Jamie Dorroh, center, ducks his head as he strives for the finish line during the Brooks Road Race in Brooks, Georgia. Dorroh won the bike race with a time of two hours and 20 minutes. Photo by Bart Moss

by Bart Moss for the FCT

This past week Jamie Dorroh, a former Phil Campbell High School student-athlete, won the Historic Brooks Road Race in Brooks, Georgia.

The race consisted of a 55-mile trek over a three-lap course.  It was Dorroh’s first competitive race.

He finished the race with a time of two hours and 20 minutes, an average pace of 22.1 miles per hour.

“It was certainly a great opportunity to do something I love,” said Dorroh, a 2013 graduate of Phil Campbell High School.  “I give God all the glory for allowing me to do this.”

Like most former high school athletes Dorroh was looking for something to keep the competitive juices flowing and keep from gaining the dreaded “freshman fifteen.”  That’s when Dorroh turned to competitive cycling.

“My mom would never allow me to be a race car driver,” said Dorroh jokingly.  “So, I figured cycling would be the next best thing.

“The real reason I got involved in competitive cycling is that I just didn’t want to get out of shape so I actually started training to be a triathlete, but I wasn’t too fond of the running and swimming.”

When Dorroh finally decided on a sport he began training in 2014 under the tutelage of Chris Borden.

Though the running and swimming portions of being a triathlete might not have appealed to him, the requirements to be a competitive cyclist are still demanding. Dorroh’s training regimen consists of about 150 miles a week that mixes interval workouts and aerobic rides.

“I couldn’t have done this without Chris’ training and motivation,” said Dorroh. “He set me off on the path of hard work.  He believed in me and I couldn’t thank him enough.  I had a lot of support from my family as well.  They have been great.”

Dorroh is not going to be a one-and-done.  He competed in the second race on Sunday in Union City, Georgia.

“My ultimate goal is to use cycling as a way to be a witness for God and use the ability He has given me to bring Him glory.”

Dorroh is attending Jacksonville State University and is majoring in nursing.