Friday, August 10, 2012
Thursday, August 9, 2012
250 Miles, 3 Days, One Goal
While the 2012 Pan Mass Challenge was this past weekend and was a very successful event, for me the ride this year started quite a while ago.
Earlier this year, two dear friends passed away. Jeanne was taken by pancreatic cancer after a long and valiant fight. Throughout her battle, Jeanne displayed unequaled grace, dignity and love for others until her body would no longer allow her to do so on this earth. She is physically gone, but I believe she lives on in all who were touched by her vibrant spirit.
The other loss was Gordon, a funny, charismatic, athletic man who was a loving husband and father and a great friend. Gordon was taken by heart failure and, although cancer was not his undoing, his passing was a tragedy for a man so active and full of life. Both Jeanne and Gordon are missed by me and by many.
The loss of both these wonderful friends struck me deeply. I had been planning on participating in the Pan Mass Challenge again this year, doing the same 190 mile / two day route as last year, however, this year I decided to honor Jeanne and Gordon by adding another day and 60 more miles to make an even 250 miles as my personal goal. I feel like these two wonderful friends deserved a special effort and this was something I was reasonably sure I could do. So my goal was to honor Jeanne and Gordon and to raise as much in donations as possible to help fund more advanced research, more efficient treatment and better support for all affected by cancer. In short, 250 miles, 3 days, one goal.
What follows is a narrative of my experience over these three long, tiring but above all exhilarating days. For those of you inclined to read further, I hope you enjoy. To all who supported my ride, I hope this gives you insight into my experience as a participant in the PMC.
Preparation
The preparation for me personally started shortly after the event last year. I continued to ride and train through the fall, winter and spring months, sometimes as often as every day but usually three or four times a week. The miles added up and I came into the summer feeling pretty good. The week before the 2012 PMC was spent taking care of my partner in this long ride. I cleaned, tuned and tweaked my trusty Lemond and put new tires, brake pads and bar tape on the reliable machine that, hopefully, would keep me moving forward and remain vertical over the long days ahead of me.
Day One: For Jeanne and Gordon
Up at 6am. A little nervous, but comfortable in knowing that I would ride a route that I had done many times before. Checked the tire pressure, ate a good breakfast and, at 7:30, off I went. The weather was cool but already pretty humid. The sky was blue and traffic was light as I rolled over familiar roads and kept my pace reasonably calm. At about eight miles into the 60 mile route, I thought of Jeanne as I passed by the beautiful scene of a mist covered reservoir with the sun light illuminating a stone pump house in the distance. I could feel her smile and knew she was with me. The miles seemed to fly by easily. I was stopped at a traffic light at about 20 miles when a burly landscaper pulled his pick-up truck next to me and gruffly asked "how far you ridin'" I told him "60 today, 110 tomorrow and 80 on Sunday". A big grin came over his face as he said "You're doing the Pan Mass Challenge! My boss has done that for 15 years. You guys are great. Have a great time." As I continued on my ride, my spirits were buoyed by the randomness of this stranger's good wishes. People really care and really support this cause. The rest of the first 32 miles went by without event and, as I stopped to eat some carbs and drink a lot of Gatorade, I noticed that the temperature had risen pretty sharply.
I was feeling warmer but the legs were responding as I pushed into the second leg of my journey for the day. By mile 40, I could really feel the heat. I was climbing a long grade and expending more effort than I should have when I envisioned Gordon's smiling face and heard him say in a tongue in cheek manner "Is that all you got?" My vision of his good natured challenge got me going and I was over the hill and back in high gear in no time. I got to mile 50 with my focus and strength intact. I continued to enjoy the scenery but was also buoyed by the knowledge that I was headed back home and soon I rolled into my driveway, hot but happy. Day one and 63 miles, in honor of Jeanne and Gordon, was done. I cooled the muscles down and tried to relax in anticipation of the next two days.
Day Two:
After a restless night for me, Gail and I left the house at 4am for the 45 minute ride to Sturbridge. The sky was still dark but the air was damp and the parking lot already crowded when we arrived at the site of the official start of the 2012 PMC. Bikes and riders were everywhere. Volunteers had put out food for breakfast: fruit, bagels, muffins, coffee, juice, Gatorade granola bars, anything needed to keep the riders fueled for the first leg of the day. PMC founder, Billy Starr, announced that we would roll in fifteen minutes and added that, with an anticipated hot humid day, hydration was crucial.
This year, I rode as a member of Team Access, a group of good riders and good friends whom I have known for a couple of years. John, Tony, Neil, Tommy, Laurie, Dan, George and about a dozen more great folks were generous in inviting me to join them as a team member and I was honored to accept. Team Access rides for a number of cancer victims and the team leaders included Jeanne, Brett, and all the other friends and family for whom I ride as well. Team Access supplied riding jerseys (a very generous gift) for day two with the names of all for whom we were riding on the back. As I said, a great team, good friends and very strong riders.
Many of the Team Access riders had chosen other routes but John, George, Dan and Laurie were riding with me from Sturbridge to Bourne on day one. Gail took a team photo, wished us luck and said goodbye as we lined up on the starting line with 3,500 other riders. The Star Spangled Banner was sung and, with a cheer and shouts of support from well wishers lining the road, we launched at 5:30am!
It was mildly coordinated chaos trying to get thousands of adrenaline filled cyclists and their bicycles onto a two lane road. Patience goes a long way and, after a slow roll for the first half mile, the line of riders thinned out to allow us to get up to speed. It is hard for even a few folks to stay together in a large pack and, in no time, I was on my own, having lost sight of the others. There are a few significant climbs in the first 40 miles with the initial one in Charleton at about 5 miles into the route. It usually takes a while for my legs to warm up but when I got to the first climb, things seemed to be working well. I was very pleased that the 60 miles from Friday had not taxed me too much or at least it seemed that way at the time. Once that initial challenge was behind me, the roads leveled out a bit and I enjoyed the rolling country side.
