Ep 013 Ryen Reed

Narrator: 0:10

Welcome to the Athletes in Motion Podcast from Race to Recovery. With your hosts, Tom Regal and Kenny Bailey.

Tom Regal: 0:27

Hey, Kenny.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 0:28

Hey Tom, how are you?

Tom Regal: 0:29

I'm fantastic. How are you today?

Kenny Bailey<br>: 0:31

I'm doing well. How are you? Who do we have on today?

Tom Regal: 0:33

We have a wonderful guest, Ryan Reid, who's our 2021 National Champion for Road, TT and Criterium to join us today. Welcome, Ryen, welcome to the show.

Ryen Reed: 0:45

Hello, thank you.

Tom Regal: 0:46

Great to have you on. Let's get started. Tell us a little bit about yourself para cycling. You're also a triathlete. You're also just a general badass, and in general, and you know, I got to meet you back in 2019 at the Malibu triathlon, and it opened up my eyes to what para athletes go through, just in the race itself, the logistics, all of that stuff. We can get into a little bit of that, because there's lots I want to talk to you on that. And then we talked about some of your equipment too, but give us your background. What's your story? Tell us about Yeah,

Ryen Reed: 1:24

I was born with cerebral palsy and hip dysplasia, which affects my legs. But I never wanted to be treated any differently growing up. So I grew up in able body sports, I grew up playing softball, and I'm playing around in the neighborhood with the kids basketball, rode my BMX bike, I never wanted to be treated any differently and just live life acting like I nothing was wrong. And then, um, in 2015, I volunteered at the Special Olympics in Los Angeles with my friend and that's when I was introduced to the Paralympics. And my entire life I wanted to participate in the Olympics, but I was never able to because of my disability. So when I found out about the Paralympics, and that I qualified, and it was sort of a parallel level to the Olympics, I jumped on it and I got so excited. I went home and started researching the closest team. And so sorry,

Kenny Bailey<br>: 2:28

biggest fan right there.

Ryen Reed: 2:31

I yeah, so I researched the Paralympics and the closest team to my area and started training in 2015. At that time, the close to or the only coach they had on their team was a triathlon coach. So I always wanted to try triathlon, but I never thought it was possible because I couldn't run. And then I found out about Para sports and the adaptations that we were able to use and, and do to sort of to make it happen and started triathlon right out the gate, kinda and started training and competing in triathlon. And then, in 2016, I got invited to a para cycling camp in Chula Vista and went to the camp and that by the end of that year, they invited me to live and train at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. So I moved out there and 2017 dream come true. And then I got hit by an SUV during training,

Kenny Bailey<br>: 3:37

Oh, geez,

Ryen Reed: 3:38

and kind of sidelined everything and pushed me back a bit took me out of training and competing for a while. Then I moved back to Southern California and mid 2018. I wanted to keep going. I didn't want to give up. So I started back in triathlon, and started doing local races and stuff. And then I started with a new coach. And that coach realized how quickly I was progressing in hand cycling. So he wanted me to completely focused on hand cycling. So in 2019, I got classified and started racing, and won two national championships, became National Champion and the road race and the time trial. And then I went to my first World Cup in Canada, right after Nationals and sort of progressed from there. And now I'm fully focused in handcycling. And it's been incredible. I absolutely love it.

Tom Regal: 4:42

Nice. That's incredible. Yeah.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 4:45

So Ryan, tell us a little bit about so I'm, I'm going to be the ignorant guy on this on this show. And I fit that really well. So how so mechanically, how does the triathlon work, I mean, I know how to triathlon. works because I do, like so when you from the swim session, are using the same hand cycle for cycling or for running or is it a different piece of equipment? How does that? How does that work for you?

Ryen Reed: 5:11

Yeah, so it's different. So the hand cycles for the bike portion and then we have a racing chair for the run. So who totally completely different machines because the race chair has no gears, and you're pushing with your knuckles so your hands are in okay. gloves and your push the rim with your knuckles, you're not grabbing the rim or anything.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 5:36

Okay, so handcycle in your lane, for those that don't know you, right? You're laying on your back. Yeah, you're physically moving as if you were moving. Well, a crank. But you're doing it with your with your arms.

Ryen Reed: 5:46

Yeah. And the race chair sort of tucked forward pushing down.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 5:51

What made you decide I mean, between the two what made you decide to do the hand cycling more over than say a push chair? What was the what was the desidifier you just you were really good at hand cycling so you figured what the heck are?

Ryen Reed: 6:03

Yeah, I actually love the hand cycle. And race chair is very painful for my disability I say because I'm so I had double knee surgery back in fifth grade. And it sort of, I can't bend my knees all the way so I can't sit on my knees for a long period of time. So actually, I've done a full and a half marathon in my race chair. And by the end of that race, I was stuck and could not get out of my chair. They had to take me to the medical tent and they didn't know what IVs and everything and I was just locked in position because of my disability. So it's very painful but, is worth it. When it all it comes down to it. So I do push through it, but I'd much rather be on the hand cycle.

Tom Regal: 6:52

Yeah, sure for you. So for everyone listening, it's the hand cycle is where you're laying on your back on the ground and in the other chair, you're on your knees, you're literally squashing your knees flat on top of that way. I can't imagine that being comfortable in any way shape or form.

