Another PMC Weekend in the Books!

I'm back home from yet another amazing PMC weekend! Even though I extended the weekend by riding from the New York border to Sturbridge (making it a full Pan-MASS Challenge), the weekend went by too fast! Here's a day-by-day recap of the event.
Day 0 - Hillsdale, NY to Sturbridge

My teammates (Dave, Lance, Kevin, and Chris) and I awoke at 5:45 AM (that's sleeping in on PMC weekend) on Friday to prepare for our trek through the Berkshires. We met up with 23 other riders at the New York/Massachusetts border at 7:00 AM and we hit the road at 7:30. If you look at the trip profile, you can see that the first 35 miles or so are incredibly hilly - we went from an elevation of 700 to 1,600 over 25 miles before descending from 1,400 feet of elevation to 200 feet over five miles. Boy was that descent a rush!
Once we entered the Pioneer Valley, we were given a police escort to enhance our safety as we traveled through the Springfield area. We whizzed through Westfield, West Springfield, Springfield, East Longmeadow, Wilbraham, and Palmer thanks to the police in each of those towns. What great support!
The ride leaders organized several rest stops stocked with water and snacks. In East Longmeadow, just over 60 miles into the day, the lunch stop was filled with supporters of Brielle's Brigade, one of the teams we rode with. It was a great preview of the PMC!
We finished the day around 4 PM as we rode together to the Sturbridge Host Hotel, where the PMC officially begins. I grabbed my luggage, checked into my hotel room, registered for my 7th PMC, and met up with my teammates for the traditional carbo-load dinner provided for us. Following dinner, I attended the PMC Opening Ceremonies - check out some of the highlights on NECN!
Day 1 - Sturbridge to Bourne

Day 1 is an early one - I awoke at 3:45 AM in order to be dressed, fed, and in line to start the ride at 5:30 AM sharp. Though the sky was dark when I arrived at the start line, everyone was beaming with excitement to begin the ride. Our brightly colored jerseys seemed to light up the place. As the national anthem was sung, my heart raced in anticipation. We're off!
For the first few miles, we rode on Route 20, which at this location is a multi-lane divided highway. It gives us plenty of space to go at our own speed and to spin our legs to warm up for the impending hills. After turning onto Route 31 we hit our first hill - a doozie! They don't call it the Pan-Mass CHALLENGE for nothing! I met up with my friend Kim (see photo), who was volunteering at the first rest stop. Thanks for volunteering, Kim!
There are many special moments on Day 1 - riding through the party atmosphere of Cherry Street in Wrentham, arriving at the lunch stop at mile 69 to see ALL the riders (this is where the riders that started in Wellesley join the traditional route), seeing the smiling faces of all the pedal partners in Lakeville, and seeing the Bourne Bridge, indicating that the day is almost done! This year's most special moment occurred at the finish line of Day 1. With 15 miles left to go on Day 1, a fellow rider, Joanna, joined our paceline and rode with us to Bourne. She told us that she was riding with her two sisters in honor of their father, who battled cancer for seven months before passing away this past June. As we crossed the Day 1 finish line, she burst into tears, completely overwhelmed by emotion. We hugged her and told her that her father was proud of her. These emotional scenes are very common on PMC weekend.
At 109.4 miles, Day 1 is certainly a challenge for any rider. It was especially challenging for me this year because of my Day 0 ride, but also because I tried to keep up with the fastest members of my team. Though I lagged behind on some hills, I finished the day strong, averaging 18.1 mph, a personal record. We arrived at the Mass Maritime Academy (the overnight stop) at 1:50 PM, another personal record. I parked my bike, signed up for a massage, showered, and grabbed a beer - time to relax!
After six years of suffering in the heat of the dorms, I chose to bunk on the MMA's air conditioned training ship this year. Doing so required a trade-off, however - to gain air conditioning, I had to give up all my personal space! I was assigned a bunk (one of three in a stack) in a room of 60 bunks! However, when it was time to sleep (8:15 PM!) I was comfortable. Those earplugs sure did come in handy! I needed all the rest I could get for Day 2.
Day 2 - Bourne to Provincetown

Day 2 is another early day - I was up at 4:15 AM to get ready and meet my team for breakfast. On Day 1, all riders wear the official PMC jersey for that year, but on Day 2, riders are encouraged to wear jerseys that identify their team or who they ride for. My team, Team Kinetic Karma, wore our bright yellow and blue jerseys and shorts. This makes it a lot easier to identify each other on the road!
We took off from the MMA at 5:45 AM and climbed up and over the Bourne Bridge. Despite the early hour, there are always spectators there to cheer us on! We watched the sun rise over the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges as we traveled along the Cape Cod Canal Bike Path - beautiful!
Day 2 is filled with milestones that make the day go by so quickly - flying up and down the rolling hills on Service Road, traveling past the quaint inns and restaurants along 6A, and riding by Da Hedge, a quarter mile of hundreds of pre-teen campers shortly before the second rest stop. Cape Codders love the PMC, and we love them back!
The second water stop on Day 2 is always a special one. The volunteers always give the stop a tropical theme, the tunes blast from the sound system, and riders smile, knowing they're halfway to P-town. Jack makes it special too - every year he stands with his sign "I'm (age) thanks to you!". He's become the most famous PMC supporter in his 12 years of posing with his sign - he's 14 now! Next year, when he turns 15, he'll be riding the PMC among the rest of us! I hope he still brings his sign.

