A Lofty Goal

As I embark on my 16th Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC), I’m feeling a bit nostalgic about the rides of years past, and how I got to where I am today. Writing this brought back faded memories of rides past, and reminded me that, while I do this ride every year, every ride is different, and has special meaning to me. Join me as I revisit my previous rides!

2004-2005: I was 22 and about to graduate from college. I signed up for my first PMC without much planning or thought (like a 22-year-old would). I rode a mountain bike, and I suffered for almost every mile of the ride. After finishing, I told myself that I would do the PMC again, just not next year, as the ride and fundraising had been difficult. When registration for the 2005 ride came around, I didn’t think or plan much before registering (like a 23-year-old would). Time had faded the memories of my sore, sore ass. I embarked on the ride, solo again, and haven’t looked back since.

2006-2007: My dad joined me for the 2006 and 2007 rides. I changed my starting location from Wellesley to the traditional start in Sturbridge (which is longer and harder than starting in Wellesley). In 2006, we both rode on mountain bikes, but when my dad told me he was buying a road bike, I bought one too for the 2007 ride. What a difference that made! Finally, the riding part of the ride was fun!

2008-2009: I rode the 2008 and 2009 PMCs with friends from college, Michelle and Rich. It was great to catch up with them as we rode across Massachusetts. The 2008 ride was memorable for an intense thunderstorm that rolled through our overnight location on the first day. The poles on the absolutely massive dining tent lifted off the ground! Thankfully it stayed up and everyone was safe.

2010-2013: In 2010, I joined Team Kinetic Karma, a group of random and lovely people who ride together for their own individual reasons. Through joining the team, I’ve participated in the Pedal Partner Program, which pairs PMC teams with children undergoing cancer treatment. I was delighted to ride in honor of Charlotte, Megan, and Anna with my crazy teammates.

2014-2015: The 2014 ride gets the dubious title of Wettest Ride Ever. Seriously, it did not stop raining for the entire first day. It was also memorable because it was my team captain Dave’s first ride after treatment for stage 3 throat cancer. He rode strong through the rain and made us all so proud.

2016: In 2016, my team rode in honor of two of our fallen teammates: Danno, who died in a cycling crash the previous November, and Jeff, who passed away from stage 4 lung cancer that January. In honor of my teammates, I and others on my team rode “Day 0,” starting from the NY/MA border the day before the official ride started. The added commitment and miles were hard, but it was a special way to honor our teammates.

2017-2018: These rides were special for who we rode for. In February 2017, my colleague’s 5-year-old daughter, Maya, was diagnosed with clear cell sarcoma. My team arranged for her to be our pedal partner. We saw her during the training rides we held to her house as well as at the pedal partner rest stop on the first day of the ride. I’m happy to report that she (and all of our past pedal partners) are happy, healthy, and cancer-free!

That brings us to today. For my 16th PMC, I have a lofty goal – to reach the $100,000 lifetime fundraising benchmark. I’ll be putting extra effort into my training rides and fundraising to achieve this goal, but with your help, I know we can achieve it.

Every penny of your donation goes directly to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Jimmy Fund, which has made huge impacts in the 40-year history of the ride. Our pedal partners and my captain Dave are LIVING PROOF that your donations are saving lives.

Please make your donation today in support of my $100,000 lifetime fundraising goal. Together, we are making cancer HISTORY!

A Wonderful 15th Pan-Mass Challenge

Feeling hot at lunch. Tut tut, looks like rain!

I've been so busy since the Pan-Mass Challenge ended earlier this month that I'm only now sitting down to write my recap of that wonderful weekend! The memories are still strong, which is evidence of a fulfilling weekend of friends, physical exertion, and the best that the human spirit has to offer. PMC weekend recharges my soul.

Day 1 began before the sun peaked above the horizon. In fact, the sun didn't really show much that day. The forecast was for rain later in the morning, but since it was coming from the west, and we were heading east, the thought was, if we could pedal fast enough, we might beat it! So, my teammates and I set out from Sturbridge at a pretty good clip. We arrived at the first water stop (24 miles in) faster than ever! There we were greeted by our teammate Dawn (who is taking a hopefully-short break from riding) and her husband. We also met up with our fallen teammate Patrick's wife and baby girl - resulting in my first tears (of many!) for the weekend.

Andrew and Gina (Maya's parents), Maya, and me!

Still no raindrops, so we kept pedaling. The temperature was starting to climb, but we kept rolling on over the hills, down Cherry Street (the famous street of steel drums, bagpipers, and the infamous clown), all the way to lunch. We arrived at lunch around 10 AM, and just as we were sitting down to eat, we felt a few sprinkles. We knew what we had to do - eat quickly and get back out on the road! After all, the next stop was the Pedal Partner stop!

