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Fulfilling the Cyclist’s Dream: Ben Cornell, PT, Completes

3,200-Mile Adventure in France

As a kid, Ben Cornell, PT, HCP Sky- a way to get at-
park, looked up to his cousin who tention, but
loved cycling. He learned a lot about rather to make
cycling history from this cousin, and them challenge
from this he developed his own pas- themselves.
sion for bike riding, which he started “People are
in his late teens. often afraid to
push beyond
Fast forward to today. In August, what’s comfort-
Cornell completed the bicycling ad- able; they’re
venture of a lifetime—22 days of afraid to see
bike riding, 3,200 miles through the what’s on the
Pyrenees and Alps in France. There other side,”
was a catch, though: he and his Ben Cornell, PT, and his friend Phil Keoghan started their journey at the Cornell said. “I
friend Phil Keoghan, host of televi- exact location as the Tour de France in 1928. Most days they began riding want people to
sion’s Amazing Race, who came up at 9 a.m. and arrived in the next town between 10 p.m. and midnight. ask them-
with the idea, completed this adven- selves, ‘Can I
ture on one-speed 1928 bikes, recreating the 1928 Tour de push beyond this to see what happens?’ If you do, you’ll
France. feel so good about what you accomplished plus your body
gets stronger.”
The physical challenge was not new to Cornell, who has
competed in four Ironman Triathlons and who ran 40 miles From his own recent experience in France, Cornell jokingly
on his 40th birthday. “The bigger part of it was the mental recalled something else that pushed him and his friend to
portion,” Cornell explained. “The scenery was amazing, keep going. “The people [we met] thought we were crazy
and that was a huge highlight of the trip. But when it for doing this,” he said. “We are crazy. And it made us
turned dark, it was difficult. After 10, 12, 14 hours of ped- want to prove them wrong by finishing.”
aling—there was no scenery to look at. There were days of
literally falling asleep on your bike, and you had to keep As an Extraordinary Achievement recipient, Cornell will be
going.” awarded 700 Vitality points. The story made local French
TV in one town and an article was published on the Cycling
It was that inner desire to keep going that kept Cornell Illustrated website. CBS.com carried all the blogs. His own
persevering. “One of my biggest takeaways was that the sense of amazement at completing the journey stays with
body is an amazingly adaptable piece of equipment,” Cor- him. “The climbs that we did were the ones that have
nell said. “It got easier as my body got more efficient.” been written about throughout history,” he said. “It was a
Which led him to ponder an intriguing point: What is my childhood dream to do them.”
body capable of?
At this point, Cornell is not sure what his next challenge
It is a question he indirectly tries to pose to patients when will be, but stay tuned—it’s sure to be something unusual
possible. He shares his own experiences with them not as and inspiring.
Do you know someone who has completed an extreme physical fitness activity or healthy living event within the last year?
If you would like to nominate their Extraordinary Achievement, please contact Catherine Crow, Janelle Howe or Janet Galli.