Change… Maybe tomorrow!

Recently, while talking with my six year old daughter, she shared a story of her friend who no longer has a mother. When Megan asked if she missed not having a mommy, the girl replied “I don’t know, I never met her”. That was sad to hear, but not knowing this little girl or her family I instantly I began to think of how unfortunate her situation is instead of visioning multiple “Moms” with family and friends all gathering together to nurture and care for the child, each with their own unique qualities and abilities to show love and affection. I then realized, it’s probably due to my own life experiences that I’m so quick to form opinions about situations. I was quick to turn it around in my own mind, but I couldn’t help but think about the things that could be missed if never experienced, and the many things I choose not to experience.

Life is made up of small moments, I don't remember everything I've done over the course of the last forty five years, but I do have memories of minutes and hours. These small moments in time, the little twists and turns of fate, are the result of decisions I made. One bad decision years ago landed me on a bike, then I met a triathlete who introduced me to the sport, as a result, I got hooked on Triathlons. For the past nine years it has become a huge lifestyle change, it’s now part of who I am, yet if I never had experienced that first event I would never hav made the decision to change. The results are many due to the situation I had created and decisions (both mine and others) that were made. I suddenly became proactive in my life instead of standing around like a spectator watching and complaining as life passed by. In order for me to change one thing, I had to become willing to change everything!

I find running to be calming, mentally it slows everything down and I’m able to put things in perspective, the sound of my feet hitting the pavement keeping rhythm with my heart beat while fresh air flows thru my lungs… Priceless! Training for me has become more of a child like obsession to be playing outside. Swimming, bike rides, running, it sounds more like summer camp than the dreaded “workout”. Change is a good thing. I have a love for endurance sports, it’s a relationship I have nurtured for years, It’s a “love-hate” relationship but I wouldn’t appreciate it any other way. Unlike Megan’s little friend, I had a choice as to how I was going to live my life, we all do! Should I just sit and watch as things happen or should I step up, take a chance, and become willing to change direction?

Everything can change in a second!

I heard the car accelerate quickly, then the eerie crunch of carbon fiber, aluminum, and the thump of my body. I saw my bike explode underneath me, I felt the impact of the windshield then the course pavement across exposed skin on my face, hands and legs. The body parts identified themselves one at a time; The head strikes the pavement, the face slides, the knees grind across the tarmac, my back and hips twist as I flipped again still attached to the bike frame, my arms never had time to react, the hands still gripped the bars as if I continued to control the bike through the air. I gazed through the scratched lenses of my Oakley's to see water bottles and gel packs strewn across the street, I laid there in shock for a moment, what just happened? “Oh my God”, I thought for a moment! I just got hit by a car!!

I have read plenty of articles written by accident victims and just as many written by the family or friends the cyclists have left behind. Most of the avid bike riders I know realize the dangers of the road bike, we strap our helmets on like soldiers preparing for battle, the route we intend to ride is discussed with family along with a time frame. The phone is packed in the pocket for emergency response, bracelets and identification bands are fastened to the body, the brightest and most vivid colored jerseys are worn as to be noticed from afar, we kiss our families good bye and head out. What should be a peaceful, relaxing form of exercise starts off with a routine similar to that of a Firefighter or Police Officer reporting for duty. Like many others, I go through this process because I love where the bike takes me, I love the journey, therefore I prepare for the battle. Unfortunately all the preparation in the world can not protect me from the actions of others.

I’m lucky to be alive today. I was hit by a speeding motorist who never seen me until I was on her windshield. There were no cell phones, coffee, or kids creating a distraction, just a driver caught up in her moment. The decision she made at that moment could have changed the lives of my wife and children forever. The decision I made that morning to prepare for battle changed the outcome of what could have been the cliché ”He died doing what he loved”.