From inactive to finishers of El Tour

The goal was to have each of them train for and attempt to finish a 33-mile bike race that's part of El Tour de Tucson's annual event.

The seven students, ages 11 to 13, had not been very active before. Many had been referred to the program by their doctors so they would learn about nutrition and the importance of regular exercise.

They worked out two or three times each week, and in the weeks before the race they began riding new bikes that were gifts provided through the program.

The one condition was that they finish most of the training and also try to complete the race.

In the end, to Gabalski's delight, every one of the kids finished the Nov. 17 race.

"There were a couple of them who didn't think they were going to make it, and some — near to the finish — said the didn't think they could do it, but they did, God love them," she said.

"They were thrilled once they were done."

Gabalski, 34, is an exercise specialist with a passion for helping young people learn the benefits of eating well and staying in shape.

She trained the students with the support of her employer, ProActive Performance Institute, 4570 N. First Ave., as well as a coach, Scott Blanchard, from Pyramid Coaching International.

The children's parents also participated, by taking nutrition classes with a registered dietitian. Some rode in the race.

This year was the 25th El Tour de Tucson, which includes four events — a 109-mile ride, an 80-mile ride, a 66-mile ride and the 33-mile ride.

Debra Benson, 43, said that since the race, she's started riding a bike regularly with her 12-year-old son, Aidan.

"It's been great. It gives us some nice one-on-one time, and it keeps him away from the video games and the television," she said.

Benson said that before the race, her son had a hard time grasping how far a 33-mile bicycle ride would be.

"When I told him that from our house to the Desert Museum is 27 miles, his eyes got huge," she said.

But in the end, Benson said, Aidan was amazed at how easy it was to complete the ride.

"I can't say enough great things about Heidi and Scott, and their professionalism and patience with the kids, and how fun they made it," she said.

Benson said she learned about the program at ProActive Performance, where she works out with a trainer.

"He (Aidan) hasn't been successful at team sports because of developmental issues," Benson said. "Confidence-wise, it's been really great. I can't say it enough. It was an amazing boost to his self-esteem."

Gabalski said she is proud of all her students.

"It was hard work for them," she said. "It was just so exciting to see them do it.''

Aidan said he really enjoyed the race, and the training.

"It was fun," he said. "I liked meeting everyone, both the kids and the coaches."

Next year, he wants to ride in the 66-mile race.

"I felt really good and really happy, and I was really proud of myself. And I want to do the 66-mile one next year, because the 33-mile race was a little too easy," he said.

Lisa Rubin said her son, Nathaniel, wasn't nervous before the race.

"I think because of his training with Heidi and Scott he had quite a bit of confidence," she said.

Rubin, 47, said her son has shown some interest in other sports, such as racquetball, but she's finding biking is different for him.

"This is the only sport where he has really showed a lot of motivation and interest," she said.

Rubin said the way the youngsters were trained was very positive in that they were taught to succeed.

"What I thought was really important was that they gave them a goal and then trained them, step by step, and taught them to how to reach the goal through exercise and diet," she said.

Nathaniel said he enjoyed learning how to fix a bike, how to use the gears properly and how to pace himself.

"I just liked the fact that we all did it as a group, and you got all this cool free stuff if you finished it," said Nathaniel, 11.

"There was also all the training on how to eat right and how to eat before you go on a ride."

Next year, Nathaniel said, he might try, like Aidan, to do the 66-mile ride.

"It just feels so good to finish (33) miles on a bicycle," he said.

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