Ryen Reed: 7:10

Hand Cycle isn't any easier like that is difficult as well.

Tom Regal: 7:14

Yeah, for sure. Yeah. Oh my god. I'm

Kenny Bailey<br>: 7:18

so on the handcycle. Just just I want to kind of understand the mechanics of that a little bit better is is there is it gearing similar to a bicycle on that as well? I mean, you're shifting gears, it is a single speed, is it?

Ryen Reed: 7:29

Yeah, so it's, it's sort of like a, like the derailleur and everything is flipped upside down.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 7:37

Got it.

Ryen Reed: 7:38

Chain is longer, depending on your gear is and what chainring and all that you have set up but yeah, it's similar to the bike it's just flipped.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 7:49

When you're when you wrote it, so I'm just taking my shoulders would just be trashed after a mile. I'm just I'm assuming that's that. What is is that the is that sort of as you're training, obviously, any kind of training is gonna be difficult. Any kind of training you have to build up. Is it is it mainly shoulder rotation and shoulder mobility that that you have to work on as a back is it?

Ryen Reed: 8:09

Yeah, it's actually it's it hits everything. Your back, shoulders, it's mainly shoulders and triceps. It hits a lot, but chest definitely.

Tom Regal: 8:22

Okay. Yeah, see her Instagram page where she shows her doing pull ups and stuff like that.... Yeah, it's pretty incredible.

Ryen Reed: 8:31

A lot goes into it. Like tomorrow, I have a four hour ride on the trainer. And then Friday, I have a five hour ride so nice. And soon it's very long. And yeah,

Tom Regal: 8:43

it's hard. It's hard to talk about some like talk about the chair itself. Now this chair is custom built. Basically they're not. You can't just go to a local bike shop and get one of these things. They don't have that many of them. So we had these conversations about how you fit in the cycle, how you get that to do and they're ridiculously expensive.

Ryen Reed: 9:01

Oh, yeah. So all adaptive equipment is specifically fit. So you can't just go into a bike shop and say, Oh, I want that bike. walk out the door with an adaptive equipment. Right that day. It takes about I think hands cycles are backed up to six months, at least right now. So actually in 2019 before the end of my season, I think it was when I was coming back from the World Cup in Canada. United Airlines totaled my hand cycle. Oh, I had no hand cycle to use at the end of my season. It was a mess. It took forever. They offered me a$25 travel voucher because they messed up by Yeah, I had to fight through the system to get my bike fixed and they ended up fixing or getting me a new hand cycle but it's a mess trying to get a new one right away. So and they're very expensive. My bike is around 15 to $18,000.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 10:05

If you can let my wife know that I'd really what I spent on my tri bike wasn't quite there. Just let her know, you know, just say it's no Paralympic trade handbike Okay, just so we're clear, so

Ryen Reed: 10:21

I could definitely tell her that

Kenny Bailey<br>: 10:24

appreciate it. Give me out of the doghouse,

Tom Regal: 10:26

And then the other thing that that I kind of like I please! said it was eye opening for me to help you at at Malibu because of Malibu is a beautiful race. The triathlon is beautiful. It's right there on the beach. Everything is on the beach, it's all sand all the time, which doesn't work really well for any kind of wheelchairs, hand cycling systems or anything and you just handled it like it was nothing like it was no big deal. Like the fact that we couldn't get you in the center to get your your award for winning. Yeah, I mean, that was I was so pissed off, frankly, and you just like okay, whatever. Yeah, it's just you know, handing, han ing her her medal in the in the parking lot. And she took it like a champ. It was it was pretty incredible. But I mean, it was just Do you find that on on all the races? Are they a little bit more I mean, when you go to a race that, obviously is adaptive and for challenged athletes, they're going to be a little bit more thoughtful about

Ryen Reed: 11:30

this. Yeah. Usually, with local races, we have that a lot, especially with the courses and stuff with Malibu with the run course, they have us on that really skinny sidewalk, and then you go through the dirt to get through the other side to the trail. So it's difficult, but that's the reason I love doing local races because it opens up the door for the next generation and the people that want to compete, years, years ahead or anything like that. So it's kind of like we're making the way for the people coming up behind us and all that and making it better for adaptive athletes everywhere, because a lot of the races don't think that we would be competing or that will be there. And they don't take into consideration the changes and adaptations that they need to make for the races. So all the grueling stuff that we have to push through is worth it. And sometimes it is very frustrating. But I don't know it's worth it at the end. But it is frustrating in the middle of a race when you're stuck in the sand and you have nobody to help you. And yeah, and some races that do allow us to have like, support on the race, like a friend will join me on the bike just in case I need to get around something or if something happens because I've been yelled at by moto safety on races because I was in the middle of a road on the bike course trying to avoid potholes. I think it was in San Diego. And they didn't realize because the back on my bike is wide because I'm double width three wheels. So he didn't realize how we need to get around on the course. So it kind of opens up their eyes on what they need to do in the following years and stuff. But yeah,

Kenny Bailey<br>: 13:35

Does CAF help with that? I take it. I mean, I think they're trying to make sure to get a hold of these sort of local races sooner. And yeah, be more sort of prep ahead of time rather than like I it sounds like what most of it is, is it's an oshit afterthought, right? Like, oh, oh, okay, well, we had the course already laid out we have three permits from three different counties. And you know, sorry, I kind of getting a sense that's what it's like.

