I did something new last Saturday. I rode my bike, Simone, from 5:30A to 5:30P up and down the San Gabriel river path. I had never ridden on that path before. I’m not sure if I ever will again. It’s a forty-nine minute drive from my house. What I am positive about is that the decision to ride that day was the best decision I have made in 2020, and the most fun I've had all year, all 180 miles of it, but the cause of that joy had nothing to do with me, rather it had 100% to do with the company I kept.

My friend and teammate, Heidi Videto, and I raced Ironman Arizona together in 2017. We had known each other through our TeamSFQ Facebook group page for a couple of years, but had only met in person for the first time that late November weekend. I knew Heidi was hilarious, kind, and a total bada$$ before we met in real life, but I couldn’t have predicted the impact her voice and belief would have on me until mile ten of the marathon at IMAZ.

I was feeling really low, and unsure of how I was going to climb out of a very dark moment, then I heard, “Yeah T!! You look great! GO GET IT!!” I looked up, and saw that my mind was not playing tricks on me, those words did not come down from above, or inside my own head, but from Heidi as we crossed paths on the course. From that moment on, I picked up my pace, held it, and finished the race stronger than I could've imagined.

A smile and extra pep in my step shortly after hearing Heidi's cheers at Ironman Arizona, 2017.

Heidi was there for me at the exact moment when I needed her, and I hoped from that day on that I would have the chance return the favor.

CUT TO: July 2019, Heidi asked me if I would crew for her during the Washington Island Relay in July, 2020, where she plans to ride her bike for 36 hours straight. It’s fine, I understand, go back and read that again, she plans to ride her bike for 36 HOURS STRAIGHT. After a quick chat with Marion, I said “Yes,” and have been curious for the last ten months about what, why, and how to prepare for an event of this magnitude?

I watched Heidi from afar putting in multiple 100 and 200 mile training rides, and thought that might be the only way to gain a sense of her preparation, then about a month ago she invited me to ride with her during a training weekend in California in June? (Heidi lives in Sedona, AZ). This was my chance! Even though I wasn't positive of the distance, I knew it would be longer than anything I’d ridden before, and was prepared to ride as far as my legs would take me, so I replied, “Sure, I will ride with you on Saturday.”

I knew I was in decent cycling shape because of my Massive May Challenge, eighty-seven hours in the saddle, which included multiple 6,000ft. + elevation gain rides. Plus, I have ridden multiple 130 mile rides, and too many Century rides in the last few years to count, but anything over 145 miles was new territory, and as soon as we started pedaling on Saturday morning, I knew I was headed into No Man’s Land, a daunting and fantastic sensation I hadn’t felt in years.

Our friend and teammate, Jess Zaiss, led us out on the path, which was awesome, because as a fellow Angeleno she trains on the San Gabriel River path often, and showed us the way with confidence and ease. However, we were moving pretty quickly for such a long day ahead, and even though cruising at 20MPH was fun, I wasn’t positive I could maintain that pace for twelve hours.

We set up our base camp at Edison Park in Seal Beach, CA, about 2.5 miles inland from where the path starts at the ocean, and about 33 miles from the end of the path near Azusa, CA. Our first loop was slightly over 66 miles, which we rode in under 4 hours. Not too shabby. Although there were a handful of twists, turns, and sketchy dark underpasses that I was not entirely confident I would navigate safely deep into the ride, so I was thrilled when Heidi suggested we switch to a shorter stretch of the path for the rest of the day. It made sense to be closer to our cars to refuel, etc., versus over thirty miles away if we got into trouble. I do not mind monotony, which may not be surprising considering my favorite workout of all time is running 26.2 miles on a treadmilI, and I ride loops and out and back stretches constantly on my own, so this updated route was right up my alley.

From screen left, Heidi Videto, Jess Zaiss, and yours truly refueling about 4 hours into the ride at Edison park in Seal Beach, CA.

After fueling up on a Lemon Poppyseed Bobo’s bar, and refilling my bottles with NUUN, we waved goodbye to Jess, our speedy, pre-dawn leader, and Heidi and I started pedaling again. We rode north on the path about thirteen miles, then turned around and rode all the way down to mile 0.5 or so, where the path began, which made the loop back to our base camp over thirty miles/2.5 hours. We just needed to complete a handful or so of those loops, and we’d be good to go. Gulp.

