I didn’t…so I’m doing my best to get the word out that today!

World Cancer Day is a global day of awareness created by the International Union Against Cancer. With cancer set to become the #1 killer in the world this year, the day brings people together to highlight the growing personal and economic impact of the disease. On this day it’s critical that each organization—and each individual (that’s where we come in!) share responsibility for sending a powerful message about cancer prevention.

This is from Doug Ulman, the president and CEO of the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

I’ve beaten cancer three times, and each time it was a fight. But I can write to you today as a survivor because my doctors caught the disease early.

I know firsthand, as many of you do, that an early diagnosis is often the difference between life and death. It’s so simple, but everywhere I go I hear that people don’t learn about their risks—because they’re busy, because they’re scared or because they just forget.

How many lives could be saved with a quick reminder—from someone we trust—urging us to make a simple appointment? Today—with your help—we’re about to find out.

Can I really make a difference?

Studies show that encouragement from someone close to you—your mom, your best friend, your co-worker in the next office—can have a decisive impact on your decision to take important actions for your health.

You could be the best advocate for your friends and family…if you’re willing to take two minutes and nudge them to a quick step to protect their health.

I can’t emphasize enough how important this simple action is—it’s up to us to push everyone we know to talk to their doctors, know their risks and know what to do about it. It’s so easy to do, but also so easy to forget. The LIVESTRONG community has always inspired others to fight back against cancer. World Cancer Day is no exception!

This blog post is my nudge to you.  Please, ask your family and friends to “talk with their Doctor.” Click the link and the Lance Armstrong Foundation will help!
Donations:
If you would like to support my quest to help defeat cancer, you can donate at my egift page.

Thank you!  Your support means a lot!

I was in the car last Saturday night driving to my friend’s 40th birthday listening to ‘Only a Game’ on NPR.  One of the stories was about a guy up in New Hampshire trying to raise $1 million to assist US military veterans and their families through the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.  To raise this money, he is trying to make one million basketball free throws.  He is not trying to shoot one million free throws, he’s actually going to MAKE one million free throws.  The more I listened and tried to comprehend what that would take, I realized two things:

1. There is no way that I would ever be able to shoot and make that many free throws, regardless of long it would take me; and

2. I know this guy.

Dave places these sneakers behind the basket to remind him of all the service men and women who are away from their families.

We all have our causes and this is a good one.  Below is a link to the story about my friend Dave Cummings up in New Hampshire and his quest to make one million free throws.  Here is a link to his charity Hoops for Heroes.

Please take a listen to Dave’s story on “Only a Game” on NPR.

50 Top Cancer Survival/Inspiration Blogs:
I came across a blog that you might find interesting for you or anyone you might know who has been touched by cancer directly or indirectly.  The blog, which is put together by the Radiology Technician Schools, features a list of what they considered the Top 50 cancer survival and inspiration blogs.  It is a good list to see.

Training update:
In my last post I mentioned my bike is already on the trainer in the basement.  I also mentioned that I was a bit under the weather.  Well, it turns out I had a slight touch of pneumonia.  The good news is that I’m starting to feel better.  The bad news is that I have yet to ride.  I hope to get on my bike soon!

Donations:
If you would like to support my quest to help defeat cancer, you can donate at my egift page.  Thank you!  Your support means a lot!

Today was the first day for PMC alumni to sign up for this year’s ride.  I’m proud to report that I will again be taking on the challenge to help raise money to find a cure to cancer.  This year’s goal is $31 million!  We’ve made great strides in the first decade of this millinium and who knows, maybe this will be the decade that we git rid of cancer for good! 

Thanks to you, my very generous and dedicated donors, we’ve been able to raise close to $15,000 ($14,847 to be exact) over the past three years.  This year, I’m going to set my goal at  $5,153.  If we hit that, then we’ll have hit a four-year total of exactly $20,000.  I know it is not going to be easy.  The economy continues to be difficult, but as I’ve said in the past and will continue to say going forward, cancer doesn’t care about any of that.  It just cares about attacking those who we love.  If you’re like me, you’re just plain sick of it.

So What’s with the Blog Name?
Ok, in hindsight naming this blog ‘Eric’s 2009 PMC Training Blog’ probably wasn’t the brightest idea.  While I know I can change the title, I’m not sure what that will do in terms of linking etc.  So, I’ll do my best to figure it out.  If I don’t change the title, who cares right?  I will promise to do my best to keep the blog updated as I get into my training and fund raising for this year’s ride.

