Child of the Day: Joshua
Pictured below are Apasia (upper left), Joshua (upper right), and Godlisten on Nancy’s lap (2015)
Nancy and Iain O’Higgins, Jane and Dan Holt, Lori and Randy Schmieding
Age: 15
Day: T-2 (launch date is May 23)
Location: Capitola California
Today’s Mileage: 0
Total Mileage: 0
Today’s Ascent: 0 feet
Today’s Time on the Bike: 0 hours
Total Time on the Bike: 0 hours
When you are the son of a stern German-American doctor, you’d likely become familiar with the “benefits” of pain! My Dad’s favorite saying was a Calvin Coolidge quotation. In part, it says (paraphrased), “intelligent, talented men are common. It is, however, persistence above all that differentiates achievers.” Wishing to emulate him, my favorite has always been “Persistence above All.”
With that in mind, and knowing my physiology as I do, most training comes with some (desired) level of pain. Placing the body under stress with occasional periods of recovery is the way the body adapts and builds strength!
The training for this cross-country ride has been somewhat different because rather than one big effort, this is a daily effort of 75 miles of riding for 70 days (with a dozen house-building and rest days included.)
For this task, a series of (LSD) long, slow distances at heart rates manageable over the course of an entire day (80% of maximum) was necessary. Conditioning my bottom for sitting on a thin leather seat for 8 hours was equally necessary. Under the daily, watchful eye of my faithful dog and coach Augie, this big, slow, powerful heart and big, slow, powerful “bottom” have endured 3,000 miles since March 1st. They’ve been traversed on the bike in the rain, long distances on the road, and in the garage. Increasing only 10% each week from the previous, I topped out last week at 350 miles over 20 hours. That’s still less than the ride requires- Yikes!
My watchful and inspiring coach, Augie
Impossible to know, however, is how conditioned my brain has become. Will the necessary resolve be there when called upon to manage temperature swings from 38 to 100 F? Rain, wind, stifling humidity, trucks, potholes, endless stretches of prairie, getting lost, and the mental and physical pain I’ll encounter? If you would, please wish that mental toughness for me.
In her book Heidi Across America, author Heidi Beirerle has related what no one wants to talk about- pain. It's a good read! She recommends remembering the one attribute you love about yourself as a mantra through the pain. I’ll adopt Nancy’s motto as my key, core, and strength: love!
Special thanks are due to my wife, Annie. In addition to letting me pursue all of my dreams (and this one dates back to 1972), she, in her role as “Athletic Supporter,” has been the Gear Manager, Consoler-in-Chief, and cheerleader for over 30 years of my ‘trying’. Thank you, PT.
Let me introduce Joshua, one of our original children, almost 11 years ago. He is a sensitive young man, 15, now attending Scolastica Secondary School. Nancy (our daughter and Executive Director) remembers how he loved to play with hers and Lindsays (Board Member, Sponsor, and NYC Attorney) hair.
He was originally sponsored by Nancy and Iain O’Higgins, Jane and Dan Holt, Lori and Randy Schmieding, and our dear Mom, Jinny. Upon sponsorship, he would recite the names of his sponsors, and when Grandma Jinny passed, it was obvious Joshua was heartbroken. He still asks about her.
He is an excellent student and a lovely young man.
