Well, here we are at the end of our second month of the journey. I’ve only logged another 75 miles since the last blog installment, mainly because the weather has been wet and freezing. I know I said the cold wouldn’t stop me, but riding on ice on skinny tires sort of puts a damper on things. We also had vacation for a week and even though I rode, I don’t count those miles in the grand total.
We’ve added another couple of hundred dollars to the total and we’re up to $3650 - well over a third of our goal!
The rides have been up and down, mostly due to the fact that it’s February and blustery; and riding against 15 mph wind gusts sort of stinks. I just duck my head and keep cranking. It lowers my average mph and my average time but it really doesn’t matter - I just remember why I’m doing this.
On a personal note, as I mentioned in the last blog the boys just had a birthday. They’re now in the fearsome fours (okay, I just made that up, but it fits). Sarah is just as smart and beautiful as always. We’ve been working on her Invention Convention project and we’re very excited by all the response she got to her “Biker Helper” which is basically a sort of removable umbrella to put on your bicycle for inclement weather. She said she wanted to help me with my Connor’s Army project. I may have mentioned before that she also wants to help by doing her own bike-a-thon riding ten miles between the house and the park (not all at once mind you); and setting up a lemonade stand during the hot weather. She really is an amazing little girl.
Speaking of amazing girls - my wife has been incredible in all of this. She really is much of the driving force of Connor’s Army. On top of running a local performing arts series and handling the confusing schedule of three kids, she’s taken on the management of Connor’s Army full force. She pursues donations and sponsorships, and handles all the PR. She’s secured all the great press we’ve received so far through her press releases. I’m even scheduled to do a podcast with Militarybrat.com. They’re interested in the military connection and my upbringing as a military brat and how that ties in to what we’re doing now.
Next up in the Connor household - Sweet Charity at the high school! For those of you who are actually reading this and are in the area it’s going to be a really good show. The dates and times are: Thursday, March 15 at 7:00; Friday and Saturday, March 16 and 17 at 7:30; and Sunday, March 18 at 2:00. The cast is talented and really excited, and the show will be amazing. I’ve waited a long time to do this show and it was well worth the wait.
Show week also brings the logging of more miles. I try to ride in as much as I can so we can take one car back home at night - Amy designs and creates the costumes for all my school shows, and Sarah will make a “guest” appearance in the opening scene of this one! We keep it all in the family. It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years here at SHS. I never thought we’d be where we are today.
I’ll probably have another entry in the next week, until then stay well.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Thursday, February 8, 2007
With Apologies to Monsieur Dickens
To paraphrase one of my favorite authors, “It was the best of rides, it was the worst of rides”.
Ordinarily I set my riding threshold at 28 degrees or thereabouts. I have gone down to 20 on occasion but usually I stick to around 28. Today was different. The temperature when I woke up was 15 degrees and the wind was gusting at 10 to 15 mph - giving it a “real feel” temperature of close to zero. Add the fact that I’m riding at about 16 - 20 mph it was, well, let’s just say it was cold.
However, I had a real reason to ride today. Our friend Michele was scheduled for her last two hour session of chemotherapy today. I saw her on Sunday at the birthday party for the boys (at the Northport firehouse followed by pizza at Michaelangelos - they were in total heaven!) and she was looking good. While talking to her she mentioned that today was her next session of chemotherapy and I told her that, barring rain, I would ride for her.
I have to say at about halfway through the ride, somewhere around Lennox and Pulaski my toes felt like big rocks in my shoes. I had bundled up everything, even wearing my balaclava and heavyweight ski gloves; and everything was pretty warm - except my toes. I even had the old standby of wool socks and plastic bags underneath my neoprene shoe covers - but my toes were still pretty frozen.
It was just about this time that I started thinking, “Am I crazy?! Why am I out here in this?”
Then I though, “This is nothing compared to what Michele is going through today, what my mom went through to have all of her cancer removed, or what my sisters have gone through.”
Just thinking of these brave women and all the other people I know who’ve faced their various cancer battles gave me the answer to my question. Yes, I am a little crazy; but I knew exactly why I was out there.
I have to tell you it’s not easy to ride in that cold when you have tears freezing to your face.
Right now I have 125 miles and we’ve raised $3400. We’re getting great coverage in the local press; but Connor’s Army still has a long way to go in both mileage and funds. Sometimes it seems daunting but every time I wonder about why I’m doing this I just think about Winnie, Angela, Tamara, my mother and Michele; and I have my reason to keep cranking down on the pedals.
Peace to you all and stay well.
Ordinarily I set my riding threshold at 28 degrees or thereabouts. I have gone down to 20 on occasion but usually I stick to around 28. Today was different. The temperature when I woke up was 15 degrees and the wind was gusting at 10 to 15 mph - giving it a “real feel” temperature of close to zero. Add the fact that I’m riding at about 16 - 20 mph it was, well, let’s just say it was cold.
However, I had a real reason to ride today. Our friend Michele was scheduled for her last two hour session of chemotherapy today. I saw her on Sunday at the birthday party for the boys (at the Northport firehouse followed by pizza at Michaelangelos - they were in total heaven!) and she was looking good. While talking to her she mentioned that today was her next session of chemotherapy and I told her that, barring rain, I would ride for her.
