There is No "I" In "Team" - 24 Hr Real Deal

If you didn't get a chance last week to read our Read Deal 24 Hr Track Attack Post, this is the prequel to this entry.

Some things are just so cool and grand that you want to be part of them. The Track 24 Hr. Attack was just that.  Simple: just ride 24 hrs and raise $25000 to improve the heating and lighting at the Forest City Velodrome.  After connecting with Ed Veal (the chief participant), and coming up with a fuelling strategy, my attention quickly turned to ‘how can I join in the fun and help them hit their goal of raising the $25K?’  Ed put me in touch with the club president, Craig, to arrange to set me up on a rental bike and share some details.

An old friend describes my life as Tetris - he says ‘you just seem to turn the blocks and they all fall into place’.  I played a little Tetris this weekend and it was amazing.  My plan was to complete my long trainer ride in the morning as normal (training for Paris-Brest-Paris - have to get my miles in), and then head up to the ride to arrive at 4 pm in London, Ontario. I ended up getting there at 5 pm, and headed into a transformed Forest City Velodrome. I have ridden here twice for introductory track sessions and the facility didn't look like this:

Once up at the top of the track, I was amazed and thrilled - the infield was filled and there were 15-20 riders on the track.  This is a big deal! What a community!  I asked one of the volunteers if they knew where Craig was, and went down and introduced myself.  There was lots going on yet Craig asked me, “Can I help you bring your tent in?” Awesome. We quickly got our stuff, and he proceeded to get my bike, which I was going to ride between midnight and 4 am.  

Great vibe here! Setting up the tent I met Amanda - Ed's wife and a major support during the 24 hrs.  Amanda was amazing. She told me how grateful she and Ed were that we at Infinit had taken care of the fuel. Her incredulous comment regarding (Cold Brew) this coffee protein stuff: "Where has this been all my life?!"  Everything felt great.  Next, it was off to my parents for dinner and a chance to watch the Leafs game together.  My long-time friend Corey came over to catch the game as well, so my boots were being filled! 

After the game, I got my bike kit on and headed back to the velodrome.  There was still lots of activity when I arrived at 11:30 pm.  I got my bike set, got the lap counter sensor on the bike and I was ready to go.  I don’t know if you have ever ridden a fixed gear track bike or not.  There is no coasting: if you are moving, the pedals are moving. The only brakes are your legs and when you stop, you best click out at the right time or you topple!  I was worried about the moment of truth.  When I got on the bike - I mentally rehearsed this the two nights prior so I wouldn't fall flat starting or stopping. I guess that helped because I was good.  Ok, now this will be easy. Just ride- that's what I do.  I ride lots, so this will be good.

My goal was to go at least 100 km or 725 laps.  I was riding fine and starting to get into a groove - not terribly fast. Every few laps the main group (which included at least one of the Real Deal Racing Team members) and Ed would pass me, I would always hear ‘Stick!’ - basically hold your line so you don't cause an issue.  The line I was holding was the Black. I tried to stay there, and honestly, I was so focused on the black line that I made myself nauseous.  After 20 km, I had to go off the track and into the infield as I thought I was going to hurl.  I sat there for a while, actually quite scared. I had folks through Infinit and family/friends donate an amount per lap. Based on the commitments that had been made,  if I rode 725 laps, we would raise about $1200.  I had to figure this out!  In talking with Mike from the Waterloo Cycling Club, he gave me a tip to look further ahead and look up to the corner and not directly down on the Black.  Once I made this adjustment - the laps went by quickly. I got in behind Ed and one of the Team for lots of it, and was happy to be keeping the pace.  Sometime after 4:00 a.m., I came off the track and confirmed I had hit the 100 km - actually I hit 104 and 756 laps. Great!  I was able to go back to my parents and sleep!

I slept until 8:30 a.m., had breakfast and a shower, then went back to see Ed finish this out. 

This morning was much like yesterday when I first arrived - lots of folks on the track and lots of supporters.  It was terrific to see Ed finish and get emotional - it is impossible to not get emotional when you go to these dark places and achieve something as epic as this. Ed broke the record at 735 km and had 20 minutes to spare. Ed speaks to the experience in the photo on the right. Click to see the CTV post coverage here. Actually, it was so great to see the images of the facility just a few days before as this was how I remembered it previously – it was absolutely amazing that the Team transformed it in a week.

I don't know all of the Team, but I know the Real Deal Team and Amanda took special care of Ed for the 24 hrs.  Ed was all business: 55 minutes of riding per hour, refuel a bit, stretch, mild massage and get ready for the next hour.  It wasn't until the very end where you could see him relax, if you will, that he was really able to take in how magical this was and comprehend that he had accomplished an incredible goal.

