$39 Million Dollars... Thank you!

The Pan Mass Challenge presented a check to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute last Sunday for $39 MILLION DOLLARS (!!)... I'm so amazed.

THANK YOU for ALL of the support you gave us this year. Whether you donated to the PMC or the EOD Ride -- (or Angel Flight NE, American Diabetes Association, or the Vermont Foodbank) -- YOUR support and encouragement for Team Cronin is part of that $39 Million dollar check! It's a lot for us to all to be proud of... and I'm guessing Will would say it was worth wearing a skirt for. THANK YOU!!

Post-PMC Fun

Will, feeling confident at 4:30 am

Pan Mass Challenge 2013 is in the books. I can say that this year's ride was pretty solid, and made up for last year's sorry state of affairs. It was only my second time riding the Sunday route with Will, and there were a few moments during the weekend that I missed riding the original 2 day ride, but I wouldn't trade Sunday's ride for any of my previous PMCs. Will and I certainly have our moments... and the argument we had just ten minutes from the finish that left our fellow Cyclopaths snickering as they took off like a shot... that was just classic. The pace was too fast for him -- and had been all day -- and I knew it and didn't let up. Because you all know the kid didn't cut me any slack last year as I rode that PMC with my hand in a cast! Ha, ha, ha... no mercy, right?

So one more photo of Will... in his skirt... because I just can't get enough of reliving that moment. Love this kid.

PMC 2013. Best one yet.

Lost Adventures on the PMC

Grabbing a banana at Gillette

After we caught up to the sea of riders, (not too difficult), we continued on a quick pace to Gillette Stadium, arriving much earlier than I anticipated (even with the late start!) We caught up to Phil and Ben Rotner and ran into Cyclopaths Ethan, Jeff and Arthur, who all started their ride in Bourne. We all chatted and I took a photo or two, (not many on Sunday), and then we hit the road.

After crossing Route 1 in Foxboro, I knew in my head that we were supposed to bear right towards Walpole, but saw a stream of riders heading straight. There were no directional arrows or signs anywhere. A large pack of 20-30 cyclists were on the side of the road, checking their Garmins and making phone calls to figure out the direction. A second group of riders passed us, so we decided to continue on.

Ha ha ha... we got "lost".

About five or six miles in, we caught up to a group of a dozen riders and joined them for the return trip to Wellesley -- retracing the route we took DOWN to Gillette. (One of the riders in the group knew the way.) I told Will that we could either head back to Gillette and get back on the right route, or stick with the pack no matter how fast or slow they rode. Will agreed to stick with the group. (I wouldn't have been able to get us back to Wellesley on my own -- there were at least two or three points where I could have made another wrong turn.)

The pace was a little too fast for Will, but he gutted it out and kept up for most of the way. Just a few miles from the finish, our "Lost Route" merged with the official return route and we saw a stream of PMC riders on the street ahead. Hooray! Ironically, Jeff, Arthur, Phil & Ben pulled up behind us a minute after the merge! Too funny.

Unfortunately, Will started getting leg cramps, about a mile or two from the finish and needed to pull over. (We lost pace with our "lost" group at that point, and didn't get a chance to say thank you to our ride leader! He saved the day!)

Will loses our wager, dons a skirt.
Crazy PMC!

Will was toast. Since we were just a mile from the finish, I was able to slow the pace down for him to coast back in to Wellesley. He conceded that I had a better ride and he should have trained harder. It was nice to cross the finish line with him... and he looked over at me when it was all over and said, "OK, where's the skirt."

Ha ha ha... I wagered that if I beat him to the finish line this year, he'd have to put on a skirt after the PMC. (Of course the skirt travelled with me to Patriot Place and back for this special moment.) He put it right on, posed for pics, and wore it all afternoon in the PMC tent. Ha! What a sport!

It was a GREAT ride, despite the missing route markers and getting lost. Definitely a fun, crazy and memorable PMC -- The best one of eleven.

Seriously, crazy-fun day

PMC 2013 had a few hiccups. The very minute I hit the highway as we headed down to the Wellesley start, I realized I left my cycling shoes and helmet back home! Argh. (We had to turn around and drive back to Swampscott, adding 40 minutes to the trip.) Not a good way to start the morning!

