me smiling and bought back memories of my Grateful Dead days. Of course this entire trail system is loaded with trails by the names of "Sugaree", "Shakedown Street" & and "Throwing Stones", to name a few. But as I got to the bottom of the hill it was yet another mind-battle. All of the riders near me were turning right to end the race or DNF from the race.

There I was at the sign pointing left for Lap 2 and the first climb of the day in front me again. The noises in my head kept getting louder, telling me I have completed plenty of races and today was just not my day. To just turn around and be happy getting 1 lap in and be done in 10 minutes of easy riding back. But that just was NOT an option and I began climbing up the climb slowly and used it as recovery for the body.

WHEN YOUR MIND'S MADE UP.... FEAR DIMINISHES!!!

This second lap had more meaning than anyone could imagine. This was my first race back in 2 years so there was no way I was coming back with a DNF story. Nor was I coming to the finish line to tell my kids I quit. It just wasn't an option. This warrior had a "Battle Cry" and it was to be an example for those boys. To let them know going after dreams is going to involve feeling pain and being lonely at times, but that it is worth it to press through.

This is where I reflected on how smooth of a race the Leadville 100 was. It was halfway across the country, set in rugged mountains and at high elevation, yet it was quite literally the smoothest bike race of the hundreds I have done in my life. However, after that race and as time progressed, I would be faced with a battle I never, ever intended to face in life. One . that no one ever intends to face. It was when my plans had to pivot fast. We had to sell our house, experience our Audi being repossessed and ultimately...declaring bankruptcy. This is why I put bike racing to the side for a season of. But now, at this moment, it was time to start putting the puzzle of life back together! The "Battle Cry" was in full effect and I wasn't going to let a bike race let me feel perceived failure again. The pain forward was well worth the reward waiting at the finish line.

This second lap took digging DEEP within to finish. It was where I spent time reflecting on the most intense season of life our family has gone through. Where all I knew was pulled away and no matter where I turned, I felt rejected. It was a season of life where friends judged me in my season of hardship and where people I helped win in life and business wanted nothing to do with me. I launched a new business and it crashed, and business in general as a struggle in areas I had always won and been successful in the past. BUT...it was also a season I had to learn to not be anxious, to REST and to build real, authentic relationships that wouldn't judge me as I embarked on a new, unknown season of life. It was a new battle ground and one I knew I had to battle for my kids.

As I pedaled up this climb, minus the thoughts in my heads and lots of chuckles with the Lord, it was becoming very apparent that Lap 2 was going to be a solo lap. There was not a rider to be seen in front of me or behind me. Was I the only one left on the course? Was I in last place? Did it really matter? I was determined to finish and knew it was going to be a slow pace from here on out. There was no reason to compare, this was MY journey and this buttercup needed to suck it up!

NEVER COMPARE TO OTHERS' JOURNEY!

I knew each pedal stroke was making progress on my mission. I also began to break the remaining distance into 1-mile segments. Every mile was a win for me and being solo, it was the easiest way to gauge progress. At this point, I had the head games under control but my body was terribly fatigued. I knew I had broken through the barrier of mind control and was into what we as humans are capable of. This is the point that I began to think of those I knew battling cancer, divorce, financial challenges and whatever else my mind tossed at me. It was where I realized my own dark times had taught me to care more for others and feel their pain. Their pain in this moment was keeping me going through my (self-inflicted) pain.

Then, suddenly, I was at Mile 32. I heard a noise and saw a flicker of red coming - it was another rider! It was a boost of energy and excitement to know I finally had someone to ride with and it was much-needed. This rider caught me and asked if he could draft off of me. I said sure and we chatted for a few miles and kept each other going. He eventually recovered and pulled away from me and I just couldn't hold his pace. He was picking up his pace each yard where I was staying steady. So for two miles it was a great feeling but then... off he went!

Back into isolation and it had me laughing as it was reflective of going through bankruptcy. In our family's deepest time of need we were left in isolation by many, including numerous people I have helped over the years. It was an eye-opening experience, but also made me realize something:

IF YOU WANT SOMETHING BAD ENOUGH, ACT LIKE NO ONE IS GOING TO HELP YOU GET IT!

I know that sounds selfish, but to me it means to take full responsibility, take action, be diligent, be focused and those who are meant to be part of the journey will find you. Going through a dark season of life taught me so much about relationships, giving to others, obstacles, and always being willing to be uncomfortable.

Just like this race was teaching me today:

• Relationships will come and go in different seasons. There were riders I was riding with today that lasted for a few miles and there were many times it required solo effort to find the next relationship.
• In this race there were many times I "pulled" riders behind me and let them recover. They would then pass me but that didn't bother me. I was part of their race for a reason. I gave them a recovery period to gain strength to pedal forward. That moment with them gave me strength to continue. It was a win/win relationship even in a short window.
• Obstacles were happening the entire race and the only thing to do was pedal forward and build momentum. Just like recovery from bankruptcy, the obstacles were intense and required being present in the moment. And taking focused action each day to move forward.
• To get comfortable being uncomfortable! This race was completely uncomfortable from Mile 4 onward. It was going after what was next SCARED. That the greatest work within me was being done. I was chuckling at being uncomfortable pedaling forward.

So now here I was at Mile 37 completely solo and entering the next aid station. I had no reason to stop but needed a quick chuckle of motivation from the crew. And that happened as I put some water in my bottles and then found heaven.....

PICKLES!!! YES.... THEY HAD PICKLES!!!!

I just kept eating them and eating them. I lost track of how many I ate but every bite was energizing my body. And then off I went knowing I would be right back at this spot in 5 miles on the return to the finish. It was the boost I needed and the next 5 miles went by fast. I even enjoyed the climb up "Painted Apron" the second time. There was new life coming back into me. And with every pedal stroke I was thinking about my family being at the finish line. The best motivation!

As I entered Mile 42 I went through the same aid station. I didn't stop, just kept pedaling and the crew told me they were out of pickles. They looked at me and said to enjoy my finish, that I earned it and that I looked way better than when I came through last time.... Funny.

It was such a little thing, but it was like those pickles bought this warrior back to life. I kept pedaling at a steady pace but also stopped quickly to turn my phone on and send Sarah (my wife) a voice message saying,

"This hurt but I will finish in 30-ish minutes"

And from there the rest of the race went into acceleration mode. I pedaled consistently, not stopping for anything and blew by the Mile 44 aid station. It was here I knew the worst part of this race was over. Yes, there were still a few minor steep climbs to get over, but there was more descending than climbing and I intended on ripping those descents. As I crested the final climb of the day, which is short but brutal, the moment arrived - the American flag standing on top of the mountain signaling a very short distance to the FINISH. From here was a ripping descent down "Cosmic Charlie" into a right hand turn and 2 miles of smooth, paved roads to the FINISH LINE!

Those 2 miles of pavement were glorious!!!

Every pedal stroke was easy, movement forward was accelerated and I soon crossed the bridge over the train tracks from where this adventure started much earlier this morning. As I swooped around the corner, one final boost of energy hit and then I came to the finish line.

It was a moment to JUMP for joy........................................

Then a moment to celebrate with the Battle Cry that kept me going - my FAMILY...

...and end with a ritual that began when Grady was a baby.

Always remember, no matter the journey.... ENDURANCE REVEALS TRUTH!!

PS..... It took 25+ years of racing but I finally accomplished this..... Finish Results

#Inspiration #Life #Success #LinkedInNinja #ChrisColt360 #Entrepreneur #Happy #LinkedInFam #2020HereWeCome