ALC Cyclist Profile

Tilmin Hudson, ALC3 cyclist #1068, is returning for her second year as a cyclist in AIDS/LifeCycle 3 which is scheduled for June 6-12, 2004. Tilmin enchanted attendees at a registration event in October with her message of encouragement to the "slow and steady" cyclists among us. She put her thoughts in writing for us to share with some of you who might be unsure about participating in this year's event.

"Early last year, when I would run into friends I hadn't seen in awhile and they asked what I was up to, I would answer "I am riding my bike to Los Angeles in June for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation." And then inside my head I would think--what the heck do I think I am doing?

You see, I purchased a bike in July of 2002 for the express purpose of riding it in AIDS/LifeCycle 2. Then in August I broke my ankle (I had broken my fibula in a spiral break to be exact). Because of the break I really was off the bike until December. That gave me six months to train.

I trained every weekend and once we changed to daylight savings time, on the weeknights as well. And no matter how much I rode one thing was clear--I was slow. Steady, but slow. I was worried about how this would affect my days on the ride, but figured if I just kept a good attitude and remembered why I was riding, I would be fine.

And then it was June and Day One of AIDS/LifeCycle. I took off in the morning, in the fog, with all the other riders. By the time I hit Highway 92 and was crawling my way up, I realized I might need a sweep vehicle to move me forward. Instead, I finished the 98 mile day riding into camp before sunset with a smile on my face. As the days progressed, I met other slow riders and we all became fast and furious friends. Many of us had to sweep at times, not all the way into camp, but just forward a few miles.

The lesson--it's okay to be slow!! I was still raising the same money for AIDS, my commitment to the cause is the same as all those riders that get into camp early (including those very kind ones that would set up my tent!). And we slow riders have the thrill of riding into camp every day to the roars of the largest cheering section.

It is okay to be slow. We are all getting to the same place for the same cause. I am happy to get on my bike each day of AIDS/LifeCycle and ride to the best of my abilities. You have to ride your ride, not anyone else's. After all, I am doing this because I am committed to being part of the solution to this pandemic. Won't you ride with us this year and also be part of the solution?"