I have to say at about halfway through the ride, somewhere around Lennox and Pulaski my toes felt like big rocks in my shoes. I had bundled up everything, even wearing my balaclava and heavyweight ski gloves; and everything was pretty warm - except my toes. I even had the old standby of wool socks and plastic bags underneath my neoprene shoe covers - but my toes were still pretty frozen.
It was just about this time that I started thinking, “Am I crazy?! Why am I out here in this?”
Then I though, “This is nothing compared to what Michele is going through today, what my mom went through to have all of her cancer removed, or what my sisters have gone through.”
Just thinking of these brave women and all the other people I know who’ve faced their various cancer battles gave me the answer to my question. Yes, I am a little crazy; but I knew exactly why I was out there.
I have to tell you it’s not easy to ride in that cold when you have tears freezing to your face.
Right now I have 125 miles and we’ve raised $3400. We’re getting great coverage in the local press; but Connor’s Army still has a long way to go in both mileage and funds. Sometimes it seems daunting but every time I wonder about why I’m doing this I just think about Winnie, Angela, Tamara, my mother and Michele; and I have my reason to keep cranking down on the pedals.
Peace to you all and stay well.
Friday, February 2, 2007
Happy Groundhog Day!
Well, I’m now into my second month of the battle, and I have to admit I’m a bit off the pace/goal of 200 miles per month. I had bronchitis, which kept me off the bike for a couple of weeks and then we were hit with a string of bad weather. Last Sunday was the first time I was able to get on the bike in about two weeks.
I went on a ride with the “A” group of the Huntington Bicycle Club, and got my tail handed to me on a platter!
I did pretty well for the first 48 miles, especially given my extended break from riding. Unfortunately, when we got to what I thought was going to be the very last leg of our ride (at which point I was already lagging behind) the group turned off in a different direction and I think mentally that did me in. I just didn’t have any leg left.
I think had I been in better health (I had to take a few hits on my asthma inhaler during the ride) I might have been a little better suited - at least I could have hung on a bit longer. One of the other riders, Paul, was very nice and came back for me; and stayed with me the last six miles of the ride. I was just spent. I felt pretty bad about holding him and the others back, but they were in good spirits about it. I’m just too stubborn to quit.
My goal now is to go on an “A” ride and not get dropped! It’s something to shoot for.
As far as the ACS ride is going, I’ve become more and more convinced that my erstwhile base line of 28 degrees should not be an absolute. Yesterday I rode with a beginning temperature of 25 degrees and it was great. If I can find the right clothing combination I’ll keep going lower and lower in the temperature category. I guess the main thing that has me starting in this vein is that I’m 100 miles below my target mileage at this point and, more importantly, because one of our dear friends is going through chemo right now.
From everything I’ve read about chemo, one of the things you get - aside from the nausea - is the feeling of coldness that seems to come from inside and makes your bones ache. I feel that for 12 miles I can deal with numb toes and fingers because its nothing compared to what my friends and so many others are going. No, it may not make me a more competitive rider with the “A” group, but right now the main thrust of my riding is trying to log miles to battle this disease. My wife and I can’t afford to give the money we’d like to in order to help the people I love and the ones I’ve never met; but I can give this. So if it’s a little cold - oh well.
For those of you who’ve been getting the word out - keep it up. We’ve already raised $3300, and the more we get the word out, the more we can bring in to fight this disease!
And for those of you who want to “gear up” for next year, start getting ready for the Victory Ride on January 1, 2008!
That’s it for now, peace and health to you.
I went on a ride with the “A” group of the Huntington Bicycle Club, and got my tail handed to me on a platter!
I did pretty well for the first 48 miles, especially given my extended break from riding. Unfortunately, when we got to what I thought was going to be the very last leg of our ride (at which point I was already lagging behind) the group turned off in a different direction and I think mentally that did me in. I just didn’t have any leg left.
I think had I been in better health (I had to take a few hits on my asthma inhaler during the ride) I might have been a little better suited - at least I could have hung on a bit longer. One of the other riders, Paul, was very nice and came back for me; and stayed with me the last six miles of the ride. I was just spent. I felt pretty bad about holding him and the others back, but they were in good spirits about it. I’m just too stubborn to quit.
My goal now is to go on an “A” ride and not get dropped! It’s something to shoot for.
As far as the ACS ride is going, I’ve become more and more convinced that my erstwhile base line of 28 degrees should not be an absolute. Yesterday I rode with a beginning temperature of 25 degrees and it was great. If I can find the right clothing combination I’ll keep going lower and lower in the temperature category. I guess the main thing that has me starting in this vein is that I’m 100 miles below my target mileage at this point and, more importantly, because one of our dear friends is going through chemo right now.
From everything I’ve read about chemo, one of the things you get - aside from the nausea - is the feeling of coldness that seems to come from inside and makes your bones ache. I feel that for 12 miles I can deal with numb toes and fingers because its nothing compared to what my friends and so many others are going. No, it may not make me a more competitive rider with the “A” group, but right now the main thrust of my riding is trying to log miles to battle this disease. My wife and I can’t afford to give the money we’d like to in order to help the people I love and the ones I’ve never met; but I can give this. So if it’s a little cold - oh well.
For those of you who’ve been getting the word out - keep it up. We’ve already raised $3300, and the more we get the word out, the more we can bring in to fight this disease!
And for those of you who want to “gear up” for next year, start getting ready for the Victory Ride on January 1, 2008!
That’s it for now, peace and health to you.
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