Pan-Mass Challenge’s Starr spokesman for important cause - The Boston Globe

Pan-Mass Challenge’s Starr spokesman for important cause - The Boston Globe

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11 Days...

...until I check in at Sturbridge, pick up my official PMC jersey, and attempt to get a good night's rest before our 5:30 am start.

I had dinner tonight with my aunt Nancy -- a 6-year veteran of the PMC and Wellesley to Bourne rider this year -- and we spent most of the night chatting about what an incredible experience it is! And I quote: "It's the best thing I have ever done in my life." With that kind of a review, I can't help but feel super excited (squeee!).

An Eight Hour Tour

90 miles? No problem.

I wouldn't say it was an easy ride -- miles 60-80 were verrrry slow due to the repetitive scenery in the state forest -- but I felt like I had extra energy at the end, and experienced minimal soreness the next day. S-U-C-C-E-S-S!

I actually think that one of the biggest challenges we faced was trying to find an exciting 90-mile route on an island that is less than 30 miles wide!

The weather was perfect: partly cloudy but not too hot with patches of fog that kept things interesting. One minute we were basking in the sun and the next minute it felt like we had just ridden into an industrial refrigerator. Very cool -- literally...

{A break at 41.5 miles - Aquinnah Cliffs}

Having made it through the longest training ride, my nerves about the ride itself are all but gone. Especially when I think about the adrenaline that will be pumping through my system during the big event.

Time to taper... T-2.5 weeks!

"Cos we're all in this together..."

Lately, whenever I think about the PMC, Ben Lee's song "We're All In This Together" inevitably pops into my head:



And it's true, we're all in the fight against cancer together. We may not be able to cure cancer tomorrow or in 5 years, but I believe that with every dollar I raise and every mile that I ride, we get a little closer. In less than a month I will be riding my bike for two days with 5,000 people who feel the same way. And that, my friends, is so exciting!

If you wanna be in this with me, make a gift to my PMC Paceline page. They changed the interface so now you can make a donation in someone's name and a little bike with your name above it will appear. Right now, I'm all alone! Ben Lee would not approve.

22 days and counting...

Circa Nineteen Ninety-Awkward Phase

This gem of a photo was taken during one of our first family bike rides on the Vineyard. I'm on the left rocking my favorite Limited Too shirt and I think some shorts from Land's End. I still have that mountain bike.

Paradise North: Martha's Vineyard

For almost half my life, I have been spending (part or all of) my summers on the cape and Martha's Vineyard. It started out with weekend family bike rides along the Cape Cod canal and now I get to spend summer weekends at a little slice of heaven my parents call "Paradise North" -- our house outside Edgartown, MA.

Last weekend I went on a great 40-mile training ride around the island. There are several scenic bike paths that transverse the entire island making it easy and safe to explore the island on two wheels. This time I started in Katama, rode along State Beach into Oaks Bluff, up to Vineyard Haven, and then looped around West Tisbury and back:

It was a great ride, I felt fast when the wind wasn't blowing, and am getting more confident on the downhills. One lesson learned: hydrate and eat before I feel hungry or else my blood sugar might drop too low! I felt pretty sick (a.k.a. "bonked") after the ride, but thanks to a few Starbursts from Ingrid, I was back to normal in no time.

On Thursday I am heading back over and will do two big rides this weekend - 90 and 50 miles - that will take me "up island" to Aquinnah. There are some breathtaking cliffs and more challenging terrain. With decent weather in the forecast and lots of ground to cover it already looks like this is going to be a fantastic weekend -- I can't wait!

Happy Fourth of July :)

Partying for a Cause

Two weeks ago Sweetwater cafe donated their bar to Kevin, me, and over 70 of our friends and co-workers for an 80s party/PMC fundraiser.

{resting between games}

{Jeff, Meghan, and Chen}

{taking a break from the action}

The event was structured around a beruit (beer pong for some) tournament and we had 36 teams participate. As the theme was 80s movies, the ghostbusters, karate kid, crocodile dundee, and Ferris Bueller all made an appearance.

{they love the 80s}

{ghost busters!}

{karate kids}

We had some great prizes donated from local organizations including Zipcar, the Red Sox, Vineyard Vines, Boston Sports Club, and Sam Adams. The victors (alas, I was eliminated in the second round and didn't do well in the losers bracket) won a 12-month supply of Sam Adams beer.

{the bully from "Just One of the Guys" and Elliot from "ET"}

{the prize table}

{Tad and Meg}

Everyone had a great time and the evening raised a grand total of $1,970 dollars. That puts both Kevin and me a quarter of the way towards our final goals of $4,200.

Thanks to all who came out and a special thanks to Pete (the emcee) and Colin who helped organize the event. Looking forward to more like it!

{Blues Brothers, aka Colin and Pete}