-William Feather
Success is focusing the full power of all you are on what you have a burning desire to achieve.
-Wilfred Peterson
Since the inception of this blog, I have contemplated if and when this post would take place. I came to the conclusion that it was necessary and the earlier the better. I enjoy writing posts that poke fun at myself and make me laugh. I don't care about sharing personal things about myself and being vulnerable. I believe it makes people relate. These traits are what have made this process so great. The fact that I'm a funny Son of a Bitch helps also. But I believe that my strongest trait is that I'm a realist. I'm not interested in any of that "the glass is half full or half empty" shit. I'm a black and white type guy. My mind tells me that anything in between is there just to stir the pot. I've found this belief to be both helpful and hurtful at times, but I do believe it has kept me humble.
When the email came acknowledging that I had been accepted to ride in this amazing event I was thrilled. I had something to work for. A positive thrown into several weeks of negatives. That was my outlook. Would I be back on the bike training right now if not for this acceptance? Absolutely not. I might be goofing around, but not training. I was told 4-6 months. That was 2 months ago. I've ridden 40 miles in the last two days. Why take the risk? Because I'm a realist. I know that if I'm not out training right now I won't have a chance, stick in a fork in me. The odd thing is that the riding has felt amazing, no pain. I'm not one of these people who would pound my chest and ride through the pain. That's not strength, that's stupidity. I'm in a walking boot for the next three weeks, and I take it off only when I'm home and when I ride. At my last doctor's visit they told me I would start rehab when the boot comes off. I've decided I can start earlier. I want this ride. I want that buckle. But I'm okay if I don't get it. With a few exceptions. We'll talk about those in a moment.
2010 Leadville 100 Facts:
1554 riders were accepted
931 finished the ride in under 12 hours
305 Did not finish
223 Did not even show up (this one scares me more than the others)
That leaves 95 riders that finished, but past time.
2011 Larkin Grisanti Facts:
Married
3 Kids
203 lbs
Restaurateur
Broken Leg
Metal Plate
10 Pins
Not a mountain bike rider
Right now, my glass is empty. Over the next five months I alone must fill it. I have amazing support from home and friends. Those are the positives, but the most important thing I have is my acceptance of not finishing. I'm good with it. I have this incredible journey that only 1499 other people in the world will get to experience this year. That's cool.
The race is not what I'm worried most about. Why worry about 100 miles at an average of 11,000' elevation? (read: sarcasm). It's the training. I know that to have a chance at finishing, I must train, everyday. That scares me. If I push everything and everyone else on the back burner for my goal, I've failed. I feel like a street performer in Jackson Square juggling 6 bowling pins. If I want that tip, I can't drop a single one.
Now to the exceptions that will piss me off...
1. I don't finish because of a mechanical failure
2. I decide to do my carbo-loading by drinking 9 Budweisers the night before
and over-sleep.
3. (This last one is what is in my head during every training session... when my
my legs and chest are burning and I think I just have to stop pedaling just for
a minute.) I finish in 12:01. It happened last year. Riders #914 & #915 finished
one minute past the official cut off. One minute.
What would be my mindset there? That is a "half full - half empty" scenario. Well, I don't believe in that shit, which is why I keep pedaling.
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