Saturday, September 19th – Abel, our director of Operations completed a century ride in Moab, Utah to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society.  We were proud sponsors of Team and Training, who helped him train for this event, and were excited to follow his progress.

How was this ride compared to other rides for charity that you have done?

The Moab Century was by the far the most difficult century I have ever done. Don’t get me wrong, the ride, the atmosphere, and the route were utterly amazing. But the several thousand feet of climbing was very difficult and pushed me to the limit. We started at an elevation of 4000 feet and climbed up to about 9000 feet in the first 30 miles. It was an accomplishment I will never forget.

Were you able to ride with the friends you had trained with here in the Bay Area, or was it a whole new group of people?

Riding for Team in Training was a great experience as I was able to grow as a rider and ride with a  great group of people. Though our team was 8 people, we were joined by another 170 riders wearing the TNT jerseys.

What was the recovery time like? Did you have to sleep for 3 days afterwards?

After the ride, I was tired but my muscles were not sore. Riding the high altitude did cause me a lot of problems and that is what I needed the most recovery from. Breathing was very difficult and actually began to hurt as I tried to suck in air. I didn’t feel better until late the next day.

What would you suggest to someone who is trying to train to do a century ride?

If someone is planning to ride a century, I would recommend a coach or join a group like team in training. Without the support I received from the TNT coaches, I would not have developed my cycling skills and would not have been able to complete the ride.

How many times have you done these rides for charity?

This was my 3rd Charity Ride.

How did you find out about these rides and decide to participate?

I was reintroduced to Team in Training by a friend who ran a marathon with them. I realized that I could do something positive with a sport I love.