We arrived in Wellesley with just 15 minutes to spare. Will and I quickly rushed straight to the registration table to get him checked in, (I pre-registered on Friday), and could hear my phone chirping with text messages from Cyclopaths wondering where we were. After Will was checked in, we located the team and snapped a picture or two before the start of the National Anthem. We sure cut it close!

Looking over at Will, Sheldon, Donna and Brenda, I was so excited for them... the countdown was ready to begin... and then I realized, I didn't have my helmet! OMG. Where was it? I quickly ran over to to the sidelines to our fellow teammates who came down to wish us off, but my helmet wasn't there, either. I figured I must have left my helmet in the car -- in the parking lot 10 minutes away! Damn!

Drew grabbed my bike out of the sea of cyclists, and she and Will pulled over to the side while I ran to the car to find my helmet.

Meanwhile, the two of them realized that the announcements broadcast twice over the loud speaker -- "We have someone's helmet and chocolate muffins" -- which we had all laughed at -- had to be MY helmet. Ha ha ha... Drew, Will and I found it on a table with 2 paleo pumpkin muffins inside. (OMG! That's right! My ride fuel! I forgot I had them!)

Ha ha ha... those announcements were about ME. They will never let me live this one down. (Chocolate muffins... ha ha ha...)

Will and I scrambled to catch up with the mass of PMC riders who had a 15 minute head start on us. Not a problem.

It was a crazy, crazy start... but just the beginning of the adventure. (More later.)

PMC Riders in the News

A little press is always good. Swampscott residents take part in 34th annual Pan Mass Challenge charity ride, (Wicked Local Swampscott, August 2, 2013).

Pre-PMC Preparations

Getting ready for PMC 2013

I'm wrapping up a few last minute details before PMC weekend. Today, Geoff over at Fitwerx was super fabulous and gave me my umpteenth lesson on how to change a flat tire, and I think I got it this time! Really! He was so patient with me, and went over every detail... and when it seemed like I was going off course, he'd stop me and show me again -- until I successfully changed yesterday's flat tire. (I'll now be hearing his voice in my head every time I need to fix a flat.) Geoff also fixed the click-click-clicking sound that my bike had been making and driving me nuts since day one. (Finally!) He made my day!

Also on tap for today... making signs for PMC weekend. One of the best parts about being part of a team is the camraderie we share. Donna Cohen is the MASTER at signage, and I can't begin to tell you how great a feeling it is when you're climbing a tough hill and look over and there's a sign on the side of the road just for you. (Thanks, Donna, for the many signs you've made for me over the years!) Donna and I have been busy making signs today. I made one for Shayne too... even though I hate him for yesterday's hill work. (Ha ha...)

Pan Mass Challenge Week

Wow. So hard to believe that the Pan Mass Challenge is next weekend! We have a much smaller North Shore Cyclopaths team this year -- as the fundraising minimum has pushed many of our riders out -- but seventeen Cyclopaths (riders and volunteers) will be participating, including Jeff Brand, Sheldon Brown, Bill Cantor, Brian Carver, Dan Carver, Ethan Forman, Arthur Freedman, Ed Parish, Donna Cohen, Will Cronin, ME (of course), Michael Kelleher., Ann Kelleher, Mike Kelleher Jr., Mike Meehan, Drew Nelson, and Brenda White. (Bill C. is participating in his 30th PMC, turning 90 on August 11th. Amazing!)

This year's challenge sort of snuck up on me as I've been focusing on the (longer) Undefeated/EOD Ride -- but I'm more than ready for it. Will has been training at the gym more than on the bike, but isn't worried. We're both very excited for the weekend and so tremendously grateful to our sponsors for making it possible for us to ride. THANK YOU! for supporting The Jimmy Fund and the PMC! Just 5 more days...

Team Cronin 2013

Will hasn't been on any rides lately, and I needed a more recent photo of the two of us together to include in my fundraising letters -- which I hope to get out soon. (Will's grown so much, the photos of him from last year's PMC seem so ancient!) Chip went into full-on photographer mode and took this great shot of us. Will was going for a noogie... but changed his mind and gave me a kiss instead. It's not the photo I'll use in the newsletter, but I love it. So sweet.

