In The Presence of Greatness

Today I was in the presence of greatness.

I was riding a portion of the Copper Triangle bicycle race that goes 78 miles covering nearly 6,000 feet in elevation gain. The ride starts in Copper Mountain Village at an elevation of 9,712 feet and heads up over Fremont Pass at 11,318 feet; all uphill to start.

Copper Triangle Freemont Pass

From Freemont you head down to Leadville then turning toward Tennessee Pass.

From Tennessee Pass you head to Vail overcoming Vail Pass returning to Copper. A heavy day's driving in a car let alone on a bike. My friend Lauren and I both sagged (stopped the race) out after Tennessee Pass due to physical issues; stopping is hard for both of us. And, we were both proud of our decision to listen to our bodies and do what was needed. I posted on Instagram today that listening to our bodies is the purest form of leadership. A critical measure to our abilities to lead our lives forward. The 32 miles we rode today was amazing.

Copper Triangle Tennessee Pass

Now that you understand the nature of the ride. Let me tell you about being in the presence of greatness. You might imagine that the ride attracts world class cyclists. It does. Riders came from 44 states to participate and there were Tour de France riders, and riders who've earned Olympic medals. And, none of that is the reason I was in the presence of greatness.

The Copper Triangle benefits the Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson's for which my friend Lauren works. Davis Phinney himself won stages of the Tour de France, and is an Olympic medalist. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's at age 40 and works tirelessly with the Foundation to empower those with Parkinson's Disease to ""live well now."" Parkinson's Disease was the reason I was in the presence of greatness.

Many people on the course today are living with Parkinson's. Some were able to finish the race, others were not; yet they were on the course, doing what they could. One guy started the course at 3am knowing it would take him innumerable hours to finish. I ran into a father and son at nearly 7pm who were just coming off the course (mind you, you had to start by 8:30am) and the dad has Parkinson's. One of the ladies I was riding part of the course with today was the top fundraiser, raising over $10,000 by herself.

And then there is my friend Lauren. She leads the Victory Crew which supports all grass roots fundraising efforts for the Davis Phinney Foundation. I couldn't have been more honored to ride with her and witness the impact she is having on lives near and far through her work. I am so incredibly grateful to have friends in my life who I am sincerely and wholeheartedly proud of, and inspired by.

The connection for me to the Victory Crewand the Davis Phinney Foundation hits close to heart, beyond the fact that my beautiful friend Lauren works there. My mom lives with Parkinson's Disease. The first thing I did when she was diagnosed was call Lauren, who quickly got me onto the Davis Phinney Foundation website to read up on tools and to order my mom the amazing resource binder called Every Victory Counts that the foundation offers which is endorsed by the American Academy of Physicians Assistants. My mom reported that the resource materials in the Every Victory Counts program manual were exceptionally helpful to her and focused in on the essentials of what she needed to know.

Many of us are touched personally by Parkinson's Disease. All of us have the opportunity to support the amazing work being done by a small foundation in my home state of Colorado, just up the road in Boulder. Please take a moment today, or this week to be present to the greatness you are in the presence of. Really notice who is ""on the course"" despite the obstacles and barriers they may be facing. Notice who you are proud of in your life. Notice who is inspiring you. And don't stop there. Tell them and support them.

Please support the Davis Phinney Foundation by pledging on my fundraising page. It'll only take a moment.

I challenge you to pass up Starbucks or the convenience of fast food just one time and pledge that money in support of the courageous millions who are battling Parkinson's Disease.

And, choose to be in the presence of greatness.