Scott Herman Ftiness: The Ride Has Begun

Scott Herman, celebrity fitness trainer, reports from the road on AIDS/LifeCycle.

Cross posted from competenetwork.com: 

The ride has begun! Today is Day 3 and my team and I are having an amazing time. Orientation day was off the wall. Everyone was so excited about the ride and the Aids Ribbon came out— AMAZING. My team and I made up the top left edge of the “3”. Everyone was worried that the rain would continue into Day 1 of riding but luckily the skies cleared up.

Day 1 started off with a very heartwarming opening ceremony. The stories were touching and everyone was so excited about raising the most money that the event has ever seen! We also took some more time to go over safety on the road to ensure that everyone makes it to L.A. safe and sound. 

After the opening ceremony my team and I went to retrieve our bikes. I will admit that I learned two very important lessons on Day 1. The first lesson was to never look too far over your shoulder as you are coming to a stop because it will through you off balance and you will fall HARD. Also, be careful to not switch from an easy gear to a hard gear too quickly while going up a steep hill because you will also fall very HARD. I have the cuts on my right leg to prove it! But I am OK and my AIDS/LIFECYCLE battle wounds will heal.

Because my team and I drove across the country, we have to take turns driving the car from camp to camp. Glenn drove the first day and met us at each rest stop. It was great because it gave the whole team a place to meet each day and having our extra food and BSN supplements also proved to be VERY helpful. As fitness nuts, we need to make sure we are eating plenty of calories and consuming lots of protein to rebuild our muscles during the grueling 60-105 mile days.

Adam, Phillip, Eddie and I have been pretty much riding side-by-side each day and were in the last group to leave each rest area because we started the whole ride on Day 1 dead last. It is not a race, but if you start off in the front, you for sure reach camp A LOT quicker, which means you get to sleep and relax more as well! I took over driving in the morning on Day 2 so Glenn could do some riding. He rode about 50 miles and met Adam and I at the lunch stop. I had to pick up Adam at mile 12 and bring him and his bike to Cannondale because another bike ran into his back wheel and bent his rim. Once we reached the lunch stop, Glenn took over driving again.

So today (Day 3) we decided to start first thing in the morning so that we could do our best to finish the day early. Adam and I took charge and finished extremely quick. We skipped two rest areas and just kept pumping. It felt great to finish the day early, relax, and get some work done— Which is the only reason I had time to write this blog! Haha But for the most part each day’s schedule has been the same. Waking up early, eating a ton of calories, stuffing the back pockets of our shirt with more food, refilling water bottles, and getting to know our fellow riders.

Everyone here is super nice and helpful. It is amazing how so many people can be so nice and generous to each other. I am excited to continue with my team and am anxious to see what it is like when we pull into L.A. on the last day. The ride has for sure been challenging. As everyone says, the seat for sure does a number on your bum and the hills tear up your quads in the worst ways. But as long as my teammates and I keep eating, hydrating, and stretching, I know we will be ok and make it to the end!

-Scott Herman

p.s. to view larger versions of the images in this post, and to see more images from the ride so far, visit my Compete Community profile.