Ryen Reed: 13:59

Yeah, and it's, it's not even just on the course it's the parking because we have all of our equipment that we have to transition and we can't park like streets and blocks down and travel with all this equipment because I have my handcycle. I have my bag of equipment. I have my race chair, I have my own, my regular, everyday wheelchair. So it's a lot of equipment that we have to travel with. So we have to have parking that's close to transition. And so porta potties that are accessible. And the podium like Malibu is not but it's all different things that add up and a lot of the race Well, the races are starting to get more in tune in and considering I don't know they're a lot more helpful now but years ago it was it was

Tom Regal: 14:58

Yeah, I can't imagine is there They're getting through everything it's just eye opening I mean it's just you have to go through it to understand like if I didn't see you with the challenges of trying to get through with the chair like it wouldn't have popped right in my head I mean for for people who don't know Malibu the run starts off on a sidewalk and they have runners going down one side and coming back the other side so when when you're in the chair you take up the whole lane like and and now people are trying to run around so you're on there with able bodied people as well you're on there with everybody else. It's crowded on a on a good day, right? Oh, it's crowded Anyway, I've been around people I've had to you know, kind of elbow your way through through crowds and stuff. So when you're doing it when you're in the chair, I can't Yeah, it's it's super challenging.

Ryen Reed: 15:50

What makes it even more difficult is some of those runners which is illegal technically and racing rules and all that they have headphones in so I'm stuck

Kenny Bailey<br>: 16:00

really?

Ryen Reed: 16:01

trying to tell people hey! I'm behind you I'm coming up fast and they don't hear you and don't get out of your way and those chairs are not easy to stop they do they only have one brake on the front wheel. But that's really just to hold yourself in position it's not to stop you or any oh it's not

Tom Regal: 16:19

because it's one wheel right your lock is on one wheel so if you were to grab that you would just turn in a circle into the wall or something yeah,

Ryen Reed: 16:26

so you're supposed to take your grips and kind of hug your wheels and slow down by that but when you're on a skinny sidewalk manuvering around people it's kind of hard oh my god okay so

Kenny Bailey<br>: 16:41

to go back a little bit Ryan when you said when you were younger you start you were in able bodied sports, you were competing along with that when you when you knew you needed to make the transition was that a obviously it was a difficult thing how difficult was it or or was it because you knew it wasn't because you're because of your your diagnosis it's not something that that like you got in a car wreck in the next day you no longer have function it was something that you knew was going to be coming Yeah, was it I know it's again I know it's not easy was it something that you had to kind of come to terms with Was it something that what how was a transition for you?

Ryen Reed: 17:25

Um, I think meeting all the other adaptive athletes and the friends that I've met through everything made it a little easier at first it was kind of like oh, what what's gonna happen or what's the future like and everything but I kind of eased my way into it and I was just, I think I was so excited to even be at an elite level in sports and be able to do what I was able to do with this new equipment. I think that kind of blocked out all the negativity and the thought of I don't know being fair feeling less than I guess but just having that support of my teams and other adaptive athletes and just seeing everything that people have accomplished in Para sports it's incredible and I think just having that focus made everything easier.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 18:27

Yeah and the passion doesn't go away just because you know that's the thing that was kind of interested in watching your story kind of on YouTube and other things by the way I know we're not Bob Babbitt so apologise for not having that we will try to find breakfast for you I don't know but it's that that that fire that that competitiveness, I don't care if it's you know, if if you know you're a handcycle or anything else that level of of kind of fire and determination that takes that that takes a special someone to be able to do that irrespective of how it gets done.

Ryen Reed: 19:05

Yeah, yeah, it's it's a lot which is why I post so much on social media because so many people are unaware of parasport and the basics and they don't understand like, they see people with a disability and see them training for the Paralympics. And they think it's a lower level than the Olympics. But if you really think about it, we weren't made to do sports at this level. We've had to adapt and overcome so many things, and push so much harder to get to this level. And so I post a lot of my training and my workouts and everything that I go through along the way because I think it's so important for people to see that. Yeah,

Kenny Bailey<br>: 19:44

the thing that was kind of frustrating for me is you know, NBC and the today show and all those guys did the hype for the Olympics like you won't believe during that they talked about the Paralympics, I talked about, you know how incredibly important that is. Go through, I mean they're live at at the Olympics we get to the Paralympics yeah they're they're showing it on on their other network but at no point on the Today show when the Paralympic started that they do a medal count at no point today highlight anybody that was you know this is our 15th Gold Medal I can't believe that their most decorated person you just didn't see that happen at all on the coverage yeah you know we have a TV at our shop and we were watching the Paralympics the whole time at our shop and you're just looking at athletes that are just nuts I mean, just you know, swimmers that are you know, they're at various degrees of you know, they've got you know, a half a leg on one side half an arm on the other side out swimming me like I'm never gonna swim that fast in my lifetime, not in my dreams and not highlighted. So one of the problems I think, is they did a great job on the Paralympics, as far as highlighted during the Olympics, I don't know if there's a feel good thing or if it was, you know, because then why are you talking about it when it's live? Why aren't we talking about those metal accounts because maybe I'm just new to this that I'm frustrated and back to Tom's point you're kind of used to this but with any luck hopefully will increase that visibility.

