Lessons from a 14,000 Foot Mountain

Pikes Peak Highway in Colorado is the second highest paved road in North America.

At 7:45 this morning, the summit temperature was 39.9 F and the 10-minute average wind speed was 28.8mph. Over a relatively short distance of 18.2 miles, I climbed 6,930 feet up and around the mountain. The average grade is 6.5%.

All the way to the 14,115-foot summit.

The biggest challenge: a 10% rise from 12,930 to 13,969 feet. I found myself leaning over my handlebars numerous times as I struggled to consume enough air to get the oxygen my body needed for muscle function.

My mind kept telling me that I could just turn around and go back down to the comfort zone. But my heart told me otherwise.

Gabe was in the car immediately behind me, watching me struggle to crank those pedals.

Photo Credit: Garrett Coyte

Wouldn’t it be nice if Gabe could just turn around and go back down to where his muscles aren’t dying from Duchenne muscular dystrophy?

In order to make that dream a reality, we won't know unless we keep pedaling ... uphill. No one said saving kids lives would be easy. We have an amazing journey ahead, and many mountains to climb.