John Garza has been involved in endurance events to support good causes since 2008, when his daughter Marie died of leukemia. After Marie’s passing John found peace in cycling which helped him cope with her loss. John began signing up for endurance events with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the American Diabetes Association, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundationand American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, Multiple Sclerosis and LAM disease. He felt that if he was going to ride his bike one hundred miles he might as well raise money to help others. This month John is focusing his fundraising efforts on Breast Cancer Awareness and riding for the local breast cancer non-profit, The U’ilani Fund. The U’ilani Fund is committed to providing support for complementary treatments for women with breast cancer.
John and his wife Claudia in their Tour de Cure jerseys which they earned as Champion fundraisers, with their six year old grandson.
SZ: How many fundraising events have you participated in since 2008 when you began raising money for different non-profits?
JG: I’ve probably participated in about twenty fundraising events since 2008. I average around three or four a year.
SZ: You have participated in fundraising activities that began with biking, then moved into an Olympic length triathlon and eventually a full Iron Man triathlon distance. When you first began these events what was the most challenging part?
JG: The most challenging part were events that included running. I have a full knee replacement in my right knee, which I received about a year after I started cycling.
SZ: Do you need to regulate your training to work around the injury?
JG: I don’t push myself on the running portion of events. My running began as a brisk walk and over time has turned into more of a speed walk. So I consider my running more like speed walking.
SZ: Each event you participate in is very different. What have been your favorite events and why?
JG: My first century was quite special as my oldest son, Joseph cycled the entire on hundred miles at my side. Another special event was training my wife for her first century and riding at her side for the one hundred miles as we crossed the finish line together. Also special to me was training for the Iron Man. I met some really exciting people. It was very family oriented and we were training together five or six days a week. We trained constantly after work and on the weekends. I’ve made some pretty long lasting friends in all of my events but probably my favorite one has been the Iron Man.
SZ: The training teams supported your training by…
JG: They taught us open water swim techniques, cycling, run/walk techniques and nutritional information. We learned to listen to our bodies, to push ourselves to the limit but remain injury free. I became aware of the difference between soreness and an injury.
SZ: It’s not uncommon for people to be fearful when they first begin swimming in large events like an Iron Man. There are so many people in close proximity. How was your first experience, were you prepared for it?
JG: In the beginning because of the mass start, swimming with 30-40 other swimmers with everyone trying to get into their rhythm, the first ten or fifteen minutes are hard. People around you are all over the place, kicking and thrashing, trying to get to the open water. But our coaching prepared us for what to expect out in the water. I actually enjoy open water swimming now.
SZ: What have you learned over the years about training for long distance events that you can pass on to others who are thinking about participating in a long distance cycling, running, or swimming event for the first time? Do you have any head’s up advice that you wish someone had shared with you regarding training, nutrition or the mental aspects of the task?
JG: I would like to say that anything is possible. My motto is that I set out to complete endurance events and not so much as to compete in endurance events. Its possible to succeed at any long distance type of endurance event. It doesn’t matter if you are a big or little guy. I started training for the Iron Man and weighed 267 lbs. By the time of the event I had dropped my weight to 250 lbs. It’s hard work, dedication, and you need to put the time in and continue to move forward even when something sets you back. But for any type of endurance event you need to put in the time and training.
SZ: What about nutrition? Do you alter your diet prior to events?
JG: For certain events I do. For example I just attempted the Death Ride, Tour of the California Alps which is a 129 mile cycle event with 15,000 feet of climbing at altitude. I was able to finish one hundred miles of the ride with approximately 13,000 feet of climbing, but I ran out of time. I was fourteen hours on a bicycle. As I trained for that event my goal was to drop my weight to 225 lbs and I did drop my weight to 240 lbs but training so hard my body wants to be fed. I dropped some weight but gained weight from muscle
SZ: After all these events have you developed a training routine?
JG: I take a lot of the knowledge that I’ve learned from past events especially in cycling and I share that knowledge with a lot of my friends. I’ve been on a softball team for many, many years and those guys have given me a lot of support. Now I am getting some of those guys into cycling. I started a group of beginning cyclists and work with them once a week or as much as I can to give them the knowledge that I’ve learned in an unofficial type of coaching environment.
SZ: What do you do around body recovery after all the hours of training?
JG: I get deep tissue massage. Those are the most painful type of massages but have a lot of benefit. I also use a foam roller quite a bit. I should stretch more but I don’t as much as I should.
SZ: How did you hear about the U’ilani Fund Ohana Ride for Breast Cancer? What was your decision to participate this year?
JG: I am on various distribution lists for cycling. The Ohana Ride came up on one of the lists and I’ve been wanting to do participate in more local events for smaller organizations. Also in 1983 I lost my mother to breast cancer at the young age of fifty-four, which is my current age. I think this ride is going to be close to my heart. I am hoping to meet nice people and maybe make this one of my annual events.
SZ: Well there are very nice people who run and participate in this event. There are also masseuses afterwards, and the food is excellent! An extra bonus is that riders are fed well at each rest stop. I think people actually have the opportunity to gain weight on this ride.
SZ: You attend fundraising events in memory of your daughter Marie who lost her life to leukemia in 2008. As you continue to participate in these challenging events are there are stories, tips quotes that keep you motivated to continue to participate in these events in her honor?
JG: Since Marie was called home my faith in God has increased one hundred times. I refer a lot to scripture to keep me going. When Marie passed away my father gave up his slot in my mothers grave site to Marie. On my mother’s headstone is the quote, “With God all things are possible.” I share my story quite a bit and there are three things that I like to say that keep me moving forwards, 1) Only by the grace of God am I sane and able to move forward. 2) The support of my family, which is my wife Claudia, my children and grandchildren. 3) I have a passion for cycling and for raising funds for non-profit organizations. For some reason cycling just caught on to me. I never cycled the way I do now prior to Marie being called home and it’s just a great feeling to be out there. If I am going to ride my bike sixty-five or one hundred miles I might as well raise some funds for someone.
SZ: I have great appreciate for your story. Thank you for taking the time for this interview. Have fun on the ride!
*Photo by Sonia Ordaz
*Featured guests are not current nor former clients of Susan Zaro
*This article can also be read @ Examiner
