THE RIDE - DAY 2

4:30 am…that was the time when I opened my eyes on Sunday morning…4:30 A.M.!!! Rob had mentioned in the weeks leading up to the ride that I wouldn’t have to worry about oversleeping or sleeping through any alarm.  He said the sounds of tent zippers opening would start very early and then he proceeded to demonstrate making the sounds of the zippers.  He was actually quite close to the actual sound and he was quite right!  I figured once I got used to the sound I would still be okay and go back to sleep.  Such was not to be the case.  Not only was it the tents opening up but when people walked by talking in normal everyday conversation tones I knew that any more chance of sleep was gone. 

Getting up I packed my bag, rolled up my sleeping bag and air mattress and started to get dressed.  We had made the pledge that we would wear the team shirt on the 2^nd day as well so I had tried to wash it while taking a shower the day before.   Figuring it was ok, I went to put it on and recoiled from the smell!  Grabbing another t-shirt, I quickly pinned the team-shirt to the roof of my tent hoping the air would drive the smell away.  Looking over at my other team mates as they got out of their tents, I was just a little incredulous! “OMG!!” I said, “Have you smelled your shirts?  I thought I was going to hurl this morning when I went to put mine on!” 

 

Heading to the breakfast area, we got some food and while eating, we talked about the day ahead.  The gates were opening at 7:00 am and considering it was 6:15 we were going to change our leaving time and shoot for 7:00 – 7:15 instead of 8:00 am.  Steve & Eric were going to leave in the first group followed by Angie.  Rob, Simon, Steve B, Doug and I were going to be heading out together and then settle into our own pace.  Simon and I had promised to ride together all day as we both seemed to keep the same riding pace.   I quickly texted Terri that we were leaving so she would know the ETA for Quebec City.

At 7:00 am the gates opened and the first of the riders set out.  Those of our team members that we could find stood in a circle so Rob could take a picture of our wrist bands which read “I SUPPORT TEAM H/G 2013”.  We hugged and shouted encouragement as the first of our group set off.  Suddenly realizing that Doug was missing, Rob told Simon and me to head off and they would catch up with us when they could.   As we coasted on our bikes to the front gate, I passed the organizer with the microphone and shouted that Team Hope & Gratitude were on their way.  Once again, we got a big “TEAM HOPE AND GRATITUDE IS ON THEIR WAY!  GOOD LUCK AND RIDE SAFE!”  Grinning, I clipped into my pedals and headed off with Simon.

Biking through the streets of Trois Rivieres early in the morning without any traffic was heavenly.  It was also hot and humid like the day before.  The saving grace this time was that we would be riding by the water more often than not.  Simon and I talked and laughed as we rode setting our pace at a comfortable 25km/h.   50 minutes later we arrived at our first pit stop spying some of our team mates either just leaving. Catching up with Angie, we fueled up on peanut butter, water and Gatorade and then started off again after about 10 minutes. 

  

It was during the ride between pit stops that I began to feel a little tired.  The term that bikers use is “bonking”.  What it simply means is that I didn’t fuel up enough to take care of the calories I was burning up.   By the second pit stop I was actually grabbing little packets of peanut butter and eating it straight out of the container.  Even with grabbing water and drinking lots I still didn’t fuel up enough. 

And this is where Simon became my rock.  Heading out again, he let me set the pace but kept in front of me so I could draft along behind him.  Urging me on and then stopping to put some liquid gel into me (which tastes disgusting by the way) he kept up a steady stream of chatter – never letting me get to ahead of myself or too far behind him.   Simon was one of the reasons I made it to the lunch pit stop without keeling over.   

As we made our way closer to the lunch pit stop, all of a sudden Simon yelled out: “OMG!  It’s Terri!  And she has a sign!”  Looking up, there was Terri waving her arms like a maniac and a big sign sitting on a chair that said:  CONGRATULATIONS JILL! YOU BIKE FOR LIFE!!  PROUD TO BE PART OF TEAM HOPE AND GRATITUDE!!  Laughing, I cycled by and once again we exchanged high fives.   I could even see that Simon had perked up a little upon seeing Terri. 

 

Finally arriving at the lunch pit stop, we were greeted by our fellow team mates who had been there for awhile.  5 minutes later Terri showed up and greeted with me with a hug and kiss.  It had been a grueling morning and according to Steve P. the afternoon wouldn’t be any better.   There would be 3 hills that would test everyone but especially those who weren’t used to steep climbs.  Terri looked at me and wondered if I would be able to complete the journey.  She knew deep down that I was so stubborn that I would keel over before giving up.   After all, how could I?  I was completing a journey that not only included me but all the names I was riding for.  After eating some of the lunch and getting more to drink, I kissed Terri goodbye and with a bear hug she whispered in my ear, “See you in Quebec City, Shawty!”

