Rain Out Ride

Ugh… training is not going well. I had an hour or so at the end of the day, so I quickly hopped on my bike. I made it about 5 1/2 miles out and it started to rain. HARD. One of those summer storms that turn everything black and you can’t see because it is raining so hard. And conveniently, I was on my bicycle.

I did find some shelter, waited out the rain for a little bit, and got picked up by Michele. Then she, Shannon, and I went out for Mexican at Zen Cantina, so all was not lost.

Hopefully, I can get a good ride in soon.

MapMyRide.com – Training Ride on 07/11/2010

While on vacation with Michele and Shannon (plus Michele’s parents and sister), I was able to get out on my newly tuned up bike for a training ride. The Jamis did well, and so did I. We were in Bethany Beach, DE and I rode south to Ocean City and back. Grand total of nearly 26 miles in about 90 minutes. Good ride, great scenery.

MapMyRide.com Training Ride on 07/11/2010.

Training Begins

For a number of reasons, I have delayed starting my training this year for the 2010 PMC. The 190+ mile adventure begins in a little over a month, and I picked this morning to start my training. Let me tell you a little about Monday, July 5th in Baltimore, MD, USA. It gets hot, very HOT, very quickly in the morning. When I left the house it was 74 degrees. Ninety minutes (and not many miles later) when I returned to the house, it was 94 degrees.

So, heat, not enough hydration, some bike issues, and not having trained in 9 months all led to a BONK! It was not a bad one, but it was nevertheless not the start to the condensed training season that I was looking for.

The 31st PMC starts in Sturbridge in 32 days. I gotta get on the horse and ride.

What can you do to help? Donate! The PMC will raise over $31 million this year for life-saving cancer research and treatment. I guarantee you know someone who is going through cancer treatment right now. I also guarantee you that someone close to you will be diagnosed with cancer someday. Help give the gift of life today!
Please donate at my PMC page: http://www.pmc.org/profile/AS0171.

Thank you for your continued support!

Tonight: Team Forza-G Strategy Meeting

Well, actually, I think some members of the team are really just going to get together for some Pho and adult beverages in the South End, but thoughts will turn to spring and summer, training and fundraising. Should be a fun time. Here are some goals I have for our little meeting:
1. Don’t be the first one there or the last one to leave.
2. Don’t laugh at any stupid jokes/retorts by Joe Tack.
3. Suggest Team Forza-G blog.
4. Unwittingly become Team Forza-G blog guru.
5. Have fun!

Tomorrow, if I remember what happens at this gathering, I will post a recap. Cheers!

I might be a little crazy

Today, I have registered for my 3rd PMC! I am very excited. Here is a rundown of this year’s commitment

1. Ride the PMC from Sturbridge to Bourne (August 1) and Bourne to Provincetown (August 2), a total of 192 miles.

2. Ride with Team Forza G on July 31 from the New York/Massachusetts border to Sturbridge, another 110 or so miles.

3. Raise a minimum of $6,700 with my actual goal being $7,500.

4. Help Team Forza-G raise over $150,000 for the Jimmy Fund.

So you tell me – crazy?

Off-season Injury Report

I am officially on the disabled list from all things active. Last Sunday, I injured my right knee playing soccer. As it turns out, I have something (a sprain, strain, or partial tear) in my lateral collateral ligament. There maybe some meniscus damage as well. I was told that if I was Tom Brady, I would have gotten an MRI before seeing my doctor on Tuesday afternoon. Well, last time I checked, this guy – not Tom Brady. So, no MRI.

It is now Saturday morning, the knee is still sore and achy. I have better range of motion, but it still hurts when I climb stairs. It is like my knee is telling me “hey there – don’t do that”! In about a week to ten days, I will start physical therapy and hopefully in a month or so, I can return to playing soccer and maybe get on my bike. 

Want to learn more about knee injuries? I found this site very helpful.

10 Days Til We Ride Out from Sturbridge!

Wow, where does the time go? It is only 10 days until the start of the 2008 PMC ride and I feel like I am ready to go. Last Friday, I did a great ride with fellow PMC rider and fellow Harpooner Liz on one of the hottest day of the years. We started out in Somerville at 6:30 AM, rode through Cambridge, Arlington, Belmont, Waltham, Weston, Wellesley, Dover, and Natick. We had lunch across the street from the Bacon Free Library. I don’t know if I can support such a library. Then we rode back to Somerville! The final result was 76 miles. EPIC!

I did get to sit on the bike a little bit over the weekend, nothing major, just getting around. Then I did a 36 mile ride on Monday morning out to Concord and Carlisle. Brisk pace, saw some other members of Team Forza-G on the road, and tried not to get too lost. Finished this ride in a little over 2 hours.

I am ready to roll from Sturbridge. I will be in Vermont for the rest of this week and will be riding most mornings, hitting the hills around the Harpoon Brewery in Windsor, Vermont. I am confident that my second PMC will go just as well as the first, maybe with a little less saddle-soreness (new word!) because I’ll be a little bit quicker on the rode!

MUST SEE TV ALERT: New England Cable News (NECN) will be airing the 2008 PMC Opening Ceremonies live from Sturbridge on Friday, August 1 from 8 PM to 9 PM. Sit down and see what the PMC is all about.

12 YEARS: This Thursday, July 24th is the 12th anniversary of my LAST and FINAL radiation treatment. I hope that you will help me celebrate this occasion by making a donation to my PMC ride in honor of this anniversary. You can do so in multiples of 12! You know – 12, 24, 48, 96, 192! Hey, like 192 miles (the distance from Sturbridge to Bourne!). Thanks so much!

10 days til Sturbridge!

Training this week

With less than three weeks to go before the PMC, training is picking up this week. On Sunday, I hit the Harvard Hills of Harvard, MA with a good friend. Not a long ride, but lots of big hills. Took us about 90 minutes. Then, yesterday, after fixing some problems I have been having with my front brakes, I did what I like to call a ‘power hour’. All out pedaling, no coasting, no messing around, for 60 minutes.

check out Sunday's Harvard Hills ride

Later today, I am heading out for some mountain biking to get in some quality cross-training in Middlesex Fells. On Friday, there are plans in the works a 60 to 70 mile ride. That will be big training ride prior to the PMC.