I got an email the other day with the title It’s All About New York City, so of course, I opened it. The first line pulled me right in:
“It’s not just a race …it’s a journey to a destination like no other. From the nervous anticipation during your long weeks of training to the excitement of the GFNY World Championship and the diversity, history, and architectural marvels of the city that never sleeps. Race what the pros themselves are racing: the same distance, the same climbs, the same weather conditions, the same challenge, at the same time.”
Then it went on to describe race day: a start on the iconic George Washington Bridge, the sunrise revealing NYC’s skyline to the south and the Hudson Valley to the north, and then 85 miles of cycling with 6,371 feet of elevation gain. Whew.
I’ve heard of GFNY before. It’s a global endurance sports series challenge birth in New York City. I even know a few people who’ve done it, and not just in NY. Some have traveled to other countries for the race. My friend Jessie wants to do it in the Dominican Republic. If you are familiar, you get one of those famous green GFNY jerseys, which you have to wear on race day. Honestly, if I did the race, I’d probably frame that jersey after. (LOL). Actually, I would wear so people know that I’m a bad ass cyclist (LOL).

By the time I finished reading the email, I was already thinking, “Could I do this?” But then reality hit. I haven’t been on my bike since October 2024, and I won’t even be able to start training until late March, after I’m back from California. Let alone I am not that fast compared to most of the participates. I can see me being the last person rolling over the finish line. And the registration fee? $389. Yikes. Is it really worth it to “Be a Pro for a Day”?
But the thought stuck with me.
So I DM’d GFNY to ask. I told them my speed fluctuates between 11 mph and 16 mph and with over 6,000 feet of elevation gain, I wasn’t sure I could handle it. Their response?
“You will have no trouble finishing inside the time limit! See you at the start line, GFNY.”
That was all I needed to hear. Maybe I really can do this. I should at least try, right?
If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I’m always looking for the next big challenge. And this? This would be THE cycling challenge of all challenges for me. Standing on the George Washington Bridge at dawn, surrounded by cyclists, ready to tackle 85 miles, it sounds unreal, a bit crazy and hard, very very hard. But it also sounds like an experience I’d never forget.
What do you think? Should I go for it?
I’ll really think about it, but I’ll have to decide soon because the price goes up at the end of the month. And you know how I feel about catching a deal or paying more when I could’ve paid less.