Ryen Reed: 21:05

And that's the goal right now with the whole Paralympic movement. It's such a big deal to try and get more coverage I mean, back in Rio, we didn't have as much coverage as we did in Tokyo and they're trying to push it more for Paris but LA is on trying to get to a whole nother level. So they're already pushing the Paralympic Games and the athletes and everything already and that's not until 2028 so we're trying to make a movement and I want to be a huge part of that and I'm, that's why I push the Paralympics so much as well, because I think it is important they put so much coverage on the Olympics and these athletes and we just got the same amount of money for medals, the Olympics didn't use to get the same amount of money as the Olympians. So we just got that for Tokyo. And I think it's slowly increasing with the amount of coverage and support thing and it probably is gonna take a while but the more athletes and the more of us that are pushing it and the more people that are catching on to what amazing amazing movement and yeah or these are I think it'll it'll start to pick up but it's very important to get that coverage

Kenny Bailey<br>: 22:27

Yeah, I agree and it's in it's exciting to watch I mean the the emotions not like I said it's not any different it's not less I mean the amount of hard work you guys put in I mean you're putting that in and how many surgeries 15 surgeries? I mean yeah,

Ryen Reed: 22:40

I need another I've been pushing off for a few years right now for the Paralympics

Kenny Bailey<br>: 22:48

Is that schedule?d but what how what is the surgery if you don't mind me asking.

Ryen Reed: 22:52

Um, so I had the last I had four foot surgeries in 2013 or 2014 I'm on my feet and so one of those surgeries two of my toes didn't formed back correctly so they removed all the knuckles in my toes to pin them and two of the toes did not form back correctly so they have to go back in and fix that situation. So I've been fighting through pain for the last three four years so when I take a step it feels like I'm stepping on on a nail. So it's painful but I, I want to the Olympics so I've been pushing it off a little bit and then COVID happen and so now I have to figure out how and if I can get it scheduled but

Kenny Bailey<br>: 23:41

yeah, how many weeks is are you like is that a three to four weeks sort of downtime on that thing? Or

Ryen Reed: 23:46

Oh, it It depends it could be four to six weeks so it all depends on healing and everything but my body heals pretty quickly so I don't know I've grown enough to just know that I just hate surgery so so

Tom Regal: 24:04

yeah I can't imagine wanting to you know it's like any anything to push it off yeah that's enough. Yeah. Oh my god.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 24:15

Oh my god so I want to talk about so you're currently like you said you're the time trial road and crit World Champion, right national national champion. Sorry.

Tom Regal: 24:25

Yeah, well, it

Kenny Bailey<br>: 24:25

could be world we don't.

Tom Regal: 24:27

That's next!

Kenny Bailey<br>: 24:28

just next projecting. Um, so of those three disciplines between the time trial the the crit and road which one sort of which one was your favorite and which one were you most surprised for? Or do you kind of knew you're gonna kill it on all three of them?

Ryen Reed: 24:46

Um, well, going into the season, I was pretty pumped. Being off a whole season in 2020 and not having any races at all and training in my garage constantly. I'm happy to get back out there and race. And so I was pretty pumped. And I know I, I trained my butt off in 2020. So I was ready and excited. So my favorite was the criterium and the reason the criterion is my favorite is because for cycling, the courses are so long and out and the roads are not full of people there and cheering you on, except for the crit. The crit is just a circle. And people are constantly there yelling and cheering and its exciting. So I just love the crit. And it's just, it's a little crazy because you have all these hands cycles on one street and you're taking these turns and it just gets intense sometimes. So

Kenny Bailey<br>: 25:44

NASCAR, basically,

Ryen Reed: 25:45

yeah.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 25:48

For those who don't know, so the time trial is you go as fast as you can you vomit and then you keep going faster. The road is what you expect. It's a you know, 50 Plus, probably or I don't know how long the road course was for you guys on this one.

Ryen Reed: 26:03

For our road course it's usually I think, this year was 29 miles. Yeah.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 26:11

And it's over sort of, for lack of better terms, etc. Point to Point crits are basically you know, mile and a half circle, right? It's basically NASCAR, you're bumping your you're trying to go around corners. Yeah, my last surgery was because of a crit is matter of fact, so my collarbone was because of a crit. Which is why now I'm a triathlete. So of the three was that the crit, then that you were just pumped for because of that sort of bumping and kind of getting getting into the mix?

Ryen Reed: 26:48

Yeah, crits my favorite. It's just, it's, it's intense and exciting. And I love it. And then time trial will be my next favorite. Because it's just all out straight to, from the start to the end, you're just pushing as hard as you can. And you don't really have that stress of any other riders coming up behind me. Like that. So I love the time trial and the road race, I get a little anxious and nervous on the road race, because just the pack of a bunch of riders and with the paracycling, they start all the classifications together in handcycling. So you're out there with the guys and the women.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 27:29

Oh, no kidding. Yeah. We should say, does that change sort of mentality on on that? Or?