Those sprinkles turned into steady rain. Warm rain, but rain nonetheless. As we pulled into the Pedal Partner stop to refuel and visit Maya and her family, it felt like the rain was letting up - yay! Maya spotted us with our unicorn horns on our helmets and we visited for a bit. If you remember last year's photo of me and Maya, you can definitely see the difference a year cancer-free does to a kid!

Yeah, so about that rain letting up - nope! It started to fall even harder! In addition to the rain falling from the sky, we had to contend with the water from the road that was kicked up by everyone's tires - in our faces. It felt like my eyes were going to fall out, or at the very least, I thought I'd lose my contact lenses. Luckily, I was able to complete the day's ride with my eyeballs (and contact lenses) intact.

Crossing the Day 1 finish line! Don't I look happy wet?

My teammates and I were greeted by yet another teammate on sabbatical from the PMC, Christine! It was so nice to give her a huge, wet, sweaty hug at the end of the day's ride! After that, the routine is familiar - park the bike, visit my volunteer friend Kim, get a beer, take a shower, get another beer, eat, beer, massage, and beer! Then it's early to bed since it's another early morning on Sunday!

Day 2, another one that begins in darkness! I was happy to see that the rain that had continued all afternoon and evening was over. It was foggy, but that's no problem early in the morning. My teammates and I set off at 5:30 AM and rode the familiar route to Provincetown - over the Bourne Bridge, along the Cape Cod Canal, up and down the hills of Service Road, and past the villages along Route 6A.

At the second water stop of the day, the halfway point, the clouds parted and the humidity dropped. Mother Nature decided we should have friendly skies for the rest of the ride to Provincetown! Unfortunately, my legs and "saddle region" were feeling the effects of having ridden 150 miles by that point, but there's no quitting in the PMC! Onward we went.

Cheers to another PMC in the books!

Thanks to some favorable winds, the final stretch of the ride along Route 6 was fast - 21 mph fast! It was a welcome change over last year, when headwinds slowed us to a proverbial crawl on that same section. Just as the sun was starting to get a little hot, we were over the dunes and at the entrance to Herring Cove Beach for the annual Team Kinetic Karma champagne toast photo! It was so nice to celebrate the end of another successful PMC with my teammates.

While the ride is over, the fundraising continues! I am within striking distance of my $10,000 fundraising goal, thanks to over 100 of my generous friends and family. I just need a few more donations to put me over the five-figures mark! If you need a reason to give, here is one: Maya, our pedal partner, is living proof that supporting the lifesaving research and care at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute saves lives. We all have been touched by cancer, and giving to the Pan-Mass Challenge (which gives every rider-raised dollar directly to the charity), is the best way to make a difference in the fight against cancer. Please donate today. Thank you!

Training Complete! PMC in T-5 Days!

On Saturday, my teammates and I completed our final training ride for this year's Pan-Mass Challenge - a 64-mile ride on the Cape! It's a Team Kinetic Karma tradition to do this final ride right before the PMC. The route backtracks along the PMC Day 2 route for about 13 miles, so it's nice to get a reminder of what is to come on the PMC.

The weather was dry, in that rain wasn't falling from the sky, but it was about 98 percent humidity, which meant we were drenched in sweat early in the ride. Luckily, the first 20 miles or so have many glimpses of the ocean, and the cool sea breezes that accompany those views. It didn't get that hot until midday. We would have ridden in any weather conditions, though. You never know what you're going to get weather-wise on the PMC!

I felt great throughout the ride, despite getting fewer training rides in this year. The great thing about riding in a group is that we are more efficient together (in a pace line) than separate. This was most true as we rode along the Cape Cod Canal. A steady southwest wind was in our faces as we rode that scenic stretch of the ride. We got in a tight line and took turns leading the pack, and were able to average 18-21 mph! That's the power of teamwork!

Near the end of the route is a bridge that is a popular spot for teenagers to jump into the water below. Teenagers and cyclists, that is. I had never done it before (I'm NOT chicken! I just never loved the thought of wearing my wet cycling shorts the rest of the way to the finish.). Well, this year, the water was too enticing, and I jumped in. It was amazing! So refreshing. That was a nice way to end my training. :)

My 15th Pan-Mass Challenge is in five days! I can't believe it! A huge, heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who has donated to this wonderful cause so far this year. I am still fundraising to reach my goal, so I encourage all of you who haven't yet made your donation to do so today! The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is one of the best cancer hospitals in the world, right here in our backyard in Boston. The research being conducted there is saving lives today and will save even more in the future. 100 percent of your donation will go directly to the Jimmy Fund in support of the innovative research and compassionate, life-saving care going on at Dana-Farber. Together, we will make cancer HISTORY! Please donate today. Thank you!

$2,500 in 7 Days Challenge!