The toughest stretch of Day 2's ride occurs in the last leg of the day - Wellfleet to P-town. Besides being tired from already having ridden 170 miles (or 260 in my case!), the hills in Truro and the Provincelands do an number on your quads and your mind. You feel so close, yet gravity holds you back on those hill climbs. Finally, the Pilgrim Monument comes into view and you know you're close. Just before the finish line, my team stopped to take a photo. We packed plastic champagne glasses in our pockets and toasted to yet another fantastic PMC ride! And no, that's not actually champagne in our glasses - it's Gatorade! We crossed the finish line at 12 noon - another successful PMC weekend completed! Oh, and that's Joanna from Day 1 kneeling next to me - I think we have a new teammate!
This year's PMC went so well - the weather was near-perfect (it could have been a little warmer on Saturday morning, and the winds were a bit much on the Outer Cape, but who's complaining?). My teammates made the ride challenging and fun. The volunteers made everything easier thanks to fluffernutters, peanut butter bananas, and their positive attitudes! The supporters along the route inspired us all to push a little harder, reminding us of why we ride. I already can't wait for next year!
Billy Starr, founder of the PMC, announced that, as of Friday, riders had raised $21 million toward our $31 million goal. There is still plenty of time to make your donation. I am only $450 away from achieving my fundraising goal of $6,300. 100% of your donation will go directly to the Jimmy Fund in support of innovative cancer research that will one day eradicate the disease.

Let this photo of my favorite sign from PMC weekend inspire you to make your donation today. Click here to become part of the solution and part of that "U"!

Here We Go...

Seven months of planning, five months and 1,200 miles of training, and four months of fundraising have finally led up to this moment. Today I will begin my extended Pan-Mass Challenge journey as I travel to Hillsdale, NY to prepare for my first of three days of riding. Here's a day-by-day preview of my weekend:
Day -1 (Thursday): My dad is picking me up at 3 PM and will drive me to the New York/Massachusetts border where I'll spend the night in a motel to prepare for tomorrow's ride. Before then, I need to finish packing and send out my last fundraising emails and Facebook messages. Busy day!
Day 0 (Friday): I'll be arising at 5:30 AM (that's sleeping in on PMC weekend!), gather my things, and proceed to the starting location of the ride, right on the state border. After a few ceremonial photos, we'll roll off on our way to Sturbridge at 7:30 AM. Along the way we'll be climbing some long and steep hills as we traverse the Berkshire mountains before descending into the Pioneer Valley (my homeland!). We'll be provided with a few rest stops, including a curiously located oasis at the Magic Lantern in Palmer (yes, THAT Magic Lantern). Finally, around 4 PM, we'll arrive in Sturbridge to start the official PMC experience.
Day 1 (Saturday): I'll awaken much earlier on Saturday, probably around 3:45 AM (the ride begins at 5:30!). I'm so excited about all the milestones I now know to anticipate - seeing my friend Kim at her volunteer post in Whitinsville, being greeted by the puffy ladies at the Franklin water stop, seeing the Over the Hill Cheerleaders, riding down Cherry Street, seeing Charlotte at the Pedal Partner water stop in Lakeville, and seeing the Bourne Bridge in the distance upon arriving at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy to close the day. It'll be a 111-mile day but I'm sure I'll end it with a huge smile on my face.
Day 2 (Sunday): Sunday is another early day - my teammates and I are planning to hit the road at 5:30 AM again. There are more milestones on Day 2: climbing the steeper-than-you-think Bourne Bridge at sunrise, speeding along the Cape Cod Canal bike path, riding the roller coaster that is Service Road, Da Hedge, seeing Jack (He'll be holding a sign saying "I'm 14 thanks to you") at Nickerson State Park, taking in the ocean views on Ocean View Drive, seeing the Over the Hill Cheerleaders (yes, again!), and climbing the dunes in Provincetown before arriving at the finish line.
This may seem like a lot, but trust me, it all goes by in a flash. It takes a lot of concentration just to be able to take it all in. I'll be updating Facebook throughout the ride so that you can get a better sense of what the PMC is all about. So stay tuned!
I am so close to reaching my fundraising goal, but I still need your help to put me over the edge. I hope to raise $900 more dollars in order to meet my $6,300 fundraising goal. Perhaps you've been inspired by my commitment to the ride, or Charlotte's brave fight against her childhood leukemia, or your own personal experiences with cancer in yourself or a loved one. Your donation will send a strong message that you believe in a cancer-free future. 100 percent of your donation will go directly to the Jimmy Fund in support of innovative cancer research and compassionate patient care at Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, one of the world's leading cancer centers. Now is the time - click here to make your donation today.
Thank you,
Jared

We Ride For...