Even at 6am, there were lots of supporters on the roadside. Signs thanking PMC riders, ringing cowbells and shouts of encouragement really helped to keep us motivated. We were grateful to all these kind folks who got up early to stand in the warm summer air to wish us well. The miles rolled by, the fields and forests shrouded in mist were beautiful and the sky brightened as we pedaled on. Boaters on lakes waived to us and we waived back. Riders chatted as we pushed ahead and it was not long before we were headed into the school at Whitinsville for our first stop of the day. I found John and George and we grabbed some food, filled our bottles and rested for a few moments before heading out again.
First e-mail to Gail of the day.
John, George and I found another couple of Team Access folks just as we were leaving. After a brief exchange of stories and good wishes, we were back on the road. The pack of riders had continued to string out and it was easier for us to keep together or at least reasonably close. The three of us are all of a comparable skill level so it was somewhat easy to stay together. I say somewhat because each cyclist has his/her own strengths and weaknesses. For instance, John is great at setting an aggressive pace on flat terrain and long climbs. I am better at using momentum to attack hills but can sustain a pace pretty well on whatever terrain. George seems able to do it all. PMC is a "ride not a race" as Gail likes to say but our little gang of three approached it as if it were the Tour de France and we worked hard to be fast but safe at the same time. As we put more and more miles behind us we stayed on high alert. Sometimes, more casual or inexperienced riders make unexpected moves, abrupt turns, slowing or stopping with little or no notice so it is important to always look ahead, maintain space and be ready to adjust at a moment's notice. There were a couple of more hills to climb in this short 17 mile segment. The sun had burned off the mist and when we came to our second stop of the day in Franklin, the temperature was already heading north of 85 at 8:30 in the morning.
As we were getting ready to leave Franklin after more fluids and fluffer-nutters, John ran into another friend, Andy, who mentioned the hills in the next leg. I did not remember any so I dismissed his comments and George, John and I rolled out heading toward Cherry Street in Wrentham. Cherry St. is known for the great show of support almost all of the residents of this 1/4 mile tree lined road put on for PMC riders. Unfortunately, a high number of families residing on this lovely suburban road have been touched by cancer, most in a direct way. They know the value of research and treatment and are very grateful for the funds raised by PMC. They show their appreciation with seemingly hundreds of signs, whole families cheering by the roadside, bands, even a woman dressed as Uncle (or Aunt) Sam. It is raucous, energetic, wild and really uplifting. We passed through Cherry Street with big grins and shouts of thanks to these generous folks who were, I am sure, out for many hours on this hot day to cheer us on.
It turned out Andy was right. There were a number of climbs which I had conveniently forgotten in this 22 mile section of our trek. This did not make me happy but what can you do. Each hill, each mile, each pedal stroke put me closer to my goal so I persevered. Approximately 2 miles before we hit our next stop, the riders who started in Wellesley merged into our route. This influx of riders was nice to see but adding hundreds of additional cyclists into a narrow road made us increase our focus all the more. No one wanted to go down this close to our lunch stop. We climbed a short, steep hill to the sounds of a lone bag-piper standing guard at the top. His reedy music was eerie yet motivating as if to tell us to keep working, there was still much to do. We arrived at Dighton-Rehoboth High School for a much needed break from sitting on a narrow saddle and much needed refreshments.
At the lunch stop, as with all the stops, there are medical services, bike mechanics, lost and found, logistics services and, of course lots of food. Unlike previous stops, the food was in a very large tent with open sides and some tables and chairs for riders and volunteers to sit and rest for a while. Since it was after 11am, the sun was beating down and most of the riders wanted to get under the tent and into the shade to cool down. This made the tent very crowded and getting food was a test of patience and endurance. John, George and I did manage to find three chairs and were able to rest and eat. Dan joined us for a little while and before too long we were ready to head out for the next 18 mile leg which would take us to Lakeville.
The hills were finally behind us and we picked up the pace as we rolled down quiet streets. The terrain was starting to look more and more like Cape Cod with marshes, bogs, lakes and flat roads. We were still hanging together and prodding each other forward remembering to drink water and electrolytes often. Dehydration can set in in the form of dizziness and cramps and I wanted to avoid both at all costs. As we approached the school at Lakeville, PMC volunteers had posted large photos of young children who are fighting cancer and who have been sponsored by teams along the side of the road. The sight of these young faces is, I think, intended to harden our resolve to ride and help them in their fight. Believe me, it works. We pulled into Lakeville, hot, hungry but more motivated than ever.
I wanted to look for friends at the Lakeville stop but my need for water came first. I approached a portable rack of brass water spigots mounted on saw horses. They were only about two feet off the ground and a volunteer standing nearby must have noticed my apparent confusion. She approached me and asked compassionately, "Would you like me to pour some water on your head?" In any other context this would have been a rude or, at best, an odd question but, on this particular day, it was music to my ears. "Yes! Thank you!" was all I could voice as I bent over and soon felt the cool water cascading from the back to the front of my heated cranium. I am sure steam was visible as this wonderful young woman continued to pour until I raised my head to signal that she had dowsed me sufficiently. The torrent of cool water was so delightful that I wanted to make sure I left some for other equally overheated riders. Pushing the water and hair back out off my face, I wandered on and found cool slush, food and also found John and some of his relatives. We went further and discovered more friends and Team Access members who were volunteering on Saturday and riding another route on Sunday. Talk and relaxation took precious time but, after enough talk, hugs and best wishes, we finally got back on the road. I sent Gail a quick email that we were leaving Lakeville and she responded that she would meet me at the finish in Bourne.
The official route included one more water stop between Lakeville and Bourne but John, George and I decided to pass it by and continue on. The flat roads made the last 22 miles go by very quickly. We knew that we were near the end of our ride as we pulled into Wareham. We had one more tradition to uphold. There is a little restaurant/bar known as “The Narrows" that Team Access has, in the past, used as a brief "water stop" before riding the last 4 miles to the official end of the day at the Mass Maritime Academy in Bourne. Our quick stop included some carbs, vitamin D, Iron and other nutrients (also known as Guinness). In all, about 14 Team Access members pulled in and shared laughs and fellowship while cooling down. It was great! Unfortunately, we all knew that we still had a few miles to go so we downed our glasses in short order, mounted our bikes and hit the road once more.