Ryen Reed: 27:36

I'm kind of it depends on the classifications. Usually the strong guys fly out of the beginning and they're gone. But um, yeah, it's a little intense.

Tom Regal: 27:50

At least was gonna say what the crit, at least, you know, this same turn is coming up each time. So you've got a pack, but you can position yourself because you know what the next turn is. You know what the next turn is. It's the same number of turns back and forth with road race. It's a little different.

Ryen Reed: 28:03

Yeah. In the road race, you have hills and down hills and turn poles in the road. Yeah.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 28:12

So when we when I talk to other elite athletes, what I find kind of fascinating because I'm sort of middle of the pack guy. So with elite athletes, what's interesting is when you get to the line, they can look over kind of left and right and see who that who there's one or two people like I was talking to someone that's, you know, top tier mid distance runner, and they already know when two other people show up to a line, it's either going to be first or second or it's going to be third. Do you have that same sort of deal those competitors out there that you know, when they come to the line? It's it's going to be a race or how does that is that kind of similar?

Ryen Reed: 28:49

Yeah, we sort of know who we're gonna hook on to and draft off of and who to stay away from and yeah, yeah.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 29:00

Where do you fit on that? Are they va? Are they the Oh shit, Ryen's here. So are you that one?

Ryen Reed: 29:06

I'm getting there.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 29:10

Like, great. Ryen showed up. Awesome. That's great. great. Also,

Tom Regal: 29:14

we're all fighting for second place.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 29:15

Exactly. Who invited her!? I thought she was going to skip this one.

Tom Regal: 29:22

They're just kind of draft there. They're all just kind of draft off of Ryen all the way to the end.

Ryen Reed: 29:26

It's the whole course.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 29:28

There you go.

Tom Regal: 29:28

Yeah. There you go. Very cool. So Challenged Athletes Fdoundation. Tell us about the Challenged Athletes a little bit. I mean, because they're helping promote this. They've done they've done a lot. I mean, that's Bob Babbitt and a whole host of other people.

Ryen Reed: 29:45

Yeah, so they're my team out of San Diego, California, and they're an incredible team. They help support adaptive athletes all over the world. With the expenses of all of our equipment, they help provide grants to help cover those costs of the equipment, the cost of racing or races the cost of coaches and everything if if there's a way they can help they make it happen. It's an incredible foundation and I would not be where I'm at today without their help and support and, and the staff with challenge foundation. They're just incredible and they're like a second family to me. They're, they're amazing.

Tom Regal: 30:33

Cool, And I'm trying to remember some of the details about it because I've I've followed them a little bit they do. They there's there's a lot and we'll put some stuff in the show notes and everything for how to donate to Challenged Athletes Foundation for sure. Because that's something that I think we can we can always promote and help and help push that along because and they work across multiple sports. I mean, I know that we're based in triathlon, and originally because of Bob Babbitt, but they've they've gone on to do multiple sports now.

Ryen Reed: 31:03

Yeah, so they actually do pretty much everything any sport they can be a part of, they're a part of, they do triathlon, cycling, track and field. I think they just started beach volleyball. They're starting wheelchair football. Um, everything. I mean, any adaptive sport, they're a part of

Kenny Bailey<br>: 31:27

great. Is it? c f.org. In order to get a hold of somebody? How would they Yeah, I will donate and if you're a challenged athlete looking for a way to for help, I can go to that site.

Ryen Reed: 31:41

CAF.org. I have to double check. But um, we'll put it on it. Yeah. I'm actually doing their CAF are Yeah, CAF million dollar challenge next month, which is what I'm training for now, which is a 640 mile bike ride from San Francisco to San Diego.

Tom Regal: 32:01

Nice.

Ryen Reed: 32:02

Seven days,

Tom Regal: 32:04

seven days. How do we track that? How do we how do we track you on that?

Ryen Reed: 32:09

Um, I don't know, though. I'll be posting everything on social media. So it that way, but I'm raising money. I'm trying to raise$5,000 to to in support of the ride. And then yeah, all I don't know if they'll have tracking or anything online, but I will definitely be posting each day and updating everybody feeling and what's going on and everything that could happen.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 32:38

Well, it's north to south so it's all downhill.

Ryen Reed: 32:44

I'll be posting

Kenny Bailey<br>: 32:47

There are no hills in California........

Tom Regal: 32:49

Come on. It's all down out. So long a curl downhill. It's just a coast, really, you just sort of know what altitude the wind at sea level?

Kenny Bailey<br>: 32:55

What exactly.

Tom Regal: 32:57

So what kind of training Have you been doing to get to the Have you adjusted any training to tackle the extra endurance to the longer distance?

Ryen Reed: 33:05

Yeah, so I'm actually been doing longer rides instead of I still have some interval rides every week, but I'm doing more longer endurance rides. So this there's tomorrow I have a four hour ride on the trainer. And then Friday, I have five or five and a half hours. So long time to sit on a trainer......

Tom Regal: 33:26

Yeah. So your season, your racing season is basically over for the cycling side of things. Right. You finished up? What were the races that you ended up doing? Because I saw you through the US on a couple different spots.

