Before: 480
Now: 235
Total Weight Loss: 245 pounds
waist was: 66
waist is 38-40
total waist loss -28
My wife and I went camping with the kids at Pawtuckaway State Park in NH. I of course brought my bike knowing that there were some Mountain Biking Trails connected to the park. I figured I could get out for a couple of rides, plus Jenna and I could just ride around the park. Now when I ride I usually wear a camel back which is a back pack with a water bladder as well as carry a cliff bar for mid ride. When I am going on longer rides I usually plan my breakfast around my ride which includes a heavier dose of protein plus increased fluids. Well, I was just planning on a quick 40 minute ride so I just had few cups of coffee and a cliff bar, didn't wear my camel back and didn’t pack my snack (you can already see where this is going). As I started out the ride was real easy and I was a bit disappointed, after about a mile and a half it started to pick up and became a bit more "technical" (that is a mountain bikers word for Hard). The trails became more challenging, but manageable. The further I got in to the woods the harder it became, it got to a point I was looking at my map and figuring "it has to get easier" so I didn't turn back. Well needles to say I crashed pretty hard on a downhill and snapped my hanger and damaged my derailleur, (the thing that changes the gears). Now I am in the middle of the woods on the side of a mountain with a broken bike in what turned out to the middle of my loop. If I had turned back, the bugs were terrible and the terrain was brutal so I figured I would continue because "it had to get easier". On the forward trail there was a fire tower that was a great look out spot as well being on the hikers trail. So I figured if I made it to that point I might find a ranger. At least the trail would "get easier". Well needles to say it never really got easier. I had a couple of tough climbs up some pretty steep rocks. Keep in mind that I was carrying my bike around my shoulder because I couldn't ride it. I could only use my right shoulder because I hurt my left in the fall (any sympathy yet???) I had taken off
my bike shirt and created a shroud to keep the bugs off, but eventually had to use it as a pad because the bike was getting heavy. As I am plugging along I can feel myself getting weaker, no water, no food, no energy!! Finally, I hit the tower. But, the tower is closed and there is not a person in site. I climb to the top as far as I could, the doors were locked, and I looked around, no one or nothing in site. I was pretty pissed and broken and feeling pretty bad for myself. I just sat on the stairs of the tower and started to pity myself. I took out my map and my compass and started to get my bearings.
Now here is where it happens.
As I look at my map I realize that I had traveled about 3 miles to get to the tower and still had about another 3 to go. I was swearing like a son of a gun, then it hit me....
…a year ago I wouldn't have been in that position, I wouldn't have able to make it the three miles to the tower, wouldn't have been on the bike to crash, wouldn't have been camping, wouldn't have even taken a family vacation in the first place (you get the point). The fact that I was broken down on the top of a mountain after crashing a mountain bike, and hiking three miles to a peek on the mountain was a true testament of how far I have come. It was real evidence of the second chance in life I was given. It made me realize how much I could do that I had deprived myself for so long as my obesity grew. The athletic events, movies, exercise, basketball, out to eat at a restaurant, camping, going to the beach, there were so many things that were different that summer from the previous couple. I started to cry on the mountain. But thinking of those things just gave me the drive to get out of the woods. In all I estimate that I hiked 5.5 miles out of the woods and another mile before I got picked up on the side of the road. The crash has become a "red badge of courage" for me. I am now proud of the crash, and I love to tell the story. However I usually omit the whole epiphany and crying thing.
The Rizzo Run: 7/4/03 Natick, MA (5K, 3.2 Miles)
PLACE NAME AGE S CITY DIVPL TIME PACE
234 Chris Gelinas 34 M Natick 47 29:30 9:30
The 28th Annual Marathon Sports 5 Miler 7/17/03 Wellesley, MA
752 Chris Gelinas 34 M Natick 480 48:26 9:41
