posted 09/26/10 10:38 AM | updated 09/26/10 12:37 PM
Featured Post! | Views: 509 | Comments : 3 | People & Personalities

The End of the Adventure!

By hdohse
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The end of the adventure: Crossing the finish line! What an wonderful feeling.

On September 11th I completed my Heart Surgery Adventure.  I posted my first blog entry on January 10th of this year explaining that I would be going in for open heart surgery.  I had created a list of things to do before going into the hospital.  At the top of my list was to set the goal of riding the LOTOJA Classic 2010 bike race.  There was no way that I could ride the 206 miles solo this year, so I asked three friends if they would be willing to ride with me as a relay team.   When Heather, Liza, and Cheryl said “yes” to my request, I think they were just humoring me.  It was only January and the race was not until September and I had not even had the surgery yet. So that meant there was a lot of time for me to change my mind.

What they did not know then, but do now, is that getting back on my bike with this goal in mind probably saved my life.  No matter how bad things got or how many tubes I was connected to, I got out of bed knowing I had to walk before I could ride. Pushing all the machines around with me was a new kind of “support Crew” job for my husband.  Normally his job as my support crew on a 100 mile ride would be to get my food and water from one feed zone to another. Matt was awesome at maneuvering the equipment, allowing me to speed walk through the hospital hallways.  I probably hold the record for both the fastest lap (while connected to multiple machines) and the most laps walked on floor 10 Long at UCSF. 

When I finally did leave the hospital, the first thing I did was get on the spin bike though the ride was just a few minutes. That led to a few miles on my mountain bike.  Then finally I was feeling good and spending more time on my road bike.  Now I was really training!

I went through and re-read my blog entries, it turns out that I never thought about recovering from the heart and lung surgeries.  Instead, I was always thinking about training for the bike race and reaching that goal.  Every day, with the LOTOJA and my team in mind, I got out and rode my bike. I could tell I was getting stronger, though that is not to say that on many days it HURT and still does.  But I am still alive!

Next thing I knew, it was September and we had the logistics of getting all four of us girls to the event.  With all the possible points of failure we could have had, the team worked like a well oiled machine!  We did not have any drama and each person took the leg that matched their skills. 

Heather, our first rider, needed to be at the starting line at 5:45 am and it was only 34 degrees.  Cheryl went next and rode 46 miles of really BIG hills with really terrifying FAST down hills.  Liza took it from there to ride the next big mountain leg. She had the ride of her life and surprised us with how fast she covered her 45 miles.  Heather did a second ride as there were five legs and only four riders.  She was warm and awake and she flew! 

Last but not least it was my turn.  I was scared because I had no idea how long it would take me to ride 47 miles.  I knew that I needed to finish before dark.  So I decided to go prepared…  I had a Camelback that I stuffed with food, water, extra clothes, phone, IPod, money and credit cards.   All the other riders had two water bottles on their bike.  I was packed and ready to be gone for the weekend. 

As it turns out the weather was perfect and I felt great.  I had estimated that it would take me 3 – 3 ½ hours to finish.  As I got close I could tell that I was going to come in at 2 ½ hours.  When I saw the finish line I lost it.  Big happy tears were streaming down my face.  I did it! And I rode it like a healthy person, not someone that is a victim of heart disease.  All the emotion of everything that I had survived this year just bubbled out.  The best part of getting back on my bike was finding “me” again.  When I crossed the LOTOJA finish line, I knew I would be ok.  Dealing with heart stuff will always be a part of my life, but it is just a small part.

So the question is:  Now What?  Well I am getting involved with the American Heart Association and the Go Red / Red Dress for Women campaign.  I figure I can use my new wisdom to help inspire, empower and education people about surviving and living a full life with heart disease.  I will be speaking and telling my story at upcoming Go Red functions.  Also, I am raising money for the upcoming Heart Walk on October 16th http://www.lvheartwalk.kintera.org/heididohse . Any amount is appreciated!

And of course, I am working on selecting my next cycling event... working up to a 100 mile ride next!

Thank you to all who have followed me from the beginning of this adventure all the way to the successful conclusion. 

P.S. A huge THANK YOU to Matt, Frank, and Ian for being our Support Crew on this race.  We could not have done it without you.  Also, check out the awesome video that Ian created of the day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka_dFr8cs_Y

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Congratulations!
You are an amazing woman Heidi! That says it all!
Love,
Morna
Comment by Morna
September 26, 2010
( 0 votes )
RE: Congratulations!
Thank you!!!! Morna, you have been there all along with me. Big hugs!
Comment by hdohse
September 26, 2010
( 0 votes )
You
Heidi, I am so impressed with you! And it made perfect sense that your focus was on making the race, and not the disease process. I watched the video, too, and cried right along with you. You will be a perfect spokeswoman for the organizations! Keep going forward girl.

Love,
March/Cheri Merkley
Comment by March Merkley
September 27, 2010
( 0 votes )
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