Net zero elevation. Drafting allowed.

One of the friends who challenged him has done two ironmans so he has an idea of what it takes to ride 100 miles. Yeah, I know a lot of you would be in disbelief since you know how "easy" it is to ride 100 miles, but I doubt you weigh 355 pounds. Not that easy when you've been sedentary for 20+ years, eating yourself to death.

He hired a nutritionist and a professional cycling coach who gives him workout plans, has seen doctors multiple times with body scans, blood works, etc., and got a prescription for some popular appetite suppression drug that he injects himself once a week.

So far he's down 25 lbs in two weeks (weighed 330 lbs this morning). Not a bad start. He took me out to Flemings last week for my birthday and he only ate half a steak. Appetite is simply gone. Obviously the first pounds will be the easiest, but it's a promising start and certainly motivating.

I'm his workout buddy. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays we ride indoors at 5:30am. First ride was a disaster. He couldn't sit on the bike for more than a few minutes and puked after 15 total minutes on the bike, with an average power of 80 watts (if you're unfamiliar, that's almost cycling with no pedal resistance). 2nd day he went 20 minutes with a few breaks. 3rd day 20 minutes with no breaks. 4th day 22 minutes with no breaks, but with puking again. 5th day maybe 25 minutes. He does walks in his neighborhood. Started at a mile, then two. Today he walked 3 miles, which is awesome. He also borrowed a peloton so he can ride between our workout days. So basically we're starting from rock bottom. Worst thing would be to go too fast and do too much too soon and injure him.

Plan is to go down to Spanish Fork/Payson in October (forget 13 months. We're getting this done in six) and ride those flat farmlands near Utah lake. He'll draft behind me the whole time. We'll have a car with nutrition and spare parts following us and adding some protection from idiots cars. Just do loops and take breaks in a church parking lot and have one of his masseuse friends give him leg massages if needed.

The cycling coach and I sat him down and asked what his motivation is. He talked about not dying in his 40s, being there for his son (7) (he's divorced), and having a quality life while he still can. Basically this challenge was just the jumpstart to get off his butt, but he needs to find a reason to continue this, even once he finishes it, otherwise he'll be dead before 50.

If any of you are interested, I'll keep CB updated on his progress.