The last couple of miles had lots of construction and congestion but I got through it and, when I made the final turn onto Academy Drive and the Maritime Academy finish line, I finally relaxed a bit.
There she was. Gail was waiting for me by the side of the road, smiling and cheering. I could not help but grin as wide a smile as is humanly possible. After a kiss from my wonderful, supportive wife and an official check-in with the PMC volunteers, I was done for the day. 112 miles had been added to my 63 from the previous day. I was tired but very pleased with my abilities and really glad that Gail was there to take me away. A great dinner and a good night's sleep at a comfortable inn awaited me before the trials of the third and final day.
Day Three:
At 4:30 Sunday morning, Gail drove me from the inn in Sandwich back to the Academy in Bourne for the start of my third day. A cooling swim in the pool at the inn, a great dinner at our favorite local restaurant on the Cape and a reasonable night's sleep had put me in good form, or so I hoped. I connected with John C., Laurie and John M. at Mass Maritime and, after a long, slow crawl toward the Bourne Bridge (the traffic circle had become a bottle neck), we were off. After the bridge was the Cape Cod Canal path, a beautiful stretch of paved pathway overlooking the water way. The sun had not yet burned off the mist but we saw boats, barges and fishermen as we pedaled our way at a quick clip down the path. Soon we were under the Sagamore Bridge and off the path. The flat Cape roads went by quickly and, seemingly in no time, we were in Sandwich, only yards from the inn where Gail had returned to grab a few more winks with breakfast to follow. We crossed under the highway and soon were on the first significant hill of the day. My least favorite hills are the ones with twists and turns that hide the apex. The good news for me was, although this hill fit that description, I had ridden it several times before so I knew what to expect. I crested it with no problem and that set me onto a series of several miles of rolling hills that fit my riding style beautifully. Long shallow down hills in which I could move into high gear and really get some speed going (up to 35 mph) were followed by equal up-hills in which I could use the momentum to carry me up the counter-slope. I was flying by other riders and feeling great. A hot-dog? Maybe, but I felt like an efficient rider using my energy stores to the best of my ability. The fact that I was leaving other riders in the dust was just a (delightful) byproduct. John was with me and we carried on in this powerful manner until we were soon in Barnstable and at the first stop of the day. It was now 7am and, even though the sun was not out, it was warm and we were pleased with our pace and effort.
Gail had told me on the way to Bourne, "Don't push yourself too hard.". I knew that she had my best interests at heart (she always does) and didn't want to see me hit THE WALL and not be able to finish the last day. I had that in mind as we launched out of Barnstable. We had about 20 miles to the next stop at Nickerson State Park but it was a really great 20 miles. Hundreds, if not thousands of supporters were lining the route and cheering us on. Thank yous, signs stating "I'm a survivor thanks to you", more cow bells and smiling faces egged us on toward our goal. Even when rain started as we entered Brewster and we were suddenly soaked, our spirits stayed high. I found myself laughing as the rain pelted us thinking of the break from the heat and the big hearts of our supporters at the side of the road who were also getting soaked. We were all there for one purpose: fighting cancer and we were glad to be there rain or not.
"Made it to Nickerson. Very wet but cool. Making good time.
It was a short stop, we did not need much in terms of food or liquid, and, having found George, we headed out onto the Cape Cod Rail Trail and resumed our journey. The rail trail is a very flat, very consistent surface and John, George and I resumed our pace line and really cranked up the speed. We cruised along at 23-25mph with minimal interruptions for most of the trail. When we ran out of trail and were routed back onto the roads in Orleans, we continued to keep the pace high. I thought about Gail's comment and considered how much energy I had left. I still felt good so, with my compatriots close by, I motored along.
I should mention that George has a son who has fought cancer successfully to date. I know he has a special interest in the PMC and the cause for which we ride. George is a good father, husband, person and rider. I respect him greatly.
We had cranked through the miles to the last stop in Wellfleet in really good form and exceptional spirits. We were getting tired and sore but, knowing that the finish in Provincetown was only 22 miles away, we were motivated to keep going. A strong sun burned through the clouds and we embraced the warmth as we climbed the short hill into the final stop. A brief rest, a last PB & J sandwich, some fruit and full water bottles and we were back on our wheels and headed to the finish.
We hit the Truro hills hard and climbed past supporters and other riders as we clicked through the 22 remaining miles. Soon we were off the back roads of Truro and on Route 6 heading down the home stretch towards P-Town. A State Trooper warned us that there had been several incidents involving bicycles and cars and cautioned us to stay as far to the right as we could. John, George and I obliged and kept a watchful eye for cars and other cyclists as well. We continued to ride at a pretty high rate of speed. I happened to be in the lead and tried to gauge how much energy I had left. I still felt strong but knew that I would have to make a choice whether to take the straight route to the finish or to take the longer route (5 more miles) and ride the "dunes", a series of tight, steep hills leading to the final flat mile and the finish line. This is what Gail was referring to: she did not want me to over-extend myself and run out of energy at the last minute. I was very aware of what she meant but also was aware of my personal goal: At the end of the ride, I wanted to have nothing left to give. A complete effort for this complete goal.
Yes, you guessed it. I made the right turn and did the extra miles and hills. I was comfortable that, although I was nearing my limit when I made the final turn and rode the last 200 yards to the finish, I had given all I had for this great cause. The crowd lining the street cheered me on to the finish line and I raised both arms and gave my own loud cheer back to them as thanks for what they and all the other supporters, volunteers and other riders had done as part of this fantastic community effort. I met Gail and, as we embraced, I was elated that I had successfully completed my journey. 250 miles were conquered. 3 days were behind me. Let's hope that the one goal will soon be achieved.
The Pan Mass Challenge is a fantastic event and I know that we will keep doing this until our efforts are no longer needed and cancer is beaten once and for all.
Thanks to everyone for the support. I am truly blessed.
