Life After VSG

For most of my life I was not an athletic person.  I never competed in anything physical, I just got heavier and heavier.

3 years ago, after VSG, I hit my goal weight, and thought hard about how I was going to succeed long term.  Thinking back to childhood, I remembered spending a lot of time on my bike - at least until I was old enough to drive.  A pack of neighborhood kids would ride for hours every day in the summer.  I never thought of it as exercise - just fun!

So, I figured I'd start biking again. With the weight off, it was a bit easier - though still challenging at first.  I did 5 miles, then 10.  Then one day I was up to 20 miles.  Then winter set in - but I found a trainer that I could set my bike on and watch cycling training videos and a class where I could bring my bike and trainer and work out in a group.  That connected me socially to like minded folks who rode these things called "centuries" - rides of about 100 miles...  So I got it in my head that I'd try that.  It was hard - I trained all winter and ended up riding two in the spring.  I got the bug and rode more...  Last year I rode nearly one per month, and I thought maybe I'd try endurance racing.  

I hooked up with a coach and we decided on 12 hour time trial races. These are races where you ride on real roads, and your "score" is the number of miles you cover in a fixed 12 hours (they also have a 24 hour division).  I trained all winter and spring and started my season in Texas last April.  I won my age group.  I raced again in May in Ohio and again won my age group.  I did another race and had some cramping issues - and finished further down.  

For the season they take your best 3 race mileages and total them... coming into the final race I was going to do I was in second for the age group for the year.  I needed 207 miles to take the lead for the year.  I was on target to do exactly that, but with about 2 hours to go I had a flat tire!  Luckily i was able to ride into the pit area (the race is was run on a 18 mile "loop") and I was close enough to ride in, change the tube and ride out again.  It was close, but I hit 212 miles, and won my age group in the 12 hour category for the year...

A result I could never have guessed at prior to surgery!

You never know - you may have an inner athlete ready to spring forth!

Here's a picture of me just prior to VSG - there's a cyclist in there somewhere:

And from a few weekends ago - just completed 104 mile El Tour de Tucson...

Good health to everyone here!

Tom

congrats! that is so great 

Hey Tom! Great that you popped in with such an inspiring post! I've always been so impressed by your drive to become a true athlete! 

Congratulations on your "win" this year. That is an awesome achievement - one I hope you are damn proud of! 

Hope you are still loving NJ! I didn't make it back there this past summer and missed my yearly pilgrimage to the tri state area. 

Thanks!

Still loving it here on the banks of the Hudson River.

The weather is very very nice here right now - next weekend it's supposed to be in the 60s! 

Tom

Great to see you jubjub!  So glad to know you're still kickin' azz!

Way to go Jubs !!!!

I have two frames to build on this winter.....

For the noobs...... study this guy, he has the blue print for success in many more ways than WL..... Look at his WL graph, it is the most linear path to goal I've seen along with Ryan.

Keep on pedaling !!!

frisco

You're an inspiration Jub. I don't know how you do it.

I just keep pedaling.  One revolution at a time.

I've come to enjoy the 12 hour races.  12 full hours away from email, forums, facebook, and phones.  Not just "away" from those things, but with your full focus turned to something else.

Sometimes painful, but always meditative.

Good gawdddddd, that's so inspiring!!!!!

You are simply amazing, Tom!!  And such an inspiration to us couch potatoes