WARNING: somehow this post got really long...if you want to speed read, I understand. Just make sure to read the end!Wow. Anyone who has ever been uncomfortable on a bike saddle knows what a difference having the right one makes. Seriously, I was on my bike for 4+ hours today (more about that later) and was freezing (it was in the 30s) but SO comfortable on my new saddle. Thanks, Jack (and Logan) for getting me on the right track with that. And, I have to say, being in the right one made me realize that I was not being a wimp with my old one. Seriously, it was like a rock underneath me. I'll stop there.
Having the right saddle in and of itself is exciting! But the really great part of my day was riding my (relatively) new bike for the first time on a course I've ridden on my old bike AND helping out some runners while doing it. The ride felt SO much easier or better or something... I know I was not out there to race and that might have had something to do with it, but even on "Quadzilla" I felt like I was moving! I also realize that I had not just gotten out of the lake or biked nearly 56 miles, but still, it was encouraging to feel so good on my bike. And what we (a bunch of T3ers and some other cyclists in Austin) were doing was really cool, too.
I've wrestled for a while with how self-serving all of my training and racing can be. I keep wishing that I could do something for others with it but it's tough to figure out a way to do that. I feel like I'll be doing it as a Community Fund athlete at Coeur D'Alene, but today was another way to give back a little. About 25 of us showed up at the Travis County Expo Center this morning to serve as bike escorts for the Decker Challenge - specifically for the "Double Decker" distance which is a full marathon...with LOTS of hills. And some big ones (i.e. "Quadzilla"). Our task was to "escort" a runner - or really "shadow" them throughout the race. We could talk to them, be encouraging, offer water, whatever. I wasn't sure how the runners would like it, quite frankly. I soon found out.
The first person I tried to "befriend" was having none of me being near him. He pretty much grunted every time I said, "You're doing great." So I decided to keep him in view but drop back. And that's when I found James and Annabell. They were runners from Georgetown and were great company for 26.2 miles. This was James' second marathon in 6 weeks - he was thinking this was not a good idea! And Annabell is getting ready for Boston. They were strong and friendly and welcoming of my company. Nice. James decided to pass someone on the second loop (the guy who was unfriendly to me before...go get him, James!) and he looked able and determined to finish it up on his own. So, I stuck with Annabell. I was glad I did as I was able to offer her some Gu at one point and she seemed sort of glad to have some company. I rode with her nearly until the finish line. And then I got to thinking of some other runners whom I had passed who looked like they were not having the best day.
So I doubled back. I was a tad warmer by this time (I'd been on the bike for nearly 4 hours and was JUST warming up...finally had toes again!) and was comfortable on my saddle so I was in good spirits. But the bigger factor in my turning around was that I thought about how lonely that last part of the marathon must feel when there were not very many runners to begin with and you are among the last ones out there.
First in my line of vision...the unfriendly guy from earlier. Sometimes the universe has a funny sense of humor! I quietly rode alongside him for a few minutes and then he said, "How much more do I have to go? Are there lots of hills?" Ah, we could talk. I gave him an accurate idea of what was ahead of him and then said that I'd be there until he was headed into the finishing shoot to keep updating him. He seemed appreciative - of the directions at least. I was glad to have had this second encounter with him. Funny how people will soften a little when they are feeling worn out.
I guess I could have stopped there, but I knew there was at least someone still out there - a woman whom I had met with Logan on the trail a few weeks back. I could not remember her name but she looked like she was having a bad running day. I was pretty sure that Logan was with her but I wanted to make absolutely sure that she wasn't out there by herself. Off I went. I saw them very soon and asked if there were any other runners - about 3 were still back there. Soon I found a woman named Cheryl (Sheryl?). She was all worried when I caught up with her because she was pushing the 4 hour time limit. She asked if I thought she should just stop and I replied "No! Keep on going until the pull you off the route! You've come this far, you don't want to stop unless someone tells you to." She smiled and said, "You're right. I can finish." She was in pretty good spirits and actually seemed like she wanted to talk. She looked good but said she wasn't expecting all of the hills that were on the course. I started telling her how many turns were left so that she'd have something to look forward to. And then she said, "If you weren't here, I would definitely be walking." I told her she was the one moving her feet, not me - and she laughed. Anyway, she finished the race looking pretty good but with only a few people there to cheer her in so I was glad to have found her.
As I turned to go back to my car, I saw Annabell - proudly carrying a 1st place female prize! I said, "Way to go, Annabell." And she said, "Can I give you a big hug? You helped me so much! We were all inside talking about how awesome all of the bike escorts were. Thank you!" I'm so glad we could help all the runners today.
Ah, life is so sweet. And not because of what I did - please, riding my bike for 26.2 miles was a cakewalk compared to what the runners did. It's pretty wonderful when people pull together. When people support one another. When you find a perfect stranger (on a run course or somewhere else) who might need something to have to offer - perhaps something as simple as companionship and encouragement - and you offer it. Just giving it away. No strings attached. For no real reason other than because you can. Feels good. Really good. Like what we were put on this planet to do.
Thanks to Annabell, Cheryl/Sheryl, and the guy who didn't really want me near him (I understand!) for reminding of that in a very tangible way today. And thanks to Logan for getting T3 hooked up with the Decker Challenge as bike escorts - what a great thing for us to be able to do.