Darryl
Earlier this year, two dear friends passed away. Jeanne was taken by pancreatic cancer after a long and valiant fight. Throughout her battle, Jeanne displayed unequaled grace, dignity and love for others until her body would no longer allow her to do so on this earth. She is physically gone, but I believe she lives on in all who were touched by her vibrant spirit.
The other loss was Gordon, a funny, charismatic, athletic man who was a loving husband and father and a great friend. Gordon was taken by heart failure and, although cancer was not his undoing, his passing was a tragedy for a man so active and full of life. Both Jeanne and Gordon are missed by me and by many.
The loss of both these wonderful friends struck me deeply. I had been planning on participating in the Pan Mass Challenge again this year, doing the same 190 mile / two day route as last year, however, this year I decided to honor Jeanne and Gordon by adding another day and 60 more miles to make an even 250 miles as my personal goal. I feel like these two wonderful friends deserved a special effort and this was something I was reasonably sure I could do. So my goal was to honor Jeanne and Gordon and to raise as much in donations as possible to help fund more advanced research, more efficient treatment and better support for all affected by cancer. In short, 250 miles, 3 days, one goal.
What follows is a narrative of my experience over these three long, tiring but above all exhilarating days. For those of you inclined to read further, I hope you enjoy. To all who supported my ride, I hope this gives you insight into my experience as a participant in the PMC.
Preparation
The preparation for me personally started shortly after the event last year. I continued to ride and train through the fall, winter and spring months, sometimes as often as every day but usually three or four times a week. The miles added up and I came into the summer feeling pretty good. The week before the 2012 PMC was spent taking care of my partner in this long ride. I cleaned, tuned and tweaked my trusty Lemond and put new tires, brake pads and bar tape on the reliable machine that, hopefully, would keep me moving forward and remain vertical over the long days ahead of me.
Day One: For Jeanne and Gordon
Up at 6am. A little nervous, but comfortable in knowing that I would ride a route that I had done many times before. Checked the tire pressure, ate a good breakfast and, at 7:30, off I went. The weather was cool but already pretty humid. The sky was blue and traffic was light as I rolled over familiar roads and kept my pace reasonably calm. At about eight miles into the 60 mile route, I thought of Jeanne as I passed by the beautiful scene of a mist covered reservoir with the sun light illuminating a stone pump house in the distance. I could feel her smile and knew she was with me. The miles seemed to fly by easily. I was stopped at a traffic light at about 20 miles when a burly landscaper pulled his pick-up truck next to me and gruffly asked "how far you ridin'" I told him "60 today, 110 tomorrow and 80 on Sunday". A big grin came over his face as he said "You're doing the Pan Mass Challenge! My boss has done that for 15 years. You guys are great. Have a great time." As I continued on my ride, my spirits were buoyed by the randomness of this stranger's good wishes. People really care and really support this cause. The rest of the first 32 miles went by without event and, as I stopped to eat some carbs and drink a lot of Gatorade, I noticed that the temperature had risen pretty sharply.
I was feeling warmer but the legs were responding as I pushed into the second leg of my journey for the day. By mile 40, I could really feel the heat. I was climbing a long grade and expending more effort than I should have when I envisioned Gordon's smiling face and heard him say in a tongue in cheek manner "Is that all you got?" My vision of his good natured challenge got me going and I was over the hill and back in high gear in no time. I got to mile 50 with my focus and strength intact. I continued to enjoy the scenery but was also buoyed by the knowledge that I was headed back home and soon I rolled into my driveway, hot but happy. Day one and 63 miles, in honor of Jeanne and Gordon, was done. I cooled the muscles down and tried to relax in anticipation of the next two days.
Day Two:
After a restless night for me, Gail and I left the house at 4am for the 45 minute ride to Sturbridge. The sky was still dark but the air was damp and the parking lot already crowded when we arrived at the site of the official start of the 2012 PMC. Bikes and riders were everywhere. Volunteers had put out food for breakfast: fruit, bagels, muffins, coffee, juice, Gatorade granola bars, anything needed to keep the riders fueled for the first leg of the day. PMC founder, Billy Starr, announced that we would roll in fifteen minutes and added that, with an anticipated hot humid day, hydration was crucial.
This year, I rode as a member of Team Access, a group of good riders and good friends whom I have known for a couple of years. John, Tony, Neil, Tommy, Laurie, Dan, George and about a dozen more great folks were generous in inviting me to join them as a team member and I was honored to accept. Team Access rides for a number of cancer victims and the team leaders included Jeanne, Brett, and all the other friends and family for whom I ride as well. Team Access supplied riding jerseys (a very generous gift) for day two with the names of all for whom we were riding on the back. As I said, a great team, good friends and very strong riders.
Many of the Team Access riders had chosen other routes but John, George, Dan and Laurie were riding with me from Sturbridge to Bourne on day one. Gail took a team photo, wished us luck and said goodbye as we lined up on the starting line with 3,500 other riders. The Star Spangled Banner was sung and, with a cheer and shouts of support from well wishers lining the road, we launched at 5:30am!
It was mildly coordinated chaos trying to get thousands of adrenaline filled cyclists and their bicycles onto a two lane road. Patience goes a long way and, after a slow roll for the first half mile, the line of riders thinned out to allow us to get up to speed. It is hard for even a few folks to stay together in a large pack and, in no time, I was on my own, having lost sight of the others. There are a few significant climbs in the first 40 miles with the initial one in Charleton at about 5 miles into the route. It usually takes a while for my legs to warm up but when I got to the first climb, things seemed to be working well. I was very pleased that the 60 miles from Friday had not taxed me too much or at least it seemed that way at the time. Once that initial challenge was behind me, the roads leveled out a bit and I enjoyed the rolling country side.
Even at 6am, there were lots of supporters on the roadside. Signs thanking PMC riders, ringing cowbells and shouts of encouragement really helped to keep us motivated. We were grateful to all these kind folks who got up early to stand in the warm summer air to wish us well. The miles rolled by, the fields and forests shrouded in mist were beautiful and the sky brightened as we pedaled on. Boaters on lakes waived to us and we waived back. Riders chatted as we pushed ahead and it was not long before we were headed into the school at Whitinsville for our first stop of the day. I found John and George and we grabbed some food, filled our bottles and rested for a few moments before heading out again.
