What a Difference a Week Makes
Same route. Same 75 miles.
Much faster today — and this time, it felt good.
Last week, I got through it. This week, I rode it.
The difference wasn’t dramatic. It was intentional.
I set up better the day before — stayed on top of hydration and nutrition so nothing became an issue mid-ride. That alone changed everything.
The day started early.
4:45 AM alarm.
On the bike by 6:00.
More than 20 minutes before sunrise.
The sky was just starting to wake up.
Rolling through the tree canopy in near darkness was a different kind of experience. Quiet. Focused. A little uncertain. The only thing lighting the path was the headlight on my bike.
Just enough to see what was right in front of me.
It made me think about how often that’s all you really get — not the full picture, just enough light to take the next step forward.
I also rode in a new Blood Cancer United jersey today.
It added just a little more weight to the ride — a reminder of what this is all building toward, and a bit of extra motivation to do it justice.
About five miles from the end, I could feel it coming — right on the edge of bonking.
But instead of pushing through blindly, I managed it. Backed off just enough to stay in control and held a steady pace to the finish.
That was the difference too.
Not just doing the work — but understanding how to manage it.
Starting that early offered a perspective you don’t get otherwise.
I pulled into the park in the dark. Completely empty.
By the time I was a mile in, the sky was starting to break. I stopped once to take a picture — the sun coming up behind the trees, low fog hovering over the field.
The picture didn’t capture it. But it didn’t need to.
It was one of those moments you just experience.
This ride had a constraint.
I had to be back for a meeting, which meant everything had to be planned. I only had about 20–25 minutes of cushion built into the timing.
But at no point did I doubt I’d make it back.
That confidence didn’t come from feeling great.
It came from preparation.
I learned from last week.
And I applied it.
That’s where progress actually happens.
If you’ve been following the journey and want to help turn it into something that supports others, you can contribute to Blood Cancer United via the link at the top of the page.
Rise. Rock. Ride.
Resilience Amplified.
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