Cheryl Koehn

Fondo prep training: The gains are coming!

From the day you’re diagnosed, RA is a constant presence, whether you want it to be or not. There were so, so many bad days during my first few years. But as I moved closer to finding the right treatment regimen—thanks to advances in research and the development of new treatments—the bad days became less frequent and less severe.

That was partly because I sharpened my self-care skills and learned to manage the emotional and psychological baggage that comes with a chronic—meaning lifelong—disease. But it was also because, as a former high-performance athlete, I never stopped moving, even during the darkest times.

Sometimes, movement was severely limited because my joints were so full of inflammation that they were practically useless. On other days, I made it to my local gym, climbed onto a stationary bike and turned the pedals with zero resistance. But I did it—and that helped me feel, even just a little, like my old self.

Today, 37 years later, I’m still more active than most and able to take on physical challenges like training for and riding a fondo. But it takes a lot of planning: planning my rides, preparing my body to ride and, importantly, getting my RA ready to ride. I’ll talk more about that in my next update.

For now, I’m happy to report that, here in training week two, I can already feel the gains from the work I put in last week. Training sessions 7, 8 and 9 all went according to plan.

And today, s&*t starts to get real.

Today’s training ride includes those two dreaded words: “VO₂ max.” I’m already thinking about how great it will feel to finish those six three-minute intervals.

Drawing on a decade of Olympic-calibre training in another sport, I can say that approaching a workout with a positive mindset—and holding on to it throughout—makes finishing the work incredibly satisfying. It’s the best!

I hope your day is going well and that you’re ticking off the goals you set for yourself this week.

Training session #10, here I come! :-)

Are you MOVE-ing? I am!

Hey everyone!

I wanted to check in and let you know how my #MOVEwithArthritisResearch campaign is coming along.

As I shared in my last post, I'm raising funds while training for the 2026 RBC GranFondo Whistler on September 12. I'm #MOVE-ing with my friends Lynn Houle and Leah Brulotte as we prepare for the event. Tomorrow is training ride #6, and we're making great progress—although not without a little apprehension. 😊

Training for a Gran Fondo takes months of preparation. There are the usual things every cyclist thinks about: hydration, nutrition, electrolytes, rest, and making sure the bike is ready for every ride.

But when you live with rheumatoid arthritis, there's another layer of planning.

Can my body handle the training needed to even reach the start line of a 124 km ride from Vancouver to Whistler—let alone finish it? How do I manage increased disease activity while training? Which aches are simply part of getting stronger, and which are signs that I need to back off? Do I need to adjust my medications? Can I?

After living with rheumatoid arthritis for 37 years, I've learned that good information, research-driven care, and an incredible community of support make all the difference. They give me the confidence to answer the questions life—and sport—puts in front of me, and the belief that I can do hard things.

Between now and September 12, we'll complete 27 training rides before taking on the BIG RIDE—ride number 28.

If you'd like to support me—and the millions of people living with arthritis—please consider making a donation to my #MOVEwithArthritisResearch campaign. Every contribution helps fund the research that leads to better treatments, better care, and more opportunities for people with arthritis to keep doing the things they love.

Thank you for cheering me on every step—and every pedal stroke—of the way! ❤️

MOVE-ing for arthritis research

For 37 years, I've been living with rheumatoid arthritis—and this year, I'm taking on the challenge of riding the Whistler Fondo as part of Arthritis Research Canada's MOVE campaign! Every training ride is a reminder that research changes lives and gives people like me the chance to keep moving. While the climbs may be tough, they're nothing compared to the daily challenges faced by so many living with arthritis. If you're able, I'd be so grateful if you would consider making a donation to support this important research. Every contribution, big or small, helps move us closer to better treatments—and, one day, a cure.