First e-mail to Gail of the day.
"Made it to Whitinsvle. Feeling good. Pretty warm. A bunch of smiling, sweaty riders. What a day!"
John, George and I found another couple of Team Access folks just as we were leaving. After a brief exchange of stories and good wishes, we were back on the road. The pack of riders had continued to string out and it was easier for us to keep together or at least reasonably close. The three of us are all of a comparable skill level so it was somewhat easy to stay together. I say somewhat because each cyclist has his/her own strengths and weaknesses. For instance, John is great at setting an aggressive pace on flat terrain and long climbs. I am better at using momentum to attack hills but can sustain a pace pretty well on whatever terrain. George seems able to do it all. PMC is a "ride not a race" as Gail likes to say but our little gang of three approached it as if it were the Tour de France and we worked hard to be fast but safe at the same time. As we put more and more miles behind us we stayed on high alert. Sometimes, more casual or inexperienced riders make unexpected moves, abrupt turns, slowing or stopping with little or no notice so it is important to always look ahead, maintain space and be ready to adjust at a moment's notice. There were a couple of more hills to climb in this short 17 mile segment. The sun had burned off the mist and when we came to our second stop of the day in Franklin, the temperature was already heading north of 85 at 8:30 in the morning.
"Here in Franklin. Getting warmer but we are cookin'. Still feeling good.
40 down. Most of the hills are over. Time to eat third breakfast.
Love ya'
D"
40 down. Most of the hills are over. Time to eat third breakfast.
Love ya'
D"
As we were getting ready to leave Franklin after more fluids and fluffer-nutters, John ran into another friend, Andy, who mentioned the hills in the next leg. I did not remember any so I dismissed his comments and George, John and I rolled out heading toward Cherry Street in Wrentham. Cherry St. is known for the great show of support almost all of the residents of this 1/4 mile tree lined road put on for PMC riders. Unfortunately, a high number of families residing on this lovely suburban road have been touched by cancer, most in a direct way. They know the value of research and treatment and are very grateful for the funds raised by PMC. They show their appreciation with seemingly hundreds of signs, whole families cheering by the roadside, bands, even a woman dressed as Uncle (or Aunt) Sam. It is raucous, energetic, wild and really uplifting. We passed through Cherry Street with big grins and shouts of thanks to these generous folks who were, I am sure, out for many hours on this hot day to cheer us on.
It turned out Andy was right. There were a number of climbs which I had conveniently forgotten in this 22 mile section of our trek. This did not make me happy but what can you do. Each hill, each mile, each pedal stroke put me closer to my goal so I persevered. Approximately 2 miles before we hit our next stop, the riders who started in Wellesley merged into our route. This influx of riders was nice to see but adding hundreds of additional cyclists into a narrow road made us increase our focus all the more. No one wanted to go down this close to our lunch stop. We climbed a short, steep hill to the sounds of a lone bag-piper standing guard at the top. His reedy music was eerie yet motivating as if to tell us to keep working, there was still much to do. We arrived at Dighton-Rehoboth High School for a much needed break from sitting on a narrow saddle and much needed refreshments.
"Clawed our way to lunch. 70 miles done. The pace keeps picking up and we are happy
to be out on a sunny day having a good ride for a great cause. Will be back on the
road soon. 40 more and we can call it a day but the fight never ends.
Love ya'.
road soon. 40 more and we can call it a day but the fight never ends.
Love ya'.
D"
At the lunch stop, as with all the stops, there are medical services, bike mechanics, lost and found, logistics services and, of course lots of food. Unlike previous stops, the food was in a very large tent with open sides and some tables and chairs for riders and volunteers to sit and rest for a while. Since it was after 11am, the sun was beating down and most of the riders wanted to get under the tent and into the shade to cool down. This made the tent very crowded and getting food was a test of patience and endurance. John, George and I did manage to find three chairs and were able to rest and eat. Dan joined us for a little while and before too long we were ready to head out for the next 18 mile leg which would take us to Lakeville.
The hills were finally behind us and we picked up the pace as we rolled down quiet streets. The terrain was starting to look more and more like Cape Cod with marshes, bogs, lakes and flat roads. We were still hanging together and prodding each other forward remembering to drink water and electrolytes often. Dehydration can set in in the form of dizziness and cramps and I wanted to avoid both at all costs. As we approached the school at Lakeville, PMC volunteers had posted large photos of young children who are fighting cancer and who have been sponsored by teams along the side of the road. The sight of these young faces is, I think, intended to harden our resolve to ride and help them in their fight. Believe me, it works. We pulled into Lakeville, hot, hungry but more motivated than ever.
I wanted to look for friends at the Lakeville stop but my need for water came first. I approached a portable rack of brass water spigots mounted on saw horses. They were only about two feet off the ground and a volunteer standing nearby must have noticed my apparent confusion. She approached me and asked compassionately, "Would you like me to pour some water on your head?" In any other context this would have been a rude or, at best, an odd question but, on this particular day, it was music to my ears. "Yes! Thank you!" was all I could voice as I bent over and soon felt the cool water cascading from the back to the front of my heated cranium. I am sure steam was visible as this wonderful young woman continued to pour until I raised my head to signal that she had dowsed me sufficiently. The torrent of cool water was so delightful that I wanted to make sure I left some for other equally overheated riders. Pushing the water and hair back out off my face, I wandered on and found cool slush, food and also found John and some of his relatives. We went further and discovered more friends and Team Access members who were volunteering on Saturday and riding another route on Sunday. Talk and relaxation took precious time but, after enough talk, hugs and best wishes, we finally got back on the road. I sent Gail a quick email that we were leaving Lakeville and she responded that she would meet me at the finish in Bourne.