Ryen Reed: 33:41

Yeah, so we started off with the paracycling open in Alabama. I did that I took first in both the the time trial and the road race. And then from there. We did. I think from there, I went to my second World Cup, which was in Belgium, which was a whole other experience, especially in the middle of COVID. It was a little crazy. And the US had to quarantine for two weeks before our actual race. So we were out there for a while. And a lot of Belgium was closed off because of COVID and everything going on so yeah, it was it was an experience. Probably the hardest road race I ever done because it rained during our full race

Kenny Bailey<br>: 34:32

Belgium rain is not fun.....

Ryen Reed: 34:34

No it's not. It was right on the coast. So it was freezing and it was and it Yeah, I was miserable. It was rough. But yeah, I pushed through that. And I figured if I could push through this I can push through any, though. Yeah, it was. That was a rough race. But then I came back and I did what was the next race? I think it was Oh I did the tour of Americans dairy lands in Wisconsin um I took first place overall and that that was an amazing race those are very fun races and then I did the national championships in Boise Idaho. Nice sweet Yeah. So it was exciting, full of everything

Tom Regal: 35:25

yeah i'm sure and then you adjust your training for the long ride what additional strength training? anything? Do you pick it back up again after the race season?

Ryen Reed: 35:35

Yeah, so I'm still doing training in the gym I go about two to three times a week on my recovery or lighter days on the bike. And then the longer days on the bike I'm just focused on the bike because four or five hours on the bike is enough.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 35:52

So is there a particular movie you watch during that time? Do you listen to like Angry music for hours? Which is I want to know because an hour and a half on a trainer and I just want to hurt somebody. So I mean, it's

Ryen Reed: 36:06

Oh, I usually stick to Netflix and try to find a show try to get glued into a show on there. And I don't know I it's been all over the place. I don't know what I've been watching lately.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 36:18

Try Hallmark Channel. I hear they're got really good movies.

Ryen Reed: 36:22

That's to........ I don't want to get emotional on my bike.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 36:29

Back to like, Alright, there we go. Okay, right, get off the bike.

Tom Regal: 36:34

And it's the same movie over and over again. It's just a different cast. Just Yeah,

Kenny Bailey<br>: 36:37

I just like there's a whole level of mentality on on people that can do four or five hour training rides.

Ryen Reed: 36:42

Yeah, you don't realize how many movies you can get through in four to five hours.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 36:47

Yeah, that's, it's insane.

Tom Regal: 36:49

It's tiring outside. I can't imagine it indoors on it.

Ryen Reed: 36:54

Thinking as much time as I'm spending on the trainer, it'll make the ride that much more enjoyable, just being along the coast and riding with other people, outside. I'm looking forward to that. But

Kenny Bailey<br>: 37:05

yeah, so talk a little bit about that. I mean, you know, for the people watching this is some of the folks like we we've had previous guests that ran like 300 miles across Tennessee, on purpose. When you translate it back to sort of people that are that are trying to get into training, or people that are that have to kind of go through that long haul is it is that what you keep in mind is the idea that, hey, I'm going to be outside and beautiful weather, this is going to be worth that? How do you keep yourself motivated and main and maintain? And what would be some advice and give two or three kind of nuggets you would give people when, when you're going through sort of, you know, trying to get to this goal? Yeah, well,

Ryen Reed: 37:47

what motivates me the most is the strength that I I endure and push through and and gain after long rides like that. And just knowing how I feel the next day and feeling stronger, and thinking to myself, the training in the future, and the next day will be that much easier. If I push through this or like the last hour or two on the bike. It's, it's exhausting, and you just want to get off of it. So I sort of think about that. And then I think about why I'm doing the ride and and what I'm doing it for and the kids and the people that get these grants through Challenged Athletes Foundation, and the reason we're raising the money and just building that foundation for the next group and the next. people that come behind me or with me or anything like that, and just thinking of everything I've been through in the past growing up and just the thought of having if I had a mentor, like I do now and what I have now if I had that in the past and just providing that for kids or people going through what I went through in the past and just being able to be that for someone else is incredible and just proving to people that you can do anything you put your mind to, and then what you go out to do, you can got it. So that's

Kenny Bailey<br>: 39:26

like sometimes it's a it's a pretty heavy load. I mean, because challenged athletes because you are paving the way I mean, you're sort of the front end of that spear. I know there's probably people that were in front of you that were trying to do that. But to your point you've tried to get triathlons to do a better job at race schedule. Does it feel a little overwhelming at times, not to go heavy, but sometimes, yeah, when I

Ryen Reed: 39:47

have bad training days or races like when I had my bad race in Belgium, I was very, very upset and stressed and that was rought. And it sort of it was hard for the rest of my season but I kind of just talked myself back into it and and kept going and I'm glad I kept going because I did great at nationals and just kept pushing through so I'm glad I didn't give up and just the thought of that and it'll help me get through more tough times are tough races in the future and stuff but yeah, it does get a little a little much at times especially with all this the the weight I guess like when you pull up to a start line and you're sitting there thinking before they blow the whistle and all the adrenaline kicks in like you're thinking about breathing at a start line and so the thought of that stuff it's it's much it's a lot but yeah, your adrenaline kicks in and it's all good.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 40:52

Yeah, well we want some mechanics start to get started right? At the end of the day, you're still racing, right? So it's sort of like the the turnovers got to occur at some point in time. I think with also part of the reason I ask is I think there's a you know, obviously there was a sharp rise in in sort of mental health now when it comes to athletes especially because of what Simone and others were doing about trying to make sure that there's a balance for people that it's not just you know, people and I know I've saw like some of your quotes before where people would thought they would be funny and say oh, it must be relaxing to be on you know, to be lying down like that and and you know that that can start away kind of heavy. Has that do you feel like you're starting to or do you see that community starting the athletic community starting to be a little bit more recognizing that kind of mental health?

