The Ironman is an individual competition. No question about that. However, you could never complete a task like that alone. You will always need help from the people that sorround you. I will never forget room 305 at the University of Miami outpatient Clinic at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The 3rd floor was called the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Like I said before, no one ever mentioned the word "Cancer" and that includes the doctors. However once you entered that building and arrived at that floor there was only one desease that was treated there, Cancer. No one needed any further explanation. It was the day I met God. Yes you read right God. He was dressed in a Hilfiguer Blue long sleeve shirt, and dark blue slacks with brown shoes. His tie well of course red. I learned later that God has little time to mix and match so he always wore obvious combinations. His Dr's robe was a bit stained, unusual for a Dr. but this was no ordinary Dr. He presented himself as Dr. Pasqualle Benedetto as my Mother, my Brother and me sat in that room. I bet you if I went there I could probably find that room blindfolded. It is something I will never forget. At that point Dr. B had no news for me, I knew I had cancer otherwise I would not be there, what I wanted to know was how I was going to get rid of it because by that time the tumor that they had taken out of my eye had grown again. Nothing touched Dr. B, no emotion, no thinking about what he was going to say, no pause, and certainly no decoration. He explained everything about the treatment and what it was going to be like. That was also the first time I heard that it would take a year of treatment. My mother was very upset and anguished, and my brother....... I thought they were going to have to resusitate him as he was listening to what Dr. B was saying. Me, I was calm. I had peace and it came in the way that I now knew what I had to do and I was committed to doing it. I left that office ready to start treatment. That day I did not know Dr. B was God, I learned that througout the course of a year. No question Dr. B is God's instrument to deal with this desease on earth. He became my friend, and in my darkest hours when I saw him and talked to him I had peace once again. I am writing this blog and competing in this event because Dr.B knew how to cure me. That is only God's work!!!!
The people that sorround me back then were instrumental in my journey thru treatment. My family was well....familly and no day passed that my family did not support me. In the end there was a huge amount of people that just kept supporting you day by day and that support my friends is the only thing that makes you go on and not give up. Among those there is always those who just by being so close and so devoted become part of your destiny. While you have cancer there are the ones that push you to your limits only because they can not stand to see you die. I had a few of thoose but two will always stand out. My mom who I will eventually talk about and lets just say the other one drives the support car. Literally!!!!!
Today I was determined to ride for 2 1/2 hours and to go 40 miles. New limits for me. I felt very good this morning and strong. The pack was easily about 30 riders and today, because we did not know the route Gabriela rode on the "broom" until we would turn around and Jochi and me would ride along from the start because our rides were longer than Gabriela's. As we left I was comitted to not letting that pack leave me behind so I just stayed with them, no problem. I practiced with Jochi keeping his cadence up and riding confined inside the pack. This would build confidence on his riding which is crutial at this point. Litlle by little it started happening. One guy rides along and asks where is Jochi going next. As we have a conversation while riding at 18 MPH he is telling me how much he supports Jochi and Julissa and myself as parents. As it turns out this goes on for a good 15 miles with people one by one just riding along and giving me all their support. What can I say I rode inside of that pack for 20 miles with out a single minute feeling tired or uncomfortable in the saddle. Like I said "It is all about the people that surround you". I felt surrounded by support both for what I was doing but mainly for Jochi and his quest for the IronKids Tittle in two weeks. Thoose people make all the diffrence in the world and I trully thank all of them from the deepest of my heart for the love and caring they have given all of our familly.
So mile 18 comes up and we are aproaching the turn around for the people like Jochi and me on the 2 1/2 hour program or 40 miles. As Jochi and I rode side by side I spoted Coach K about 3 rows in front and I told Jochi to go and say hi. I wanted coach K to see that Jochi was still with the pack and had really worked hard thru 20 miles. He always has words of encouragement and I thought the oportunity was there for Jochi to hear some of them. So it happened!! Jochi got on top of the pedals and reaches Coach K, but no stoping, he looks at coach K and even as he is still telling me that there were no words, I saw Coach K get on top of his pedals and off the both went. Past the front of the pack and not looking back they are full out gone ahead and my guess is that they are going 25+ MPH and battling. Knowing coach K I knew that the long sunday ride just became a tempo practice session for Jochi. Good for them, as I have said that relationship is special and close. As it turned out that event ended up hurting me because the pack accelarated beyond my limit and I was soon all the way back saying goodbye to them and all alone in the road. Iti did not matter I was 1 mile away from my destination so I was very happy!!!. Julissa arrived with Gabriela and I unloaded her bike as she was ready to go. I refilled with cold water and sent Julissa after Jochi who was now miles in front with coach K and the rest of the pack. We took few minutes and Gabriela and me started heading back. Gaby was happy, she felt good in the bike that I had refitted yesterday. After a while Julissa showed up behind us with Jochi smiling ear to ear. He had a practice and good ride, plus he had some fooling around with coach K. Good for him he needed that. As we are heading back I started to get tired but went along. Gaby pushed me since she was fresh on the legs. As we approached mile 36 we came to the part where we had to negotiate some hills to get back. I had already riden 2 1/2 hours and I was happy, but I wanted to get those 4 miles and reach 40. At mile 38 I climbed the hill and by the time I reached the top I had absolutely no power. In the Military it is called Total Muscle Failure. It is when you use a particular muscle until it can no longer produce any more work. That is where my legs were at this point. I was not in pain or cramping I just had 0 power that is it. This hill was followed by a down hill about 1/4 mile long and was followed by a 200 meter 11 degree hill which was the last one. 39.6 miles, I took on some speed as I went down but still very little power. I attacked the hill ont my lightest gear nothing else available and started the climb. As I reached the mid point I just knew I had only power left to unclip from the peddals and avoid loosing a tooth to that hill. I unclipped and dismounted. My heart rate was 145 and I was breathing hard but in control, I felt fine. I was pleased, I was very pleased because I rode until the limit of my body which was reached miles behind. My mind kept pushing beyond and I had nothing left. .4 miles short but very happy. Gaby just flew by me on the hill and Julissa followed. I took a seat on a tree and waited for them to arrive. I was very happy with 2 hours 44 minutes on the saddle and 39.6 miles ridden faster that I ever dreamed of. As I looked around to Julissa, Jochi, Gaby, and some of the little groups of riders that were passing by on their way back I came up with todays title. "It is all about the people that sorround you"
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