I just got back from the El Tour de Tucson ride, and wow… what a day. It felt like the worst possible weather to be on a bike, but honestly? I’m incredibly proud of what I pulled off. I rode 98 out of the 102 miles—my longest ride ever—with the most elevation I’ve ever climbed in a single day. I even set a personal record for 100K and a handful of other stats.
If you’d told me a year ago that I’d get anywhere near 100 miles in one day, I would’ve laughed. A year ago, I was basically a couch potato.
Looking Back at 2024
2024 looked a lot like the last few years: a few spurts of motivation, followed by long stretches of… not much. I’d get into a groove with Peloton workouts, then taper off. In April, I only managed five sessions, and then pretty much nothing again until I sprinkled in a few casual classes between July and October. Nothing consistent. Nothing focused.
Then in December, a couple of stretch techs at Stretch-U—where I go to help with sciatic pain and flexibility—mentioned the San Diego Gran Fondo happening in April 2025. I joked that I’d do the 100K. And somehow that joke turned into me hopping back on the Peloton in December and January. But by February? Motivation dipped again.
The Turning Point
Knowing I couldn’t back out of the Fondo, I did something I hadn’t done in at least 15 years: I hired a coach. That’s when I found Chi Planken from Outdoor Fitness Coach.
Working with Chi starting in March was a game changer. She did everything she could to prepare me in the short time we had for that April ride. Even though I wasn’t truly ready for 100K, I still pushed through 40 miles before tapping out from pure exhaustion.
So the fact that by November I had the legs—and the grit—to ride 98 miles in miserable conditions at El Tour? That still blows my mind.
By the Numbers: 2024 vs. 2025
To really show the difference, here’s the glow-up:
My original goal for 2025 was to hit 1,500 miles—ambitious for me at the time. Not only did I hit it… I surpassed it by over 600 miles, which is more miles than I rode last year in total.
The Part I’m Most Grateful For
A few years back, I was told I might be showing early signs of congestive heart failure. I couldn’t walk through an airport without needing multiple breaks. My Strava fitness score was a whopping… 1.
Today? I’m at 42. And on Saturday, I rode 98 miles in 7 hours and 17 minutes.
That’s not just a good year—it’s a life-changing one.
Looking Ahead
I’m excited for what 2026 will bring. I’ll keep posting workouts on Instagram and Facebook, but here on the blog I’ll go deeper—sharing what it’s really like to train, improve, and keep pushing limits as a cyclist in my 60s and beyond.
If you’re following along, thanks for being part of the ride. More to come. 🚴♂️💨
