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cityviewmag.com
58
september
october 201 3
But the Lord
giveth, and the
Lord taketh away.
As soon as LaMacchia started to
train in earnest, he was derailed
by a catastrophic injury.’ÄúOn New
Year’Äôs Day, I was using my chainsaw
when I felt a pain inmy back,’Äù
he says.’ÄúIt was annoying, but I
kept working. The next morning, I
knew something was horrendously
wrong.’Äù He had ruptured his L4 disc.
’ÄúI could barely move,’Äù he says.
’ÄúFrom January 1 to February 8, I was
on every form of muscle relaxant you
can take, and then I had surgery.
After that the doctor told me not
to do anything until March 23.’Äù
That meant LaMacchia would have
exactly three months to train for the
race.’ÄúBy the grace of God,’Äù he says,
’ÄúI was able to do it.’Äù
Having more than just personal
pride at stake helped. LaMacchia
knew he couldn’Äôt quit a race that
had so much’Äîand so many’Äîriding
on it and pulling for him. He had no
intention of letting the ministry and
the homeless down.
The weather the morning of the
race was perfect: no rain or wind.
With a prayer for safety, strength,
and best time possible, LaMacchia
set out against the clock and the
eight other riders in his heat.’ÄúThe
thing that surprised me first,’Äù
he says, recalling the race,’Äúwas
the level of technology brought
to the event.’ÄùThough he felt he
had the best
road
bike of the 50 or
competitors, many brought time-
trial bikes, designed specifically for
the type of contest at hand. Even
so,’Äúthey didn’Äôt blowme out of the
saddle,’Äù he says.’ÄúI knew the course,
and I knewwhat I had to do.’Äù
Unfortunately, on this day, what
LaMacchia didwould not be enough
tomedal. Because of the way the
Senior Olympics brackets ages, he
raced against the three fastest cyclists
from the previous year, who had all
’Äúgraduated’Äù into his age group:’ÄúMy
heat was the fastest of the day, and I
finished 10 seconds behind the bronze
winner.That was 42 seconds better
thanmy previous best on the course.’Äù
His time was 8:36.
LaMacchia didn’Äôt qualify for the
Senior Olympics, but his efforts were
not wasted.’ÄúAmedal was only one of
my goals, and I’Äôm totally at ease,’Äù he
says,’ÄúI worked hard for a year. We
raised a lot of money for Redeeming
Hope through our sponsors. We
brought awareness and all kinds of
media focus’Äîfrom outlets such as
WBIR and the
News Sentinel
’Äîto the
poor and homeless. When I think
about being at this stage of life and
showing others you can still get on
a bike and race’Äîyou can contribute
to your community’ÄîI’Äôm grateful for
that. So many people aren’Äôt able, but
I hope my example inspires those
who can.’Äù
With a determined attitude,
LaMacchia is looking forward to
what’Äôs next. He may cycle across
the United States again’Äîthis time
with his wife, Ann’Äîor he may find
another path to the 2015 National
Senior Olympics inMinnesota.
Whatever happens, he wants to
continue to follow the call to be a
good steward of his body and employ
his skills in the service of Knoxville’Äôs
poor via his sponsors.’ÄúYou know
what was one of the coolest things
about this entire experience?’Äù
he says.’ÄúWalking out to my
mailbox one morning and finding
a $150’ÄòCheer’Äô check made out to
Redeeming Hope Ministries.’Äù
How You Can Help
Besides buying
The Amplifier
whenever
you see a homeless person selling it,
you can donate to RHM online at
f you would like to
designate your contribution go to the
homelessinrecognitionofJohnLaMacchia’Äôs
efforts, specify it asa’ÄúCheer’Äù donation.)
You
can also send a check to Redeeming Hope
Ministries, 1642HighlandAvenue,Knoxville,
TN37916.Finally,youcanvolunteerwiththe
organization.Visit their website and fill out
thevolunteer formif youwish tohelp.
Redeeming Hope aims to serve
people holistically, addressing both
physical and mental, emotional, and
spiritual needs.
Mark Spurlock is a freelancewriter and sometime computer pro-
grammer who liveswith his two children and several animals in
Maryville. Besides all forms of writing, his interests are education,
the Internet, politics, and the performing arts. You can reach him
at