It's that time of year again! Today I am launching my $2,500 in 7 Days Challenge! Over the next week, I will aim to raise $2,500 towards my $10,000 fundraising goal. To do it, I'll be posting stories on Facebook about why I ride, what the ride is like, who I ride for, and where the money goes.

Today, I'll tell you about my first Pan-Mass Challenge, in 2004. I was about to graduate from college, and really had no idea what I was going to do afterwards. I knew I'd be living in Boston, that was it. I wanted something firm to work towards, so I signed up for the PMC.

While I had read up on the PMC extensively, I really had no idea what I was getting into. While I had done a long charity bike ride before, this was on a whole other level. Thousands of people riding, almost all on fancy road bikes (I had a mountain bike with smooth tires), on unfamiliar roads. I rode alone for most of the ride, since I didn't know anyone and was slower than most.

I distinctly remember slowly riding into Provincetown on the (hot) afternoon of Day 2. I had been to Provincetown before, so I knew that when I saw the Pilgrim Monument, I was close! But, what I didn't know is that the PMC route takes a right off of Route 6 into the Provincelands, adding 5 very hilly miles. I nearly cried. But I soldiered through and crossed the finish line, somehow! I remember thinking "I will never do this again!" but when registration came around the following year, I signed up for my second PMC without hesitation.

It's amazing how things have changed over the last 14 years, both in my life and in my PMC world. Since 2010, I've been a part of the scrappiest and most fun team, Kinetic Karma. And I have a wider circle of friends and family who are generous enough to support my fundraising efforts. I've lost friends to cancer over this time, and have had many others, including several family members, beat cancer. I am honored to ride in their memory and honor.

Please help me kick off my fundraising challenge by donating today. Together, we will make cancer HISTORY. Thank you!

Getting the Miles In!

Maya, our pedal partner, is on the top left! Now that's a happy, healthy girl!

It was a very busy spring, and summer is starting off very busy too! But I've made time to get three long training rides in so far.

On Memorial Day weekend, some of my teammates and I continued with tradition and rode a loop on the South Shore of Boston. Despite it being late May, the weather was hot and humid, making for a difficult ride. But, those will likely be the conditions for the PMC, so it's good training!

In June, Ian and I trekked north to Vermont to ride the Long Trail Century Ride. A century is a 100-mile ride, but we opted for the more reasonable 60-mile route. Rain clouds threatened to drench us, but we stayed dry (from rain, anyway) for almost all of the ride. The ride features one massive hill, followed by roads that follow rivers and hug lakes - beautiful! Gratefully, the hill is in the first third of the ride and the rest is relatively flat, so once you conquer that hill, you can just enjoy the rest. We also enjoyed the free beer and barbecue at the end!

And just last weekend, my teammates and I did a training ride to visit Maya, our pedal partner. It was another hot one! At mile 10 or so we stopped at Maya's house, as we had done last year. The difference between seeing her this year versus last year was remarkable. She had so much more energy, and hair! Her smile says it all, and she made us all smile. She is the reminder of why we ride - to help put an end to cancer.

The PMC is in just under a month! There will be more training rides between now and then to get my legs ready for the long ride. But it's not all on me - there are many who will make the ride the best weekend of the year. My teammates will make it feel like a rolling party. The volunteers will make sure I'm fully hydrated and fed. The folks along the route cheering us on will give me the energy to keep going. Maya will remind me of why we ride and the impact of the money we raise. And you, my donors, will remind me that, if we all come together for a common cause worthy of our time and money, we can make a difference. Please make your cancer-fighting donation today!

Riding My 15th Pan-Mass Challenge

On August 4 and 5, I will ride in my 15th Pan-Mass Challenge. I know what you’re thinking: “Jared, you look so young and strong and handsome, how on earth have you done this 15 times?” I can hardly believe it myself! But at the same time, the PMC has become such an integral part of my summers, I can hardly remember life before it. I remain motivated to ride and fundraise for many reasons, but the most important are the people I ride in in honor of and in memory of.

Last year, I told you about Maya, my office-mate Gina’s daughter. Last winter, Maya was diagnosed with Clear Cell Sarcoma, a very rare renal cancer. Maya completed her treatments this past fall, right as she began Kindergarten. She is now a happy, healthy, and cancer-free six-year-old! I am confident that her positive attitude and the lifesaving care she received at Dana-Farber was the winning combination for her to beat her cancer. I took this photo during Day 1 of the 2017 PMC ride. It was such an inspiration to see her cheering on her unicorn-horned team!

On a sad note, late last year my team, Team Kinetic Karma, lost another teammate to cancer. Patrick joined our team in 2014 and rode in his first PMC to give back after battling leukemia. The photo below shows him crossing the finish line in Provincetown during that year’s ride. Later in 2014, he found out that his cancer was back. He knew the deal – more chemo and hope for another bone marrow transplant. He was feeling well enough to volunteer during the 2016 ride, which was the last time I saw him. Late last year, after four relapses, Patrick passed away, three months after the birth of his daughter.

