First off - Holly and I have been flooded with calls, texts and emails from our friends and loved ones. Thank you for your well wishes - we are humbled that you would care what we are up to and are here to follow along. Thank you.
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| Holly always says she rides with me as a butterfly on my shoulder - so we got a temp tattoo in Delta UT - she pushed me along during the race with her butterfly wings |
How did the time trial race go? I left it all on the race course - I have never raced as hard or as fast as I did today. That said, I could not be happier with my race. I raced with the C3s who are more profoundly affected with a disability than I - I passed 8 of the riders who started 30 seconds ahead - so I made up more than 4 minutes on their group - felt strong! I would have taken the silver medal if I was a C3 - but I am not. My group, the C4s are very competitive so I finished 5th overall amongst the C4s. Reviewing the results I would have taken the silver in the C5s - they are even less affected than I - but I am not a C5. Overall, I am thrilled with my result and even happier with the effort. Go up or down a category and finish 2nd overall - not a bad effort.
We started the day slowly since I had a 3:01 pm start time - didn't want to expend a bunch of nervous energy needlessly. After a light breakfast with my Mom, a trip to Subway and a visit to Kroger (for a cooler and ice) we arrived at the park, found a spot in the shade and set up the bike to warm up.
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| Bowtie tribute to Dr Jones and my friends at Huntsman Cancer Institute |
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| Borrowed the trainer from a local bike shop |
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| My Mom and I taking my bike to be measured by race officials |
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| All types of riders and bikes, trikes and handcycles raced |
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| The handcycle line up before the C3 riders lined up |
While I warmed up all types of riders and bikes flew by us enroute to the start line. I wished them good luck - enough so that one of the spectators commented "you know everyone." I told him I had met some of the riders but mostly I was doing all I could to soak up the experience and enjoy the moment. Then I went back to riding the trainer as the hot, humid day caused sweat to pour off me as if under a shower.
Before the race begins you have to get an official to measure your bike to prove it meets a standard measurement. When I rolled mine up he said, "this is a stealthy looking machine" - I smiled and said "it's my Special Ops bike" - Darcie's full wheel all blacked out really set off the bike and put me in the mood to bear down and kick ass. Thanks Darcie!
I lined up one rider behind Brett Weitzel - a friend from Salt Lake, fellow sarcoma survivor, who has been training hard with the Olympic team in Colorado Springs. He and his girlfriend Amy were good friends with Matt Bradley and really liked my skinsuit - especially the "riding 4 Matt" on my right rib cage. I thought of Matt often today - he should have been here - we miss him terribly.
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| The official counts down from five |
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| I did my best to blast out of the box |
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| A handcyclist powering toward the finish line. |
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| Passing my 8th rider and gunning for the finish line |
5th?!?!? I am as happy as I can be knowing that I gave it my very best. Still cannot get over how competitive the C4 division is but I will keep doing my best in the races to come. We race around downtown Augusta (a criterium race) at high noon tomorrow - 15 laps at high speed in close proximity to one another. My goal is to finish upright with all the skin I started with. On Saturday I'll race the road race twice around a hilly 16 mile course on Fort Gordon, an Army base in Augusta.
Tonight, I'll change out some wheels, clean my chain and get my bike ready for the crit at noon. Then I'll try to get some sleep to recharge my batteries.
Many times today someone has said, "think of how far you have come in the last three years." A day doesn't go by that I don't reflect and give thanks for where I have been and where I am going. Today's success just highlights the incredible journey it has been starting with the 17 hour surgery, a week in the hospital learning to sit upright, coming home to fall down the stairs and off the toilet, to relearning how to walk, to relearning how to bicycle, to understanding my limitations and pushing the boundaries of those limitations. I am who I am and where I am due to all of you who have been a part of Team Kelly - you all have contributed in some way to making me a better person, stronger athlete and happier human being. Thank you all.
To Holly, whether on my shoulder - pushing me along or holding my hand to pull me toward what lies ahead you have always been there for me to count on when the going really got rough. Thank you my love.
Our best,
Steve and Holly
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