“Make pain your friend and you will never be alone”

It’s five days before the 1997 Leadville 100 Mountain Bike Race and my left arm is weak, inflexible, and swollen with pain. A cavalier training ride through Rocky Mountain single track ended in a power endo, landing square on my tucked forearm. While I quickly returned to my feet in front of my two cohorts, riding the remaining 15 miles home was miserable.

With the ice bag across my arm, I can only get disappointed thinking about missing the “big race.” The one I’ve spent $165 in entry fees, six days of vacation, lodging, and more. The one my parents are flying to in hopes of seeing their son break the legendary nine-hour deadline and earn a gold and silver Leadville belt buckle. The one where eight friends of mine are also entered with another eight friends providing race support. The one I’ve been training for and thinking about all year long. (more…)