A little more than a year after finishing my last (I hope) radiation treatment for oropharyngeal cancer I rode a century on my bike yesterday, but this post is not about me celebrating some incredible comeback from the throes of cancers. I’ve actually rode my bike (for my health and sanity) through out my treatments and have ridden several centuries since then including 108 miles with over 10,000 feet of climbing to the top of Mount Evans and back to my home in Denver and along the way raised over $5000 for the Fred Hutch Cancer Center. Humble brag complete now lets get on to the real champion of this post.
This post is to celebrate my better half having completed her first 100 mile ride. This is her second attempt. A few years ago as we were getting ready for a cycling trip to Italy, she was thwarted at mile 88 by an overzealous course marshal who wouldn’t let her continue due to hail, lightening and the threat of tornados. Sheesh… she’s way tougher than all three of those combined.
Yesterday, my hear swelled with pride as I watched her role across the finish line with a ride time of eight hours on the nose.
Over the last years I have watched her struggle with her own health issues while still standing by me during my own. This year only layered on more adversity as she has dealt with both a foot and a knee injuries yet she still pushed on with her training. Maybe she wasn’t able to always complete the physical aspect but that only made her tougher mentally.
That extra bit of toughness came into play on Sunday as the day got longer and hotter, she didn’t quit. As the thunderstorms and hail rolled in again, she slipped passed the course marshal and kept on riding through the rain and hail. Lesson learned, don’t let safety and common sense get in your way.
With the sweep vehicles just minutes behind her, she rolled across the finish line. I’ve completed a lot of centuries in my life but I never felt the pride in myself like I felt at that moment for my wife and her grit and determination.
A couple of years ago, a friend of ours painted a custom hat for her with a large comic book like “BAM!” across the front and no doubt “Bad Ash Middleton” lived up to her name yesterday.
“Hey babe, I’m so proud of you!”
Bikes Kill Cancer 