10+ Years with the Pan Mass Challenge

I received a letter in the mail last week, acknowledging 10+ years with the Pan Mass Challenge. It's a nice gesture. Several of my Cyclopath teammates have ridden 20+ years and two are 30+! I'm so proud of them. I know how hard it is to make that commitment and fundraise year after year, and I doubt I'll hit that 20 year mark myself. I fear the slow economy and rising fundraising minimums will likely push me out at some point... but we'll take it year to year. Thank you for supporting us for as long as you have!

I need to get started on my fundraising this week. I finished our newsletter last month but wasn't really ready to send it out. I wanted Will to add something, too, but he was swamped with school work and then had his trip... He promises to finish something in the next day or so.

Thank you to all who have made a donation already -- Anne Cotellessa and Nancy & Fred Cronin, and Linda & Owen Clements on our PMC ride; Linda & Owen Clements, Ed Parish, Deb Claffey, and Margie Detkin to the Undefeated EOD Ride. (Chip, too, for donating some of his earnings from Lego Club.) It means so much to us to have your support. Thank you!

2013 PMC Jersey Design Revealed

The design for this year's PMC jersey was unveiled today. There's been a mixed reaction from our cycling crew. Some like it, (I do) -- some don't. I remember not liking last year's jersey when I saw it online but found it was nice once I saw the actual shirt in August -- with one notable exception.

I don't care for the PMC slogan, "Commit. You'll figure it out.", because most of the time, people can't figure it out, and I have to explain it! Ugh. And being a (North Shore) Cyclopath, having the word "committed" branded boldly across the front of my chest did raise some eyebrows last year. (Cyclopath... committed... it sort of became a joke, which was unfortunate. "Dedicated" would have been a less loaded word.) At least this year the word "committed" is less in-your-face.

So, we have a red/orange/yellow color scheme this year... and I hear red goes with everything.

What's on the Agenda for 2013?

During a typical cycling season, I'll take on three or four charity rides throughout the summer. The Pan Mass Challenge is the big one, of course -- and with Will riding too, our fundraising efforts have doubled. I also often ride the Tour de Cure for the American Diabetes Association, Harpoon Point to Point (for the Vermont Foodbank), and The Sea Glass Ride (for the Sue deVries Cancer Foundation).

My cycle-mates ride similar events, (in addition to the PMC); Arlene, Anne, and both Mike Kellehers, (father and son), ride the MS150 Cape Cod Getaway (CCG). Ethan rides the CCG along with the MS Global for the Accelerated Cure Project. Bruce rides for the Davis Phinney Foundation. Lynda participates in the LiveStrong Challenge. Drew rides for the American Lung Association... I can keep going... we cover them all.

This year, I'm changing things up a little. (I'll fill you in on my plan soon.) I'm not ready to announce my intentions, but did want to let some of you know that I won't be riding this year's Tour de Cure in May. (Several other Cyclopaths will be riding instead.)

Thank you, always, for your continued support!! --Tam

Pan Mass Challenge 2013

Will and I are both now registered for this year's PMC (along with a few North Shore Cyclopaths.) With new snow on the ground (which fell overnight), and a Nor'easter expected on Friday, it's nice to think ahead to summer!

Hello, PMC Riders

At the PMC Check presentation last weekend, a stranger looked at my name tag and asked me how I've been doing since the crash. I was a little perplexed until she mentioned she reads my blog! I know many people come to this site by way of the PMC, or Google, or the North Shore Cyclopaths blog, (which I also write.) Many of you are fundraising and training for the PMC.

My training is probably on par with so many other PMC riders. I'm not obsessed with miles or stats or the latest gear. I hate gels and bars and goop, (though loved Stinger waffles). Until recently I wasn't interested in the Tuesday Night Crit... until Ethan mentioned it. I kinda suck at pacelines. My weight has gone up and down and up again, (currently it's down) -- along with my hematocrit (which is currently up!) I've had good PMC rides and bad PMC rides -- from the 191 mile ride down to the virtual ride. I've also had emotional rides following the deaths of dearest friends. (The PMC is very personal to me.) Through it all, I've met some amazing people and have received incredible support from so many of you. I'm happy to know there are people out there reading this and following my training, (we PMC riders share a special bond), but know that the fundraising mission comes first for me -- and the cycling second. There will always be room for improvement as far as my training goes and I don't take it too seriously. (I am a North Shore Cyclopath, after all.) If you see me out there on the road, feel free to introduce yourself! I love meeting new people and I thank you for reading!