Going from a hospital bed to a cross-country trip was not really on my radar or even part of my thought process. When I was introduced to the amazing people of Ironheart after my first sprint triathlon. I met a woman, Cindy, who told me of her cross country cycling trip. She told me of how she rebuilt her body after similar circumstances and how her emotional world changed after the trip. Well being at my cross roads and desiring freedom I made a decision with little thought other than I want that too and so here I am at with a little over a month till I leave. In this blog I will be discussing being prepared mentally and physically for the trip of a lifetime.
As I have discussed in the past not being able to fully function was a difficult thing. Even after regaining full mobility endurance was a struggle. In earlier blogs I talk about not having the ability to even walk 25 feet without a nap. Eventually I was able to move past that through just a little longer each day mentality to be able to keep pace with most people in daily life.
When a once dear friend who has done several triathlon suggested that I could do a sprint tri. I thought yeah right but hey I wanted to impress her so I said ok I can do that. Little did I know trying to impress a woman would lead me to taking a cross-country cycle ride and who knows maybe even more things.
My basic routine for getting ready for my sprint was simple,,,,Walk/Run 2 to 3 times a week, Swim in the pool as far as I could do any stroke I could to reach the needed distance and well Crap I had to get a bike. So I was not going to go buy a high dollar bike I didn't even know I was going to really do this thing or not. So I went to Wal-Mart the week after Christmas to buy a bike (stuff is always cheapest then). Well I found a bike that the retail was 399.00 but it was on sale for 179.00 so I grabbed it. It was what I was looking for a brand name a Schwinn with Shimano components and it was a hybrid so I could do roads with it. Well I took it to the register and the guy hit the UPC code with the gun and it rang up 50 bucks. I was a little startled and I said hit again so he did. I could not get my wallet out fast enough. I bought it and ran out the door looking behind me several times. i later went back and got a helmet and gloves to round the outfit out. And by the way the bike I bought has great reviews and for the retail money considered to be one of the best choices for a beginner so I did well.
Well I added riding my bike into the mix a little here a little there on top of the running and swimming. Well the day of my tri came and well i finished and that is all that is important. I actually did rather decent but I got this bug. You see my lady friend had told me when you finish one you will want to do another. And then another and well-being a non athlete before this I figure it wouldn't happen to me.
The crazy thing is it did. I had started loosing weight from the exercising so I was looking better. I was feeling the healthiest I had ever felt and wanted more of that especially after feeling like crap the previous 2.5 years....and well I started hearing from people. People started messaging me about how they found some inspiration in what I had done. I liked that I really did...I liked that people could relate to me and found strength in what I was doing. A dear friend of mine told her father about me...she told him about what I had come from to what I had accomplished well because he is battling his own health issues.
Well I decided I wanted to do another one and this one I was going to take a little more serious. I started doing a swim/run/bike combination daily. Hitting all three categories about 4 to 5 times a week. In a little over a month and half I competed in another Sprint Triathlon. And well I finished and I felt good real good. I kept up that routine working out and had decided to go for 2 to 3 more sprints this year. With the culmination of summer to finishing the Baltimore Half Marathon (either by crawling, walking or running) only 3 days shy of the 3 year anniversary of my death.....that was the plan.
Nope plans are meant to be changed. Enter those damn inspirational IRONHEART people. I was introduced to this group through a friend a few days after my sprint tri. At first I was shy about talking with them I mean after all I was and still am not an elite athlete but many of these folks were and are. But there is a commonality that comes through shared pain. My friend Cindy told me of her cross-country trip and how it changed her life. Well my little sprint tri changed mine and I wanted more. So after some very little thought I decided to take on something that no triple threat person has ever achieved at least to my knowledge. If you know otherwise please let me know I would like to talk with them and get some advice.
So with the decision made I started to get the plan in motion. I work out at a huge YMCA in Hanover Pa where I live. I got some dietary ideas from the nutritionist and increased my same work out routine to go further and I added an extra day. after a few weeks I decided doing it on my own was not going to cut it. I looked at the map and the distance I need to go each day and said at this pace there is no way I can keep that up. So back at the YMCA I talked with the training staff. They came up with a plan to help me as much as possible.
I now have a swim coach Rick Thomas, he is amazing and has taught me a good bit about slow steady pace with methodical motion will allow endurance and speed to come. Not to mention swimming in the correct fashion instead of all hodge-podge is helping strengthen my back muscles. The other coach I have picked up is Dana the head personal trainer. Her specialty is endurance prep and injury prevention. She has started me on core, back muscle and stabilizer muscle strengthening. With only a little over a month to go the effort has to be there for me.
My work outs daily start at 5am with a 5 mile bicycle ride to the gym. I then do 30 minuets of swimming. Then I hit the mats to do core and stabilizer exercises. Followed by a 5k on the treadmill. My 5k's are not runs I still have a hard time with them and I struggle greatly with running...but I keep going. I then ride my bike home 5 miles....
My eating habits have gone way up before I work out I eat a peanut butter bar in the morning. When I get home its 3 eggs over medium with some kind of beef. Then I work all day with a few small protein and fat packed snacks about 4 per day. Then for dinner I eat beef and some vegetables. I have also added in a fruit smoothie in the morning, it consists of fresh hand squeezed OJ, a mango, a banana, strawberries, grapes and raspberries blended together and well it's actually bad ass. Remember I have a limited amount of time to accomplish this and yes while it sounds extreme it actually isn't that much work. But I will hit more on this in a min.
