Last weekend was the Obliteride. As I look back over the past months of this journey, I know I have grown as a person. I was reminded how much cancer touches everyone’s life in some way. Either you know someone who has it, has battled it or who lost the battle. From previous writings, you know that the same time I was training for this ride – my mom was and is in the thrusts of a battle of her own. Her strength and determination have shown me once again how truly blessed I have been to have her as my mother. We continue this journey, just in a different way now. Me focusing on my health, my family and preparing for a half marathon in the near future my mom taking each day as they come.
As I get ready to send out my thank you notes to all those who donated to such a wonderful cause. I think about the wonderful friends and family that I am surrounded by and know that no matter what obstacles are put in my path I have the love and support of others to help. That is truly a blessing.
I decided to write a newsletter to send out with my thank you notes – below is the headline article…
Bishop Finishes Ride Despite Obstacles
Being an inaugural ride you expect there to be a few wrinkles in the process, the Obliteride was no different. It offered challenging hills that all of the riders soon began to complain about, and navigation difficulty throughout. Despite these obstacles, Sonia Bishop biked on and completed all 100 miles of the adventure. When asked how she did it, she replied, “I just kept looking down at all the names on the ribbons, some family, some friends and many I never personally met. I thought if they can go through battling cancer, I can suck it up and ride the 100 miles”. Sonia’s riding journey became an adventure when after 35 grueling miles she found herself almost back to where she originally started. It turns out route signs were removed by pranksters and many 100 mile riders found themselves riding the wrong course; the 50 mile course. A bit overwhelmed by the thought of starting over, and a few minutes of tears, she met another rider who had also gone the wrong way, and soon another. They decided to call the Obliteride help line and asked to be driven 35 miles out on the correct course, rather than retrace much of the riding course to meet up with the correct path. After waiting 15 minutes for the van and a 30 minute ride, she and the other two riders were placed on the course 35 miles in the right direction. With fresh legs from the van ride, off she went to continue her ride and have lunch at the 50 mile marker. Refreshed, she continued on her journey. At about 35 miles left to go (around mile 65) she was surprised by her husband Matt and her sons Mason and Kaleb cheering her on from the back of their truck. After hugs and encouragement she continued on her journey, which quickly went off course again. Finding only one sign to follow, Sonia continued on a long (really long) down hill section that turned out to be the wrong way. “I was so excited for the down hill section that it took me a bit to realize that I wasn’t seeing any more arrows. Finally it sank in that I needed to stop and call for help.” Sonia called her husband Matt, gave him her coordinates and found that she had missed her turn by 2 miles. Grumpy at having to go back up the hill, she made it back to the correct street and found the signs again. Her new support team drove ahead to make sure she went the correct direction and to provide smiles and cheers. Sonia continued her journey towards the end of the race, keeping a steady pace to finish the race now within 8 hours instead of the goal of 7. She and two other riders came to to the same grueling hills they already rode at the beginning of the ride when they went the wrong way, which was now about mile 80. After stopping for a second wind, drinking water Sonia was off to start the hills again, dreading the next 20 miles. Stopping to realize she was in a wrong gear, she met a very nice SAG (Support and Gear) van that noticed the distraught look on her face. The driver explained that since Sonia had already ridden the hills, previously she didn’t need to do it again, she could loop back and ride the Burke Gillman Trail the rest of the way in. So with a boost of confidence that she would actually finish the race, she turned around and found the Trail. So did the other two 100 mile riders. Sonia rode the remaining 20 miles on the trail, legs exhausted but spirits high, knowing that she had accomplished something that not many others could do. She rode 100 miles!
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