PMC Training in the Green Mountains

The Lesbaru loaded with our bikes!

Last Saturday, Ian and I drove up to Vermont to ride in the Long Trail Century Ride, which benefits Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, an organization that empowers people of all abilities through inclusive sports and recreational programming, regardless of ability to pay. We were both excited to support this cause and to ride the 60-mile that the ride organizers had put together. Riding in a state whose motto includes the word "mountain" was a good way to train for the PMC as well!

A few of my Team Kinetic Karma teammates (Joe, Vicky, Amanda, and Christine), joined Ian and me on the ride. The route is gorgeous and simple - only 5 turns - which helped us keep our focus on conquering the climbs instead of fumbling with a cue sheet. The route starts with a gradual downhill with some rolling hills. Then, around mile 10, you start a 6-mile, 700-foot ascent. Ian, Christine, and I skipped the awkwardly placed rest stop at the tippy top of the hill (just on the side of the road, no real place to pull off comfortably) and spun out our legs on the fast, bumpy descent. We met up with Joe, Vicky, and Amanda at the second rest stop (37 miles in). After saying goodbye and getting back on the road, a nice Canadian gentleman joined our paceline. Then he dropped his chain and we ditched him like true patriots. Murica!

There was a gradual ascent that led back into another gradual descent - we took advantage of our momentum and picked up the pace. My average speed kept climbing as we approached the Brewery (and BEER). We finished earlier than expected, just before 1 PM - just as the heat of the day was settling in.

I decided in advance that I'd be happy with a 16 mph average. I haven't been training as much as I usually do, and it was a new course in a mountainous state. I set the bar low. Way too low apparently. We finished with an average speed of 18.2! Those are PMC Day 2 speeds for me, not June training ride speeds! I have Christine and Ian to thank for doing much of the pulling!

This is just one of the many training rides I will need to undertake to prepare for my 3-day, 275-mile Pan-Mass Challenge ride in August. Please consider making a donation to support my efforts to raise money for the Jimmy Fund! 100% of your donation will go directly to the Jimmy Fund in support of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's life-saving research and compassionate care. Please visit my fundraising page to make your donation today. Thanks!