All boys. All boarding. Grades 9-12.

Colin Gay '93 Completes 1,000-day Cycling Streak

Here at Woodberry Forest, many people take advantage of the beautiful landscape and surrounding area by fishing, hiking, or hanging out by the river. Colin Gay ’93, who serves as a math teacher and Bengal football and varsity lacrosse coach, likes to spend his time outdoors in a different way — by riding his bike over thirty miles every day. What started as an alternative to running and a way to get in shape, turned into a 1,000-day streak of outdoor cycling.

 
As his students know, Colin is not opposed to hard work. His consistent commitment to his goal teaches a strong lesson to everyone in the community — not just his students. “It's not, ‘if I am going to ride’ on any given day,” he says. “It is ‘when am I going to ride?’” This mindset has allowed him to accomplish many incredible feats in the past 1,000 days, including averaging thirty-four miles per day and even riding all the way to Chicago for a family reunion.  His family, including his wife, Laura, and their two children, served as the support team on that Chicago ride, meeting him periodically for the six days it took to cover over 700 miles.

Colin’s streak has definitely not been easy, given the sometimes hectic Woodberry schedule and other outside challenges. Often waking up at 4:00 a.m., even earlier when it snows, to ride for two hours before the school day starts, Colin dutifully dedicates some of his time each day to his passion. One day he took a tumble on a road ride and got scraped up a bit, but that didn’t stop him the next morning when he woke up to ride. The weather can also pose problems for him. Snow, rain, or extreme heat don’t stop his rides though, even when, he admits, “it can be pretty soul-sucking to ride in the pouring rain for two hours.”  

Despite the obstacles, Colin has managed to ride over 34,000 miles in the past 1,000 days. Currently, he’s training to compete in the Dirty Kanza next summer, a 200-mile gravel race in Emporia, Kansas. And although he’s accomplished this almost impossible goal, he’s not finished with goal setting yet. My new goal is 10,000 consecutive days, which is around twenty-seven years.”

In 2044, we at Woodberry hope to report that Colin has completed his new goal, and we have no doubt that he will. Follow him at “Colin Gay” on Strava and “ridestreak” on Instagram to keep up with his rides and track his progress.
 
Woodberry Forest admits students of any race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religious belief, and national or ethnic origin to all of the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religious belief, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic or other school-administered programs. The school is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant students.