Mariner Square Athletic Club - Experience a Club, Belong to a Community - Serving the Bay Area, Alameda, Oakland

My wife and I joined Mariner Square Athletic Club nine years ago. Two years after joining I decided to give one of those noisy spin classes a shot. In short order I was addicted! I began attending 3 or 4 classes a week. I lost weight (20+ pounds). I began feeling good again. I wasn’t getting any younger, but I sure felt like it. My experience in the spin classes lead to a growing interest in road cycling. So, 3 years ago I bought my road bike. It was then that I met a group of local Alameda cyclists and have been riding with them on weekends ever since. Last March, I had the good fortune to turn 65, and was asked by my family how I wanted to celebrate. I am pretty sure they expected me to say something like, “a nice party would be fun”, but after some thought I announced that I had a decided on a way to celebrate – it would be something special, something unique and an experience I would never forget.

I wanted to participate in this year’s AIDS/Lifecycle 7, a 545 mile bike ride that started June 1st in San Francisco and ended 7 days later in Los Angeles! Preparation for the ride and the ride itself became my journey. This was a journey that never would have started, heck I never would have even thought of it, had it not been for Mariner Square A.C. their spin classes and the support of the very capable club staff and trainers, never in my wildest dreams! So, how did I do? On day one I was full of jitters, wondering if I was really ready for a 545 mile ride. By day two I had settled down and by day three I knew I was going to enjoy this experience – all the way to Los Angeles. And when I crossed the finish line 545 miles and 7 days later I was actually sorry to see the ride end. I felt great and could have kept riding without a problem. It was a great experience, one I will never forget.

My typical day started around 5:00 AM. I’d get up, wash and go to breakfast. Then we’d break down our tent and get all our gear to the assigned gear truck. Then it was off to our bikes around 7:00 AM for the day’s ride. The ride distances each day varied from 44 miles on the shortest day to 106 on the longest day. Along the way each day were 3 – 4 rest stops and a lunch stop. At each stop there was a choice of snacks, energy drinks, medical assistance and even bike repair. Our typical day ended around 3:00 or 4:00 in the afternoon. The two exceptions were the 106 and 98 mile days, which got us into closer to 6:00, tired and ready for a shower. The food was good and plentiful. I ate and ate and ate some more, and lost weight. I guess that happens when you are burning about 6,000 calories/day! One key point I think should be made. I’m just a regular 65 year old guy who sometimes lets himself think like a kid again! And, if I can do IT so can any other member of this club. My IT happened to be a long bike ride. Yours will be different, but we are all capable of stepping out of our comfort zone, training for our own IT and accomplishing our goal – regardless of age or gender. It’s a great experience.