This was to be my cured of cancer ride. The ride that would give me the affirmation the surgery, the pathology, the subsequent tests were all correct. I had beaten the crab! My fitness had been improving from the moment I started visualizing both going for walks and practising Qi Gong moves while in my hospital bed. Before I was released I was pacing the ward, actually wards as I escaped to other areas of the hospital.
I cannot say enough about the effectiveness of the doctors, the efficiency of the support staff, the untiring kindness of the nurses. Leading up to surgery friends and family had given me support with phone calls, e-mails and cards. Immediately Post-Op the outpouring of support was terrific. I had momentum, and as any cyclist knows momentum is the edge to any hill you are going to conquer.
As soon as I arived home I went out for my first “fresh air walk" a block up the street and back, twice , with David and using a cane. Using a cane! 18 to 80 in a week, not the right direction! Focusing on walking I was soon able to walk 10 km along the Gorge Parkway, making it from washroom to washroom was my mantra. Something I that would continue once back cycling on the the road. Melissa was soon used to my ability to locate every washroom on our route.
May 9th, one day before I was “officially” permitted to, I started back on the bike. 25 km for a first try, adding up to 20% each ride and taking a day off in between. Once I hit 50 km the day off became a ½ ride, a relaxed recovery spin to keep the juices flowing. Then I went to a 3 day circuit, long, ½, off. My first metric (100 km) was June 2nd, a respectable 4 hours and 21 minutes with only four bathroom breaks (a critical improvement).
Cycling was working, nothing else I did was responding as well. A 1 ½ hour stint in the garden had reminded me of the surgeons warning; “you have no pain receptors in your gut, be careful”. As I sat vibrating in a chair, while my confused body was trying to understand what was happening, I focused my Qi to relax. I had resumed physically doing Qi Gong before leaving the hospital. Acupuncture and Chinese Medicinal herbs were to be my battle tools as I had narrowly escaped having chemotherapy and radiation. Location and timing were on my side. An oncology report of T3 (barely), N0,R0,V0 gave me a 70% chance of no recurrance. One I have no intention of wasting!
As days went by my health improved enough to start working, kayaking, and hiking. Still nothing responded like cycling, something I attribute to the need to retain fluids while riding. In fact my off days usually occurred on days I did not ride. Friday rides with the "boys" were a welcome challenge. The riders in our group are strong, at least 12 years older than I, and showed no mercy, dropping me when I deserved to be dropped. It accentuated the improvements I made building my confidence with every pull I accomplished well. Before Trek I would rack up 5005 km on the bike, 17 Metrics; 2 Centuries (162 km), 1 Double Metric. All of this without any repercussion. Enough about my recovery, on to Trek.
We cycled over to Hazelmere Friday (90 km) with only one problem. The spokes on my rear wheel had worked loose. We discovered this on the ride to the 11 AM ferry, and made a side trip to
Straight Up Cycles. Gerry
stopped what he was doing tightened the spokes trued the wheel and we were off. Arriving with 10 minutes to spare we were the last to load on the 11 AM ferry!
Once on the mainland we were quickly reminded how busy the traffic is. Tailwinds from the ferry were a promising sign. Topping the hill at Scott road on Hwy #10, we swung right looking for 125A and the quick downhill to Coleman Rd. This would take us “traffic free” to 152 where we would pick up 40th for our trip into South Surrey and Hazelmere campground for the start of Trek the next day.
On the first day of Trek we were to ride to Cultus Lake (100 km). I was pumped! Here I was at Trek, 5 months Post-Op, feeling strong and healthy. My excitement had Melissa a little concerned for she knew in the back of my mind was the desire to arrive first at Stillwood Camp, something I had focused my recovery on. As we left Hazelmere there was an initial burst of fast riders, something the hill on 192 would soon settle. Spinning to the top I realized Adam was behind me. A good thing considering his reputation for cycling prowess. Kenny had stopped to help a fellow Trekker. I really had a chance at my goal.
Melissa and I had a plan, well I had a plan and Melissa was supportive. We would draft each other to Stillwood, a regular change of 3 minutes had proven to be effective as we trained for Trek. We fell into this pattern, only to have Adam pass us. I looked back at Mel for the nod to go after him.
Encouraging as always, she told me to go for it. The caveat was she would not be able to match his pace. The importance I had placed on this ride had affected her sleep, and as a result the 192nd hill early in the ride had given her grief. Melissa told me she understood the importance of my goal and that I should go after Adam as she felt I could match his pace. Once more Melissa showed me the support she had given me since the start of our little adventure with cancer. Her support, standing by me in all my decisions, above all else had a huge impact on my recovery. There was no way I was going to abandon her now. We had a plan to ride, so we rode our plan, together!
A reasonably easy ride along Zero Ave. until Aldergrove Lake Regional Park. Before this first checkpoint, both Kenny and Lenny both passed us. No-one else would after this, which meant we were on our own. We arrived at Birchwood Dairy as they were setting up. Here we waited until Melissa could refuel with a quick bite to eat. I was relying on ensure, something I had become used to following surgery. From there route zig-zagged through the Chilliwack cornfields. We were to encounter strong, steady headwind until we were in the protection of the trees around Cultus lake. The aerobars on my bike were ideal for this type of riding and we took full advantage of them. Melissa would repay the draft as we rode along the lake. The teamwork was paying off!
For the first time in 6 Treks I had no pain as we rode along Cultus lake. My excitement got the better of me as I attacked each bump on the route. I realized this could be an error upon reaching "the hill" to Stillwood Camp. My concern that I had not held back enough was unfounded as it was a comfortable "spin" to the top (a nice change from past grueling attempts). This being the unofficial, official, day of competition we arrived at Stillwood in 4 hours and 1 minute (overall time - riding time of 3:41). Well behind Kenny, Adam, and Lenny but still 4th and 5th; our best finish yet.
On Sunday we returned to Hazelmere with a tailwind in under 4 hours (riding time of 3:27). After a shower, a meal and relaxing with friends we loaded our panniers and cycled home (187 km for the day). The afternoon was headwinds and heat. With only one back track (#10 was under construction) to Colebrook Ave. we made the 5 PM sailing - no waits for bicycles - Woohoo. At 8 PM darkness caught up with us in our driveway, home, exhausted and exhilarated.
A great weekend, a great cause! Thank you to everyone who supported me, we raised over $2,370.00 for the BC Lung Association 200 km Bicycle Trek for Life and Breath. Melissa and her supporters raised $1085.00. All together we raised $3,455.00 of the $285,000.00+ that had been turned in by the start of Trek.