I truly believe that the funds that donors contribute to Pan-Mass Challenge riders is making a difference in the fight against cancer. While still a terrible family of diseases that continues to take the lives of those that we love, I think that there are more and more success stories about cancer than there were 5, 10, or 20 years ago. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, one of the premier cancer research hospitals in the world, is helping to lead that charge.

Please join me in my continued quest for a cancer-free world. My 2018 goal is to raise $10,000, in Maya’s honor and in Patrick’s memory, to support the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s innovative cancer research and compassionate care that is saving lives like Maya’s and countless other children and adults. 100 percent of your donation goes straight to this important cause – the fight against cancer. Please make your donation today.

14th PMC Complete!

It's been two weeks since my 14th Pan-Mass Challenge, and I am still having pleasant flashbacks to that wonderful weekend! The ride is always an amazing event, but my teammates, and Maya, our reason for riding this year, made it a memorable one.

Ready to start the ride!

I awoke at 3:45 AM on Saturday to get ready for Day 1, which is 110 miles long. To break up that distance, there are many fun milestones along the way:

• At mile 6, my friend Sheila and her husband always cheer me on with a big sign an even bigger smiles! I always stop for a hug and a quick chat. Thank you both for coming out year after year!
• At mile 47, the route hits Cherry Street in Wrentham. It's like the entire town comes out to line the street and cheer us on! There are bands, signs, chants, cheering, and even a bagpiper along the whole road! And to make things even better this year, the town paved the street - no more dodging potholes as we take in the love!
• At mile 65, the riders who started in Wellesley merge with the Sturbridge riders. This is the first time that all 6,000+ riders share the same route, and it's the first reminder of what a HUGE event this is!
• At mile 70, we have our "lunch" stop (I put it in quotes because we got there at 9:55 AM!). It's a critical point in the ride - we've climbed most of the hills for the day already, but still have 40 miles left to go!
• At mile 85, we start to see big signs with photos of the pedal partners lining the road, leading to the pedal partner water stop. That's where we saw Maya and her family. She spotted us easily because of the unicorn horns that we wore on our helmets in her honor!

  

  Me, Maya, and her mom Gina at the rest stop!

• At mile 100, we hit the triple digit mile mark and enjoy our last rest stop before continuing on to the Mass Maritime Academy, our home for the evening.
• At mile 110, after parking my bike for the night, my only thought is, "where is the beer?!"

The rest of Day 1 includes a shower, dinner, a team photo, a massage, and visiting with my friend and volunteer extraordinaire, Kim! Then, it's bedtime - gotta rest up for Day 2!

Day 2 goes quickly, almost too quickly! It has arguably more milestones than Day 1, partially because the route is much more scenic and iconic. Here are a few highlights:

• At mile 2, we begin the climb over the Bourne Bridge at sunrise. Though it was a little crowded with riders which meant we went very slowly, the view of the sunrise was unparalleled!
• At mile 11, we begin a steep climb up to Service Road, which is as close to riding a roller coaster on a bike as one can get! The rolling hills make for a fun and fast ride!
• At mile 38, we pass by Da Hedge, a figurative wall of children attending the Cape Cod Sea Camps, cheering us on. As is tradition, our team rides by Da Hedge together, champagne glasses held high in toast to their support!
• At mile 53, my teammate Lance's family passes out Twizzlers to the riders at the top of a particularly steep hill. We always stop to say hi (and to down a Red Bull!).
• At mile 64, we begin the final leg of the day, riding on Route 6 in Truro into Provincetown. This is head down, pedal to the medal time. Unfortunately, this year we had a strong and steady headwind from this point in the ride on. It took all our collective effort to go somewhat slowly on this stretch, but we made it!
• At mile 76, my team pauses for a moment, one mile from the finish line, to take the traditional team photo at the entrance to Herring Cove Beach. We once again raise our champagne glasses, this time to each other for another ride well ridden.

Team Kinetic Karma finishes another great PMC!

I never get tired talking about how wonderful the Pan-Mass Challenge is. Everywhere you look, there is inspiration. The 19-year-old cancer survivor thanking me for riding while he fills my water bottle. The supporter who claps for us next to their hand-written "I'm alive because of you" sign. The massage therapist who is on his 20th 15-minute massage of the day, telling me that I did the hard work of the day (I respectfully disagree). The PMC is a slice of the good of humanity that everyone should experience, now more than ever.

Thanks to my incredible supporters, I have raised over $11,000 this year, but I am still short of my $12,000 fundraising goal. If you haven't made your donation yet, I hope that this summary inspired you to make a contribution. 100% of your donation will directly support programs and research that are saving lives. Together, we will make cancer history. Thank you!