I remember hearing once in a fiction workshop that a writer must always take into consideration the question: “why are you telling this story now?” It’s not a question that comes up in nonfiction as much, but that’s what came to mind as I am starting to realize the scope of what I’ve taken on. The California Coast Classic is not just a 525-mile bike ride; it’s a year of dedicated training and fundraising, the latter of which is definitely not my strong suit, but I’m going to give it my all. In other words, it’s a particular kind of training and racing story I’ve told before, only now “winning” is the least important part. And for some reason, that kind of journey speaks to me.
I literally just got home from one of the most challenging series of workouts to date. On Wednesday, I did a “double day” (two one-hour sessions); the first: intervals on both the rower and treadmill, working toward a negative split for all my three-minute efforts. Then, I hopped over to Great Basin Bicycles for a CompuTrainer class where Rich and I were joined by four other strong (male) riders who propelled the sustained pace to 24.8 mph average for the hour. This was followed up by AT (aerobic threshold) interval ride on Thursday morning (when my legs screamed at me that they’d had enough from the night before) and then another set of hill sprints on the treadmill. Today, I switched it up (an hour run, an hour ride with mile pulls out of the saddle and an hour of pilates.) I think I’m tired!
Even though I’ve done a handful of endurance events, I am working to build a solid aerobic base and core stability and strength (hence the challenging schedule.) At multiple times this week, I’ve literally thought my legs were just going to stop working. I guess this is my way of saying that my CCC journey isn’t going to be easy, but it will definitely be worth it.
But back to my question: why now? The answer is connected to the story of how I met another CCC rider, Jerry Davis, his grandson Carter, the whole Team Carter crew and and why Jerry rides the CCC every year.
The Freaky Bee race bike on the trainer. Because it’s cold, icy and COLD-COLD-COLD, this is where training happens in the winter months. I hope I’m ready for it.
Carter’s Story
In 2014, Carter was four years old. My favorite description of him was published in the Daily Bulletin in which he is described as: “…a toddler who looks like he jumped out of a Gerber baby commercial—blonde hair, blue eyes, infectious smile. He’s also the last person you’d expect to have arthritis.”
When Carter was three years old, he was in a lot of pain. It hurt to touch him. It hurt him to move. It took medical professionals six months to accurately diagnose his condition, using every test available, including bone marrow tests and a spinal tap. During this time, Carter was in a 3/4 body cast.
He was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), an autoimmune disease that occurs when an individual’s immune system attacks the joints, causing extreme pain and inflammation. The inflammation is remarkable: most “normal” adults experience inflammation at levels that are described as a 1-20 (where the larger number means you’re in more pain.) At the time of Carter’s diagnosis, his was ranked at 118.
According to an article written about Carter in 2015, his symptoms became severe and life-altering. Because JIA is an autoimmune, inflammatory joint disease, it causes its victims varying degrees of pain, swelling, stiffness, lethargy and a reduction or loss of mobility. Growth retardation is common in children with JIA, and this symptom is often exacerbated with medications typically used to treat the disease. Muscle weakness or loss, and osteoporosis are also possible conditions associated with JIA.
Currently, 300,000 children in the U.S. have JIA; Carter just happens to be one of them. However, his grandfather, Jerry Davis, wasn’t going to simply watch. He decided to do something meaningful to help his grandson. So, he started a team (#TeamCarter) for the CCC to raise money which has, every year, done considerable fundraising for the Arthritis Foundation while acting as stewards to the sport of cycling.
And Carter? Even now, at 9 years old, he makes a trip every four weeks to the Loma Linda Children’s Hospital to receive medications that are administered through an infusion. These help to manage his pain and slow the progression of the disease. “This plan is basically a bandaid, not a cure,” said Jerry.
The disease has impacted his life in other ways; Carter loved playing soccer and baseball, but a few years ago his doctors recommended he not play in order to protect his joints and slow any damage playing could cause. He’s also a remarkable student: he earns straight A’s, but has a particular love of science— he says he wants to become a scientist one day.
For now, he shows off his analytical and critical thinking skills by mastering some pretty impressive feats after watching YouTube videos. Most recently, he taught himself to fly a DJI Phantom 4 Drone thanks to watching instructional videos — something he’s wary to let his grandfather try just yet. “He tells me that his drone is for the ‘professionals’ and that he would have to give me lessons on a less expensive drone before I fly his,” said Jerry.
When asked about his disease, Carter often changes the subject. He’s a kid who’s full of life; who’s curious and excited about what’s next, not about the reason why he gets tired sometimes. “He rarely complains when he’s hurting,” said Jerry. “If you ask, his answers are brief and he changes the subject. Really the only way you can tell is because he gets quiet or moody. He’s really a tough little boy who’s very smart. He’s my hero and stronger than anyone I know.”
Why Do Athletes Do What They Do?
Years ago, the question of “why do athletes do what they do?” interested me. I wrote blogs about it. I asked my fiancé and owner of Great Basin Bicycles Rich Staley about it, and he said: “because they can.” However, after asking a lot of athletes, I discovered that the answer is varied. Sometimes it’s about reaching a personal best. Sometimes it’s replacing one addiction or compulsion with another. Sometimes it’s about making a statement, either wordlessly by completing whatever distance or time the athlete faces, or by contributing to a larger cause via sport to raise awareness of some health, humanitarian or otherwise social issue. In any case, it is using the body to state what words alone cannot.
