Happy Birth Month to Get Miles, Baby! (And Me!)

October is special — the air turns crisp, the trails fill with color, and it just so happens to be both my birthday month and the birth month of Get Miles, Baby. Coincidence? Maybe. Overachievement? Definitely.

It all started on a ride from downtown Kansas City to Parkville — one of those days when the trail feels like magic. Every person we passed had that subtle, shared spark — a smile, a nod, a “hey.” Whether they were walking, running, biking, or trying to convince their dog to move just one more step, there was this wave of kindness.

And that’s when it hit us. That’s what we wanted to bottle up and share with the world. So, mid-ride, between snacks and sweat, Get Miles, Baby was born.

Now, when you holler “GET MILES, BABY!” to strangers, you’ll probably get a confused “Huh?” or a look that says “Are you talking to me?” But even if they don’t get it, the energy lands. It says, “We see you. We love that you’re out here. You’re part of the Ride Tribe now — whether you know it or not.”

Imposter Syndrome on Two Wheels

When we started, I’ll be honest — I felt like a total fraud. Sure, Troy is the real deal: naturally athletic, rides 200 miles for fun (yes, fun), eats hills for breakfast.

Me? I corner like I’m driving a school bus. I’m dead last on slow group rides. Queen of the brakes and the “Are we there yet?” energy.

I kept wondering — how could I represent cycling if I wasn’t a “real cyclist”?

But that’s when I realized something. Get Miles, Baby was never meant to be about performance. It’s about presence. It’s for anyone who laces up, clips in, or just gets out there. Whether you’re crushing gravel, coasting through town, or wobbling on your first ride — you belong here.

Still, I wanted to push myself. Not to prove anything to others, but to remind myself what I’m capable of.

Testing the Limits (and My Sanity)

This year, I set a goal: 3,500 miles.

Then I signed up for The Double Bypass (because two mountains seemed plenty), and Bike MS Kansas City — my first century ride.

Spoiler alert: I nailed it.

The new Bike MS KC route started at Union Station and finished at Bourgmont Winery — the most “reward yourself” finish line imaginable. We joined the Royal Blue Riders on the journey and we camped overnight thanks to the rockstars at Pork Belly Ventures, then pedaled 35 miles home the next morning.

It was allergy season, so my eyes looked like I’d lost a boxing match, but I made it. That ride was tough — maybe even tougher than the 100 miles before it — but crossing that line? Unreal.

So, What’s Next? Continue to Get More Miles, Baby!

This weekend, I’m tackling Lifetime Big Sugar Gravel — 50 miles of chunky chaos. Troy’s doing 100 because, of course he is. We’ll probably finish around the same time. He’ll just have twice the distance and half the body fat.

But I’m okay with that. I’m not here to win. I’m here to keep showing up and keep proving I can.

The Real Moral of the Ride

So here’s the moral of the ride: We’ll keep this Get Miles, Baby journey rolling.

We’ll keep cheering for strangers. Keep yelling “Get Miles, Baby!” until people start yelling it back. Keep reminding everyone — it’s not about how fast you go or how far you ride, it’s about the fact that you showed up.

Because whether you’re climbing mountains, coasting through neighborhoods, or just trying not to tip over — you’re part of this tribe.

So, happy birthday, Get Miles, Baby.

And happy birthday to me.

Now let’s ride bikes and be kind. 💙