Lotoja was different this year. I don't know why, but it was so much more meaningful to me.
We started out with the annual Olive Garden dinner at the park where we all gathered, ate, and talked. I have loved the friendships we have formed over the years of doing this, and I look forward every year to catching up with the amazing wives of our team members. Our team has become a brotherhood, and the wives, even though a lot of us don't see each other much, have become our own little team. One wife that was new this year asked who I was related to because we all seemed so close, and as I was introducing her to everyone else I realized that I have known so many of these families for years. We have gone through not just biking together, but losing jobs, losing parents, and children growing up, together. We are a family.
^^Lori, Me, Andrea^^
^^Taj and Trent^^
^^Lori, Andrea, Amanda, Taj^^
^^Dave and Karen^^
^^Chad and Rob^^
^^Maria and Mike^^
^^Kellie, Stewart's wife, Stewart
^^Karen, Amanda, Taj^^
^^Rayn, Nolan, Dave, Rick^^
Saturday morning came quickly, and all of the boys lined up at the start. We had two groups starting 12 minutes apart this year, but the goal for most of the boys was to group together and ride the whole thing with each other. Our team is so different this way. All of the other teams have riders sprinkled along the way, in ones and twos, but most of our team sticks together no matter what. There were so many comments from other support vehicles about how inspiring it was to see a whole team working together. It made me cry every time I would see the pink train!!! Seriously though!!!
^Start Line^
By Montpillier, those that were felling really strong and wanted to race for their best times, had already broken away from the group, and came and went through that feed zone in a flash. Their wives quickly packed up to make sure that they would be to the next stop on time. When the big group of our riders came in, they were all together - everyone had caught up. Rick didn't look good, his stomach had been hurting him and he had had to stop for an emergency potty break - a word to the wise...never, ever eat at McDonald's the morning of a 206 mile bike race - you will lose your arm warmers when you have to use them as toilet paper. The group quickly ate and off they went.
As we were packing up, Lisa, Javier's wife, asked Andrea and I to make sure that Javier was fed if she didn't make it to the next stop. Her daughter had had a seizure and she needed to take care of some things. We found out that Lisa had asked a volunteer to give Sara a blessing, and he told her to wait for just a minute so he could get himself ready. He ran home, got into a white shirt and tie, grabbed his little friend, and these two old men came and gave her a blessing. It was such a sweet example of how much they respect the Priesthood.
^^Best Support EVER^^
^^Andrea, Me, Abby, Kristen^^
By Alpine the boys looked great and were ready to finish it up. Rick's stomach had thankfully settled just outside of Afton, and everyone was feeling good. The group was a little broken up because of a porta-potty misunderstanding, but everyone was happy and good to go.
^^Javier^^
^^Brett^^
^^Mike - showing his mustache not picking his nose^^
^^Ryan and Rick^^
^^Nolan^^
^^Heath and his cute family^^
We drove by the bridge that the rider last year went over and died, and his sweet family stood by it with flowers. His wife rode from the bridge to the finish this year - so inspiring. What an amazing attitude.
Then finally...after 11 hours...the finish line. Mike, one of our riders, lost his job the day before Lotoja this year, and his wife was really struggling and decided last minute not to come. Mike had had an extremely hard day on the bike and actually got in the car between Montpillier and Afton, but in Afton he decided to finish the race. As we got to the finish line, I saw Mike's wife standing there. As we hugged and cried together I realized how lucky I am to know such amazing people. All of these wives, all of these husbands, all of these people just trying to be their best...in every aspect of life. I realized that for our team Lotoja isn't about 206 miles, it isn't about time, it's about friendships. It's about being there for each other, week in and week out. It's about when one person is hurting, the others pull him along, when one person needs support, they all are there to lift him up. Because at one time or another we all hurt and we all need support, and how lucky are we that we have friends that are willing to help us.
Another Lotoja in the books...see you in Logan next year!
^^I love that the three brothers make sure they cross the finish line together...
it brings a tear to my eye...seriously though.^^
^^They are done!^^
^^Ryan and Andrea^^
Last year Ryan wanted food at the finish, so this year Andrea came prepared!
^^Amanda, Me, Andrea^^
...
Andrea and I got really slap-happy by the end of the car ride so we started writing down some one- liners we thought were hilarious. This is for you Andrea!!!
//Why are we whispering? - Andera
//How is the Vargas family today? - Bishop Rob
//It must be because we are early. - Alicia
//It's the one with the big yellow arches. - Andrea
//I donated my arm warmers to a good cause. - Rick
//Irish Spring soap is not a good thing. A little burn. - Nolan
//You guys are a freight train. Maybe so but we are running out of steam so get up there and work Bitch. - Ryan
^Team Tak is in honor of Alan's brother that passed away earlier this year.^
