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!