Well I’m only a few weeks away from really kicking off the ride and I’m excited to get started. I’ve gotten so much support from everyone and I can’t wait to get the war started against this killer.
I have to say I’ve been overwhelmed by the donations and the support of the people who’ve stepped up to sponsor me. These people and their companies are very special to us because their financial support will allow me to cover expenses and make sure that every penny of pledges goes to the American Cancer Society. So in the next few weeks I’ll be getting jerseys for the cold weather, printing up brochures, and tuning up “my trusty steed” so it’s ready to handle 12 months of commuting on Long Island.
Of course, I’m being as frugal as possible so as much of that sponsorship money as possible can go to ACS for fighting this disease and to hopefully add some icing the $10,000 cake we’re baking. So far we have more than $2,000 and the pledges keep coming in!
On a more somber note, one of our dearest friends has just been diagnosed with stage 2+ breast cancer and we’re all anxiously awaiting test results to tell us exactly what the situation is. So I’m unhappily adding another person I am riding for to the list: my sisters, Hope Machedon, and now our good friend.
I’m also nervously waiting for news on the biopsy of a growth that was removed from my mother’s left arm. The doctor in describing it used the term cancer but wasn’t at all specific so we still don’t know exactly where we stand, and we’re on pins and needles waiting to find out the results of the test.
I’m so sick and tired of people around me being stricken by this disease and I can’t wait to start working to kick its tail!
So far my “dress rehearsal” this year has yielded 1575 miles (yes, I broke the post surgery goal of 1500) and I’m hoping to get in at least another 75 miles before December 22 when school break begins and my season officially ends.
I did my first A level ride with the Huntington Bicycle Club and got my butt kicked, but I learned a lot of lessons from that ride.
1) Make sure to eat breakfast before embarking on a 50 mile 20+ mph ride.
2) Make sure to really hydrate on the ride
3) No matter how good you feel, don’t try pulling at the front for even five minutes
4) Get a good night’s sleep the night before, and
5) Never do a long, fast ride the day after a party!
Needless to say, I hung on for the first 40 miles and then got dropped. It was humbling. The ride leader stayed with me, even when both of my quads cramped up so badly I had to stop riding for about five minutes. I’m determined not to let that happen again.
Lastly, although they’re in first place in the NFC East, my beloved Cowboys got their hats handed to them every which way this past Sunday. They were beaten and badly; but we are endlessly optimistic here and we know that they will prevail in the end. We are true believers. Okay, it’s just Sarah, James, and me - my wife and William are Giants fans (ugh!).
That’s it for now - I’ll write again in a few weeks - just in time to kick off the season.
