I decided to take the time to talk about something I did before running. Road biking. It's something I haven't done in a while, but has helped me to realize that I am capable of doing just about anything if I work hard. I have also been getting comments for wearing my "Livestrong" bracelet, despite all the allegations against Lance. I wanted to make my opinion known as this is something very personal for me. So... here it goes...
Shortly after my family moved to Colorado, my mom became very passionate about riding her bike. She rode in several large events raising money for different organizations, and even got her friends, family, and my dad riding in them too :) When I was diagnosed with cancer in 1999, she was determined to find a way to help me fight, as well as give back to the hospital that had saved my life. She created a team, "Meaghan's Modsquad" to ride in the annual Courage Classic that year. Since that time my mom has ridden every year raising thousands of dollars for the hospital, and of course making the event all the more interesting with the gang of crazy riders each year. The team has evolved each year and many people we have known for a long time, as well as those we have literally recruited on training rides have ridden in this event.
I volunteered for the Courage Classic for a few years in a row, and even was given my own title: "Personal Assistant to the Event Director" A few years later, I began riding tandem with my mom's bike mechanic, Duane and later began riding with Chris, a parent of a member of my school's color guard team. I loved sharing this passion with my mom and rode in the Courage Classic for several years.
My mom has always been a huge fan of Lance's. To this day my mom keeps a life-size poster of Lance in our garage. When I was in high school I was chosen to be one of the "Livestrong" model patients, and had my picture on the website with the phrase, "I'm Meaghan, and I LIVESTONG" written beneath it. I attended a few events held in Colorado, and even got to hear Lance speak in person.
The Tour de France is a race that no ordinary person could complete, let alone win. No drug, no procedure, and no amount of doping would allow an ordinary human being to get on a bike and ride that many miles and those mountain passes for three weeks straight.
Lance was so focused on what he wanted that he went to crazy extremes to get there. Um. Don't we all? I'm a girl who needs a latte every morning and a few Diet Coke's each day because I don't have time to get more than 6 hours of sleep each night. Is that not a little extreme? Every person who has ever risen to the top had to take some extreme measures to get to where they are. Sometimes we are so wrapped up in reaching a goal that we make poor choices. Lance made a mistake. There's no question. But he came clean. And in my eyes, he's still a survivor and a hero. So I'm still Meaghan, and I still Livestrong.
Here are some pictures from my days as a road biker :)
At the top of Freemont Pass... :)
Sagging to the top of Vail Pass... Not happy. And yes. I wore a crown on my helmet :)
My trusty captain, Chris. The love of my life. Obviously.
Mom and I at the top of Tennessee Pass :)
I'm looking at The Bunny Rock 5k on March 30th for my next race :) Looking for recruits to run with me. Been running in the cold... Brrr. It's a little chilly running at night in chi-town, but totally worth it :)
This is a wonderful post, Meaghan. thank you so much for sharing it. My husband was a professional cyclist in Colorado in his 20s and rode with Lance and some of his teammates. He always stuck up for Lance, never believing the rumors. He felt kind of betrayed, at first, but now is thinking of all of the great things Lance did for the sport and, especially, Livestrong. It feels like Greek tragedy to me. I think your experiences are amazing. Your Mom sounds like a really wonderful person, too.
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