Ryen Reed: 41:37

Yeah, especially right now like my coach and our team had a had a talk and it was very eye opening because he reminded us like sports You can't let this stress get in the way of your life and if it's too much just take a step back and don't put all this weight on your shoulders and that's not your job and yeah, he he talked us through all that and it was eye opening and stuff but at the same time we still want to be that inspiration and help others and stuff so I think we just have to find a balance but it is helpful especially with these higher elite athletes like Simone and do the other Olympians and stuff. It helps to open up other's eyes not be so hard on everybody else but

Kenny Bailey<br>: 42:30

you're and for for people that are that are watching Paralympics so what do you I mean, what do you want them to know about sort of what what you're trying to accomplish that or is it look this view us exactly the same way that you would view any other athlete they were going through the same trials and tribulations? We're going through the same? Would that be the biggest message you'd want those folks to? To know about?

Ryen Reed: 42:52

Yeah, basically it's it's kind of funny because I'll go to the grocery store like in my wheelchair with my partner and we'll all be getting groceries and stuff and we've had people come up to us telling us we're inspiring and I had someone in college tell me I'm inspiring for coming to class and it's like, that's not inspiring. It's doing these workouts and training for those of that we were not born to do and and that people don't think we're capable of doing and succeeding a beat. That's inspiring, doing regular things like getting groceries and going to college. That is not inspiring. But yeah, just like we're capable of so much more than people see us in regular day life so just I don't know be more open to what we're capable of in that we can kick butt that's absolutely

Tom Regal: 43:53

where you did you do an obstacle course race this summer as well, didn't you?

Kenny Bailey<br>: 43:59

on top of everything else What the hell right? You

Tom Regal: 44:01

want to talk about inspiring. Talk about that. Tell Tell us about that. how that came about. Because I remember seeing some of your posts on on on Instagram about that it looked it looked impressive.

Ryen Reed: 44:14

Yeah, so I did my first two Spartan races so I I Yeah, my partner does Spartan races with a group called More Heart than Scars. And so they help basically helped get us through the course I don't know if you've ever done an obstacle course race, but the courses are intense. For long hikes through hills and rough terrain and just insane so on our own. It'd be very, very difficult if even possible to get through with our regular everyday wheelchairs. So they help push us through the obstacles and then we do the courses and they provide support if we need it on the different courses like the monkey bars, sandbag carry everything it's it's absolutely so much fun but it's difficult and I kept seeing Spartan races and I'm like oh that's easy you know I did it and I'm like oh my god this is intense because you have all these people that are sweating profusely and are wet from the mud pits and they're climbing on all these obstacles and those obstacles have no grips so you're basically pulling with all your strength trying to hold on and slipping and it's it's insane but it was it was so much fun and I can't wait to do another one when I'm not getting ready for a big ride or race but

Tom Regal: 45:51

yeah, it is cross training because it inspired me I never wanted to do an obstacle race because I don't feel like I'm fit enough or strong enough to to be totally inspired

Kenny Bailey<br>: 46:03

yeah I'm still not fit enough or strong enough to do or happen or bad enough I don't need anything else on my plate right now that's that's what's kind of crazy right because you're you're doing this you thought what the hell out there on a Spartan Race like I'm just you know I'm getting ready for an Iron Man and I'm like just trying to figure out how to get that done without you know blowing up my life and you know, oh, I think I'll do a Spartan because what the hell

Ryen Reed: 46:27

yeah you that you don't realize or a lot of people don't realize how much training and preparation we have to put in for these races. So the little bit of time that I get to kind of do any kind of take edge of but I also just started training in wheelchair tennis just because my friend or my partner's friend in the area out here in Virginia, he started doing wheelchair tennis at Virginia Tech so we were like oh let's go try it and then we fell in love with it and now I love it and I'm like maybe I have another sport for the Paralympics!

Tom Regal: 47:05

once you get your gold and cycling and you go back and get the tennis side of it. Why not? Go for it? Yeah, that's awesome. What other sports and what else tennis Did you throw in here this year?

Ryen Reed: 47:21

This year? I think that was it this year? I don't know.....

Tom Regal: 47:26

that's a pretty full year I mean that that's a lot.

