I’ve never been someone who idolizes sports figures or celebrities. Certainly, from time to time I have been impressed by the accomplishments of certain athletes, but never to the point of idolization, having learned long ago that public persona and private reality are often two very different things. (Can you say “Lance Armstrong?”)
What I have come to discover since taking up cycling nearly four years ago is that the true heroes in life are those we actually know, spend time with, encourage and support. They are the people in our cycle groups who ride because they love the sport and those who are motivated by the ability to utilize their passion to raise money for charity. Sometimes, through a wonderful alignment of the stars, they are the everyday people who cross our paths with the seemingly sole purpose of inspiring and connecting us to each other.
Through my work with the Rotary Foundation, I have been privileged to meet Minda Dentler. As an infant in India, Dentler contracted polio, resulting in the paralysis of her legs and her being left in the care of an orphanage. As a toddler, she was adopted by an American family from Spokane, Wash., and underwent a series of surgeries on her hips, legs and back, which enabled her to walk with leg braces and crutches. This in itself would be an inspiring story, however, as a young adult, Dentler discovered the sport of handcycling. In 2013, she became the first female wheelchair athlete to complete the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, completing all three disciplines of this legendary, grueling triathlon with only her arms. It took two attempts before she succeeded, and her story is truly one of what determination and perseverance can enable a person to achieve. Dentler is one of the most gracious and humble people I have ever met and has encouraged me to continue to train and believe in my abilities as I pursue my cycling goals, something I find amazing given how they compare with her achievements. She continues to compete and serve as an inspirational speaker, and she also is now the mother of a young daughter.
Recently, I was on vacation in North Carolina and took a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway, where the elevation at the Cradle of Forestry overlook I stopped at is 4,710 feet. Admiring the view was a lone, past-middle-aged woman on a road bike. I felt a mix of awe and curiosity – how far had she ridden and from where? To my surprise, the first thing she told me was that she was 14 weeks post-surgery from a full hip replacement. She then shared that her ride that day would take her more than 50 miles, half of which would involve serious climbing at a level I could only dream of cycling. She couldn’t give credit to her bike as it was the same make/model I rode in my last Century Ride – a spectacular bike with carbon frame, internal shocks and electronic shifting. In reality, it was her determination alone that got her where she was and where she was going. This chance encounter with this cheerful woman has been a source of encouragement as I struggle to get back in the saddle after work derailed my riding for the past two months.
As I write this, my biggest hero to date is a man who is slight of build with an unflappable sense of optimism. Nick Hall is currently riding his bike, solo and unsupported from Tampa to Toronto, Canada – a distance of more than 1,900 miles, which he intends to cover in under two weeks time, translating to 120 miles per day in the saddle – or 14 Century Rides and a bit more back to back for two weeks straight. He has endured rain, wind, a sprained ankle, vehicle traffic and more…why? To raise funds in support of Rotary’s more than 20-year campaign to eradicate polio from the earth. He chose Toronto as his destination because it is where this year’s annual Rotary International Convention kicked off from June 23-27. Hall’s Pedal Power to End Polio fundraiser is something he launched on his own for the sole reason of raising money to save the lives of children in distant countries whom he will never meet.
When I wait in the checkout line of the grocery store where the latest issues of gossip and pop-culture magazines are strategically placed, I can’t help but think how wonderful it would be if the cover photos and stories inside were of people we actually know and love: our friends, family members, neighbors, perhaps even ourselves – the true heroes who inspire and motivate us to become a better version of ourselves. But, given the unlikelihood of that happening, I hope all of you will reach out to the people who are your true heroes and thank them for the difference they make in your lives, community and beyond.
Do you like to cycle or want to learn how? Join the Nona Cycle group for weekly rides: http://nonahood.to/nonacycle