Just so you know:
My bike is on the trainer and all ready to be ridden.  In fact, I was very excited to head down to the basement, throw in a dvd and start training today.  Unfortuantely, I have a cold that is making it quite difficult to breathe and I don’t want to pass out on the bike on my first training ride…right???  I promise to be back on my bike as soon as I’m able and to keep you posted every step of the way

If you would like to make a donation you can! click here to donate

If you had cancer and Santa asked you what you wanted for Christmas, the obvious guess would be a cure, right?  That’s what I would wish for, wouldn’t you?  However, if you are a pediatric cancer patient, the answer is toys!  When it comes down to it, a kid with cancer is still a kid.  So, whatever you tradition is on Christmas (whether you celebrate it or not), take a listen to this clip from WBUR’s (Boston’s NPR station) “Here and Now” when Santa visited the kids at the Jimmy Fund Clinic at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston earlier this week. 

Click here to listen

Thank you to everyone who donated in 2009 and read this blog.  I look forward to your support in 2010 and I hope everyone has a great holiday season and happy and healthy New Year!

-Eric B.

The 2009 Pan-Mass Challenge didn’t blow this year’s $30 million fundraising goal out of the water, but it did make it.  And in a year in which we experienced the worst recession since the Great Depression, that’s not too shabby!  Thank you to everyone who helped us reach that goal. 

Here’s an article from the Boston Globe about the PMC “Pan-Mass. Challenge has rare lean year“

With the snow today it really looks like I won’t be getting in any more rides (not that I’ve had any recently, but it is just knowing I could that I’ll miss).  The bike will definitely be making its way to the basement and the indoor trainer.  Not so much fun, but at least it will keep me in shape.

It took longer than I would have liked, but the “official” thank yous have been sent to every donor.  If for some reason I missed someone, I am truly sorry. 

Now for the really great news…drum roll please.  Thanks to everyone’s help, we were able to raise $5,487!!!  This was $1,287 above my fund-raising minimum and $487 above my $5,000 goal.  Again THANK YOU!!!    In the three years that I’ve been riding, we’ve raised $14,847. Next year, I hope to eclipse the $20,000 mark.  I know with your help we can do it. 

Here are some of my final riding stats:

Total training rides: 28
Total miles (including the PMC) 803.61 – and probably more
Longest Training Ride: 67.19 miles (throgh the White Mountains)
Top Speed Reached: 43.63 mph
Total Hours on Bike: 23:34:12

My feeling is (and I don’t have any inside knowledge) is that we will reach our 2009 $30 million goal.

This is from PMC founder Billy Star about the PMC’s relationship with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute:

“The PMC’s impact on Dana-Farber has never been greater. This year, the PMC represents 44 percent of ALL gifts to Dana-Farber and more than 50 percent of all money raised on behalf of the Jimmy Fund. The PMC is far and away the lead gift of the 7-year $1 billion capital campaign (over $183 million). The PMC has become the Institute’s cornerstone annual annuity that keeps on giving. Despite the economy, the PMC and Dana-Farber remain in the forefront of American consciousness and philanthropy.”

Now that soccer is over and the cold weather is here, I’ll be making room in the basement to put the bike on the trainer and start getting back to work.  And who knows, maybe I’ll change things up this spring and try my hand at a few bike races.  If nothing else, it will give me something to write about.

Thanks again for everyone’s support!

Yesterday (Fri, Oct. 2) I had the opportunity to support pancreatic cancer research by playing in the First Annual Ed Waters Memorial Golf Tournament.  So, who was Ed Waters?  Ed was my good friend’s uncle.  He was a scratch golfer, a high school golf coach, a high school basketball coach and very involved in his community.  He also died of pancreatic cancer this past April after being diagnosed only six months earlier.

The event was very well organized by his daughter and the proceeds from the event went to fund a scholarship in Ed’s name and to benefit the Pancreatic Cancer Alliance. This organization, which is based in central Massachusetts, supports those who are suffering from the disease and their families.

According to the Pancreatic Cancer Alliance – “pancreatic cancer research lags behind the tremendous strides made in the fight against leukemia, breast cancer, and AIDS. Pancreatic cancer, the nation’s 4th leading cancer killer, ranks just 11th in research funding from the National Cancer Institute. The NCI spent just $74.2 million to fight pancreatic cancer in 2006. (Here’s a spreadsheet detailing NCI spending.) As a result, the five-year survival rate is little changed in the past 30 years, while huge strides have been made in fighting other cancers.”

I also lost an uncle to this horrible disease.  It is very painful and most of the time you only find out you have it after it is essentially too late.  Please support the cause and let’s improve the five-year survival rate.

I’m glad that I’ve been able to help in my little way in the global fight against cancer.  Whether it is by wearing my yellow LIVESTRONG bracelet or riding in the Pan-Mass Challenge.  I saw this video today about the Lance Armstrong Foundation and it was very inspiring.  I hope you are inspired too.  And if you were wondering, no, it’s not too late to donate to the 2009 PMC.  Thanks!

