Stefan Griebel founded a 500 mile mountain bike race from Denver to Durango along the Colorado Trail. Once I heard about it a permanent space was reserved in my brain for the thing. Why, I do not know. I suppose I am to dumb to know when to back away from a challenge. Here is an awesome video from Aaron Johnson to give you an idea of what it is all about.
The purpose of this blog post is to share the story of getting ready for and participating in this beast. I am married to Jennifer Umland. We have two daughters. Alyssa who is now 3 and Aubrey who is 6 months old. I work at CA Technologies as a software developer on there UIM (Unified Infrastructure Management) product. Said another way, I am not a "professional" cyclist. I have a "real" job with a family. I firmly believe big challenges like this are possible even if you are not without immediate family and have a demanding career/job.
I post on my Instagram account occasionally as well. Jenn talked me into posting every time I ride my bicycle. So far, I have been able to remember to do that. I plan to continue doing so.
"All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity, but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes, to make it possible" ~T.E. Lawrence