In 2018, I was invited to ride the first two days of the CCC from San Francisco to Santa Cruz and then Santa Cruz to Carmel by the Sea. I was freelancing for an online magazine, and CCC Event Organizer Shannon Cox graciously extended this warm welcome to me. Working in the field—and in this case, actually riding with other riders on a ride you’ve never done before— is a bit daunting. Add my shyness to the mix (something I’ve mostly gotten over due to the work I do, but it’s always there nonetheless) it was overwhelming to be the only rider who was “not really a rider” on the first day when the other 200 participants gathered at Fisherman’s Wharf after a year of fundraising and training I hadn’t done.
Of all the riders in the signature green and rainbow jersey of the CCC, it was Team Carter who took me under their wing (wheel) and added me to their pace line. “Fast Julie”, Ginger and Jerry— they told me about their lives as we rode through the thick fog on that October morning. I was grateful for their openness and kindness. At a stop at a coffeehouse along the way, they literally hugged me. Like, a legit full-on hug: me this stranger, or strange writer (or both) they just hugged me because I was shivering and I thought to myself: is it possible that people can be this kind?
On the first night of setting up camp, I inadvertently staked my tent near Jerry’s (I’m sure he probably laughed at the amount of time it took me to get the tent upright, and how proud I was of myself when I did.) And it would be Jerry who, after I’d written my recap and it was published, would send me the kindest note I think I’ve ever received for something I’d put in print:
I serious was choking up reading your article. I didn’t know that you road with Julie and our other team members. I’m so proud that they helped you understand what our team is all about. I am so blessed to have such a special group of “warriors” on our team. I am humbled by what you wrote about me. Honestly I’m just a grandpa that loves his grandson and wants to help him.
And so, I see all of this as something of a hero’s journey as outlined by Joseph Campbell. The idea that we venture into the unknown and face a series of challenges, and we come back changed by it. This is, in many ways, the story of any athlete. But it is also the story of another kind of hero— a heroes like Carter and Jerry.
Jerry’s Story
As I mentioned, I met Jerry in the 2018 CCC ride. At the time, he was one of several of his teammates who really went out of their way to make me feel at home in this event. I remember Jerry as a friendly, but quiet guy. He didn’t come out and tell you about Carter right away He didn’t tell me that riding for the Arthritis Foundation was anything more than a way to stay physically fit or that his own personal experience with arthritis was anything more than mine (which is to say nonexistent.) But, I suppose that’s normal: we don’t go around telling our deepest secrets to strangers. That’s what family and friends are for.
But, Team Carter’s story really began in 2012 when Jerry’s son, JT, passed away at the age of 29. Jerry was and continues to be devastated by the loss. “It is the saddest and most painful day of my life,” he said.
After JT’s passing, Jerry’s health declined and he stopped doing the triathlons, the cycling races and other athletic pursuits that had meant so much to him (in part because he had done all of those events with his son.)
“I became terribly depressed and lost all motivation to do anything for myself physically, mentally and emotionally. My health declined rapidly … and [I was] in and out of the hospital with heart problems,” he said.
His daughter sent him an email with a link about the CCC. “Can you do this?” she asked. It turns out that the 52-year old could, and did and has been doing the ride for six years now (do the math and that’s over 3,150 miles ridden— and that’s just the event itself.) To date, the team has raised over $650,000 for research into treatment and possible cures through the Arthritis Foundation.
But, the journey continues. At the CCC in 2015, Jerry met Sabrina, his wife, who was also participating to raise awareness and to complete a journey despite her rheumatoid arthritis. So, these days not only does Jerry ride for Carter, but for Sabrina, too. In this way, I can understand why Jerry rides the bike and the CCC—his reasons are many. It’s to spread awareness. It’s to fundraise. It’s to do what you’re able in the face of an adversary that has no known cure.
The Journey
The pain cave for the next few months is literally… this. I like that I will be able to focus on power and efficiency and form without worrying about being run over by a car. However, it’s a mental challenge, too, to ride while going nowhere. I think I’m up for it.
I’m not a hero—or, I don’t think I am. Needless to say, it’s been an eye-opening year, and I’m struggling to do my best. But, maybe that’s the point. One of my (other) favorite heroes, Justin and Gabe Grunewald— (if you don’t know about them, look them up,) both have this amazing quote about not only competition, but about life: “It’s OK to struggle, but don’t give up.” I struggle to be a good colleague, a good life partner, a good athlete, a good friend, a good person. I feel as though I fail at all of these most of the time. But, I keep on coming back and trying again the next day. Maybe, at some point, I’ll get it right.
To me, sports are at their best when they propel an important message forward, and when they incite us to act in positive ways. And that’s what I’m learning this year when working on my aerobic threshold and other aspects of my cardiovascular fitness and overall strength while sharing my story with you for this important cause.
It’s a small thing to ride a bike. But perhaps what I love so much about the CCC—and raising money for heroes like Carter and Jerry— is that it’s the small things that matter, the small acts of kindness that add up day after day that make positive changes in our world. It’s about hope, and that reason you get up even on the coldest morning of the year when the world is dark and frozen. It is the love that burns bright, that keeps us going.
Continue to follow my journey here. If you’d like more info about me or Team Carter, check out my fundraising page (where you can also make a donation to help Carter and other children like him.) Thank you for following me— it means a lot, especially in this special time of year so focused on gratitude.