                           

Back to the reason for all of this, in the coming months with $55 K raised an update to the heating and lighting will occur. This will make for a more comfy environment, one that will keep our youth coming and lap by lap becoming some of the best the sport has to offer. Infinit supports raised over $1,500 while Darcy completed 756 laps.

This weekend was truly inspiring. Dare to dream, have the discipline to act and don't forget to ask for help - That's exactly what this community did and I can't imagine a better outcome.

A couple of days later, Ed sent me this email:

"I am so thankful for you and your wonderful product. I can't imagine going the distance without it. I was working so hard on putting the event together and getting the track ready that the ride and my fuel was really an afterthought if you can believe that. You came out of nowhere to save the day Darcy and I couldn't be more thankful. It is hard to know how these things happen. A random email turns into you and I sharing the track and doing an epic event together"

I am so grateful that I got to be part of such a great Team experience, this community and to witness someone truly stretching their limits for an amazing cause. There are the physical ways we will see immediately, improved lighting and heating and likely stronger attendance. Coupled with that you will have many young and old, exploring their limits because Ed showed us what is possible when you dream big.

Congratulations Forest City Velodrome, Ed Veal and the entire Team that made this result possible.

- Darcy Haggith, President, Infinit Nutrition Canada

Round and Round We Go!!!

For the last two weeks, we have been reaching out to cycling clubs to see if we can get a few more on board this season. When we reached out to Real Deal Racing, this is the note we got back:

Hi Darcy,

Thank you for reaching out.  The team needs you but more specifically I need you on Feb 2 more than ever.  Have you seen what I have got myself into? 

The Real Deal 24 hr Track Attack

Let me know when you have a minute to chat 

Thanks,

Ed Veal

This was immediately intriguing to me for many reasons:

1. I love crazy long endurance efforts.  I love when folks stretch limits. 
2. I have a soft spot for track cyclists - love the sport, we have supported Canadian National track cyclists over the years - most notable Mischa Partridge and Kate O'Brien.
3. I love the Forest City Velodrome - I used to watch the London Knights play there as a kid (my hometown), saw many greats play there: Brad Marsh, Rob Ramage, Dino Ciccarelli and even Wayne Gretzky.  I even played there myself back in the day. I don't know the exact history of the origins of the Forest City Velodrome - but what I do know is it was put together for the love of the sport and involved a lot of sweat equity. I have had the pleasure of riding there a few times - an absolute blast.
4. Ed Veal is putting himself out there to help raise $25K to help update the facility, specifically heating and lighting. This is a great facility and is where champions are born.  

For those reasons and more I wanted to help. The first way I could help is to fuel Ed like we have fuelled countless 24 hr athletes - our most typical ultra endurance folks come from 24 hr mountain bike racers, like Julie Kelly and ultra-marathoners like Jay Kinsela - both are some of the best at their craft in Canada. Ed and I arranged to talk and we quickly went through a nutritional consult, I got his details: weight, sweat rate, salt: sweat concentration, planned intensity, taste preferences and a few other details. We created his Real Deal Blend to supply the majority of his base calories. Additionally, we have supplied Infinit Power, a lower carb blend to cycle through, and lastly the secret weapon, as Jay Kinsela puts it: Infinit Cold Brew.  Cold Brew has become a favourite of mine at the 3-4 hr mark of rides - sits well and gives a boost of energy along with a shot of caffeine from the real coffee in this protein beverage.  

So with the fuelling out of the way, I think of ways I could help. Ed has set up various levels that riders can participate to help raise funds, Ride an Hour with Ed, 100 km Challenge, 300 kg Challenge and the 24 hr Challenge (honestly I think he will be the only one taking that on). So I talked about me participating - I told him I would love to help. So I am in! I'm going to start riding after midnight when the track will be relatively quiet and we will see what we can do. I am worried about the comfort or my ability to stay reasonably comfortable on a track bike - currently doing 5 hr trainer rides, I somehow feel this will be a lot different. I am looking to do at least 100 km to challenge myself, to be there in person and perhaps further help Ed with his nutrition strategy and lastly, and most importantly, raise money. I would be thrilled if I could help Ed and others reach the $25K goal.

I hope that some of you are willing to help me out!  I am proposing 3 donation levels:

1. $0.02 per lap.  100 km would be 725 laps or $14.50.
2. $0.05 per lap.  725 laps will be $36.50.
3. $0.10 per lap.  725 laps will be $72.50.

For all donations, Infinit will provide 50% of the donated amount as Infinit Bucks.  For option 3 that would get you $36.50 off your next Infinit purchase.

I will personally be pledging $0.10 per lap and hope I have at least 100 km in my legs, frankly, it likely has more to do with my behind.

We will keep you posted on our social media.  

Really looking forward to a great weekend!

- Darcy Haggith, President, Infinit Nutrition Canada