We waited for Todd and Kevin at mile 890. The motorcycles started 9 hours before us. I knew we’d catch up to Ironmen who were struggling at some point. One came into his truck right in front of us. It was Darrin Rideout (what a name for a motorcycle rider!). He was from Ottawa. 46 years old. His wrist was sprained and black and blue. His knee was black and blue too. His lip was swollen and had been bleeding.
I ran up to him to encourage him. He couldn’t believe I was there. My movies had inspired him to come race here, like so many others. On race week, people know me by sight in Baja. He perked up and I told him the next 40 miles was the worst part of the whole course. Just take it one mile at a time and get through it. Economize – the most speed for the least energy for the terrain he was on. Once this is over, there’s lots of easier terrain coming.
He was visibly buoyed by my encouragement. He wanted to take a picture with me. I was inspired by him. Seeing an Ironman in this race 890 miles in, spent, in horrible race conditions, and the will to keep going like that – it makes you feel like you’ve got no problems at all. So inspiring.
Another ironman went by. Methodical and beat down. “Go man. You got this!”
When Kevin and Todd got here, Kevin jumped out of the driver seat and I got in. Todd stayed in the co-drivers seat. These next 40 miles were horrible. The worst part of Baja by far. Terrain you wouldn’t want to walk. Deep silt ruts, rocky river beds, and the rockiest choppiest steepest hill climbs with off-camber blind turns at the top – it was not for sissies. It was to challenge souls.
When we got to Loreto, Todd, who had been in the car for seven hours, was happy to get out. My kidneys were sore from bouncing and banging up and down and my neck was feeling it too. Marie got in and we took off. Two nasty steep hill climbs and 15 minutes later we popped out onto a scenic road with high switchbacks with incredible views of the mountains and Sea of Cortez. Relief – for now. God is good.
It was late in the day, and the sun turned and started heading for China. Darkness was coming again.
God is good indeed…
That sounds amazing… I should be in that car driving ! 🙂
Wow, that is so cool how our mood and ability to succeed can be changed just by meeting someone special, or a few kind words, the world is full of priceless surprises and if that racer is from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada that is pretty cool too, only a little over an hour away from me, my shoutout today is we are grateful for Larry Janesky, Steve.