I know it’s been a while since my last post and I was planning on writing one soon with some good news (which I will still do), but I just wanted to talk about Don Hewitt for a minute.  For those of you who don’t know who he was, Don Hewitt was the creator and executive producer of “60 Minutes”. (Boston.com story)

Now, I wasn’t a die hard fan of the show, but I did and still do enjoy it.  However, I just wanted to share a memory of seeing him accept the first Goldsmith Career Award for Excellence in Journalism from the Kennedy School at Harvard.  What I remember was some of the stories he told in his speech and realizing just how important “60 Minutes” was in educating the American public.  Of course, that has all changed today, but as a wide-eyed journalism student at the time, he was captivating.

While he was 86, cancer still took another father and husband.  People should die of old age and not of a brutally painful disease like pancreatic cancer.  My uncle went through that and no else should have to.  Thanks again for everyone’s support of my ride.  While the event is over for this year, the fundraising continues…

You can still donate: http://www.pmc.org/egifts/giftinfo.asp?EgiftID=BE0034

This post is on the long side as I have combined three days into one post.  I did my best to make it as easy as possible to read.  Thanks again to everyone who supported me, it really means a lot.  I would also like to give a very huge thanks to my wife and family for supporting me through this four-month odyssey of fundraising, training rides and everything else that goes with it – Eric B.

Friday, July 31

Boarding the Bus:
Rain has been the one constant that most of the Mass.-based PMC riders have had to face all season, so to have steady downpours as we got ready to go to Sturbridge was not a surprise.  My PMC weekend officially started when Liz and the kids dropped me off at Babson College where I put my bike on the back of a truck and hopped on a bus.  I sat next to guy from Gloucester; it was his 19th PMC!  We had an interesting conversation about the history of the event and all the changes.  He started because his older brother died of cancer.

Sturbridge – Registration:
We pulled into Sturbridge and the rain appeared to have subsided, the weather report for the weekend was supposed to be good, but we couldn’t be sure.  I went in and registered and got my stuff and ran into Liz’s friend Stephanie (a high school friend who now lives in the DC area and was a first-time PMCer).  I didn’t know it at the time, but she was going to become a strong member of my group!  I gave Stephanie a tour of the registration set up, especially where the free beer was!

While we were inside, the skies opened up, this just meant we had to have another beer!  One of the fun parts of registration is all the PMC teams that are there selling t-shirts and tattoos.  Of course we had to get a couple tattoos, but no extra T-shirts this year.

The bikes had a refreshing shower, while we stayed inside and registered

The Crew:
We met up with Josh and Eric S., my two other riding buddies (this was Josh’s 11th PMC and Eric’s 6th) and made our way to dinner.  Then it was back to the hotel to watch the opening ceremonies on TV and turn in and prepare for the 4:00 am wake up call.

Saturday, August 1

4:oo a.m. Wake Up!
I was definitely excited and up before the 4:00 am alarm.  We went down to breakfast in the hotel, got dressed, grabbed the gear and hopped on the shuttle bus to the start.  This was the first year that I didn’t stay at the event hotel.  Larry, the leader of the crew and a 13-time rider took the year off to be with his pregnant wife, would always take care of getting a room at the event hotel.  Thankfully Eric S. was no rookie and reserved a room; otherwise I’m not quite sure where I would have stayed.

The Start:
While the PMC isn’t a race, the organizers have you line up by your average riding pace.  We typically line up in the middle to last-third of the 18+ mph corral.  Today, we lined up in the 2^nd corral – not sure why, but we did.  As a result, it did take us a little longer to get going and we had to ride with slower riders for a while.  Not a bad thing, but we just needed to be more alert.

Stephanie and I are ready to start the 30th PMC

Josh is ready!

Eric S. is too!

All-in-all the first day went very well.  I didn’t have the same issues as last year when I got dehydrated and had major cramping in my legs that required an IV when I got to Bourne.  However, for the second year in a row, I dropped a water bottle.  If I’m out alone on a ride, I’ll stop and pick it up, but not when you are in group.  You just need to let it go.  I just made sure to get plenty of water and Gatorade and take advantage of all the nice people along the way that were giving out water.

Strong Finish on Day 1:
Everyone in the group rode well and Stephanie helped pull us along for several stretches.  She really demonstrated her fitness in the hills!  Josh and Eric S. rode strong as well and we came in at 1:30 p.m.

Say No to Crashing:
This was also the first year in my three in which I had to avoid a crash.  We were turning left onto a road after a police officer cleared the way.  A young rider (I’m guessing only in his teens) didn’t quite understand what it was like to make a group turn. Thankfully he was ok and no one else went down.  What I found interesting is that while he was riding with us, I could tell he didn’t quite get what riding in a group was all about.  I’m sure he will now.

