Some Events of Late

Well, like every other blog, this one starts out with: Gosh, it’s been awhile.

On the eve of a big training ride, I figured I’d take some time while icing the knees to give everyone a much-anticipated update. In the last month or so, I have continued riding (duh), graduated to “big girl” pedals (yay), celebrated the one-year anniversary of my first tattoo (sorry Mom) and helped form an “OSU Athletics” peloton that, at last count, is up to 13 members (Go Bucks).

I told everyone when we decided to form it that this was something I set out to do quietly and alone, but I quickly realized that defeated one of the primary purposes of the Pelotonia event. It is all about community and teamwork and working together towards this seemingly insurmountable goal. And so, my apparently inspiration email to the department, helped result in quite the motley crew of coaches, administrators and staff members, who will all participate in Pelotonia, riding 25-100 miles, this year.

Another big event of late came on July 4. Besides being the 234th birthday of our country and first anniversary of Capt. And Mrs. Marsh (xoxo), it would have been the 28th birthday of Adam. And in recognition of this occasion, I think it is as good a time as any to make something very clear – 11 years ago, I would not have known of the occasion.

Adam was my art class friend. My soccer friend. But not truly my FRIEND. I admired his red Jeep, recognized the genuineness of his smile and always enjoyed hanging out with him, but I didn’t have the relationship with him that so many others did.

In short, it was not until his death that I knew his birthday.

I’m not saying that’s necessarily a bad thing. It was high school – not everyone can be BFF with everyone, but our class was different. For those that I graduated from high school with, you all know what we went through that year. Ten years later, it seems unimaginable to have been dealt such blows as 17- and 18-year olds and I still can’t quite wrap my ahead around it sometimes. With Lori and Jessie, we really never had a chance to say good-bye. With Adam, we did … and I didn’t. Not properly.

I think that is part of the reason that I have spent so much of the last 10 years trying to honor his life. I always felt a little bad for not taking the time to get to know him when I could, especially during the final weeks when I made excuses for not going to the hospital or making the trip to Baltimore or making any effort to let him know he was a great art class friend. A great soccer friend. And a really, really great friend to so many others.

Maybe I am incredibly self-centered to think it would have mattered and stupid to still feel guilty about it a decade later, but it’s the truth. And that is what has motivated me to start a quite life-changing journey.

So for Brett and Sara and Ashley, and everyone else that was the friend I wasn’t, I ride for you.

******
I need to give a few shout-outs for some awesome folks:
* BikeSource Clintonville – super helpful and patient with my graduation to “big girl” pedals
* Bethany Bluem – an excellent riding partner and cushion to my first fall while clipped in (so sorry, again!)
* Tom McGinnis – Awesome job putting together the OSU Athletics peloton. Thank you for not letting me do this quietly and alone.
* Road ID – an excellent decision for anyone who spends time running, cycling, etc., on the open road or the middle of nowhere. I got the pink one, obviously.


As always … much love, many thanks and remember, to me, Pelotonia spells hope.