"Decernere"

There is no education like adversity. – Benjamin Disraeli

Forty-three miles to the next hotel. It didn’t sound far compared to how far we’d come. It was mile 788 to 831, and it was punishing. The course seemed to say, “I’m in charge here, and you will pay your respect.” 

First, there were the winding silt ruts. Then rocky riverbeds strewn with boulders that course designers had you in for what seemed a cruel and unusual distance. Then there were steep rocky hills – and I mean steep. You’re riding along and look ahead and up to see it – and you have no choice. Go, and don’t stop. As many boulders as the front wheel deflects off, don’t let up. Stopping would likely mean going down on a steep rocky grade and getting back up would be really tough. You’d have to roll back down to begin another attempt.

Finally, there were dry winding river washes with deep sand peppered with boulders like landmines. Your wheels sinking 10” deep until you hit a hidden boulder – bam! Tree limbs hanging in your path didn’t make things easier.

I stopped at the top of a huge winding hill and flagged Rick as he pulled up behind me. I was drained. I had to check the map. It seemed like we should have gone 43 miles by now and I didn’t want to go off course in these conditions at this time of day. We determined we were on course. This would prove to be the hardest part of the 1134 miles we had to ride.

We started seeing trash strewn about to the left and then on both sides. It turns out the course went directly through the city dump. That’s where the truck was waiting. Our average speed on that last 43 miles was half of what it was on the rest of the course.

That’s how life is I guess. There are easier parts and harder parts. The harder parts tell us when it’s easy, and the easy parts tell us when it’s hard. The dark makes us appreciate the light.

I plopped into bed in a nice hotel in Loreto after a shower and eating with the crew. I was really tired. How was I going to ride 1134 miles non-stop on race day? This would be the fourth night of sleep I have had since starting pre-running and we still had 303 miles to go! It seemed impossible.

I was so beat up from four hard days of riding – it was scary. Wouldn’t the race make me feel 5x the pain? What about sleep deprivation? I would have no night’s sleep during the race. Nevertheless, I had committed to this. I couldn’t quit. I had to stay the course. I had to fight to figure something out.

I was in the confines of my own decision. The word decide comes from the Latin word “Decernere” which means to cut off all other options. I was stuck with my decision. There was no way out. 

I closed my eyes and slept.