I have skipped quite a few days, but I'll quickly get to the point.

We rolled into Lillooet, BC from Whistler, BC earlier today. This town is small but very nice and seemingly has its own charms. We walked across town on the Main St. on foot and ran into a couple of closed stores / shops and the music festival. We're staying at this church and it's very hot and warm in here. Some are sleeping in the tent outside, and some even in the van!!! At any rate, we're all over this place after such a strong ride from Whistler.

Talking of which, Whistler is the place where we started from today. We'd stayed with Steve & Monika and their wonderful family. It was really nice. The day started with special ride dedications. I dedicated mine to Maham and Mrs. Nadeem after lung cancer took her away from us. The entire process was very emotional and eventually concluded with an exceptional closing speech and a haka by David.

The ride from Whistler to Lillooet is dubbed as the toughest on Texas 4000. 8+ miles of sheer ascent with an average grade of about 12%. The ride had been talked about all throughout the year and provided a perfect opportunity for all of us to rise to the challenge. I'd accordingly been mentally preparing for this ride for a very long time. I listened to all sorts of music earlier in the morning and used every single opportunity to make sure I was ready, both physically and mentally.

I was lucky enough to spearhead and pull for the team at the initial start of the ride. We all perhaps pulled each other at 24+ mph and really booked it!!! A couple of impact flats slowed us for a bit but eventually got us to the rest stop within an hour. I.e., 20 miles done in an hour - which is pretty nice!!! It was incredible. The usual suspects: Zaid, Steven, Jon, Joel, etc.

I was ready from the very beginning.

Jon kept me under cover after that first rest stop and pulled me up until where the climb was to start. It is at that time when I'd realized as to why Jon had been super protective and hadn't moved beyond the gentle 19 mph average through that stretch. Before the climb, I stopped to reset my computer and put in all the information from my cyclometer into my cell phone. That took me a little while, but enough to have Jon take off on his own.

It was at that point when I started the climb on my own after paying all due credits to where they belong. I had to go at about 12+ mph average for some distance to catch up with folks that were ahead. That part of the ride raised initial concerns about my abilities and capabilities, but I surprisingly worked through it. A combination of sitting, pushing, getting out of my saddle, and silly attempts to make faces look just like Armstrong eventually caught me up with Sarah!!! She'd slowed down on a turn and encouraged me to pass on. I really wonder how I looked to her at that point and whether the true levels of intensity were conveyed and whether I was looking red, tired, or panting too much for breath. She said something that I can't accurately recall, but I did feel strong enough to push on towards the next rider: Jon, who happened to be just around the next corner. I paid all my respects, and was greatly encouraged to keep pushing. I did. Looking back, if anyone deserves the credit for unleashing the climber in me, it probably is Jon. The guy mistakenly propped me up as this "specialist climber" and the story has been different ever since!!!

At this point, I was all alone and with no one in clear sight but steep climbs. Your mind starts to wander off in the face of such challenges, but my focus seemingly was untouched. I don't know where it came from. I surely was panting for air and braeth but it was unique to feel a sense of purpose and determination -- all at the same time. Pedal, sit, stand, pump, that was the routine until I caught up with Joe. He pushed me on to Lance, Megan and Michael. All of these riders pressed me to keep going on.

I also met Bryn who provided logistical details as to who was still ahead of me (Steven and Daniel), but most importantly pointed out as to how "awesome" I seemingly was. She also expressed interest in getting my autograph before I took off to participate in the Tour in a few years from now!!! As is obvious, my team members are far to generous and kind with words. I caught up with Daniel and Steven soon thereafter and eventually took off as a solo rider.

It was at that time when I wasn't pushing to catch anyone, but rather to push myself and race against pain, my self, and such. That sort of struggle is always extremely challenging. Your body wants you to quit whereas your mind wants you to push on. I pushed from my thighs, I pushed from my knees, I pushed from every ounce of energy I seemingly had.

The eventual result: the infamous 8-mile climb from Whistler to Lillooet with an average of 12% grade done in about 55 minutes!!! Well under the hour and seven minutes that were the target I was given.

"King of the Mountains" or winning this polka-dot jersey, I ultimately feel humbled and comforted knowing well enough that my physical strenghts were eclipsed exceptionally by my mental strengths. It feels like a triumph of mind over body.

I am lucky to be among the likes of folks who can set their minds to something and push through until the impossible is dragged into the terrain of the possible. These folks encourage and inspire me to push every single day.

As always, all due credit to everyone here around me. These folks, honestly, are absolutely incredible.

-Zaid

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Saturday, July 25, 2009.

12:05 AM, PDT.

Lillooet, British Columbia, Canada.

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Current Location:

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