Morning Inspiration

When in a lull - and, sadly, I AM in a lull - I've found it's always helpful to post a picture to inspire me.

This is at the midway point of an 18 mile morning ride I used to do regularly last summer before work. Maybe this view will motivate me to get up at the crack of dawn tomorrow, get out on my bike and start the day off right.

Post PMC Blues...

A funny thing has happened to me since the PMC.

I've been in a bit of a slump with my riding. My energy is low, my speed is not what it should be and my focus is a bit off.

I guess that's only natural in the days following what I would categorize as one of the top 10 most rewarding events of my life to date.

The transition back to the real world after the PMC was interesting. I was on a total high coming off the boat from Provincetown - full of memories, excitement, emotion, pride and physical exhaustion from the event.

That translated the next day to total bike brain fog. I was a complete space shot, unable to concentrate or multitask. That happens when you are in the zone with your riding, though. All that is important is the next 10 feet in front of you.

It took a full 24 hours for the fog to clear and I started feeling back to normal. I had no real physical issues to recover from, only the initial pain of getting the lactic acid out of my legs on my first ride back on my bike.

It was really just the mental recovery that I had to deal with. And that's what's slumping my riding, I'm quite sure.

I'll get my groove back soon, I'm certain. In fact, my husband just told me he was so inspired by my PMC experience that he wants to buy a bike, train with me and do the PMC next year. Now there's motivation!

Living the PMC

What can I say about my very first Pan-Mass Challenge? How can I actually describe one of the most inspirational, emotional and physically challenging experiences I've ever had?

The only thing that comes to mind is to list the thoughts and images that will stick in my mind for years to come.

• 163 miles from Wellesley to Provincetown. Two days. 10.5 hours of ride time.
• Riding with PMC veteran and friend, Sue, who helped make this experience so special.
• Sharing the road with 5000+ fellow riders and new friends, like second day riding buddy, Laurie, in the biggest athletic fundraiser in the country.
• Feeling like a hero for the weekend, with thousands and thousands of cancer survivors, family members and supporters cheering us on alongside the road.
• Seeing signs saying, "Thank you for saving my life!"
• Riding alongside pictures of the PMC Pedal Partners, children who are receiving advanced treatment at the Jimmy Fund Clinic.
• Seeing the best in humanity - people so polite and thankful, riders and bystanders looking out for each other.
• Passing a group of supporters at the wee hour of 5:30 a.m., cheering us on as we came off the Bourne bridge.
• Hearing my name yelled out while going by (forgetting that my bike was tagged with my name)
• Young and old saying, "Thank you so much for riding. Thank you so much for doing what you are doing."
• Riding with tears in my eyes and so full of emotion
• Having my daughter, her friend and her friend's mom come cheer me on.
• Hearing the cheers and shouts from what seemed like a few hundred teens from the camp in Brewster.
• Seeing the pictures on the back of riding shirts of children, husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, and other loved ones who are battling cancer or who have battled and lost.
• Getting goosebumps from the multiple bag pipe players serenading us on both days
• Feeling like Lance Armstrong in the pelaton, zooming down a hill pushing 30 mph with dozens of other riders.
• Struggling up the sweltering big hills in the dunes of Provincetown, knowing the finish line was only a few miles away.
• Hanging with my friend Drew, who inspired me to ride this event, and my former college classmate, John, who helped motivate me to actually do it.
• Running into other friends and those I didn't know I'd see.
• The fun and celebration of the party boat home - a frat party like no other with 900 new found friends
• And most importantly, the $30M (hopefully - the final numbers still aren't in yet) for cancer research and treatment.

Taking pictures of the actual ride itself was next to impossible given the dynamics of group riding. But here are some highlights at various stops along the way.

The 7:00 a.m. Wellesley start.

Me and riding buddy and 10 year PMC veteran, Sue.

With good friend Drew, a 17 year PMC veteran.

Sue checking out the ice bag chairs on day two.

Me and my daughter Erin, who actually got up early on a summer day to cheer on her mom!Friend and former classmate, John, who unknowingly sat down next to me at lunch the first day amidst 2000 riders.
Billy Starr, PMC founder and master of ceremonies, welcoming us aboard the party boat home from Ptown to Boston.The band totally rocked the boat for the three hour trip.

Getting a hero's welcome entering Boston Harbor.

Thank you so much for all who sponsored me. I couldn't have done it without you and your support!

It was such an honor and a privilege to ride and be part of something so important. It was a profound experience and the memories will live on in my mind for years to come.