For the first four months of training, my routine consisted of going to the gym for two hours a day six days a week to build a good foundation of strength on which to train. The next four and a half months of training happened inside on a stationary trainer. The time on the stationary trainer was to build a base of stamina and increase strength for biking on the road. There were times where training inside, staring at the wall became extremely tedious and almost boring. Fortunately, I have reached the phase of training that is outside on the road. A difficult part of being in a wheelchair is only being able to go one speed. It gets real old, real fast not being able to make the choice to walk, run, or even crawl. But when I’m on the bike I am fortunate enough to decide how fast or how slow I pedal. It may sound cliché, but feeling the wind on my face and through my hair is a huge blessing. It creates a sense of freedom and independence that otherwise is difficult to reach.  It is also beneficial to know what route will be taken while riding outside. The first day I rode outside I had tentatively planned a shorter route near my house to get my bike dialed in. Unfortunately I missed a turn and ended up going three times as far. It was a good lesson to learn early; otherwise I might have ended up getting lost.

Riding outside is a little more complicated than just hopping on the bike and riding around. For two days of the week (generally Monday and Friday) I train for hills. The way this happens is pretty simple. I start at the bottom of a hill and pedal until I reach the top. While on the hill I focus on shifting, timing, cadence, and of course willpower. One day a week (generally Wednesday) I go on a long ride to acclimate my body to being on the bike for long periods of time. Long rides are my favorite because I love being outside and it is nice to see the scenery from one town to the next. On the other two days of training (generally Tuesday and Thursday) I am still on the stationary trainer. I continue interval training/stationary training because it helps to maintain and increase a solid base and stamina.

Moving forward in my training from one phase to the next has helped me understand the importance of different chapters or experiences in my life. If I did not take the proper steps in training, I would not be properly prepared for the next step or the long ride itself. This concept translates directly to other aspects of my life. A simple example would be; if I did not graduate high school I would not be able to attend college. The more I thought about this concept, the more value I found in being wheelchair-bound. Being in a chair has prepared me for so many different aspects of my future. I have become stronger both mentally and spiritually, which I will benefit from in my future career and relationships. Being in a chair has made me marketable for pursuing public speaking. Every chapter or experience has value in one way or another. It’s up to us to discover that value.