The official route included one more water stop between Lakeville and Bourne but John, George and I decided to pass it by and continue on. The flat roads made the last 22 miles go by very quickly. We knew that we were near the end of our ride as we pulled into Wareham. We had one more tradition to uphold. There is a little restaurant/bar known as “The Narrows" that Team Access has, in the past, used as a brief "water stop" before riding the last 4 miles to the official end of the day at the Mass Maritime Academy in Bourne. Our quick stop included some carbs, vitamin D, Iron and other nutrients (also known as Guinness). In all, about 14 Team Access members pulled in and shared laughs and fellowship while cooling down. It was great! Unfortunately, we all knew that we still had a few miles to go so we downed our glasses in short order, mounted our bikes and hit the road once more.
The last couple of miles had lots of construction and congestion but I got through it and, when I made the final turn onto Academy Drive and the Maritime Academy finish line, I finally relaxed a bit.
There she was. Gail was waiting for me by the side of the road, smiling and cheering. I could not help but grin as wide a smile as is humanly possible. After a kiss from my wonderful, supportive wife and an official check-in with the PMC volunteers, I was done for the day. 112 miles had been added to my 63 from the previous day. I was tired but very pleased with my abilities and really glad that Gail was there to take me away. A great dinner and a good night's sleep at a comfortable inn awaited me before the trials of the third and final day.
Day Three:
At 4:30 Sunday morning, Gail drove me from the inn in Sandwich back to the Academy in Bourne for the start of my third day. A cooling swim in the pool at the inn, a great dinner at our favorite local restaurant on the Cape and a reasonable night's sleep had put me in good form, or so I hoped. I connected with John C., Laurie and John M. at Mass Maritime and, after a long, slow crawl toward the Bourne Bridge (the traffic circle had become a bottle neck), we were off. After the bridge was the Cape Cod Canal path, a beautiful stretch of paved pathway overlooking the water way. The sun had not yet burned off the mist but we saw boats, barges and fishermen as we pedaled our way at a quick clip down the path. Soon we were under the Sagamore Bridge and off the path. The flat Cape roads went by quickly and, seemingly in no time, we were in Sandwich, only yards from the inn where Gail had returned to grab a few more winks with breakfast to follow. We crossed under the highway and soon were on the first significant hill of the day. My least favorite hills are the ones with twists and turns that hide the apex. The good news for me was, although this hill fit that description, I had ridden it several times before so I knew what to expect. I crested it with no problem and that set me onto a series of several miles of rolling hills that fit my riding style beautifully. Long shallow down hills in which I could move into high gear and really get some speed going (up to 35 mph) were followed by equal up-hills in which I could use the momentum to carry me up the counter-slope. I was flying by other riders and feeling great. A hot-dog? Maybe, but I felt like an efficient rider using my energy stores to the best of my ability. The fact that I was leaving other riders in the dust was just a (delightful) byproduct. John was with me and we carried on in this powerful manner until we were soon in Barnstable and at the first stop of the day. It was now 7am and, even though the sun was not out, it was warm and we were pleased with our pace and effort.
"Just leaving first stop. Feeling fine. Not being a jerk so far."
Love ya'
D"
D"
It was a short stop, we did not need much in terms of food or liquid, and, having found George, we headed out onto the Cape Cod Rail Trail and resumed our journey. The rail trail is a very flat, very consistent surface and John, George and I resumed our pace line and really cranked up the speed. We cruised along at 23-25mph with minimal interruptions for most of the trail. When we ran out of trail and were routed back onto the roads in Orleans, we continued to keep the pace high. I thought about Gail's comment and considered how much energy I had left. I still felt good so, with my compatriots close by, I motored along.
I should mention that George has a son who has fought cancer successfully to date. I know he has a special interest in the PMC and the cause for which we ride. George is a good father, husband, person and rider. I respect him greatly.
We had cranked through the miles to the last stop in Wellfleet in really good form and exceptional spirits. We were getting tired and sore but, knowing that the finish in Provincetown was only 22 miles away, we were motivated to keep going. A strong sun burned through the clouds and we embraced the warmth as we climbed the short hill into the final stop. A brief rest, a last PB & J sandwich, some fruit and full water bottles and we were back on our wheels and headed to the finish.
"Made it to Wellfleet in very good time despite the rain. Sun is out and I smiling. Should be in Provincetown 11/30ish.
Rockin and Rollin to fight cancer.
What a day!!
Love
D"
Love
D"
Yes, you guessed it. I made the right turn and did the extra miles and hills. I was comfortable that, although I was nearing my limit when I made the final turn and rode the last 200 yards to the finish, I had given all I had for this great cause. The crowd lining the street cheered me on to the finish line and I raised both arms and gave my own loud cheer back to them as thanks for what they and all the other supporters, volunteers and other riders had done as part of this fantastic community effort. I met Gail and, as we embraced, I was elated that I had successfully completed my journey. 250 miles were conquered. 3 days were behind me. Let's hope that the one goal will soon be achieved.
The Pan Mass Challenge is a fantastic event and I know that we will keep doing this until our efforts are no longer needed and cancer is beaten once and for all.
Thanks to everyone for the support. I am truly blessed.
Darryl
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
My PMC Ride Starts In Less Than 2 Days
I thought I would sneak in one more post prior to launching on my 250 mile PMC weekend. I am not doing this to boast or puff up the event, I am just very excited and cannot stop thinking about what this experience will mean to me and to so many others.
I have received notes, emails and phone calls of support in the past few days. I am so honored and appreciative that people want to support me but am also aware that what these wonderful folks are really doing is supporting this fantastic fight against cancer. I have heard and read moving stories of how cancer has impacted my friends and colleagues, in particular one friend who's father is losing his battle even as I write this post. I also learned, just today, that a very close friend is back in a positive place after his second cancer surgery. These are the people for whom I make this effort and these are the reasons that I have ridden more than 3,200 miles since the last PMC and why I will ride a million more if it helps to find a cure.
I think I am ready. Just nervous energy and trying to get myself organized. Watching the Olympics this past week has been inspirational. The focus of all the athletes is amazing. I only hope I can have a small portion of that focus. I feel like I do when I get ready to sing a performance: nervous energy, anxiety, confidence, anxiety, pride, fulfillment and, did I mention, anxiety. I have done the miles, pushed myself, climbed hills, endured pain (lots of new pain) and enjoyed the zen of long rides when I only have myself to talk to. Oh, and I have discovered two things in all my training: 1) Getting old is no fun and does not make life easier and 2) I am not good company. Even I don't like spending time alone with me, although I do make myself laugh (a lot).
