“I thought of that while riding my bike”

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PMC.org, PMC2011

-Albert Einstein on the Theory of Relativity

This past weekend, I completed my 3rd Pan-Mass Challenge bike ride.  Perhaps I didn’t think of anything quite as significant as the Theory of Relativity, but 192 miles in the saddle gives you plenty of time to ponder.  A few thoughts I’d like to share…

• How very cool the Pan-Mass Challenge is and how lucky I am to be a part of it.  I try to explain every year, but I think you just have to be there!
• My Dad and how much I would have liked for him to see me complete this ride – or better yet, how much I would have loved to do the ride with him (Cancer sucks).
• The people I know fighting cancer and how every year that list changes, both because research and treatment is making a difference and saving lives, but also because we have a long way to go and no matter how tough the fighter, some people don’t get the chance to beat cancer.
• The new PMC slogan “Commit.  You’ll figure it out.” and how it can and should be applied to much more than just riding a bike across Massachusetts.
• And, of course, I have to admit that I thought about our annual stop at mile 105 on day one for a cold beer at The Narrows and the lobster waiting for me at the end of day 2.

There are signs, live bands, and cheering sections lining the entire route, but for me the highlight of this year’s ride came before I even climbed onto the bike.  While I went to the opening ceremonies to see Lance Armstrong speak (he would ride with us the next day), the star of the evening turned out to be 6 year old Declan Rourke.  Declan was presented to us as “our dollars at work.”  Declan’s dad told us how when he was diagnosed at 15 months, fewer children than you could count on your hands had ever survived his type of cancer and most died within 6 month. But specifically and only because of the Dana-Farber (to which 100% of Pan-Mass donations go), Declan has graduated kindergarten, got his first base hit, and for now, has beat his cancer.

So one final thought I’d like to share (and a message that Declan’s Dad asked us to pass along to those who donated) is “THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!”

Lance gives the keynote (and rides with us Saturday)

Declan Rourke- Your dollars at work

Eric takes on PMC #5 I take on PMC #3

The Narrows

Day 2 start from Sandwich

Jack Rides http://panmasschallenge.wordpress.com/2011/08/04/pmc’s-most-famous-fan-will-ride-in-his-first-pmc/

Post-ride lobsters with Casey

Rapture Ride

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PMC

Today may have been one of the most enjoyable PMC training rides ever.   The ride started in historic Warrenton, VA and weaved its way for 47 miles through Virginia’s horse (cow, chicken, and turtle) country.  I passed dozens of gorgeous farms and smelled honeysuckle the whole way.  It was certainly THE best weather day we have had this year in Virginia and may be one of the nicest days ever.  Post ride, I walked around the Spring Festival in downtown Warrenton- small town friendly America at its best.  I felt strong, healthy, and as I do on most PMC rides, blessed to be able to ride (except while climbing the hill mile 44-45).  If the goods ones are to be taken today on what is supposed to the start of the end, I really hope I get left behind because it is far too beautiful here.

Eat Cookies, Fight Cancer

Fighting cancer can be as easy as eating cookies- REALLY!  Just sponsor me to ride in this year’s Pan-Mass Challenge and I will send you homemade cookies.  Together with my fellow riders, we will contribute more than $30 million to the Jimmy Fund/Dana Farber.  The Dana Farber will continue to treat and seek cures to rare cancers.  Eat cookies, cure cancer- yup, that easy!

To order your cookies and help cure cancer (aka sponsor me), click here

My PMC Experience 2010

This past weekend, I competed in my 2^nd Pan-Mass Challenge ride.  The Pan-Mass Challenge is a 192 mile ride from Sturbridge, MA to Provincetown, MA on the tip of Cape Cod.  This year, the PMC should raise over $31 million dollars to fund cancer research and treatment through the Dana Farber and the Jimmy Fund.  Like most of the other 5,000+ riders, I take this cause personally.  Before my dad passed away from lung cancer, a mere 4 months after being diagnosed, he was in the process of writing a book to chronicle his bike adventures across the country.  The book documented more than 3,670 riding miles, 62 riding days, and travels through 14 states.  While my 192 mile ride looks paltry by comparison, he would have loved that I have become an avid cyclist, and, that I am riding to help fight the disease that took his life.

This year’s ride, like last year, was awe-inspiring.  I looked forward to each mile, not because it would get me that much closer to the end and ice-cold beer (which is an added bonus), but because I knew each mile would bring more cheering sections and sights to see.  All last year’s highlights were present-  ‘Da Hedge’ (100’s of screaming summer campers lining the side of the road making noise like only 12 year olds can), the ‘Over The Hill Cheerleaders’ (a grey haired cheering section at the top of the largest hill on day 2), ‘Cherry St.’ (a neighborhood decked out with red ribbons, American flags, and live bands), bagpipers playing “Rocky,” cowbells, great signs, and, new this year, vuvuzelas.  The pervasive and overwhelming camaraderie and kindness of the other riders, volunteers, and people cheering us on is something I have only experienced during the PMC.  I hope to experience it many, many more times.

In his book, my dad wrote (a borrowed quote), “One life is an absurdly small allowance.”  PMC weekend brings this home.  Not only because it reminds me of all that is good (joie de vivre), but because it reminds me that there are still too many people who don’t even get their fair share of this small allowance.  I am looking forward to riding again next year and, as the PMC slogan says, getting “closer by the mile” to a cure.

