loops at the loops: courage and compassion
By Jasmine Oeinck, Mesa County Manager for The Cycle Effect
On September 30, 2023, eight Mesa County athletes arrived at the Lunch Loops trail system, excited and ready to take on the Loops at the Loops race challenge. Despite the general consensus that ‘race’ is a four letter word that is not really spoken, and certainly one that is not celebrated, the energy of the eight athletes was positive, curious, enthusiastic, and even a bit nervous, about what was to come. Loops at the Loops is a team race, with skill checkpoints incorporated into the looped bike course. Teams of two completed two two-mile loops, while trying to master certain bike skills along the course. Of the eight participants, only two had participated and experienced a bike race, so for the other six, this was an entirely new experience.
Leaving the expectations for the race challenge as a personal choice for each athlete, and letting them decide what they wanted to get out of the race, left the outcome of the event unknown. Each athlete had the choice of how hard to push themselves, how to show up as a teammate in a more competitive setting, how to work as a team, and etc. The Mesa coaches at Loops at the Loops were there to support and encourage hard work and great sportsmanship, and not hold athletes to a preset standard.
Cheering, supporting, talking, mentoring, laughing, hugging, hi-fiving, helping, coaching, and encouraging each athlete during Loops at the Loops was nothing short of inspirational and special. Each athlete made the choice to give it their all–both in how they approached the course as an athlete and how they supported their teammates along the way. Aly, one of the athletes who had never raced before, showed courage as she worked through tears and hard moments that were presented as she pushed herself to her limits during the ride. Never once wanting to quit, or asking to do less, Aly was courageous in how she raced. Aspen, another athlete who had never raced before, also showed courage in how she pushed herself to her limits on the course. To watch her choose and make the shift from a rider that ‘doesn’t race,’ to one who chose to explore what racing could be for her, was a wonderful display of courage.
Compassion was abundant during Loops at the Loops, and one of my favorite displays was an interaction I quietly observed from afar. The four athletes who had chosen to ride first for their team, were huddled in a circle talking and giving each other words of encouragement. Then, they all shared a pinkie promise with one another, exchanged hi-fives, and were ready to race. I was lucky to have witnessed this sweet and genuine display of compassion between these four athletes, and it certainly set the scene for the compassion shown by all eight athletes throughout the event.
