A few final thoughts, now that the ride is behind me and
I've had some time to look back and process it all. As I mentioned in my intro,
I am also writing this to share with anyone considering doing the ride for the
first time next year...
1) The Cause. First,
and most importantly, ALYN is absolutely going to be my new favorite charity.
The hospital staff (many of whom rode with us) are incredibly dedicated and
deservedly proud of the work they do. Two thirds of the kids in this country
who need rehabilitation for very serious birth defects, accidents, or diseases
are taken care of at ALYN. These kids (Native born, immigrants, ultra-Orthodox,
Arab, toddlers and teens) simply need cutting edge technology and
round-the-clock care to live -- and to get through every day of their lives
with dignity, and a smile. of
them can be treated and improve over time, some
of them simply need to have ongoing "maintenance" to keep up an
unfortunately permanent status quo. And some of them, sadly, may have terminal
conditions, but still deserve to have their remaining months or years be as
manageable, enjoyable, and happy as possible: They deserve to have childhoods, and this is where they get them.
The videos that we saw, the kids we met, and the staff we talked to really
convinced me that this is holy work the value of donations simply cannot be
stated strongly enough. Honestly, although I am still technically on the fence
about next year, the opportunity to help raise funds again makes it extremely,
extremely appealing even without the rest of the thrill and adventure. They
just announced they we raised about $2.5 Million… I don’t know the total
operating budget, but they did mention a $70 shortfall per kid per day that
this fills in, so that’s exciting.
2) Great Expectations. Despite some helpful tips
from a couple of ride veterans, it was my first year and I still did not really
know exactly what to pack, what to expect from the people, whether I could
handle it physically and technically, how organized it would be, and whether I
had, frankly, bit off more than I could chew as a relatively amateur mountain
biker. But each element actually worked out perfectly: I'm fairly critical
about organization (And here in Israel, it's not necessarily the strong suit at
many “organized” events) and I was thrilled to see that this one was superlatively managed, logistically.
There were signs everywhere at the hotels and the trails, schedules ran on
time, we got instructions promptly, and we simply felt like everything was
under control from the first minute to the last. At “refueling” meals there was
variety and quantity every time we sat down, accommodations were not luxurious
but really not terrible, and I actually managed to pack more or less exactly
what I needed. Heck, even the weather was perfect.
The one thing that I never expected was the overall vibe
among the riders. It dawned on me halfway through that I'd ever spent five days
straight with people who are simply upbeat, friendly, and reveling in the sense
of a community in which we were all in it together. (The closest I can recall
was summer camp, but as a staffer there was always stress and anxiety along
with the good stuff) There wasn't stress to be heard in people's voices and
everyone was supportive, proud, positive and optimistic. Even after a tough two
or three hours riding uphill, in the sun, over rocks, huffing and puffing and
sweating, we all just... smiled. When else in LIFE to you have an extended
experience that?
3) Onwards. Next
year's ride will be in the South (it alternates N/S). The sprawling desert
region — however extraordinary — cannot possibly be as visually majestic as the hills and forests of the North. I'm
imagining long, dusty rides with less variety and either/both scorching sun
and/or bitter cold at night. Could that keep me from doing this again? I don't
think so. Everything I wrote above really had serious impact, and so the actual
landscape seems secondary. The charity is too important. The challenge of
endurance and technical skills is a thrill of its own, and I thrived on it.
There were many people there who have done this four, five, ten or more years,
and it has sort of become a way of life for them (Almost half fly in from other
countries!). They build long-lasting relationships — some meeting literally once a year -- and the Ride is simply part of their annual schedule. And as some of these people are in their 60s, it makes me realize that it's a great way to keep feeling young :-)
4) Team Effort. As
I mentioned to each of my sponsors when they made their donations, I genuinely
needed a “team” behind me at the toughest points, “virtually” cheering me on —
both in my head, and in emails, Facebook comments and even a phone call or
two. Having about 25 team members had a
massive impact, and I’m deeply grateful (as are the kids, of course). Finally,
I couldn't have done this without Dena's support. From the day I
announced I was doing it, through all the training, and then on the ride
itself, she has been at my side, in a mind-blowing virtual way. Using all kinds
of GPS technologies she tracked my rides, cheered me on, listened when I was
nervous about my Achilles crisis, and because it was my first time and I was to
some extent and outsider in this new community, I had a buddy to “experience”
it with. She wasn’t just proud of my accomplishment at the end -- she was
excited to be part of it all along, in a way I never expected or would have
believed. I can only hope to do the same for her if I have the chance...
(which just might happen - the Bailey family, all five of us, may have decided
this weekend to train for and run the Jerusalem Marathon 10K in March! I'm the
only one who's run them in the past, so I'm pretty wowed to hear that everyone
else is ready to take it on too! Stay tuned J)