With my evenings I typically go back out for a bike ride 15 miles or I stop at the gym and do another 5k. I do this routine 5 days a week right now and on Saturdays I turn it up a notch and go full tilt for a few hours. Sunday is meant for working out as well but I take my time I cool down I increase my distance a lot but keep my speed down. The reason for 7 days a week is because for my ride it is 7 days a week. It is ok for me to do 10 to 15 miles and take a break then back at it for another 10 to 15 miles and so on. Remember I will have little else to do except for my stops other than to do this.
As for nutrition there will be an issue there. With 50 miles of cycling I will be expecting to burn about 6 to 7 thousand yes 6000 to 7000 calories a day. My body will only be able to take in about 4500 max so there is going to be a deficit daily. Electrolyte and calorie heavy fatty foods are going to be important out there. With my weight to about 195 right now I need to actually gain weight for the trip. I need to get back to a healthier 205. This will give me a balancing act of weight loss that is tolerable to my body. My goal weight of 175 should be reachable by the end of the trip if I eat right.
The key to everything is Hydration though. I just got a 5L camel pack and I plan on taking another 2 gallons of water daily. I will also have salt tablets, beef jerky to suck on as well as electrolyte refuel to take in. Salt is paramount and just as important as water. I know sounds weird for a person with a heart condition lol.
The equipment that I am taking is pretty straight forward. My luggage has a capacity of 70L worth of material. My bike will be outfitted with puncture proof and self sealing tubes and tires, lights and it has gotten an upgrade in components as well as bar ends for different riding positions.
Clothing wise this is what I'm looking at. 3 pairs of regular shorts, 2 cycling shirts, 2 pair of cycling underwear, 2 pairs of cycle shorts, 4 other t-shirts, 8 pairs of socks, running shoes, cycling shoes, underwear, swimsuit, towel and a wind breaker.
Camping gear wise I have a 50 degree feather thin sleeping bag, 50 degree tent one person and very light weight, one light weight cooking kit, a mini stove using similar to a sterno one, fire starting logs, knife, spork kit, instant light air mattress, pillow, water purifier and first aid kit.
As for tools I am taking 2 extra tubes, a full tire and tube patch kit (even though the tires and tubes are puncture proof I will find a way), bike tool kit, pump, road flares, duct tape, tire kit, socket set with adjustable wrench and a screw driver.
Convenience items are going to include a cell phone, mini tablet with keyboard, mega portable light weight charger and well that is it. I think I should get a music player but I don't have the money to spend on one nor the time to download music onto it.
Food wise I am taking enough for two days at a clip just in case remember most of my stops are in towns and along routes with towns. It is not until I get to the desert till i will really be off the beaten path....and I can not wait for that.
As for stops and people. I have friends to see in a few areas. I will be hoping that some of my California friends can meet me in San Diego when I roll up on the pier.....My friend David Rohe is going to ride a bit in Florida with me and maybe before I leave Florida I can meet with some of my friends there. Ironheart is going to find people to meet me on the ride to help support me. Warmshowers.org a community of cyclists are going to help me with a place to lay my head and shower on the trip as well. But mostly it is on my own...unsupported and well alone. I want it that way actually this is for me to let things go and Move on Now. If you have any suggestions for me please let me know....
Here is my map and I have planned and well I still have a ton of tweaking to do but look at it 50 miles per day if you're in an area let me know maybe we can have a bite to eat together. Till next time remember everyone is amazing you just have to show it.
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Sarasota,+FL/San+Diego,+CA/@34.6492331,-111.6106244,8z/data=!4m59!4m58!1m50!1m1!1s0x88c337e69db2c22b:0xe335341d1d5715d9!2m2!1d-82.5306527!2d27.3364347!3m4!1m2!1d-84.9888247!2d30.4316161!3s0x88934a78a43d77df:0xb21695c1f2529a33!3m4!1m2!1d-86.6703569!2d30.7679737!3s0x88910951f2524341:0x98496eb0c1e98ada!3m4!1m2!1d-87.6573876!2d30.5674815!3s0x889a73b3007fdf5b:0x7a95e480daa2963c!3m4!1m2!1d-90.0607826!2d29.9730578!3s0x8620a61e0e584a99:0xd3942dc72a303f76!3m4!1m2!1d-97.8035852!2d32.4409445!3s0x8651df99b8069c9d:0xa5753d6d8518e03f!3m4!1m2!1d-104.5211114!2d33.3942475!3s0x86e26ed815e40edb:0xb985a35fc98fef15!3m4!1m2!1d-106.5725131!2d33.8800446!3s0x872027beb4012967:0xefe733023fe1331d!3m4!1m2!1d-107.2337169!2d34.1204732!3s0x8721a8fb4b6c4ff5:0x49372c4b79da1c7d!3m4!1m2!1d-112.1252669!2d35.9766279!3s0x87331be98a36cb07:0x8fec77701326cf1c!1m5!1m1!1s0x80d9530fad921e4b:0xd3a21fdfd15df79!2m2!1d-117.1610838!2d32.715738!3e1