Ryen Reed: 47:28

Yeah. So I've tried but I've tried wheelchair basketball. I've tried sled hockey I've tried snowboarding I've I love it all if I could do every sport and not get in trouble by my coach I would do it

Tom Regal: 47:43

You totally embraced the active lifestyle on on every level and then next year so what's the plan for next year I mean we've got we've got three years for the Olympics coming up right so that's obviously the goal

Ryen Reed: 47:58

Oh next year we're kind of we just had a meeting with my coach so we're kind of getting focused getting back into races it's kind of like the prep for the bigger year so to what next year is 2022 so then 2023 is like the big year before all the big races are like really important to get to the level of 2024 which is the trials year and everything so it kind of like eases our way back into it but kind of a little quicker because we only have three years this year so yeah, so I'll have a little break like a week after this big 640 mile ride and then it's back into training for the winter and then kick everything off for next year and full force 2023 and then hopefully make the team in 2024

Kenny Bailey<br>: 49:00

he said that you get one week off and then three years of back you know three years then I'll get a week off in 2026 and then that week you'll probably do like a Spartan Race and you know exactly but that's

Ryen Reed: 49:17

a lot of people just think the Olympics and Paralympics come up and that's the only read about but there's so much into it before that we have so many training events and camps and races that we have to even get to be able to race and succeed at that level so yeah, not much break

Kenny Bailey<br>: 49:41

Well enjoy that week.

Ryen Reed: 49:42

Yeah, oh well I'll be in California with my family so here

Tom Regal: 49:46

There you go. Yeah, super super awesome. So what's your social media channels what what we'll put we'll put them up on on cards as well but tell us what how do we follow you on everything.

Ryen Reed: 49:59

So on Instagram, it's Ryen underscore equality or bust, but it's R y e n.

Tom Regal: 50:06

Yes. Very Yeah. Very, very specific RYEN Yeah.

Ryen Reed: 50:11

And I have an athlete page on Facebook. It's Ryan Reed R Y E N R E E D, And then I think I have a Twitter but I don't really use it. I think I have a YouTube but I don't really use it. But

Kenny Bailey<br>: 50:27

so for that week you're gonna hire a social person for you, Instagram.

Ryen Reed: 50:32

I really need to I haven't posted anything since last week. So

Tom Regal: 50:36

Oh, my goodness, oh, my goodness, Instagram is usually where I follow you on. That's

Ryen Reed: 50:40

Yeah, I post everything, especially on my story. So I'll be posting a lot on there for the ride and updates and stuff on there.

Tom Regal: 50:49

Okay, and then we'll also get the Challenged Athletes Foundation information up, we'll make sure that's in the notes. So this will go out on audio first. And then we'll do the YouTube channel is almost finished, we've got actually got some episodes up on our YouTube channel. And I'll have the rest of these up. Hopefully soon. It takes a little time.

Ryen Reed: 51:10

I have a fundraising page for that ride to....

Tom Regal: 51:13

What's the page?

Ryen Reed: 51:15

But I think it's under a support page for Challenged Athletes Foundation. And then I think it's my name and a number that I can send it to you. I

Tom Regal: 51:27

sent it to me so we can put it on the show notes. And we'll include it will clearly show as well. This is great. I'm super, super excited you were able to join us. It's great to catch up with you and hear your story and go through all of this. It's it is inspiring. Yeah. I love following you on Instagram. So

Ryen Reed: 51:48

on Facebook, my memory just popped up from two what was it two years ago or

Tom Regal: 51:53

2019? Right? Malibu?

Ryen Reed: 51:56

Yeah. What is that? What What year are we in? 2021? Right should you have popped up that we just did the Malibu triathlon and actually, right after I left that triathlon, I went into LA to record a music video for Bebe Rexha for Angelina Jolie Disney movie Maleficence. So right after that race, I was doing a music video until they had us filming until like three in the morning.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 52:30

Oh, geez,

Ryen Reed: 52:30

that was a very long day!

Tom Regal: 52:32

Oh my God, that's insane.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 52:35

Like I'd rather be back on the course.

Tom Regal: 52:38

It's so Hollywood though, you know, knock off a race and go you know, like I shoot a video....

Kenny Bailey<br>: 52:44

You guys don't have a video with Bebe Rexha? Was that just was that just me.

Tom Regal: 52:48

That's My typical day. That's That's why I had to leave LA. It's a good day.

Ryen Reed: 52:56

And I was like, Well, I have a race that morning. And they were like, well, just come right after. Like, okay,

Tom Regal: 53:03

people were skipping that race because the Emmys were that night and they didn't want to stress themselves before they sat on their asses and patted themselves on the back. You go do the race anyway, so you can work the rest of the day! That's awesome. Yeah. I love it. I love it. Cool. Well, thank you again for joining us. It's been awesome. We're gonna have to have you back on again.

Kenny Bailey<br>: 53:27

Yeah, I got a thing with Tim McGraw. I got to get to so. So

Ryen Reed: 53:33

yeah,

Kenny Bailey<br>: 53:34

we're gonna have to bouncy bounce right now.

Tom Regal: 53:37

I'm gonna have to take care of my dogs who just woke up and are now getting super excited. So cool. Great talking with you. Thank you again so much. I want to thank everybody for listening. You know, give us lots of feedback and comments, thumbs up, you know, five stars. I like to promote that. I think we do a pretty decent job. We certainly are having fun doing this. And it helps the algorithms and helps more people find us. So we've been enjoying our podcast. Hope everyone has. So thank you again, and we'll see you next time.