Thank you again for your support in the form of donations, keeping me company on rides, or putting up with my griping about training (perhaps all of the above).

To read my profile (you can still kick in ):

http://www.pmc.org/mypmc/profiles.asp?eGiftID=SR0139

Here is a great video to see more about the ride:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgZPaNu1LoA

PMC Take 2- Another season in the saddle

Tags

Pan Mass Challenge, PMC

I just hit the “Commit” button on the PMC registration page.  That means that yet again, my Spring and Summer weekends will be spent on the bike.  During the ride last summer, I told myself I would do this ride every year that I was physically capable and volunteer when not.  It’s a good thing that I remember that feeling more strongly than the ones I had during my 6 flats in 10 days- including 2 during a triathlon.

Better start hitting those spinning classes.  For now, the bike is in storage.  I am not what you’d call a cold weather rider.  Afterall, “its just a ride, not a race,” so no need for undue suffering to prepare.

My PMC 09 Experience

Tags

Pan Mass Challenge, PMC

This past weekend, I participated in the Pan-Mass Challenge.  It is a 2-day, 190 mile bike ride from Sturbridge, MA to Provincetown, MA (the tip of Cape Cod).  Since its inception 30 years ago, it has raised $270 million in the fight against cancer.  When I first signed up, I found the distance of the ride to be daunting to say the least.  Turns out, the real “challenge” is to put into words how incredible the experience was and how lucky I feel that I was able to be part of it.

After months of training, long rides with only turtles and deer for company (saw at least one of each on every ride and almost ran into a few of each), 7 flats tires, and A LOT of self-doubt about my ability to ride 110 Day 1 and 80 miles Day 2, PMC weekend arrived.  After several attempts at trying to explain my experience, I gave up and decided to just share a few highlights.  So here they are, in no particular order:

1)      ALL the volunteers who rang bells and cheered for me as a first time rider when I picked up my registration packet and their sincerity in thanking me for riding.

2)      Sitting through the opening ceremonies and listening to the stories of some of the riders- especially the nurse that would be riding her former patient’s bike while wearing her pearls and jersey…. I would see her several times over the course of the weekend.

3)      Seeing thousands of people in matching jerseys at the crack of dawn all with the same mission…

4)      The incredible number of people along the side of the road at the start at 5:30 in the morning to cheer us on, especially the trumpeter playing the rocky theme song…

5)      The 192 miles of nearly constant roadside cheers, signs, and supporters all saying thank you.  One of my favorite signs… “My heart beats because of your feet- Keep pedaling” held by an exuberant woman dancing on her front lawn.

6)      The party atmosphere at nearly every water stop.  For those runners/triathaletes  reading this think of the best finish line parties and imagine getting to experience that every 20 miles or so.

7)      The ice cold beer at mile 103 on Day 1.  Definitely one of the best tasting beers I have ever had.

8)      Rolling into Day 1 finish happy that I got to do it again the next day- I was not ready for the experience to be over. This from someone that never wanted to get on the bike the day after a long ride before

9)      The ongoing debate over whether the puppet I had attached to the back of my helmet was a crab or a lobster…Lots of riders got in on the debate.  I say lobster…. (your decide- photo below)

10)   All the PMC traditions, like “Da Hedge” that no one told me about so that I could be surprised.. I’m not telling any of you either in case you decide to ride 192 and experience for yourself…  Couldn’t go far without seeing something that made me smile and couldn’t wait to see what was ahead.

11)   The way everyone called each other by their first name using the name tags on the back of each of our bikes.. So much nicer to hear “Hey Steph, good morning!  Passing you on the left” than the usual bellow of “on your left!!” you hear on the bike trails most of the time.

12)   Peanut Butter and fluff sandwiches at the water stops- good biking food!

13)   Being first coached remotely and then being adopted by both Tom Lynch and Eric Berman and their respective group of friends and family.  Their support, kindness and camaraderie were a huge part of why I enjoyed the ride so much.

14)   Having my Cousin Casey meet me at the end of day one and day two and schlepping me to the ride start at 4AM on Sunday morning  (Day 2)- talking her way out of a ticket for an illegal U-turn.

15)   Having my Mom and Bob at the finish line.

After the ride on Sunday, Billy Starr, the founder of PMC, shared the following quote with us that he received from another first-time rider like myself.

“Aside from the privilege of being there to hold my mother’s hand as she passed away from cancer, the Pan Mass Challenge was the second most profound experience in my life and I wanted to thank you all personally for it. I have done several fundraising rides for other causes over the years, but never have I felt part of something so critically important – something that truly makes a difference in the lives of others. This weekend I learned it’s not about the personal achievement – it’s about what we, who are strong and able, can give to others- life and hope.  Thank you for all that you do to make that possible.”

Like this rider, I was with my Dad when he passed away from cancer and the PMC was a very profound experience for me as well.  I listened to people thank me for riding for 3 days, but I am the one that is thankful.  Thankful that I can ride, thankful that I was able to be part of the PMC, thankful for everyone that helped me raise the necessary funds and supported me along the way.  I can’t wait for next year.

All my best,

Stephanie

My PMC Page:

http://www.pmc.org/profile/SR0139

Eric’s blog (one of my ride buddies for the weekend)

http://erics2009pmc.wordpress.com/2009/08/06/pmc-2009-the-ride/