Standing on the bathroom scale on December 31st, 2023, staring at 203 pounds, I set four specific goals for 2024. As someone who's been making the same promises to himself for a few years running, I figured it was time to either get serious or admit I was just another guy who talks about what he used to be able to do.
The Weight Loss Reality Check
Goal: Lose 25+ pounds to reach 10-12% body fat.
Reality: Lost 26 pounds (203 to 177 by August), but ended up at 15% body fat.
Twenty-six pounds gone over eight months works out to about 3.25 pounds per month—nothing dramatic, but sustainable. The hardest part wasn't the physical hunger, but addressing the reasons why I had overeaten in the past (boredom, stress, and confusion between thirst and hunger).
Did I hit my body fat target? Nope. But at 60-something, I'll take 15% and functional fitness over perfect numbers and burnout. And I can still improve.
Michigan Mountain Mayhem: First Timer
Goal: Complete the 68-mile, 4,600-foot climbing challenge.
Reality: Finished in 4.5 hours and felt strong doing it.
This was my first attempt at Michigan Mountain Mayhem, and honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect. Those 12-18% pitches I'd heard horror stories about turned out to be challenging but manageable at my lighter weight. The course was well-marked, food stops were well-stocked and properly spaced, and I finished feeling accomplished rather than just relieved.
Already planning to do it again in 2025.
Old Fall River Road: Ten Years in the Making
Goal: Complete the 29-mile route with 4,055 feet of climbing to 11,796 feet.
Reality: I made it! Moving time of 3:12, total adventure of about 5 hours.
This ride was ten years in the making. During winter hikes to Chasm Falls, I'd stare up at that serpentine road carved into the mountainside and promise myself I'd ride it someday. On July 22nd, I finally fulfilled that promise.
The 29.7-mile loop starts at 8,500 feet, climbs Old Fall River Road to the Alpine Visitor Center at 11,796 feet, then continues up Trail Ridge Road to 12,183 feet before descending back. The altitude above treeline, around 11,000 feet, was the real challenge—35% less oxygen than at sea level means you can't power through like you can at home in Michigan.
I had to stop more frequently in the thin air, not because of impossible gradients but because my lungs couldn't process what they needed. The 26 pounds I'd lost helped with efficiency when every breath counted. The descent required careful brake management and proper layering—temperature swings of 30-40 degrees are no joke.
Worth every pedal stroke.
Racing: Back in the Pack
Goal: Race in four different series.
Reality: Competed in fewer races but qualified for something significant.
I managed one Maumee Valley Wheelmen race, three Waterford Summer Race Series races, and the Michigan Senior Games. The highlight was placing 4th in the Senior Games 20k road race, which qualified me for the 2025 National Senior Games.
Racing against guys half my age is humbling, but racing against my actual peer group reminded me why I used to love this sport.
The Unexpected Highlight
The Maumee Valley Wheelmen reunion wasn't on my original goal list, but it turned out to be one of the most meaningful parts of the season. Over 50 riders showed up from across the US and Mexico. Between riding familiar old roads with old friends and sitting around dinner tables with guys I'd raced with decades ago, I was reminded that cycling is ultimately about community.
What Stuck
Setting specific, measurable goals made the difference between good intentions and actual results. I didn't hit everything perfectly—that body fat percentage being the obvious miss—but I accomplished more than I had in the previous three years combined.
The scale still reads around 178 pounds as I write this in late 2024. The bike feels responsive, not heavy. And that National Senior Games qualification gives me something concrete to train for in 2025.
Sometimes getting most of the way there is good enough.
The author achieved these results through his own training and planning. This content contains affiliate links to products mentioned—using these links helps support continued content creation while costing you nothing extra.