Winter Wrap-Up, PMC Winter Cycle

March 13: Nor'easter brewing
Red Skies in Morning, Sailors take warning

Winter is over! Woot woot! We had a relatively mild winter with very little snow, but the monotonous gray days seemed endless. February and March were a long haul, and I took a break from the blog. Kathy came out to ride the PMC Winter Cycle on the coldest weekend of the year. We had a great time riding for a great cause, raising over $1,250 for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute between us. Many, many thanks to our sponsors!

Feb 4th: -8F degrees at Fenway Park

The dry winter allowed for some riding, but not in the same vein as in the past. I've yet to ride more than 15 miles on the bike this winter -- especially since I spend more time on the mountain bike than road bike. I'm making good use of the treadmill, however, and hope to be running again this spring.

Thirty Days of Biking began today!  This will be my tenth and final year riding this challenge. Ten years ago, these April rides were folded into many of my coached training rides as I prepared for different events. Long distance endurance rides were my jam back then. These days, I'm just riding for the coffee stop. Lol.

It was a rainy start to Year 10. I'll post photos in batches as I go along. Twenty-nine more rides to go.

Feb 22nd: A spring-like day in February

An inauspicious start

For many years, I started the new year with a schedule of ride events and races and goals to train for -- often laid out and documented here in my blog -- and that was a routine for several decades. I have a few goals penciled in for 2023, but it’s not like the old days of training and FTPs and watt goals. I’m content with that. 

I ended 2022 with a trip to the ER in an ambulance after taking a head first fall down a flight of stairs. After slamming my head and neck into a wall, I passed out in the kitchen. The police, fire, and ambulance arrived soon after, (all a blur), but I remember looking up and seeing my cousin's son (a firefighter) standing at my feet, looking down at me. We locked eyes and both smiled, and I knew I was going to be ok. 

I was in rough shape going into the new year -- too sore to get back into a fitness routine, over to the Y for spin classes, or on my new treadmill to join my sister for our 3x weekly walk/run. I was feeling pretty blue when my Coffeeneuring 2022 patch arrived. (Thank you Mary!) It was a reminder to just take it easy, enjoy the ride, enjoy a coffee, and not take it all so seriously. I’m here for that. I got back on the treadmill in Week 2 of the new year, excited for my new NordicTrack smart treadmill which arrived January 2nd, a Christmas gift from Mike. I love it. We converted the boy's former playroom into a home gym this year, and it's been helpful to my recovery. By Week 3, the soreness in my back and neck eased up enough for me to return to spin classes at the Y. The PMC Winter Cycle is just a week away! I'm not as ready as I would have been had I not taken a header down a full flight of stairs, but I'm well enough to ride and I'm super excited about it.

We finally got some snow this past week -- enough for a bit of snowshoeing before rain arrived the next day and it all melted away. It's been one crazy winter.

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$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.

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.)

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...

Hot, Hot, Hot!

Hot temps and high humidity. Nothing new for July.

Well, we have a steamy week ahead, with temperatures in the 90's and oppressive humidity. Looks like I'll have to rise and shine on the early side this week to get my rides in and beat the heat.

Will is definitely not onboard with waking early. This year, he's taken control of his own Pan Mass Challenge training, and has been relying on swimming, rugby and football conditioning camp to get in shape for the ride. Ha, ha... (I believe it takes more than strength training to ride well, but he has his own ideas.) He's spent less time on the bike this year, but more time in the gym, and has been bragging about his run times at football camp -- like a 50 yard dash is the same as a 50 mile ride. Uh huh. I love his confidence, but with three weeks to go before PMC weekend, I know I'm finishing stronger (and first) this year. No mercy.

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.

Looking Back at 2012

I love the video below capturing the emotions and commitment that define the PMC -- from the kids receiving care at Dana Farber, underscoring why we ride; to the research that goes into treatment and cures; to the fundraising and training each rider tackles in preparation for the ride... and then of course highlights from the ride itself. My favorite glimpse in the video is of the small child giving a double high-five to Dr. Benz. Fully awesome.

