Finishing the Leadville Silver Rush 50 mountain bike race by the 8 hour cut off time was the biggest physical challenge I’ve ever faced. The 50 mile race is hard because it starts at an elevation of 10,152′ and only goes up. Six times you suffer and climb to 12,500′. Blood thirsts for oxygen. Knuckles white from holding on during the descents. As you read, reflect on how these lessons will help you finish your race; whether it be a 5k, your spiritual journey, parenting, or a tough ministry assignment.

Learn from Failure
For 12 months, the letters DNF(Did Not Finish) haunted me. I wrote about how I quit here. Learning from painful experiences forced me to take it more seriously. It was redemption.

Coach
Recruiting a friend and certified coach from Arkansas helped me develop a training program. Having someone ahead of you available to ask questions was huge.

Training
My race was not “finished” on race day, but on the hot early mornings leading up to it. Getting myself out of bed when it was still dark to grind out hill repeats gave me the mental and physical toughness needed.

Riding Partners
You can’t always ride alone. The countless group rides with the Terminator, Raul, Gary, Jonsey, Mother Goose, Steph, Blonsky, Allison, and so many other Gatewayers made the journey fun.

Nutrution
Water and honey made up the majority of my fuel. You have to calculate the right calories your body can consume and burn to make it to the end.

Pace
My heart rate was 9 beats per minute slower than last year. 12 months ago, my 173 heart rate would not allow my body to process my nutrition or sustain me to the end. I went to fast and flamed out. Training and pace were the biggest factors to finishing strong.

Recovery
Chocolate milk immediately following training replinished the lost glycogen in my muscles. A day off after hard training was a non negotiable for the rest my body needed.

Support
Friends with an encouraging word, prayer, and my wife’s kiss always brought a smile to my face. For those of you who supported me, the Terminator, and Jonsey…THANK YOU!

Grit
No matter how you prepare, something will go wrong. 4 miles in and the nose of my saddle dipped four inches. This mechanical failure was sapping my energy and forced me to pull off the trail and spend five minutes correcting it. I also lost my fuel source and water bottle on a fast down hill. You can let it bring you down or you can choose a positive attitude that you’ll need later to dig deep. It takes courage to toe the line, but an even bigger person to smile when you suffer.

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! Hebrews 12:1-3

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