As a coach, every once in a while you have the opportunity to meet someone with character and heart that exceeds all expectations. After the events of last weekend’s El Tour De Phoenix, I feel compelled to introduce my fellow athletes to an incredible individual.

Before I throw down this story – let me frame it with a little background. Many of you know me. I’m Steve Elwell; Lifetime Fitness Master Spin Instructor, ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor and most notably – the guy that organizes many of the group training rides around the Ahwatukee area for local cyclists and triathletes. My goal is simply to inspire people to become the best athlete they can possibly be. I’ve been training with local athletes for over 10 years now and have a ridiculously popular indoor cycling class on Wednesdays and Fridays at the Tempe Lifetime Fitness at 5:30am. Who gets up to train at 5:30am? Many, many amazing athletes do just that and Heidi Melendez happens to be one of those amazing athletes.

Heidi had been training at Lifetime Fitness for quite some time before she met me. She was always focused on her workouts and very determined…always seemed to have “the look” on her face that said “do not even think of messing with me during my workout”…and no one ever did! One day she showed up in spin class and by the time the hour was over with, she was “hooked”. Over time we spoke of her aspirations and goals in life and as an athlete. She wanted to train for triathlons and for road cycling events…but she didn’t really know how to swim and she didn’t own a road bike.

As a coach with very limited time on my hands, I decided to “test” Heidi over the coming weeks with ever increasing challenges to see if she really wanted to become a cyclist and triathlete. I immersed her into our swim group and immediately started pushing her to swim at least 1000 meters plus warm ups and stroke drills in an hour. Last swim session she completed over 2500 meters in the same time! She pushed herself in the cycling arena too – attending studio spin classes diligently 2 and sometimes 3 times a week. This January she pursued the purchase of a Specialized Tarmac road bike and has since put hundreds of miles on it. I started pushing BRICK runs (Bike – Run – ick) in November of 2008 at which time she could barely hold an 8 minute pace for a half mile. Last week she ran a sub 7 minute mile pace for a full 5K. It wasn’t easy, but she refused to quit, constantly refocusing her attention on her goal and digging deep to reach it. Did I mention that she’s a mom of two, wife and a counselor for kids, adults and athletes who have been faced with significant life trauma or are battling an eating disorder?

Every ride / every activity she participated in – I saw heart and determination that I do not regularly see in other athletes. When pushed to her limit – rather than quit she always kept going. As her coach, I took Heidi out on multiple group rides, including the infamous Tuesday morning Ahwatukee ride where 50 to 100 of the area’s best cyclist gather for an early morning fast-paced pack ride. Heidi has held her own every time, demonstrating great bike handling skills and incredible athleticism. She was ready for her 1st big event— El Tour De Phoenix.

Saturday April 4th 2009 was a cool morning with the promise of a clear, sunny and slightly breezy day. Some 950+ cyclists showed up to try and obtain Platinum status for the event, which was a 74 mile road “ride” with 3 substantial climbs (Shea, Beeline and Usery Pass) along the rout to the finish line. To qualify for Platinum status the males had to complete the course in 3 hours and 15 minutes while the females had to complete it in 3 hours and 45 minutes. Heidi didn’t even want to look at the female time. She was committed to the men’s Platinum time of 3 hours and 15 min and if possible was shooting for my goal…under 3 hours (average speed – 24mph). That’s big time thinking for a rider so new to the sport!

Since we were not Platinum qualified, Heidi arrived at the race at 4:30am to ensure a start position at the front of the Gold corral to improve our chances of obtaining the desired position (at the head with the Platinum riders). When the gun went off we were immediately separated because of the sheer size of the pack – but we were always in sight of one another and she was holding her own in the front part of the pack. We held position until we hit Shea eastbound, where the pack split up somewhat and it was easier to move forward. Heidi was able to position herself comfortably in the pack and ride up the big hill and descend down Shea towards the Beeline with ease. She had dropped back by a few riders and said she had me in sight as she positioned to turn onto the Beeline Highway. Then the unexpected happened. Heidi heard behind her that a rider was down though she had her eye on her goal and thought nothing of it. As she began to power out of the turn her rear wheel was suddenly swept out from under her by a rider that had been impacted by the crash to the rear. Instantly she slammed in to the pavement. The impact and subsequent acrobatics resulted in a huge blow to her hip, gashes in her ankle and knees, a sliced open finger, an abrasion on her chin and on top of that… her front teeth were chipped in half! I was far enough in front that I never knew that she had gone down.

Here’s the cool part… Most riders I know would have sat on the side of the road and called it a day. Not Heidi. She had set a goal and come hell or high water, she was going to make that goal. Her rear wheel had somehow become dislodged and jammed into her frame during the accident – with pure adrenaline Heidi fought with her bike to free her wheel, then reattached it and hopped right back on her bike in pursuit of the finish line. Heart. Guts. Determination. Why? A commitment, a goal and a promise made to herself!

By the time she got started again the main pack was long gone and she had only a few riders to go with. It was an incredibly breezy day, so fighting up the Beeline Highway was no joke, and that was the easy climb compared to Usery. The next portion of the ride was painful for her, but her courage shined through and she pushed towards the finish.

After I crossed the finish line, I stood at the finisher’s Chute to watch her come in. She had her eyes focused on that line and was sprinting for the finish! 3:15:16… 16sec shy of the male Platinum time!! She looked so strong to me…little did I know… I walked to the end of the chute, where what I saw shocked me. Race officials helping her off the course, tears of pain streaming on her face, blood everywhere and Heidi saying “my teeth are gone!” I was in shock.

Race officials and medics did a great job of helping Heidi clean up and calm down. She re-grouped within minutes and with the help of her good friends and her family – all at the race site, she was good to go in less than a half hour. That was Saturday. She had her bike fixed, her teeth capped (the crowns alone are going to run her $1,200 bucks) and was out on the Tuesday morning ride banging it out – and holding her own. No complaints, just working to get better.

Heart / Guts / Courage / Strength. Not only does this woman have athletic ability, she has the attributes that will someday make her a podium finisher cyclist. She was only 16 seconds off the male Platinum qualifying time, the 9th overall female finisher and the only female cyclist that I know of that crashed amongst the top 10. What determination! I don’t know too many male or female age group riders that would finish a race after sustaining the injuries that Heidi sustained. As her coach and friend, all I can tell you is you need to meet her. She’ll make you think twice about quitting next time the going gets tough for you!

Heidi “Crash” Melendez at the finish in El Tour De Phoenix. She busted her cap right off her front teeth, ripped her chin, hip, knee and ankle and still finished in Pt qualifying time! She leaves you with no excuses for quitting!

Cheers!
Steve Elwell
Twitter: AZcrusher
Email: s.elwell@cox.net