I Know Heroes...

Those of you who have been following my blog - if there are any followers :) - may have noticed that I have been somewhat silent lately.  

Thank you for noticing.

I just returned from a very relaxing vacation...wait a minute, that's not true.  I just returned from a wonderful vacation, but it was anything but relaxing!  I cannot remember a time that I have climbed so many stairs, and ascended so many hills in my life.  

Anyway, I'm back and I wanted to take this opportunity to shamelessly plug an amazing charity that I have become involved with.  If you take a look at the upper right hand corner of this page, you will see a logo that reads "Ride 430".  If you click on that logo, you will be taken to my fundraising page, where you can make a donation to this amazing cause.

"What is the cause?" You ask.

Heroes.  Plain and simple.  That is the cause.

I have a relative who has worked on and off as a professional comedian throughout his life.  One of his favorite things to say is "I know funny...and that's funny!"  He's not being boastful...just truthful.

Let me say this...

I know heroes.  I have been a firefighter for more than half of my life.  I have been called a hero more times than I can remember.  I don't consider myself a hero...just a regular guy, doing his job.

The men and women who serve to protect our country are, in my humble opinion, real heroes.  They place their lives on the line to protect the freedom that we Americans often take for granted.  Many of these amazing men and women are either killed or severely injured while performing their 'job'...often leaving behind husbands, wives, children...you get the picture, right?

Ask any of these individuals if they are heroes, and I would bet they would give you the same answer as I would.  

"Nope...just a regular guy, doing the job I'm paid to do."

These people are heroes however, and they are laying their lives on the line to protect our freedom.

The Ride 430 Challenge is an annual charity bike ride organized by the Free Wheel Foundation.  This is no ordinary bike ride however.  The Ride 430 Challenge is in it's sixth year of existence, and began with a handful of guys who had a desire to do something special in honor of those who put their lives on the line to protect ours.  

In prior years, the Ride 430 Challenge (also known as The Ride for Semper Fi) began in Scottsdale, Arizona and concluded at Camp Pendleton in San Diego...some 430 miles, and 4 days later.  The ride has grown into the most successful ride of it's type, and has raised over $1.5 million in five years.  This year's ride will be a little different...and from what I am being told...much more difficult.

The 2013 Ride 430 Challenge team will be comprised of a 75 member team.  The course has changed, and riders will begin their journey in Mesa, Arizona...heading across the Phoenix metropolitan area before tackling the mountainous terrain of Northern Arizona.  The ride will conclude back in Mesa, but not before team members have faced 16,000 vertical feet of climbing in less than four days!  

Sounds crazy huh?  

Not in comparison to what our True American Heroes do for us, day in and day out!

The Ride 430 Challenge has partnered with other great charitable organizations who provide assistance to injured military personnel and their families, as well as the families of those killed in combat.

Our partners include; The MARSOC Foundation, Knights of Heroes Foundation, and The Semper Fi Fund.  Please take a moment to look at what each of these amazing organizations is doing for these fallen heroes, by clicking on each of the highlighted links.

While each of these organizations does an amazing job at supporting these service members and their families, I have to say that my favorite is The Knights of Heroes Foundation.  The Knights of Heroes Foundation empowers children who have lost their fathers during military service by providing positive adult mentorship, character development, and lasting friendships forged during an annual wilderness adventure camp.  KOH hosts families with common losses allowing them to share experiences and build relationships while increasing public awareness and ensuring that families with losses are not forgotten with the passage of time.

I am proud to be associated with such a great lineup of charitable organizations that serve to support, and bridge numerous financial gaps for these true American Heroes.

Now for the shameless cry for help.

Members of the Ride 430 Challenge team must not only take on the physical and mental challenges associated with the ride...they must also fund raise.  Each team member must raise a minimum of $3500 in support to participate in the Challenge.  The average charity ride requires no minimum amount of support, and raises an average of $12,000 per year.  In 2012 The Ride 430 Challenge raised over $550,000!  

I have established a lofty goal for my first year...$10,000!  As of today, I have raised $1380.00 towards this goal...much of which was raised in December 2012 by racing my mountain bike 100 miles in under ten hours.  Now it is time to get serious!  I need your help!

