Dave Wilkinson, a blind 30-time marathon runner and Ironman, is planning nothing less in 2024 but to join the Race Across America bicycle race event. He will ride on a tandem bike with Jim Trout who has done this race several times before. They will ride 3000 miles in 12 days, across 12 states.
I have known of Dave over the years, and he was famous about testing the limits of what people can do, blind or sighted. But after a car crash in 2017, he needed to rethink his life and recover physically and mentally. And his way to cope was to do something even bigger, this is how he started training for Ironman and now for the Race Across America.
Dave explained to me that in his view, blindness should not hold him back from things which are traditionally thought of something that blind people are not active in. And this alone, if made him a high achiever that would already be impressive. But he has a much bigger vision in mind. He wants to provide motivation to other blind people to not be stuck inside the conventional ways. His dream is that there will be people who will do even better.
But of course there is much more to it. It is not just the courage to do it without vision. Many sports will have to be adopted to the situation, and preparation will also have its challenges. This is what makes it even more difficult, but not at all less impossible for blind people.
I asked Dave what are the challenges he is facing to prepare for the race that the sighted racers won’t need to worry about.
The entire training process is different. I primarily use a Smart Trainer in my basement. This is basically a computer that takes the place of the back tire. My coach can send workouts to the Smart Trainer and thus control the resistance and difficulty of workouts. I’ve ridden thousands of miles literally going nowhere either from my basement or back deck.
Then there’s the issue of actually having a decent tandem bike for something like this and then finding a competent person to be the tandem captain. I need someone I can trust quite literally with my life and I need that person to have complete trust in me and my physical abilities and mental toughness. We need to get past the blindness thing pretty quickly and just get to know each other. Jim has been amazing with all of this!
I would love to say that no big deal, if Dave can do it, I can do it, anybody can do it, sighted or blind, it is just the matter of determination.
But unfortunately, for many, probably millions of blind people, it is still not obvious today, because they are often being told at home or at school or in society that they are not able, because they are blind.
The college student who graduates, is afraid that it will be harder to get a job as a blind person.
The graduate of an elementary school can’t imagine if they can do more than basket weaving or massage therapy, just like many other blind people.
And there are still millions, who live at home for life and don’t know that there are schools where they could learn to read and write.
And until blind people don’t feel that the lack of sight is just a different way of living life and not a disadvantage in society, we need the example of people like Dave, who understands that the life we live doesn’t have to be crafted by the limitation of others. Most likely, not all blind people will stretch the limit of what one can do, but for Dave’s inspiration, hopefully they will not be afraid to step out of their comfort zone.
If you agree with me, please join me and support his race. As Dave explained to me:
“This is a ridiculously expensive undertaking. Jim and I have a potentially conservative budget of $30,000 for Race Across America. This covers race the race entry fee which by itself is $4,500. We’re paying all expenses for our crew of eight such as travel to OceanSide California for the start and then back home from Annapolis, Maryland at the finish, and then everything in between. We’re renting an RV and van for crew support, and then there are bike parts. We’re gonna break spokes, chains, tires, you name it. I could keep going but you get the idea.
You can become a part of Team Speedy Turtle by visiting our website, www.speedyturtle.net. We have super cool t-shirts for sale or you can make a donation. Further, I am available for in person or virtual speaking engagements and I promise to be super entertaining!”
Every little thing counts, not only to help Dave complete the race, but to help him push the next generation to follow his footsteps and do better.
You can donate, buy a t-shirt, or share this post with others to help. On the Team Speedy Turtle site you can contact Dave if you would like to hire him to speak at your organization.
I will be in touch with Dave over the next year, and will give updates on this site about his race.
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