So, self deprecation aside, I feel good about my 2012 PMC ride and am grateful for the continuous support of my loving family who I desert for hours at a time on a regular basis for training rides. In particular, my loving wife Gail, who tolerates, prods, encourages and supports me and is my favorite cheerleader. She is my lifeline during PMC weekend and is the face that I look for at the finish lines. I could not do it without her and her love.
In less than 36 hours, I will start. Happy, full of hope and strong. Not because I matter, but because this cause does.
Darryl
I have received notes, emails and phone calls of support in the past few days. I am so honored and appreciative that people want to support me but am also aware that what these wonderful folks are really doing is supporting this fantastic fight against cancer. I have heard and read moving stories of how cancer has impacted my friends and colleagues, in particular one friend who's father is losing his battle even as I write this post. I also learned, just today, that a very close friend is back in a positive place after his second cancer surgery. These are the people for whom I make this effort and these are the reasons that I have ridden more than 3,200 miles since the last PMC and why I will ride a million more if it helps to find a cure.
I think I am ready. Just nervous energy and trying to get myself organized. Watching the Olympics this past week has been inspirational. The focus of all the athletes is amazing. I only hope I can have a small portion of that focus. I feel like I do when I get ready to sing a performance: nervous energy, anxiety, confidence, anxiety, pride, fulfillment and, did I mention, anxiety. I have done the miles, pushed myself, climbed hills, endured pain (lots of new pain) and enjoyed the zen of long rides when I only have myself to talk to. Oh, and I have discovered two things in all my training: 1) Getting old is no fun and does not make life easier and 2) I am not good company. Even I don't like spending time alone with me, although I do make myself laugh (a lot).
So, self deprecation aside, I feel good about my 2012 PMC ride and am grateful for the continuous support of my loving family who I desert for hours at a time on a regular basis for training rides. In particular, my loving wife Gail, who tolerates, prods, encourages and supports me and is my favorite cheerleader. She is my lifeline during PMC weekend and is the face that I look for at the finish lines. I could not do it without her and her love.
In less than 36 hours, I will start. Happy, full of hope and strong. Not because I matter, but because this cause does.
Darryl
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Getting Ready for PMC Weekend
There are just a couple of weeks before I will climb on my bike to participate in my third Pan Mass Challenge ride to riase money to fight cancer. My training has been, at times, intense, challenging and, almost always, fun.
While there have been days when I did not want to get my gear on and head out on the road but, once I had started pedaling, invariably a smile came to my face and I enjoyed the experience. Most of my training rides are solo but the few times I have been able to ride with friends made the experience even better. We push each other to ride better and harder and usually wind up laughing a lot. What could be better.
I am looking forward to PMC weekend and my 250 mile journey and being able to spend time with a bunch of really great folks as we support an even greater cause.
As I have in the past, I will provide a narrative of my trek for any who are interested. I am glad that I am able to take part in the PMC and also glad that my enjoyment of cycling continues.
While there have been days when I did not want to get my gear on and head out on the road but, once I had started pedaling, invariably a smile came to my face and I enjoyed the experience. Most of my training rides are solo but the few times I have been able to ride with friends made the experience even better. We push each other to ride better and harder and usually wind up laughing a lot. What could be better.
I am looking forward to PMC weekend and my 250 mile journey and being able to spend time with a bunch of really great folks as we support an even greater cause.
As I have in the past, I will provide a narrative of my trek for any who are interested. I am glad that I am able to take part in the PMC and also glad that my enjoyment of cycling continues.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Great Summer Weekend Ride
Up before sunrise with the bike in the car and headed to the south shore for a long ride with good friends. The air was still chilly but watching the horizon turn orange and then yellow brought a smile to my face. John C, Tony, Neil, John M, Laurie, Dan and I agreed to participate in the annual Trek century ride as a fundraiser for the South Shore YMCA. We met in the parking lot of the nicest YMCA facility I have ever seen, got our bikes together, last minute adjustments made and, at 6am, we were off for 100 miles.
The air was warming up and the countryside was beautiful. Unfortunately, my legs felt like lead and my lungs were not excited about my choice of early activity so I told myself to just get into a spinning mode and take the pressure off until the muscles got warmed up. This worked a little better although Neil and Tony were gone off the front at a 19mph pace leaving me far behind. I hoped that I would be able to pick up my own pace soon but was doubtful that I would see my fast friends until the first water stop at 35 miles (or even then). John C, Laurie, John M and I rode along at a similar speed although not always together for about 12 miles and, unexpectedly, we came across Neil and Tony by the side of the road. Tony had encountered a sliver of glass and now had a flat. We offered advice, tubes, C02 cartridges, pumps and tools until Tony seemed to have the damage repaired and was ready to head out once more.
Laurie, John M and I were at the front this time but we soon realized that we had lost the rest of our gang off the back. We rode on for another 12 miles or so expecting that Neil, John, Tony and Dan (all strong riders) to catch up at any time. We were with another small group of cyclists and, finally feeling warmed up and strong, I was in the lead. I was feeling pretty good about my pace until I realized that NO ONE was behind me. I had missed a turn and was well off the course. By the time I discovered how to correct my error I had lost a half hour and added 10 miles to my extended TREK.
I did finally meet up with my group of friends at the first water stop. Tony had experienced two more flats and John C and Neil had stayed with him until he finally got the glass out of the tire and enough air to give him a decent ride. Laurie and John M had also strayed off the route and added to their ride as well. We commiserated as we refueled and then headed off again.
We quickly recovered and re-established a good, quick pace. This time I hung in there with Tony, Neil and John C and we got into a pace line and pulled the speed up to 19-22mph. The roads were through beautiful rolling countryside and we rocketed along making up for lost time. By the time we got to the Sagamore Bridge at 60 miles (70 for me) I felt great.