The path was narrow and fairly busy with fellow cyclists in the early morning hours, then regular folks out for a leisurely ride in the early afternoon, but we had plenty of stretches to ride side by side and dive into the treasure chest of “long ride conversations.” We shared our triathlon origin stories, a few priceless nuggets about our significant others, and I asked her why she decided to pursue this particular race? I hope to share her reply when I follow up with another post after the event commences in late July, in the meantime I will share that Heidi’s reason makes perfect sense to me, and I am honored to help her reach it.

During our second pit stop, about 6 hours/96.5 miles into the ride, in a stroke of mystical timing, our TeamSFQ Co-Leader, and Smashfest Queen designer and Co-owner, Michele Landry, (an Orange County local), rolled into Edison park with her two amazing kiddos to give us a priceless shot of support and good cheer before we headed out for the second half of the ride.

Nearly mid way though, the author, Heidi, and our top cheer squad, Michele Landry.

The sky was still overcast until about 1P, classic SoCal June Gloom, which was great, because the temperature stayed cool, but about 7 hours into the ride, at mile 113, I was heating up, and my energy started to wane. Fortunately, I had a Picky Bar on me to gobble down for a quick influx of calories, which helped, but Heidi suggested I take in some protein at our next stop.

During most of my long rides, I only eat Picky Bars, Clif Bloks, and GU gels, but I bought some Justin’s Almond Butter packets the day before just in case this ride would require a bit more heft, and I am so glad I did. I only felt off during that one mile of the ride, but after eating some almond butter, and keeping up with the gels and Picky Bar intake schedule, I maintained plenty of energy the rest of the ride. Honestly, I am pretty pleased about that. Nutrition is tricky, especially for a novel distance, so hitting it nearly on the head for my first twelve hour ride was a pleasant surprise.

The wind picked up later in the day, which lent intrigue to our flat course. We still maintained a steady 15 - 18MPH pace, conquering the headwinds with our grit and gaping grins, chewing up each challenge mile after mile.

Initially, I thought we had to ride twelve hours, but in fact the entire ride, (including stops), needed to be twelve hours, which meant at 5:30P, no matter where we were mileage wise, the ride was over.

The only number I set my heart on to hit, and I really hoped my Garmin would have enough juice to capture, was 150 miles. Anything after that was gravy. After twelve hours in the saddle, and eleven hours of ride time, we finished at 180 miles. Whoa.

Guess what? I wasn’t done yet! Hillary put down a 3 mile run off the bike on my plan, so even though I was on my bike longer than I race Ironman’s, (in fact the day felt very much like an Ironman), I still felt good, and was anxious to test my run legs.

The first few minutes felt like daggers jabbing into my quads. It was a definite tick above “tingly,” but I fell into a rhythm quickly, then the pain disappeared, and I felt comfortable and smooth. I ran the first mile in just over 8min., and the last two at an even 7:30min. pace, but what mattered most, was that I felt like myself. My right hamstring and toe were fine, who knows how they would have handled 26.2 miles, but they let me enjoy those three, which was exactly what I needed.

Heidi waited for me to finish the run before she started her hour long drive back to Carlsbad, where she was staying with Mary Knott, our friend, and her coach, and where she would be riding another twelve hours the next day. That’s right, Heidi rode two twelve hour rides back to back. Amazing.

I was so happy to have joined Heidi on her first training ride of the weekend. It gave me the chance to learn more about how she would be feeling during the event next month, what signs to look for if her energy started waning, and gave me an appreciation for how much this huge goal means to her. What I was not expecting, was to have this crazy long day impact me as deeply as it did. I reconnected with the grinder part of my identity, my true self. The fact is everything I’ve ever achieved has not been because of natural talent, but because I show up early, stay late, and outlast most with a positive attitude during the mucky moments in between. I’d lost touch with that part of myself for a while, but I am very glad to have it back.

Thank you for the ride, Heidi, and for giving me a jolt of confidence when I needed it in Arizona a few years ago, and in California a few days ago. I can’t wait to root you on for 36 hours next month on a small island in Wisconsin.

The song and video choice this week is Katy Perry’s new tune, Daisies. Just a head’s up, she is tastefully naked for a portion of it. Enjoy.:)