Last week we had the privilege of presenting Rick Hermelin with the first ElliptiGO Lifetime Achievement Award. Rick, who turned 80 this month, has been a cherished member of the ElliptiGO community since 2011. He has inspired countless ElliptiGO riders with his athletic achievements, all of which he did in his 70s. These achievements include:
Completed the first cross-country ride on an ElliptiGO by riding from Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) Parris Island, South Carolina to MCRD San Diego, California. He completed the ride, “100-Days for the Corps,” in exactly 100 days and raised $11,500 for families of wounded Marines.
Being the first person to have ridden 40,000 miles on an ElliptiGO.
Riding 10,000 miles in one year.
Riding 73 miles on his 73rd birthday.
Being the first person named ElliptiGO Rider of the Month twice.
Rick was present at nearly every ElliptiGO-related event in San Diego and the surrounding areas for many years. He retired from riding a few years ago, but has remained a loyal and well-loved member of the community for his strength of character, spirit, determination and cheerfulness.
When presented with the award by his son Zander, Rick shared “I’m very pleased with the award and I want to thank the ElliptiGO staff for all their hard work.”
We cannot thank Rick enough for his many years of inspiration and community involvement. He is the ideal first recipient of the ElliptiGO Lifetime Achievement Award.
19 Responses
Semper Fi!
👍
Awesome, Rick is a living legend, would love to meet him
If you’re ever in the Orlando, FL area let me know – [email protected]
Wow….gives me hope for my 70’s….and beyond…..amazing, just amazing!
Rick is so deserving to be the first to receive the ElliptiGO Lifetime Achievement Award. Rick is an ElliptiGO legend!
Congrats Rick! Well deserved!
Well deserved indeed Rick and CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Yay Rick!!! He was an inspiration to me when I first started a few year ago. Thank you.
Congratulations! I Treated myself to my eliptogo for my 59th birthday, hope to be enjoying into my eighties too!
Awesome Rick, you have inspired all GOers, especially the Super Seniors. Proud of you!!
Thank you so much, Bryan and all the wonderful people at ElliptiGO and all the ElliptiGOrs out there. My dad has always been a source of inspiration for me. It was an honor to serve him with this award. For those who don’t know, my father now has dementia, so life is different for him now, but he is still very upbeat, inquisitive, and a source of inspiration to those around him. Be well all of you! Zander (Rick’s son)
The great times I rode with you Rick will be cherished the rest of my life. Your the Man.
Rick has been a pillar of the ElliptiGO community, and greatly admired. We miss you, Rick!
Hear hear! Well deserved.
congratulations
Dont ride long distances but use Elliptigo for my cross training for my running. I have been using it since 2013 . There is no better cross training for running. Iwill be 80 years old in May
What an inspiration you are to us all, Rick. I’m not sure which of your feats is the most impressive because they are all just mind blowing. I thought I was something special riding 50 on my 50th——-73 at 73? I got nothing on you, sir! Congratulations on your much deserved Lifetime Achievement Award. And, ElliptiGO, well done.
I was lucky to meet Rick at the 2017 World Championships/Rally in Solana Beach, where he was kind enough to to spend time talking with me about his ride across the U.S. I was in awe of his achievements then and hold him in highest regard as both an ElliptiGO rider and an outstanding human being.