 

Please help me reach my goal by donating to this worthy cause, and by sharing my vision and passion to help support our fallen heroes.  

Donating is easy, and it is tax deductible.

Simply visit our fundraising site at www.stayclassy.org/ride430metzger to pledge your support.



I know heroes - and these men and women - they're heroes!

Chasing Mavericks

Last night my wife and I watched a movie called Chasing Mavericks.  No, this is not a movie about chasing wild horses...it's a movie about surfing.

I take that back...Chasing Mavericks is a movie about chasing a dream, and making it a reality.  It's a movie about setting attainable goals, the work that goes into achieving those goals, and the lessons you learn along the way - which ultimately serve to aid you in achieving what is quite possibly the biggest challenge of your life.

Mavericks is a once-secret surf break that produces some of the world's largest waves.  It is located near Half Moon Bay in California...which is located about an hour north of Santa Cruz.

The movie is based on the true story of local Santa Cruz surfer, Jay Moriarty, a fifteen year-old kid who discovers that the legend of Mavericks is real - and is determined to ride the killer waves.

Jay Moriarty

Jay enlists the help of a coach...local surfing legend Frosty Hesson, to help him prepare to ride what few others had dared.  Frosty takes young Jay on a journey of not only physical preparation, but one of self actualization...one which leads to the understanding of who he truly is, and what he is capable of.

The iconic shot of 16-year old Jay Moriarty at Mavericks

As I was watching the movie, I realized that I have chased numerous Mavericks in my life.  

A few years ago, a great friend introduced me to mountain biking...shortly thereafter, he introduced me to mountain bike endurance racing.  I remember preparing for my first 24-hour team race - thinking to myself "What in the world have you gotten yourself into?".  You see, I had been riding for less than a year, so I was far from experienced.  I was still trying to master the skills necessary for riding during the day.  Now I was going to have to strap on lights, and ride at night too?  On top of that craziness, I would be riding 10-mile loops, on mountainous terrain, every three hours...for 24-hours! 

During that time, and a handful of races later, I realized that these events had changed my life.  I had achieved something I didn't know I was physically or mentally capable of.  I had found a part of myself I never knew existed.

Fast forward a few years...

I have now moved on from competing in team-based 24-hour races to solo 12-hour events...a new Mavericks...one that, once again, has taught me something about myself that I did not know before.

So what's next?  What is my next Mavericks?

The 2013 Ride 430 Challenge - and it's gonna be a doozy!

In December of last year, I rode my mountain bike 100 miles in just under 10-hours to raise money for injured U.S. Marines and their families.  I had never dreamed I would be capable of such a feat, but the lessons I had learned from chasing previous 'Mavericks' had prepared me for what would be the most physically and emotionally challenging event of my life...well, maybe not the most - after all, I am a father!

Now I am facing an even greater challenge...one which will require me, and others, to ride our road bikes nearly 430 miles, in just four days.  "Why?" you ask.  Once again, this is to raise money for injured/killed U.S. Marines and their families.  These heroes have put their lives on the line for our safety, and many of them are in desperate need of financial assistance.

In years past, this ride began is Scottsdale, Arizona and ended in San Diego, California.  Riders were faced with tough challenges including the grueling climb out of the Imperial Valley, up and over the Santa Rosa mountain range.  

This year however, the course has changed - and it is going to be even tougher.  For 2013 the course will take us into the beautiful mountains of northern Arizona. We will pass through historic towns such as Wickenburg, Prescott, Strawberry, and Payson as our riders complete more than 16,000 feet of vertical climbing in less than four days. This year's route promises to be the greatest physical challenge we have faced yet.  

Great.  Welcome to the team John!

Why am I sharing this with you?  Am I bragging about what a tremendous physical and emotional feat I am taking on?  Absolutely not.  

I am sharing this with you because I am scared.  Yep...me, the big tough guy, who's not scared of anything - well let me tell you, this scares me!

This is my Mavericks...what's yours?

Please help me raise much needed financial assistance for these true American Heroes by visiting my fundraising page.  You can click here or click on the link on the right side of this page.  It only takes a couple of minutes to pledge your support, and all donations are tax deductible!

Yours in Health and Performance, 

John (the scared one!)