I’ll never forget this year’s Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC), the 31st in it’s storied history as the greatest athletic fundraiser in the United States. Here are the Top 5 takeaways from this year’s amazing event!
1. The Cape is not flat. Yes it’s surrounded by ocean, it’s pretty, and you would think it’s flat. You’re wrong. Here is the gps file for PMC Day 2 from Bourne, MA to Provincetown, MA, and as you can see, there is some decent climbing, starting with the Bourne Bridge, then onto the ‘rollers’ in Sandwich, the hills of Wellfleet and Truro, and finally the dunes near P-town. 2,718 feet of climb. It’s no Sturbridge to Bourne or Harpoon B-2-B, but it’s not flat either! (Curious about Day 1? Here’s the gps file with elevation for the Wellesley to Bourne route and for the Sturbridge to Bourne route)
2. This is the strongest ‘community’ I have ever been a part of. 4,948 riders off the line. 300+ virtual riders, and another 3,100 volunteers making it all happen. 763,000 combines miles ridden. $31M+ raised. The feeling of community and joint purpose is evident in everything the PMC does and stands for. It’s impressive.
3. Perseverance and determination rule the day. Everyday. On the way to Bourne on PMC Day 1 I was riding next to a guy with 1 leg. Amazing. On Day 2, we actually saw another guy with a prosthetic leg get knocked over by a truck while climbing a hill within 5 miles of the finish. His response? He dragged the bike our from under the truck, jumped back on, and finished. In both cases, I was extremely impressed, but something tells me that these guys aren’t charity cases. They aren’t looking for people to be ‘Impressed’. They are just out there looking to play their part in kicking cancer’s ugly face in.
4. Our family and friends are awesome. Our networks are strong. All of our supporters are the reason we are able to ride and support such a great cause. This year we’ll donate about $10,000 as a team. It’s my hope that we’ll be able to continue to grow the cyclingagainstcancer.com team, and do even more. I know that you will all be there supporting us, and that means a lot!
5. Another year, another reminder of why we ride. That kid in the picture’s name is Jack. Every year since he was diagnosed, he stands out at the Nickerson State Park water stop to thank PMC riders. Next year, Jack is riding in the PMC. This year, the LIVESTRONG foundation is continuing to raise awareness that there are approximately 28 million people worldwide living with cancer. With the efforts of organizations like the PMC and LIVESTRONG, hopefully there will be a lot more survivorship stories like Jack’s.
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