Rogers2Malibu - Days #2-5

From Bret's journal:

We've now journeyed 166 miles, from Rogers, Arkansas to Drumright, OK. We're averaging 33 miles per day, which is really great ... for us! Again, thanks to the kind folks at World Gym in northwest Arkansas for allowing us to ride at their facilities across NWA.

The first few days of the ride were ... well ... a bit tough, especially since I haven't had a habit of regular exercise. The discomfort reminded me of the last time my legs hurt like this.

A few years ago, on the weekend before we moved back to Arkansas from Rwanda, I climbed Nyiragongo Crater near Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo with a group of close friends.

We ascended almost 5,000 feet in just six hours to reach the volcano's rim at over 11,000 feet. That was brutal. Crazy pain. I had two walking sticks and traversed the rain forest and volcanic rock at a slow (almost crawling!) pace. But I made it to the top and experienced the unparalleled beauty of power of the world's largest lava lake. (For a great article about Nyiragongo, check out the April 2011 issue of National Geographic.)

We spent the night on the rim of the volcano, listening to the crashing waves of lava almost a mile below us and marveling at the ever changing landscape of the lake's crust. After a fitful night's sleep, we began the descent at sunrise. I thought the ascent was painful. My legs began cramping almost immediately, and within an hour's time I was well back of the main group (aka "mountain goats") who were skipping joyfully down the mountain. However, our Congolese guides and porters were extremely sympathetic and kind, and they supported my between their shoulders and at times on their backs, literally! The rest of the group waited for us to catch up, and then they allowed me to set the pace. This was an amazing lesson in humility and grace. I couldn't have been happier when we reached the bottom several hours later. Here is a photo of my and my Congolese angels:

All this to say two things:

1. If you ever have the opportunity to climb Nyiragongo, DO IT! Just spend a few months on the stepmaster before you go. Seriously, do some training. I didn't. Big mistake.
2. The discomfort of the first few days of the #Rogers2Malibu ride for hunger does not in any way compare to the pain of the Nyiragongo climb.

We're 10% done with the ride. Still a long way to go ... but I'm encouraged and determined. For the last few miles of each ride, I listen to Fuego by LeCrae. The song has fantastic lyrics, but one line has been standing out to me. I'll end with it.

"Faith is dead if I don't get up and go work my legs."

(Special thanks to my friends Carter Crockett, Dano Jukanovich, Greg Urquhart, and Samuel Clark who encouraged me, shared resources with me, and didn't leave me to die on Nyiragongo!)