With promises to all meet up at the last pit stop so we could ride in as a team, the other riders left before us.   Simon and I pulled out and headed for what was going to be the grueling part of the ride -  the challenging 3 hills that lay between us and the last pit stop.  As we rode, Simon and I kept the same pace we had kept that morning – about 25km/h.  When we came upon the first hill, we felt good and climbed it with no issues.  In fact it reminded me of the hill near my house.  Not as steep but certainly a good climb.  Continuing our ride we got in behind some teams and drafted with them so as not to use up all our energy for the remaining two hills.   As the second hill came into view, Simon and I passed the team we had been with and maneuvered our way up.  Shouting words of encouragement to each other (well really Simon yelling and shouting at me) we climbed hill #2.  Getting to the top, we passed someone and as Simon yelled “You did it!” she answered back, “Yes I did and that better be the end of these climbs!”.  Getting out in front, I shook my head slightly.  I knew that there was still one hill left and it was going to be a doozy. 

The hill in question is in the small town of Donnacona and as you come around a bend you see it in all it’s glory.  It’s big, it’s steep, it’s daunting!  To get up the hill, we would need all the power left in our bodies as well as some extra.  We got a little boost as before we had to go up that hill, we have to come down a steep one before.  Gaining a little momentum, we geared down and headed up the hill.  Simon stayed ahead of me shouting encouragement as we headed up the monster.  We passed people who had gotten off their bikes and were walking up the hill.  My mantra became “I am not getting off this bicycle no matter what!”  ¾ of the way up someone biking behind me started to encourage me as well yelling “C’mon Jill push push push!  Get up this hill.  You can do it!  Pedal harder!  Push Push Push!” With her yelling and Simon’s encouragement, I made it up that hill.  The third of 3!  I was home free...

The Monster Hill

Or so I thought!

As we pedaled into the pit stop – the last one before the finish line – we met up with our team and received high fives all around once they realized we had made it up the hills.  Simon had casually asked when were we going to get to the daunting hills and after a moment of silence everyone cracked up laughing.  After a small break, and ensuring our whole team was together, we headed out for the last 16 kms – riding as we had started out – together.   Rob cycled beside me and even now as I write this I am thankful. 

 

What I found out soon enough was I may be finished with the hills, but the hills were not finished with me.

As we rounded a corner, I saw a hill and moaned.  Rob looked at me and told me that I could do this – I was so close I could taste it.  I started up the hill and realized half way up the hill that I wasn’t going to make it.  Starting to cry and losing my power, I told Rob I couldn’t do it.  Edging closer to me on his bike, all he told me was to keep my legs moving and he then put his hand on my back and literally pushed me up the hill.

 

PUSHED ME UP THE HILL! 

And that’s how we did the next couple of hills until the last one.  After the second to last hill, we rounded a corner to a huge descent .  It was so amazing to have a moment not to pedal and to have the wind in my face.  As we made the sharp right turn heading toward the finish line, I saw my last hill and vowed to do it on my own.  Standing up on my bike, I pedaled furiously and shouted once again “I AM NOT GETTING OFF THIS BIKE!”  I could hear Rob shouting at me to wait for him to cross the finish line!  Successfully reaching the top, Rob appeared beside me and in his best Elmer Fudd voice said “The Woad I Twavel Shall Not Defeat Me”.  Looking at him I started to laugh as he repeated it again.

We entered the grounds for the finish line and headed toward the end.  The tears that had been close at bay once again appeared and began to flow down my face.  Rob grabbed my hand and held it high in the air.  He then pointed to the side where we saw Terri, Jo, Nat, Carolyn, Virginia and Lynn with signs cheering us on.  As we crossed the finish line, our team name was announced along with our names and congratulating us for conquering the ride. 

 

Stopping at a spot after the finish line, I braked and unclipped from my pedals but stayed on the bike.  Turning to Rob, I burst into tears and hugged him.  All the training, all the sweat, all the tears, all the names I rode for, especially Jennifer, culminated in this moment.  I had done it.  Even as I sit here and write this now, tears well up.   

Getting off my bike was hard as my thighs had turned to mush.  Turning around I saw my friends coming toward me clapping and smiling.  Terri grabbed me and hugged me hard telling me she was so proud and that what I had done was just awesome.  I looked at both Lynn and Virginia who had asked me to ride for people and hugged them hard.  Jo, Nat & Carolyn hugged me congratulating me for a job well done. 

 

Kms cycled:234
Funds raised: $10,640
Crossing the finish line with the most amazing people: Priceless
Thank you to my team: Rob Callard, Angie Randall-Coss, Simon Tooley, Steve Pilon, Doug Burns and Steve Burns

 

Team Hope and Gratitude