Opening Ceremonies and Ride Out – Destination Santa Cruz
The day started very early. 4:10, I believe, so I could get ready and be over to the Cow Palace by 5:00 AM. Dropped off my gear to the “K truck”, which would become a familiar set of faces during the week ahead, and headed inside for the Opening Ceremony. The next hour turned into quite an emotional roller coaster. First, I was offered a spot as a flag bearer with Positive Pedalers during the “Riderless Bike” portion. Seeing everyone was a delight, but once the ceremony actually started, I just cried. The videos, stories, and hearing we raised in excess of $13 Million was almost too much. However, seeing everyone, feeling the energy and emotion, got me pumped and ready to go.
Once Opening Ceremony concluded, we all headed out to our bikes so we could ride out. Can you clusterfuck of bikes? Since I am a member of Poz Peds, we got to ride out first behind the motorcycle escorts. Seeing all the cheering people on the sides of the roads, around the Cow Palace, and anywhere else people could be, I again lost it. I think I cried with a smile for the next 7 miles. I am in awe of that I am doing this ride, that I am part of this amazing experience.
The course of the day did not stay as rosy. Several grueling hills later and just before lunch, the normal lower back pain I get when riding long distances had reached levels beyond what I remembered previously. At lunch I stretched and took some ibuprofen. This helped a little, enough so that I thought I would be able to finish out the day. I was incorrect in this assumption.
Around mile 60 or 65 I physically could not ride anymore. The pain was unbearable. This was only about 20 miles out from lunch, so I knew something was pretty bad off. I pulled off at a safe spot and flagged down a sweep vehicle (eventually). She loaded my bike on the rack and we headed for RS 3. There I met with the medical team to discuss my options. Shelia, the medical team captain, informed me she thought I was in full spasm and would not be able to ride anymore today. She put me on ice, gave me some more ibuprofen, wrapped me in an emergency mylar blanket, and had me lay down. 15-20 mins later I was feeling a bit better. She released me to the SAG bus to head into camp – a familiar site I would come to find out over the next couple of days.
I arrived into camp a bit later and got my gear and headed to my camp spot. Chris, my tent mate showed up soon after to help with the tent. We got it all set up and headed for the shower–a nice hot shower! After the shower, I was still in a bit of pain and upon the earlier recommendation of Sheila, I made my way over to the Sports Medicine tent for further analysis and diagnosis.
Derek, the sports med guy who helped me out, diagnosed my condition as misaligned hips. This was causing my lower back to have to overwork. He cracked and stretched many parts of my body I did not know could or should be cracked. Once he was finished, however, I felt wonderful. He saved my ride!
I went over to the food tent and ate dinner while watching the nightly news of the day and day ahead. This is where the highlight anything that happened during the ride that day, route and weather forecast for the next day, and give an inspirational story about why we are doing this ride. (These came in really handy by Day 5 when all you wanted was to be finished because every pore of your body hurt). Around 9:30, I headed to bed. An emotional day to say the least.