5,000

First a little context...

I loved riding my bike as a kid... I rode and rode - between 6th and 7th grade my friend and decided to tackle a ride of 120 miles in one day.  Nobody believed us, but we set off in the morning and made it back that night.  On crappy 1960s department store 10 speeds...

But then the age of driving came and I was hot to get a car, which I did at age 16, and basically didn't pick up a bike again for 40 years.  I did pick up a lot of weight though...

In April of 2012 I woke up weighing 295 pounds.  About that time my health numbers (TG, BP, LDL, Glucose, etc. ) all started really going in the wrong direction, fast.  After rolling around on the floor playing with my dogs I found I really seriously had trouble getting up off the floor. That seemed ridiculous - that I'd let things get so far that I was so fat I had a hard time standing up!

Just about the same week, I heard about the VSG from an acquaintance who was planning to have it (he did as well) and liked what I heard. I booked an appointment, and I was sleeved two months later, in June of 2012.  I had an easy time, hitting goal by November of 2012, and I've been in maintenance since.

As part of my long-term strategy I knew I'd have to pick up a sport or form of exercise that would maintain my interest for the many years ahead, so I went back to my first love, cycling.  I probably put in 300-400 miles in 2012.  I finished the year strong, with a 2 week visit to the warm weather of Tucson and put in some longer (for me!) days of 30, 40 and 50 miles - I also resolved to do something big for 2013.

So I set a couple goals - I wanted to compete in a long-distance event.  I read about one that I thought was crazy - the Gran Fondo New York, a 100+ mile race from The George Washington Bridge up the Hudson River and then back with as many as 4000 riders taking part.  The other, was that I wanted to ride 5,000 miles during the year.

Those were such a huge goals that I really didn't know how I was going to do them.  I was sort of afraid to even talk about them! So I did the smartest thing - I hired an expert (coach) to help me.

Well, mission accomplished!  I rode in the Gran Fondo, and 3 other events of 100 miles or longer  during the year (plus a couple 75s).  And today, on the last day of the year, I crossed the 5,000 mile mark.

And the best part of it all is this:  Making those goals are the NOT best part!  The people I've met along the way and the new friendships that have happened as a result of working toward these goals are the best things.  I now have a social group of people that automatically helps support my diet and fitness goals as a natural part of the interactions.  

Thanks also to everyone here for their encouragement and support of the past 20 months or so!  Amazing what one can accomplish in a year, with a goal...

Tom

- Crossing the 5,000 mile mark, Tucson AZ, December 31st, 2013

Yay,Tom!  Happy New year!

Nancy

Nicely done!  CONGRATULATIONS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!  Wishing great accomplishments in 2014.  :)

JubJub Rules !!!!

Congrats on everything !!!

frisco

You are more of a hero and inspiration to me than you could ever know. 

Annie

 

 

Amazing! What a great achievement! Congratulations, and happy new year.

Awesome work!! Tucson is such an AWESOME city for biking, isn't it? And lovely weather today, too! (Tucson resident here!) Hope you've enjoyed your time here in the Southwest!!

 

It is! 

We are very tempted to buy a place, but we have some more exploring to do before deciding.

Well, if you ever have any questions about the area, feel free to drop me a line, I'll be happy to help! :)

I'm sitting here thinking about goals for the new year, wondering just how big I should go. You went big and have accomplished something amazing. Many congrats to you! Can't wait to see what 2014 holds for you.