COMMITTED to a Re-Imagined PMC

I am COMMITTED!

Yesterday, I crossed the 600-mile threshold for bike training rides this season. I've been riding a lot, but I haven't had a clear picture of what I was training for. Typically, I know exactly what to expect each Pan-Mass Challenge weekend, though there are always surprises! I remained committed to riding and fundraising, I just didn't know exactly what form my ride would take.

A few teammates and I have decided to re-imagine our PMC together! On Thursday, July 30, I will ride from my house in Milton to my teammate Stephen's house in Medfield, then ride down to pick up the standard Sturbridge-Provincetown route in Wrentham. After that, we will follow the PMC route all the way to Bourne. We will continue riding by crossing the Bourne Bridge (a typical PMC Day 2 element), then turn south to ride to my team captain's house in Falmouth. My re-imagined Day 1 will be 106.5 miles.

On our re-imagined Day 2 (on Friday, July 31), we will ride from Falmouth to Provincetown, largely following the standard PMC Day 2 route, but making some deviations for safety (we won't have the luxury of police slowing down traffic or managing traffic at intersections like the PMC typically has). We also have another deviation to our route, but I will talk more about that in the coming weeks. We will finish in traditional PMC fashion - with a ride through the dunes in Provincetown and my team's "champagne" toast at Herring Cove Beach! Our re-imagined Day 2 will be another century - 100.5 miles.

That brings my re-imagined PMC to two days and 207 miles - longer than the typical PMC, which is 192 miles! This will be the first time since 2001 that I will ride two centuries (100+ miles in a day) on consecutive days. With my increased level of training this year, I should be able to complete these rides with minimal pain! Of course, we will ride safe, socially distanced, wearing masks, and in small groups.

I hope that my commitment to this ride and to raise $10,000 inspires you to commit to making a donation for a cancer-free world. 100% of your donation will go straight to the Jimmy Fund in support of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's life-saving research and cancer treatment. Now more than ever, this amazing institution needs our contributions to continue to make cancer HISTORY. Thank you for your support!

Putting in the Work

Today marked 479 training miles so far this year!

Although the Pan-Mass Challenge is being "re-imagined" as a virtual ride this year, that hasn't stopped me and my fellow riders from putting in the work. Working from home full-time has its challenges, but one of the huge benefits is having no commute. That means that I have 8-10 more hours a week to play with. Lately, I feel like most of that time is being taken up by more work, unfortunately. However, I have been carving out Thursday mornings and a weekend day for training rides.

This morning, I left home at 7 AM and headed for the bicycle-friendly roads in the Dover/Medfield area. The forecast was for wind and humidity - normally two weather attributes that are NOT fun on a bike. Luckily, the wind was in a favorable direction, so for the last half of the ride I had a tailwind. The roads were surprisingly quiet which was a welcome surprise! On a similar ride last week, I encountered numerous detours, but I was armed with that knowledge this time and avoided most of them.

Putting in the work isn't just about riding, though. Today, I am launching my fundraising campaign in earnest. Sadly, cancer isn't practicing social distancing during the pandemic. In fact, fear of infection is keeping many people away from medical appointments, where many cancer diagnoses begin. Additionally, those currently fighting cancer are especially vulnerable to the symptoms of COVID-19, and their compromised immune systems struggle to fight the disease.

Thankfully, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is doing everything it can do to support patients and advance research during this time. They have adapted their practices to ensure the health and safety of patients, their families, doctors, nurses, technicians, and staff. Dana-Farber continues to be one of the leading cancer research hospitals in the world. Now more than ever, your donations are critical to ensuring the fight against cancer continues to advance.

100% of your donation will go directly to the Jimmy Fund, Dana-Farber's fundraising arm, to fund the innovative research and compassionate care that Dana-Farber conducts every day, pandemic or no pandemic. Over the next few months, I will update you on the recent innovations that Dana-Farber has made happen directly because of the funds that YOU donate.

Please help me reach my goal of raising $10,000 in this, my 17th year of riding the PMC, by making your donation today. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart!