Heart-Pounding Stories: A Life in Motion

Heart-Pounding Stories is a curated showcase of real, personal tales that will leave you breathless. Brought to you live in the intimate atmosphere of Samsara, this event brings our community together to connect, share, and experience the raw power of true stories that will make you feel alive again.

This edition features guest speaker Moniera Khan, who will share her story of resilience, riding for the joy of it, and finding strength through community.

“No tears and a whole lot of f@%& yeahs!”

That’s how Moniera crossed the finish line on Day 5 of 7 at the BC Bike Race this summer. Just the day before, bent over her bike while hiking up one of the many climbs, she said, “This is hard. So hard. I’d have quit, but Benjamin says I’m not allowed to.”

So with the help of her teammate Benjamin, and the unmatched vibes of the back-of-the-pack community, she pushed into the next day and finished with a smile on her face.

After years of giving her time to the event, Moniera lined up as a rider at BCBR for the first time at 57. And as an older, heavier, woman of colour, she rarely sees people who look like her in spaces like this, so she decided to show up anyway. Nine months of training, plenty of doubt, and more than a few f-bombs later, she rolled up to the start line. Was she ready? Not really. Did she do it anyway? Absolutely. Not because it was easy, but because doing hard things is the whole point.

What she discovered wasn’t just strength, but joy. Joy in riding for the sake of it. Joy in community. And the quiet power of getting back on the bike each morning and setting a new goal. Every day was a reset - a chance to surprise herself again.

As we step into a new year, Moniera’s story is a reminder: set the goal, show up imperfectly, and see what happens when you say yes.

Watch below for a glimpse into Moniera’s time at BCBR this summer.

Please plan to arrive 10 minutes early (by 5:50 pm) to ensure that the event starts on time and without interruptions. We also ask that you BYOC (Bring Your Own Chair) - whether it’s a stool, camping chair, pouf, or anything else that will keep you comfy. If you don't have a chair or you can't bring one, just let us know and we’ll be happy to reserve one for you.