The roads from the bridge to the YMCA camp in Sandwich were familiar as they traced the course of the Pan Mass Challenge. There was a long climb and then more rolling hills. We had missed the second water stop and pulled over to the side of the road for a brief break and to let all the group catch up. At that point, we realized that our earlier delays would keep us from completing the full 100 miles in the allotted time and, since we needed to stop at the Y camp to check in , we would call it at 75 miles (85 for me) and relax with a cold beer.
Even though I did not get the full century into my ride calendar, I felt good about the way I rode and my speed over all. I actually felt like I got better, stronger and faster as the ride went on. It was a good day with good friends, no injuries and lots of laughs.
I look forward to more.
The air was warming up and the countryside was beautiful. Unfortunately, my legs felt like lead and my lungs were not excited about my choice of early activity so I told myself to just get into a spinning mode and take the pressure off until the muscles got warmed up. This worked a little better although Neil and Tony were gone off the front at a 19mph pace leaving me far behind. I hoped that I would be able to pick up my own pace soon but was doubtful that I would see my fast friends until the first water stop at 35 miles (or even then). John C, Laurie, John M and I rode along at a similar speed although not always together for about 12 miles and, unexpectedly, we came across Neil and Tony by the side of the road. Tony had encountered a sliver of glass and now had a flat. We offered advice, tubes, C02 cartridges, pumps and tools until Tony seemed to have the damage repaired and was ready to head out once more.
Laurie, John M and I were at the front this time but we soon realized that we had lost the rest of our gang off the back. We rode on for another 12 miles or so expecting that Neil, John, Tony and Dan (all strong riders) to catch up at any time. We were with another small group of cyclists and, finally feeling warmed up and strong, I was in the lead. I was feeling pretty good about my pace until I realized that NO ONE was behind me. I had missed a turn and was well off the course. By the time I discovered how to correct my error I had lost a half hour and added 10 miles to my extended TREK.
I did finally meet up with my group of friends at the first water stop. Tony had experienced two more flats and John C and Neil had stayed with him until he finally got the glass out of the tire and enough air to give him a decent ride. Laurie and John M had also strayed off the route and added to their ride as well. We commiserated as we refueled and then headed off again.
We quickly recovered and re-established a good, quick pace. This time I hung in there with Tony, Neil and John C and we got into a pace line and pulled the speed up to 19-22mph. The roads were through beautiful rolling countryside and we rocketed along making up for lost time. By the time we got to the Sagamore Bridge at 60 miles (70 for me) I felt great.
The roads from the bridge to the YMCA camp in Sandwich were familiar as they traced the course of the Pan Mass Challenge. There was a long climb and then more rolling hills. We had missed the second water stop and pulled over to the side of the road for a brief break and to let all the group catch up. At that point, we realized that our earlier delays would keep us from completing the full 100 miles in the allotted time and, since we needed to stop at the Y camp to check in , we would call it at 75 miles (85 for me) and relax with a cold beer.
Even though I did not get the full century into my ride calendar, I felt good about the way I rode and my speed over all. I actually felt like I got better, stronger and faster as the ride went on. It was a good day with good friends, no injuries and lots of laughs.
I look forward to more.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Spring and Outdoor Riding Are In the Air
It's March 13th. The outside temp was 70 degrees and it is still light after 6pm. Finally, a good day to check the tire pressure, strap the pack up under the seat and hit the road.
It has been a long while since I have been out on the asphalt. The long Winter of my discontent (alright the pretty mild Winter of my reasonable contentedness) is finally over. I have been trying to stay in shape by using the hydro-trainer pretty often and making sure I vary the intensity and duration of my rides. I have even started swimming again for good cardio work but heading out on my bike today was a treat.
The first couple of miles felt a little awkward, almost like the LeMond and I needed to get used to the ground actually moving under us, but soon we were back in sync and rolling along. The legs felt good and I decided to keep the ride relatively short but include some challenging hill work to see how the quads and lungs would fare.
All things considered, it was not bad. The cadence on the flats was pretty sweet and the climbs were not as painful as I had expected they would be on the first outing of the season. One of the big challenges was to stay focused. When riding indoors, you don't have to watch out for pot-holes, glass, drain covers, oh yeah, and cars. Lapsing into thoughts of anything other than the road in front of me, the traffic around me and making sure that gears are appropriate and brakes ready at all times is a recipe for disaster. Rule # 1 for me is stay focused.
Velominati Rule #5 is almost as important. All you followers of the Keepers of the Cog know what I mean.
I am looking forward to lots of rides both solo and with good friends as I move into Spring and Summer. Should be fun. I will keep you posted.
Oh yeah. Feel free to come join me if you want. Whether physically, if you are in eastern MA, or spiritually if not, you are always welcome.
It has been a long while since I have been out on the asphalt. The long Winter of my discontent (alright the pretty mild Winter of my reasonable contentedness) is finally over. I have been trying to stay in shape by using the hydro-trainer pretty often and making sure I vary the intensity and duration of my rides. I have even started swimming again for good cardio work but heading out on my bike today was a treat.
The first couple of miles felt a little awkward, almost like the LeMond and I needed to get used to the ground actually moving under us, but soon we were back in sync and rolling along. The legs felt good and I decided to keep the ride relatively short but include some challenging hill work to see how the quads and lungs would fare.
All things considered, it was not bad. The cadence on the flats was pretty sweet and the climbs were not as painful as I had expected they would be on the first outing of the season. One of the big challenges was to stay focused. When riding indoors, you don't have to watch out for pot-holes, glass, drain covers, oh yeah, and cars. Lapsing into thoughts of anything other than the road in front of me, the traffic around me and making sure that gears are appropriate and brakes ready at all times is a recipe for disaster. Rule # 1 for me is stay focused.
Velominati Rule #5 is almost as important. All you followers of the Keepers of the Cog know what I mean.
I am looking forward to lots of rides both solo and with good friends as I move into Spring and Summer. Should be fun. I will keep you posted.
Oh yeah. Feel free to come join me if you want. Whether physically, if you are in eastern MA, or spiritually if not, you are always welcome.
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