Nearly everyone has been touched by cancer personally - you may have a friend or loved one that has battled the disease, or you may have battled it yourself. The strength and courage exhibited by those cancer afflicts, whether or not they are successful at fighting off the disease, inspires us to do something - give platelets, volunteer our time, open our wallets, and, in my (and 5,200 other people's) case, ride a bicycle across Massachusetts.
I ride for my own reasons, but for yours as well. Last year, PMC organizers began a new tradition at the overnight stop between the two riding days in Bourne. They made huge "We Ride For..." banners for riders to write the names of those who have inspired them to ride and those who have inspired their supporters to make donations to advance cancer research to one day make cancer history. These banners then fly high over the finish line, reminding us all why we do what we do. Last year, I wrote the name Emily Brooks, my grandmother who died while undergoing her battle with cancer twelve years ago. This year, I'll write her name again, not just for me, but for my mom and her six siblings who lost their mother to cancer and for my grandfather who lost his wife, companion, and friend.
I'd like to write the names of everyone that inspires YOU to support this worthy cause. Is there someone that you would like for me to ride in honor or in memory of? Leave a comment and send me an email with their name(s) by Thursday at noon, and I'll bring the list to Bourne to write them all, to tell the world who "We Ride For."

It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This!

The start of the Pan-Mass Challenge is days away (five, but who's counting?), and the preliminary weather forecasts are starting to roll in. In early August, you generally expect to deal with oppressive heat and humidity until late afternoon, when dark clouds roll in and pour their contents on an overheated world (Mesdames and Messieurs, it appears the cloud goddess is ripe with rain babies! - where is this quote from?).
Well, not this year, apparently. The image above is from the 10-day Weather.com forecast for Bourne, the midpoint of the Pan-Mass Challenge. This is excellent news! While it won't be cool at, say, 2 PM, it will be a comfortable temperature for most of our riding time (which, I remind all of you, includes the 5:00 AM hour on Saturday and Sunday!). And those "0% symbols next to the temperatures - those are the chance of rain on each day! I couldn't ask for anything more. Well....
There is still plenty of time for you to make a donation to support my Pan-Mass Challenge ride. While I have reached the minimum fundraising commitment (thanks, friends!), who is satisfied with the bare minimum? I'm not, so my goal is to raise $6,300, and I need donations totaling $1,600 to make it happen. Make your donation today! Click here to visit my fundraising page. Thank you!

Pan-Mass Challenge - Now 50% Longer!

Though the event is called the "Pan-Massachusetts" Challenge, the traditional Sturbridge to Provincetown route does not span the entire state. While Provincetown is indeed the "end of the road," Sturbridge is in Central Massachusetts. A few years ago, a group of riders from Western Massachusetts (my homeland) decided to start their PMC weekend a little early in order to tackle the Berkshire Mountains in the western portion of the state, in order to make it a true Pan-MASS Challenge.
This year I'll be joining them, along with a few of my Team Kinetic Karma teammates. The ride on Friday, which begins at the New York border in Hillsdale, spans about 87 miles. We'll encounter multiple long climbs, including a 10-mile climb of over 1,000 feet in elevation. We'll then descend into the Pioneer Valley, cross the Connecticut River, and ride on to Sturbridge.
I've decided to add to the already challenging PMC route for a few reasons. First, I've increased my fundraising goal by 50% this year, so it only makes sense to raise my riding commitment in the same way. Second, I have a great group of teammates I'll be riding with, who will motivate me up those hills. And finally, I have the time and the energy, so why the heck not?
I hope that this demonstrates to you my commitment to the cause. If I ride longer and harder, perhaps it'll inspire you to dig a little deeper, all in the name of a cancer-free future. Do it for yourself and your loved ones. Do it for those who have inspired you by their strength in fighting cancer. Do it for Charlotte. Click here to make your donation today. Thank you!

