Health Cycle
It’s April 1 and it is time to get out the bike and begin the season-long training; and this is no April Fool’s joke. My road bike has been properly tuned and greased and is finally ready. I don’t take it out in the winter – too much sand, too much wind, too lazy. No more couch potato, time to get rid of the winter blubber.
The target is to get into “century ride” shape in time for the Prouty. For those of you unaware of the Prouty, it is a truly fantastic event that takes place in Hanover on July 14 this year. The official name is The Prouty Century Bike Ride and Challenge Walk and is in support of cancer research and patient services at the Norris Cotton Cancer Center in Lebanon. The goal this year is to raise $1.5 million. Last year, we raised in excess of $1.2 million and 90% was raised by the individual participants and their backers.
I will surely get the numbers wrong, but I believe there were 3,000 some odd participants last year. The event includes multiple walking distances and the 100, 50 or 25 mile bike ride through NH and VT. It is incredibly well organized with food and drink stands every 10 miles or so. The century ride begins in Hanover and runs up Route 10 to Orford over to Wentworth back up to Haverhill and Woodsville across to Vermont and down Route 5 back to Hanover. The ride is not too demanding and you can always go for the shorter distances – it ends up being a true community/family affair.
Last year, I rode the century with two boarding school classmates I had not seen in 35 years. One was about my build and tone – he needed to train for months as well. The other is a competitive cyclist and was a bit scary. I watched his backside up every hill. Thankfully, he recognized the signs of old man fatigue and provided us a very appropriate pace. We finished together and agreed that we would do it again this year. We may even rope in one or more of our other classmates as we build momentum on this snowball.
However, our team is 15-20 strong and includes friends from the local area and friends of friends who I had never met before. We are open to new members of the team from anywhere. We are likely to have team members participating in each distance and discipline – so don’t be bashful. I encourage all of you to take a look at the website (www.theprouty.org) and join our team if you are interested. We are the GRANTHAM GRINDERS. The entry fee is $150 and you can obtain it from sponsors rather than donating it yourself. Our team goal is an ambitious $20,000, but with some effort, we can get there. Last year we raised in excess of $12,000. It is for an amazing cause and a very professional facility and staff.
If nothing else, the goal of a specific ride or walk is a great incentive to get out there and work up a sweat. You will be doing yourself and all of NH’s cancer patients a favor. So dust off the bike or get out the running shoes and develop a plan to get in solid shape by July 14 – and come join us.
