In 2005, my company sent me on a 4-year international assignment to China where my weekly travel schedule involved maxing out my per-diem on business dinners followed by late-nights at the bars. It was opposite of my years prior as a competitive mountain-biker. Within a few years, my fitness was completely gone - replaced with obesity and high blood-pressure.

Returning home to series of startup failures and layoffs, I continued my bad habits. My brief effort at cross-fit led to severe knee pain faster than I gained any results. My motivation to continue fitness efforts was over - I felt "too old".

This reconciliation of age, physical pain, failed business ventures, and a less-than-optimal financial future, led to a "nihilism" overtaking an otherwise upbeat and optimistic spirit. I wasn't just old, I was "broken" in every sense. My pursuit of comfort and "cheap thrills" led me to a place I feared was unrecoverable.

Since childhood, I'd been a huge fan of the Paris-Dakar Rally - a 12-14 day stage race across 6000 miles of remote desert terrain. This year, while browsing through the rider profiles and photos, a ridiculous question/idea crept into my head that I couldn't get rid of. I posted to a rally forum asking...

"Could an out-of-shape novice rider over 50 compete in the Dakar before they're too old?".

Expecting a dozen reasons why "I couldn't", members offered inspirational tales of friends and family who completed it in their 50s and 60s and encouraged me to pursue it. I had my doubts as these folks have been riding & racing since their youth. They were skilled in the same way I can hop on a pair of snow skis and expend little energy for an entire day because I mastered the techniques in my teen years. 

So I broke the Dakar down into a categorized set of readiness-criteria, goals, tasks, and threats - hoping there'd be one thing that would tell me to drop this idea. 

Nope - it would just take time and some sacrifices.

With this roadmap to Dakar fleshed out, I discovered that crossing the podium at the Dakar was possible. But more importantly, I had developed a rough roadmap for personal transformation from a lazy, depressed, middle-aged guy to the badass I've always wanted to become. With a limited window before age truly becomes an impediment, my practice would need to be very focused and intentional. Can I apply 50-yr-old intelligence to progress faster than the average kid? We'll see.

As such, I've now taken the first steps - getting myself off the couch, working with doctors, physical therapists, and trainers to get my body to a place where it can train and progress safely. I'm working with motorcycle coaches to develop foundation skills and establish good training habits across multiple disciplines including trials, enduro, and motocross. I'm exploring how to develop special-forces-like mental toughness, and develop a network of people who support this crazy idea. 

I'm documenting this journey in various social media apps to inspire others to pursue their goals and remind people you should never give up, never stop dreaming and always keep reaching for something that makes you better than you were yesterday.
 
What's your Dakar?