PMC 2013... Committed

I love the video above capturing the emotions and commitment that define the PMC -- from the kids receiving care at Dana Farber, underscoring why we ride; to the research that goes into treatment and cures; to the fundraising and training each rider tackles in preparation for the ride... and then of course highlights from the ride itself. My favorite glimpse in the video is of the small child giving a double high-five to Dr. Benz. Fully awesome.

PMC 2011 is in the books!

Computer issues have prevented me from posting pictures from last weekend's PMC online. Hopefully, I will resolve that shortly. To briefly recap the weekend; On Saturday, August 6th, I spent my birthday at the PMC start and finish in Wellesley and Bourne, cheering on my Cyclopath teammates as they took part in the ride. Most of the Cyclopaths (including myself) were riding on Sunday -- but a few were finishing in Bourne on Saturday. Donna was taking part in her 20th ride! It was nice to be in Bourne to support her. Others finishing in Bourne on Saturday were Brian, Ben, Brenda and Jeff, with Ethan Lynda, Michael and Ed volunteering. It was a great day for a ride!

Unfortunately, Sunday wasn't a great day for riding. Sheldon and I drove to the Wellesley start together in the rain, reassuring each other that the "rain would pass". Such optimists we are! We met our teammates at the start, gathering under the tent as the rain continued. It was Bill Cantors 28th ride at 88 years old! Amazing! At 7:30 am, we hit the road, the rain falling steadily and never abating. The riding was difficult and the rain at times torrential -- but we forged on, determined not to let the weather get to us. It was a memorable ride! Regrouping at the end of the ride, we watched walls of water pour off the tent. It was quite comical. Definitely a bonding moment for all of us who rode on Sunday -- Arlene, Gail, Av, Bill, Arthur, Sheldon, and me -- with Donna, Drew and Laurie as support. (Ethan and Arthur F. rode up from Bourne, but we never connected.) PMC 2011 was one for the ages. Photos to come!

YES! I rode in the rain!

It was horrible! Who rides in the rain? CRAZY PEOPLE!! (I guess we're called the Cyclopaths for a reason.) I'll post more from PMC 2011 shortly.

THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT!

Time to ride!

Crossing my fingers it doesn't rain on Sunday!

Many, many thanks to everyone who contributed to my PMC ride this year. I didn't send out any fundraising letters or ask for donations this year -- but many of you contributed anyway. Thank you!! Will is planning to ride with me next year, and I knew our fundraising minimums would be higher with the two of us riding, so I decided to stay low key this year. Still, you sought me out and made a donation anyway. I'm so grateful! Thank you! for helping me surpass my fundraising minimum -- now I'm ready to ride! Just hoping the weather holds out on Sunday morning...

Less than a week left!

Hard to believe the PMC is just a few days away. I enjoy riding this new Sunday route -- there's less pressure to train! I never would have been able to take a week off for a vacation with a 191 mile challenge hanging over me. We've had a nice summer this year... very low key.

This week, Sheldon and I plan to ride on Tuesday and Thursday (with Joan and Paul) as usual. No change in our routine. I'm just a few dollars shy of my fundraising goal. Not too bad for a stealth campaign! Next year I'll have to kick it up a notch as Will joins us on the ride. That will be interesting.

Pan Mass Challenge 2010

PMC registration is ongoing. I have not committed myself to riding this year, but may change my mind once cycling season begins. :-)

PMC 2009

Many Thanks

I have been furiously writing thank you cards to all of you. Needless to say, I'm falling behind. Thank you, thank you, thank you for sponsoring me in this year's PMC. I have met my fundraising goal! In this economy, I really didn't think I could do it, and you proved me wrong. I am so grateful for your support and encouragement, and hope you know how truly thankful I am. (And humbled.) Thank you, again.

The rain is making my training very difficult. (Stuck inside eating cookies doesn't help either.) I suspect I'm going to have an ugly ride on August 1st and 2nd. Hopefully, the sun will be shining!

20 Miles to Manchester

Saturday's ride to Manchester was officially 19.2 miles, which is the longest group ride to date. Some riders are just now returning to the bike after a long winter, and most rides will be in the 20-30 mile range until Memorial Day. If anyone wants to join us before we kick up the mileage, now is the time! We had 16 riders on Saturday, which is a good showing for early May.