There is an advantage to riding solo that I appreciate. It's a time you can let you mind cleanse itself of all the “chatter” and go on its own journey.  Today my mind did not have to travel far, it stayed focused on a phone conversation I had about an hour earlier.  I found my eyes were watering. It wasn’t from the wind and cold. This story is not about the RIDE.  It’s about why I RIDE.  My phone conversation was with Bob Blais, the father of Jon Blais.

Some of you may have had the honor to meet Jon Blais, some of you have heard me speak about Jon Blais and some of you have seen Jon Blais on NBC’s coverage of the 2005 & 2006 Kona Ironman.  Jon is an amazing young man dying with ALS.  I first had the honor of meeting Jon 17 months ago at a Spin-A-Thon in Palatine, IL,  It had been organized by 3 caring individuals who saw the television coverage of the 2005 Ironman and said, “We need to do something!”  How many times do we say something like that and never follow through?  Not these three…

Jon was a special education teacher in San Diego. His personal dream was to go to Kona and participate in the Ironman. Jon had moved from the East Coast to the West Coast so he could train more rigorously with some of the best Ironmen in the country. Both on the East Coast and West Coast Jon had a little pennant on the corner of his desk, which said, “Mr. B Goes to Kona.” 

(Jon Blais.  Photo from Jon's Website)

Jon participated in over a hundred triathlons, but never qualified to go to Kona.  Then, at age 32, Jon Blais (aka The Blazeman) was diagnosed with ALS. Jon resigned from his teaching position and went home to “live” the rest of his life with his parents, Bob and Mary Ann —and “LIVE” he did. He has done more in the last 3 years of his life than many of us will do in our lifetime.  He has educated thousands of people about how horrific a disease ALS is and motivated thousands of people to help find a cure. 

About a year after his diagnosis, Jon was asked if he still wanted to go to Kona. Without hesitation, he accepted the invitation. To do the Kona Ironman you need to swim 2½ miles in the ocean, ride a bike 112 miles in the hot Kona sun and then finish the day by running a marathon, all within 17 hours or you are disqualified.

Remember, Jon had been diagnosed a year earlier with Lou Gehrig’s disease and had not trained for a year.  He was experiencing some paralysis in his hands. Some people asked Jon, “What happens if you can't finish?” His reply, “Well then, they will have to roll me over the finish line.”  Jon was determined to fulfill his dream no matter what the consequences. How many of us have dreams and leave them in bed, rather than turning them to reality?

Well Jon went to Kona in 2005. Just picture this, it is now night in Kona and racers need to be off the course soon because of the in 17 hour limit.  With a half-hour to go before the racers will be disqualified, who came out of the darkness? Jon Blais.  He came running to the finish line waving to the cheering crowd.  What was he waving? It was the pennant from the corner of his desk, “Mr. B Goes to Kona!” Want to fulfill your dream? Write it down and look at it every day.

Here's a video that tells the story:

DREAM BIG DREAMS; ONLY BIG DREAMS HAVE
THE POWER TO MOVE MEN’S SOULS.  MARCUS AURELIUS

When Jon reached the finish line, they did not have to roll him over.  Jon laid down and roll himself over. Now, Triathletes around the world do the “Blazeman Roll” to roll out ALS and to honor Jon.

One year later, Jon went back to Kona to be at the finish line to greet Brian Breen who did the race in Jon’s honor and to rally a team of warrior to carry on the fight to find a cure for ALS.  You can’t watch the coverage without tears. That will be another story for another ride through pine trees.

This year Jon was not a participating Ironman. Instead, he was confined to his iron wheel chair —unable to walk or lift his arms.  It’s hard to believe what this disease, ALS, can do to someone in just 12 short months.

This past February I went to San Diego to see Jon being honored and awarded the Outstanding Athlete of the Year award by Competitor’s Magazine. (Photo from Jon's Website) To a standing ovation, Jon had three people lift him to his feet so he could thank his peers for their support.  To me “life” is filled with “snap shots” and this one I hope to remember always.

In our conversation today, Bob Blais shared Jon’s condition.  Jon has lost about 20 lbs since I saw him two months ago. He can’t swallow food and only has a little ice cream for nourishment.  He is confined to bed and can hardly speak.  His dad says “He needs some peace.”  Why does this happen to a 35 year old man who never did anything to anybody; who helped kids with “special” needs?  Why does our society waste so much money and allow this disease to continue for decades upon decades ruining the lives of families upon families?

Doing the Ironman is nothing compared with what Jon and his family have gone through since 2005. Bob Blais’s hope is that Jon’s life will be a footnote in history, “The last great effort before a cure was found.”  Jon has given his all. to call us to action.

As I continued my RIDE, I was reminded how quick life can end…

...And of the beauty even on the side of the road.  Sometimes we just need to look for it.

While we are looking for beauty it's good that rangers are looking for ways to protect it.

Well, Tiger Rabbit was napping at the forest edge, but when I took his picture, he smiled and wished us all a Happy Easter.

Someone will not be happy tomorrow morning when searching for eggs.

They already hatched!

The remaining pictures are some scenes along the way. Notice the blue barrels?  Each one had a rooster tethered to it.  You raise hens for eggs and roosters for ???  I was told “It legal to own cocks, just not to fight them.”  Yet, a good rooster can bring as much as $500 to $1,000.  Wouldn’t it be good if negative energy could be put to a positive use?

As I end the day, I am thankful for the time to reflect and to connect. And I say a prayer that PEACE will come to Jon and his family.

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