pbray

Had two great rides this weekend, which seems fitting because I'm getting in shape to bike for two great causes:

In June I'll be riding a metric century in the annual Macy's Vermont Cares Champ ride to raise money for HIV/AIDS prevention, support and advocacy. Click here to sponsor me or click here to sponsor my teammate Stacey.

In July I'm riding seventy-seven miles in the Prouty to raise money for cancer treatment and research sponsor me, or sponsor my enabler Stacey.

No donation is too small, or if you can't spare cash, send good thoughts our way.

On Saturday July 9th I will get up before 5AM to run the morning ledger database loads for my day job at Megacorp and then I'll throw on bike clothes and join my friend Stacey along with thousands of other riders, runners and walkers in the annual Prouty to raise money for cancer treatment and research.

I want to thank everyone who has already donated to support my ride. And if you'd like to make a donation, visit my Prouty webpage here. No amount is too small.

This event is important to me, so much so that I'm finding a way to fit in a trip to New Hampshire to take part, even though this comes at a crazy time for my day job since it's right in the middle of the 2Q close. I think what I appreciate most about the Prouty is the tremendous sense of community-- not only the thousands of people taking part in the event, but all of the volunteers who make it happen, not to mention the people along the route who put up signs supporting the riders and stand in their front yards to cheer us on. Everyone comes together on this day to say that this cause matters to them, and that's a great feeling.

This year I'll once again be riding in the annual Prouty Bike Ride to raise money for cancer treatment and research. It's a cause that I'm proud to support.

If you'd like to join with me in the fight against cancer, please consider sponsoring me with your tax deductible* donation. No amount is too small-- every dollar helps the cause.

Go to the website here to donate online or to print off a form to mail in your donation.

Then think of me on Saturday July 10th as I'm biking 50 miles (rain, shine, or plagues of locusts) while I'll be thinking of you and of all the folks that you're helping.

*Deductions are deductible to the limit allowed by the law, for non-US residents please check applicability.

On Saturday, July 11th I'll be in taking part in the annual Prouty Cancer ride to raise money for cancer treatment & research. Stacey and I will be biking the 50 mile course, which takes us over hill and dale in New Hampshire and Vermont. It's the same route as last year which means it's a challenging ride, but there will be supporters along the roadsides cheering us on. Last year they had over 3,000 cyclists descend upon Hanover for the event, not to mention the walkers, volunteers, and all those who came to show their support--the energy was simply amazing.

Click here to learn more about the event, or to sponsor me. Donations of all sizes are welcome, even small amounts add up quickly!

When I signed up to ride in The Prouty with my friend Stacey, I'd pictured this as a training bike ride, and registered for the twenty-five mile route. But being who we are, it comes as no surprise that when we hit the ten mile mark, Stacey turned to me and said "That was fast. We're doing the 50, right?" and of course I said "Yes."

There were over three thousand cyclists on the various routes (25, 50 and 100 mile options), everyone from families with young children to senior citizens. A sprinkling of white number tags indicating that the rider was a cancer survivor offered inspiration to all of us.

The organization of the event was outstanding. As we rode through small towns in New Hampshire and Vermont, there were volunteers at each turn on the route making sure no one got lost. There were rest stops spaced every ten miles or so, offering a wide variety of snacks. People had posted signs along the route to encourage their favorite riders-- (btw, Sharon, I don't know you, but I think it's awesome that your friends posted a half-dozen signs reminding you that they had cold beer for you at the end of the trail.) And as we climbed the final steep hill to the finish line, there were more volunteers cheering riders along.

We loaded our bikes up, went home to shower and meet up with Nick, and then headed out. After a great lunch at a brewpub (beer!) we went to downtown Hanover and walked around, stopping by the bookstores and admiring the sights. Hanover is home to Dartmouth College, and it's very much a college town. Then we drove over to Norwich, Vermont and stopped by another brewpub for a drink before heading back.

I've lived in upstate New York for most of my adult life, but visiting Hanover reminded me that at heart I'm a New England girl. It's a classic New England town (and #2 on Money Magazine's Best Places to live list.) Nick and Stacey, who moved up to Grantham last year, spent time showing me the sights--the co-op, coffee houses, bookstores, and where I'd need to go for big box stores--Staples, Home Depot, Best Buy, etc. I'm not seriously considering relocating, but it's the kind of place I could see myself living some day.

The only drawback was that it was such a short visit--work meant that I had to leave at noon on Sunday and head back. But it was a great time, and I'm definitely riding in the Prouty next year.

On July 12th I'll be taking part in the Prouty Bike Ride to raise money for cancer research. Click here if you'd like to sponsor me or visit their website at www.theprouty.org for information about how you can join the event. Both biking and walking options are available, and all contributions are tax deductible.

We'll be biking through the scenic Connecticut River valley of New Hampshire. My local scout has reported that I should expect many steep hills, bugs large enough to carry me off, and stretches of pavement that only a thrifty Yankee would think were good enough to last another year. In short, it's going to be great fun.

Yay, survived the bike ride! This was the Connecticut edition of the Tour de Cure, which raises money for the American Diabetes Association. I rode with Cannondale's company team, which was a fun experience. Some of the riders did the long route (100 miles!) but the majority of us opted for the 50K route. Weather cooperated--gray clouds overheard, but no rain fell.

I usually bike alone when I'm home training, so it is very different riding with a group. Particulary at the start of the route--when they sent the 50K group off it looked like there were at least a hundred of us, maybe more. Then traffic lights and hills spread us out along the route, but there were always other bikers in sight.

Glad I came and did this, and that we had a good time. It's also a good training check--I'm in okay shape for June, but need to start riding a 50K training route on the weekends so I'll be in shape for the trip in August.

Hopefully there will be photos later--I'll post links.

On Sunday June 10th I'll be joining the Cannondale Bicycle team in the Connecticut edition of the Tour de Cure, which raises money for the American Diabetes Association. I'll be riding 50 kilometers, rain or shine, to raise money for this important cause.

If you're in the Connecticut area and would like to join the ride, we'd love to have you. If you'd like to sponsor me, you can do so by clicking here.

Thanks!