The Spirit of the Pan-Mass Challenge

The annual Pan-Mass Challenge ride has become a Massachusetts tradition, like the fireworks on the Charles on the 4th and the Boston Marathon. Now in its 31st year, the PMC has made a huge impact not only on cancer research and care (through the $270 million that the event has raised for the Jimmy Fund), but also through restoring the faith in humanity of everyone involved in the event. The PMC is a weekend filled with good spirit and camaraderie, and that's what makes it my favorite weekend of the year. I've written ride reports for the last two years - they contain a full review of each year's ride. Here I'll touch on the highlights of the weekend, so for a full recap, click here for 2008 and here for 2009.
On Friday evening, riders assemble at the two starting locations (Sturbridge and Wellesley) to register for the ride, eat one last carbo-loading dinner, and watch the opening ceremonies, which are telecast on NECN. We're all reminded of why we ride - a nurse who is riding the PMC in memory of a favorite patient (and past PMC rider); a child who has bravely battled cancer (not once but twice); the families of loved ones who lost their battles with cancer but ride to preserve their memory. Friday prepares you emotionally for what is to come along the route over the next two days.
Saturday morning. Up early after only a few hours of sleep (who could sleep with so much excitement!). This is when you get a sense of the magnitude of this event. The photo at the top of this post gives you an idea of what it's like to be in Sturbridge at 5:30 AM. It's a moving sea of spandex. You feel like you're really part of something. When we roll out of the starting line and make those first pedal strokes, you realize you have a long way to go but have the best company in the world - 5,500 other riders, 3,000 volunteers, and countless supporters lining the route cheering you on and saying "thank you."
The next two days are filled with steep hills, long descents, Gatorade, peanut butter bananas, sore quad muscles, sweat, and smiles. The hills and sore muscles evoke the suffering of those fighting cancer. While not even close to the pain that cancer fighters endure, it is humbling to put my body through stress in recognition of their fight. The smiles and high-fives from children along the route remind me of how strong children undergoing cancer treatment must be. They remind me that cancer doesn't care who you are - it is a merciless disease.
When approaching the finish line in Provincetown on the second day, all the feelings that I've had over the past two days well up and overwhelm me. I'm excited to have achieved the goal of completing this physical challenge, but I wish somehow the good will and PMC spirit would continue on. That's why it's so easy to come back each and every year - this is truly the best weekend of the year.
I encourage you all to be a part of this event at some level. Consider riding or volunteering next year. Join us along the route to experience the PMC spirit first-hand (let me know if you need directions). Or do something RIGHT NOW. Make a donation to support this amazing event. It's an event so well-supported that 100% of your donation will go directly to the Jimmy Fund in support of cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Your support means the world to me and everyone at the PMC, the Jimmy Fund, and Dana-Farber. Together, we will make cancer HISTORY!
To make your donation, visit my fundraising page. Thank you!

A Round of Successes

I've had a lot of successes on the PMC front as of late. Since it's been a while since I posted a training/fundraising update, I have lots of news to share. Grab a cocktail, sit back, and relax (and read on!).
1. Flatbread Company Benefit Night was a huge success! For those of you who didn't know, I held a fundraising event at the brand new Flatbread Company restaurant in Davis Square last Tuesday. A ton of people (including over 50 friends and friends-of-friends) came out to support my PMC ride. By the end of the night, we had raised $350 in raffle ticket sales (congrats to the winners!), $72 in homemade cupcake sales (thanks Wendy!) and a whopping $494.75 in proceeds from pizza sales! That's well over $900, all of which goes directly to the Jimmy Fund. Not bad for an evening's work.  
Fundraising event: SUCCESS!
2. Team Kinetic Karma rode to visit Charlotte, our pedal partner, who is currently undergoing treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Not everyone on the team was able to join us, but we made a strong presence at the Casgar household. Shy at first (who wouldn't be with a dozen men and women in head-to-toe spandex outfits in her driveway), Charlotte opened up and showed us her caterpillar toy. It really moves! :) We're all looking forward to seeing Charlotte and her family having fun at the "Pedal Partner" water stop in Lakeville on the first day of the PMC.
Making a child with cancer smile: SUCCESS!
3. Climb to the Clouds is an annual cycling event organized by Charles River Wheelmen, the local bike club. The ride includes a monumental climb up aptly-named Mile Hill Road to the Visitor's Center atop Mount Wachusett, just north of Worcester. My teammates and I started in Bolton and conquered the mountain together. In order to tack on some more miles, I continued my ride past the parking lot where we started the day to my house in Arlington. I finished the day strong with 92 miles and 3,658 feet of climbing under my belt. Click here for a map of the route and my stats for the day.
Being physically prepared for the PMC: SUCCESS!
So you can tell I've had a pretty successful couple of weeks. But real success will have happened when I've completed the 192-mile journey from Sturbridge to Provincetown and when I've achieved my goal of raising $6,300 for the Jimmy Fund in support of cancer research and care at Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. I'm hoping to ride this momentum for the next 18 days before the start of the PMC. Please make a donation today. Click here to support the cause and to be a part of a cancer-free future. Thank you for your support!