Sean Maloney: Getting Ready For Heart Across America
According to Adventure Bicycling Association, which has over 47,000 members in the US, many long to ride across the US, but few actually make their dream real. Heart Across America founder Sean Maloney is doing so, starting March 22, cycling to promote the carotid artery scan, which can detect and help prevent strokes and heart attacks. The vision is that others will be inspired to ride with Sean, whether that means cycling California, cycling across America, or any distance at all. Every pedal stroke counts so what is involved in getting ready for Heart Across America.
Q: What has been your favorite part about training for the ride?A: The silence and the wind; when you are about 2 hours from home – the silence in the trees apart from birds singing, and the wind raising through the leaves of the trees in the forests. That’s incredibly beautiful.
Q: What has been the most challenging?
A: It has not been that bad! It is long though. Yesterday I rode for 8 hours up Mount Hamilton for 100 miles. I am sore!
Q: Is there anything you plan to do differently for the final month of training?
A: Ride even more!!!!! Our cycling route across America will provide lots of good challenges I want to be ready for.
Q: In your training rides, how have people received the message to "get the (carotid artery) scan"?
A: Everyone gets it. However, when they eventually go to a doctor, 70% will find the doctor saying “you don’t need that!”. Most doctors do not know how to do artery ultrasound scans. They are further discouraged from prescribing them by insurance companies. These are problems that need to be fixed.A million people a year die of Heart Attacks and strokes. Is it you in the next 5 years? You don’t know if you are at risk unless an ultrasound is done.
To find out more about the ride, the riding legs, or how to learn more about how you can support the vision, or get the scan, visit www.heartacrossamerica.org.