Name: Jered Haddad
Age: 51
Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee
Occupation: Recruiter
Time Cycling: 20 years
Reason for Cycling: I enjoy being on anything with two wheels! Cycling is a fun way to maintain fitness, and is a great outlet for my competitive drive.
I started riding and racing BMX around 1983, at an early age. I had a knack for lots of extreme sports, including dirt bikes. I overcame early fears of jumping on my bike, and that, combined with the thrill of being on two wheels and the idea of racing, kept me attracted to cycling.
Many years later, in 2015, I started cycling more seriously. With my roots in riding on the dirt, I focused primarily on cross-country and singletrack riding in the woods. About this time, I started tracking segment times, monitoring my heart rate, and paying closer attention to how I performed compared to other riders.
Once I felt competitive enough to race, I entered a few local MTB races. My first was the Legend of Stanky Creek in the fall of 2021. Leading up to this race, I had several months of increasing pain in my lower back and spine, as well as terrible nerve pain down my legs, but the very first symptom was an itch on my tailbone.
I placed 3rd in the men’s Cat 3 MTB race. Then, because I thought the leg pain was an old bulging disc injury, I visited an orthopedic clinic where they took an X-ray.
They saw a tumor on my sacrum, which led to blood work and a bone marrow biopsy. The week after the race, I learned I had multiple myeloma, a cancer that affects the bone marrow and bones. The itch was the tumor forming at the base of my spine.
Hearing the news about my disease was life-changing. My initial treatment was six months of chemotherapy, along with 10 treatments of targeted, low-dose radiation of the tumor designed to reduce the myeloma in my body and prepare me for a stem-cell transplant.
I tolerated these treatments well, and I was lucky to participate in a cutting-edge clinical trial using CAR T-cell therapy.
In June 2022, I achieved a diagnosis equivalent to remission—the best possible response to treatment.
I was eager to get back on my bike throughout my cancer battle and the doctors said my fitness and good health at the onset of cancer played a role in how well I tolerated the treatments.
I have been cancer-free for a little over two years now and am doing great. I live in the present, and am back on my bike. In 2023, I entered the Legend of Stanky Creek and won my category!
In August 2024, I participated in the International Myeloma Foundation’s (IMF) Iceland Cycling Expedition (ICE), a three-day, two-night biking tour that supported myeloma research and raised awareness of this disease.
Twelve of us, including myeloma patients, doctors, and sponsors, took five months to prepare and it went extremely well. I focused on nutrition and some strength training, as well as riding my gravel bike.
The scenery in Iceland is breathtaking and varies from glaciers to endless waterfalls and even an active volcano. The weather is very unpredictable, so it became the deciding factor of how far we cycled each day. We were challenged with some extreme winds, but felt inspired to grind through the elements.
We ended up riding 36 miles on gravel in the highlands and around 65 miles on paved roads. We had one day with torrential rains and headwind gusts up to 40 mph, which made things a bit tricky.
We spoke with Icelanders along the way who are involved in finding a cure for myeloma. They were impressive, and at the end, I was quite emotional.
I love riding, because afterward, I am energized and focused, with a sense of accomplishment for the day. Pedaling a bike makes my stress disappear and gives me a meaningful way to exercise. I have a lot of fun during the process. The best part of cycling is that it can be an individual effort, or you can have a blast with friends.
Now that I am healthy, I am finding ways to bring purpose to cycling, including fundraising and cancer awareness. I’ve joined a community that has challenged me to perform at a higher physical level and I have forged new meaningful relationships within my own community, and with people across the United States and even overseas. I have bonded with others who provide new perspectives, and I feel that I have a new purpose in life at age 51.
These tips have made my cycling journey a success:
1. Have fun and approach cycling one day at a time
Building strength and having good cardio health takes time. It took me a couple years to realize big improvements, and once these improvements start it is a series of positive results that will make each day on a bike more and more exciting.
2. Find a riding buddy
I reunited with an old friend of 20 years, and the brotherhood and his passion for riding is off the charts. He keeps me motivated and is so much fun chasing on a bike. Afterwards we talk about the rides and we nerd out on each others’ segment times and PRs.
3. Understand proper hydration and nutrition
Getting enough electrolytes allows you to perform better. And eating the right foods will give you sustained energy and prevent bonking.
Jered’s Must-Have Gear
→ Strava: Strava allows you to track your progress, follow other cycling enthusiasts, and provides ways to see how you improve.
→Wahoo Elemnt Roam V2 GPS Bicycle Computer: I use Wahoo gadgets to help me track rides, monitor my performance, and to load maps when I am in unfamiliar areas.
→ Redmond Real Salt: In the mornings, I drink a cup of warm water with some salt to get pure electrolytes, and I feel better each day.
→ Equip Pre-Workout Powder: This gives me a boost of energy and added focus to perform well, especially during a long ride.
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Emily Shiffer has worked as a writer for over 10 years, covering everything from health and wellness to entertainment and celebrities. She previously was on staff at SUCCESS, Men's Health, and Prevention magazines. Her freelance writing has been featured in Women's Health, Runner's World, PEOPLE, and more. Emily is a graduate of Northwestern University, where she majored in magazine journalism at the Medill School of Journalism and minored in musicology. Currently residing in Charleston, South Carolina, Emily enjoys instructing barre, surfing, and long walks on the beach with her miniature Dachshund, Gertrude.
