No question, when it comes to adventuring & outdoor activities…usually involving the bike almost always some like-minded equally questionable friends, mmmhmmm I am def not the brightest bulb.
Notable foolishness on my bike
- Riding in Maui, up a volcano Haleakala, sea level to >11k’, on a bike
- Riding a 130 mile ride around said volcano with my equally crazy friend Eric
- Coming home and riding the 11 mi loop thru Nashville’s Percy Warner Park, nine times, gaining over 1k’ elevation gain, per lap. This level of silliness would provide an elevation gain of 10k’ (and also >100mi) and is what I lovingly refer to as the Hillbilly Haleaka
Yep, that kind of DUMB.
In fairness, my knack for finding fringe adventure has not been limited to the bike, and on occasion has spilled into trail running i.e. the Hushpuppy 50k, OW….or that time we went back to Maui, and spontaneously ran, trotted, crawled, half a marathon inside that stupid volcano, at 11k’, forever known as, the Crater Run.
My most recent moment of brilliance, however, involves an evening during the 2017 holidays with some friends, especially fine añejo (fancy tequilas) Christmas margaritas. The result: registering for the 6-day mountain bike stage race known as The BreckEpic .
This youtube video below accurately depicts how screwed I really am: 2018 Breck Epic – https://youtu.be/VGTUSjggGBM
The details:
Aug. 5th – 10th, in Breckenridge, CO, my better half (Jena) & I, along with the biggest collection of smack-talking, bike-riding, beer drinking best friends a dude could ever ask for, together, we will be competing surviving in a week-long mountain bike event known as the Breck-Epic (commonly referred to as the “breck”). The Breck, is a grueling 6-day mountain bike stage race that tests the body and spirit, as participants ride up & over the surrounding Breckenridge mountain passes, for 6 consecutive days. Did I mention that we’re at 9500′ and will be riding up over 12 each day?
Good Lord this is gonna hurt.
Well, if you’ve made it this far, you’ve no doubt concluded that I’m adventurous and also dumb as a rock. However, it did occur to me that maybe I can do something good, something meaningful with this adventure.
I traded some messages with an old friend and cyclist from Nashville, Marsha Williams who works with the Tennessee Donor Services group. I asked her if it would be okay to
guest ride on behalf of Tennessee Donor Services and try to help raise awareness for the work they do, and in some small way, support
Tennessee Team Transplant as they begin a week full of multi-sport events in Salt Lake City this week.
If you’re not familiar with the transplant games, you can check them out here .
The Donate Life Transplant Games is a multi-sport festival event produced by the Transplant Life Foundation for individuals who have undergone life-saving transplant surgeries. Competition events are open to living donors, organ transplant recipients, bone marrow, corneal and tissue transplant recipients. More than an athletic event, the Donate Life Transplant Games highlight the critical importance of organ, eye, and tissue donation, while celebrating the lives of organ donors and recipients.
Back to tomorrow, right.
My 6-day torture session begins tomorrow. BreckEpic Stage One. 33 miles of grueling single track “grunty” climbs with over 5k’ of elevation gain. Oof.
9686′ unto 11,273′
Okay, tomorrow’s a big day and I should try to sleep. I’ll try to post a stage one recap tomorrow evening.
One last thought as I sign off, one of my favorites:
“Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain.”, Jack Kerouac
#BreckEpic18 #DonateLife #BeTheGift #TeamTransplant #TeamSweetPigQueenofthePotRoasts #HattieBsRacing #LittleHarpethBrewing #641wordcount
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Not all who wander are lost 
You go Don!!! All the best to you and Jena as your start this epic ride. Looking forward to reading more of your crazy-motivating-exhausting adventures as I sit on my couch!! Haha
Yes, you are absolutely nuts but I wish I could be there with ya!!! Although….I would 100% die…quickly and painfully…
Wow! What a great idea for a vacation! Sites must be breathtaking…look forward to the pics!!! Be safe👍
Wow Don!
Keep the blog coming because really fascinating stuff! Also, thanks for sharing your past insanely challenging adventures. Good to know my boss is a bit wacky 🤪. HA. Ok, going back to bed now:))