For decades, Paul Zarka has made his living out of helping
people in need.
And for an even longer period of time, he’s enjoyed the sport of
cycling.
Now
— at the age of 50 and feeling as spry as ever — the Gilroy
resident is preparing to do both.
For decades, Paul Zarka has made his living out of helping people in need.
And for an even longer period of time, he’s enjoyed the sport of cycling.
Now — at the age of 50 and feeling as spry as ever — the Gilroy resident is preparing to do both.
Starting next weekend in San Francisco, Zarka and nearly 200 others will set off on an eight-day, 520-mile trek to Santa Monica as part of the Amgen California Coast Classic.
The fourth annual bike tour is expected to raise over $650,000 for the Arthritis Foundation.
For Zarka, a social work supervisor for Santa Clara County, the cause is personal.
“I really enjoy being outdoors and I’ve been blessed enough to stay active — running, swimming, biking,” Zarka said. “So in celebration of my 50 years, I thought I’d do something in gratitude.
“I wanted to do something for all the people who aren’t able to do these types of things.”
In America alone, arthritis inhibits the activities of 70 million people, including several friends and family members of Zarka.
“I happen to know a lot of people with arthritis, including some a lot younger than me,” he said. “It’s something that can really affect a person’s life — whether it be work or recreation or just the activities of daily living.”
Among those afflicted with the disease are his mother, his son and his 18-year-old niece, who was recently diagnosed and told she couldn’t play soccer anymore.
“I think it’s really hit home for him,” said Barbara Zarka, his wife of 28 years.
So when he heard about the event a few years ago, Zarka made it a goal to take part in it once he turned 50.
And when that birthday came last January, he bought himself a brand new bicycle to replace the one belonging to his younger brother — the one Zarka had ridden for the last 25 years.
In almost all those years — and stretching back all the way to his childhood — Zarka could always be found on a bike.
He rode it to school. He rode it to work. He rode it for fun.
“Somebody asked me once what was my favorite thing to do when I was a kid,” he recalled. “I told them it was riding my bike.
“It’s just in my blood I guess. I’ve always like it.”
At times, though, there were doubts – both within himself and within his family.
In 1983, Zarka was hospitalized after a bicycle accident in which a car hit him head-on. During the aftermath, his young daughter was so fearful of bikes that he didn’t ride one for another five years.
Even when he returned to bicycling, Zarka found another way to travel to work and limited his riding to the weekends.
But four years ago, it happened again — and this time the accident was even more serious.
A woman ran a stop sign and struck Zarka, resulting in a bruised kidney, a broken ankle, a broken shoulder and an extended stay in the hospital.
“It was obviously traumatic and scary for both me and my wife,” Zarka said. “But she’s such a great person and she knew (getting back on a bike) was something I needed to do.”
So, with a new bicycle in tow, Zarka began training for the Coast Classic in January.
During the tour, the bikers will face a bevy of steep elevations and will average 65 miles a day. Even while preparing for several triathlons, It had been 15 years since he had logged over 25 miles in one day.
In preparation over the past several months, he has covered more than 2,000 miles — including climbs as high as Fremont Peak and the top of Henry Coe State Park. Last month, Zarka chalked up over 100 miles in one stretch.
During those long hours, he’s had plenty of time to think — time to reflect.
“I’m a spiritual person and these rides are like a prayer for me,” Zarka said. “I offer up my effort for all the people who can’t do it … for all those who are in pain and have a hard time physically.
“When I’m riding, I consciously think about stuff like that — about how lucky I am.”
As for the future, Zarka said he doesn’t see himself “taking part in such a journey again.” The training simply takes too much time away from his family.
“But I think it’s really special to be able to do this just once,” Zarka said. “I’ll remember the rides from this year for a long time. It’s really the milestone of a lifetime I think.”
According to Barbara Zarka, her husband riding on behalf of a cause such as the Arthritis Foundation is only fitting.
“It’s really a task of love for him,” she said of the experience. “He’s been doing good things for people for so long.
“And that’s why I kind of view this as a celebration of Paul’s life.”
