Special Event for Cancer Research

[H_Rocket]

There is always a bunch of talk on forums about how 2XL in size is what we define as "Rocketeer Medium" and I was a part of that culture for decades. Well one day I woke up and decided that, as a result of my ample proportions, I was way heck and gone on the way to an early demise. Being that I was nowhere near done annoying Troj, I decided to do something about it. I managed to lose about 220 pounds without surgery, just eating better and exercising.

So what has that got to do with cancer?

Well, part of my fitness regimen is bicycle riding and now for the second year, there is a fundraising event called "Ride Closer to Free" in support of the Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven.This is a pledge supported event consisting of a 25, 63, and 100 mile bike ride. In exchange for me beating the tar out of myself, you get the opportunity to pledge some small amount that will be used to further research at one of the nation's leading facilities dedicated to the eradication of cancer. While I would like to pull off the full century (100 miles), I am being a bit realistic on my abilities and shooting for the metric century (63 miles).

If you would like to sponsor a fellow rocketeer in this event, please visit my contributions page and make a donation. My donor page is:

Al's Ride Closer To Free Page (http://closertofreeride2012.kintera.org/al_gloer)

I'm making this offer to the TRF community as I have seen so very many of you touched by the pain of cancer and perhaps some of you might want to help.

As a side note, if you donate and have someone you want to remember, I will have their names embroidered on a token that I will carry with me for the duration of the event and will give you one as a memento of your support.

Thanx

Al

[SwingWing]

Good for you for putting your exercise and fitness rergimen to a higher cause. Each year I ride a century ride in support of Juvenile diabetes, as my 15 YO son is a Type 1 diabetic. This will be my 6th century ride this year, and I assistant coach the Minnesota team.
Soooooo, why not the century?? how far and how often have you been riding? Looks like you have 2 months left to train to get ready. One thing to remember, you will be able to go 20% to 40% further on ride day than your longest training ride, (weather and hilly courses not withstanding) just because of the adrenalin high and the cheering and support of the crowd. We have had new riders train for 1 summer, and ride the century after riding training rides up to about 75 miles. We start off in the Spring with slow paced rides of around 20-25 miles and increase the mileage 10% per week till we hit around 80 miles. We also encourage team members to ride a couple of "short" rides on their own every week.


Have fun, ride safe and keep smiling!

Jim
Team Loon-a-tic

[H_Rocket]

Well, I finished my goal. 100KM for cancer research. I had 42 sponsors and raised 2,280 dollars.

63.5 miles in 4:43. Not as fast as I would have liked, however it was a ride, not a race. Thinking back, I probably could have pulled off the full century, however there was the serious possibility of rain and I was not inclined or equipped to ride through that.

I'm a mite sore this morning (shoulders and arms mostly).

Thanks to any and all who supported me either with money for cancer research, or just simple well wishes.

There were 500 riders this year.

[SwingWing]

Awesome! Way to go Al!

[dlazarus6660]

Congrats! KUTGW!
I hope to break the 25 mile mark someday.