Massachusetts Maritime Academy:
It is always a good time at the MMA.  There is plenty of food, music, free beer and the best benefit of all, the free 15-minute massage.  While I’ve had massages before and they’ve always felt nice and relaxing, I couldn’t honestly say that I really felt much different after than I did before.  However, that changed in my first year when my neck and shoulders were very tight and sore after 112 miles of riding.  When the massage was over, my neck and shoulder pain were gone.  Just like that.  It was pretty amazing.

Lots of people and lots to eat in the food tent

I hung out with my roommate Andrew (Josh’s friend) and then we turned in around 8pm.  The dorm rooms can be very hot, but today they were nice.  In addition, I brought a mini-fan that I plugged in and kept right on the bunk bed.  That definitely helped (thanks to my mother-in-law for that!)

Saturday’s Tweets:

• #PMC Up b4 4am alarm. I’m excited to ride! Thanks to everyone who donated! We can and will defeat cancer!
• #PMC water stop 1 – in at 7:13. Going well!
• #PMC water stop 2 at 8:28 – Weather great and people on route even better!
• #PMC at lunch 10:16 Things are good and there inspiration to be found everywhere!
• #PMC water stop 4 – In at 11:46 Making good time. The sun is out and is getting HOT!!!
• #PMC last water stop! In at 12:45. Almost home! Thanks to all the volunteers!
• #PMC – 112 miles in the books! Made it to MMA @ 1:30. Not too bad. Only 79 More to go tomorrow. Thanx again for ur support!

Sunday, August 2

I was up again today before the 4:oo a.m. alarm.  Got dressed and grabbed the gear and headed down to the food tent.  One thing about the PMC, it is truly a logistical symphony.  Your bags are in your room when you get to MMA and then the volunteers somehow get your bags to the correct finish (there is the original finish and a family finish).

I met up with my crew, which today also included my roommate Andrew.  We were on our bikes and on our way to P-Town by 4:55 a.m.

The Bourne Bridge:
One of the truly special moments of the ride is the opportunity to ride our bikes over the Bourne Bridge.  They close off a lane with cones.  I guess in the past you had to walk your bike.  For those of you who haven’t gone over the Bourne Bridge, it isn’t too long, but it is pretty steep.  The view and the sunrise were great.

Today was really the first of the two days in which we were able to ride in a pace line.  A pace line is when cyclists ride single-file with the wheels of the bike close to each other.  When you ride in a pace line you are able to ride fast with less effort because of drafting.  Each person takes a turn at the front or a “pull” and then circles off.  I had some really good pulls today.

The second day always seems to be a much faster day.  Obviously there are fewer miles, but I also think it is because there isn’t a mass start, there aren’t as many riders and those riders tend to be a little stronger.  Anyway, it makes for some fast riding and that is definitely fun.

Da Hedge:
One of the many highlights of the Sunday ride was “Da Hedge”.  There is a camp a mile before the Brewster water stop.  At the front of this camp close to the road is a hedge that is about 100 yards long.  Behind this hedge were all the kids who were at the camp cheering, yelling and screaming as we rode by.  It is so much fun and really gets you moving.

Hammering the Climb:
There is this one long climb pretty close to the final water stop of the day in Wellfleet that overlooks the ocean.  It is very beautiful, today it was very foggy, so no view.  However, we were in a pretty long group of riders and we started to climb this hill.  Quite frankly, the group was going too slow.  So Stephanie and I started passing the group on the left.  Now, there might have been a tail wind, but my guess is that all the food, Gatorade and gels that I had consumed all kicked in at the same time, because I flew up the hill!  I left everyone behind to the point that I stopped and waited.  I guess the riding the Kanc’ paid off.  Stephanie was was next, followed by my guys and the rest of the group.

The Final Water Stop:
We really were making great time this morning, so much so, that I was concerned that I was going to miss Liz and the kids at the finish.  It was going to take about an hour and 15 minutes to get to the finish, which would have put us in around 10:00 a.m.  So, I decided to hang out a little and give the family the chance to get to P-Town.  Eric S. had his cousin’s wedding to get to, so he and Josh went and Stephanie and I stayed a while.  Which was good because we got to wait for some friends of hers.

The whole crew at the final PMC water stop

The Truro Pull:
One of the hardest stretches of the entire 192 miles is the last few miles through Truro on Rt. 6 to P-Town.  It is the thinnest part of the Cape.  There is no shelter from the wind and it is uphill most of the way.  It is also this part of the ride where I feel my training pays off the most.  For the third year in a row  I was able to pull for the entire stretch at the front of the pace line.  It’s just a really good feeling to be able to do that.

The Finish – P-Town:
The route doesn’t go all the way via Rt. 6.  Right after you cross the line into Provincetown you take a right into the National Sea Shore.  The road winds you through the dunes and up some pretty good hills.  Not that they are too tough, but at mile 187 not too much fun.

The group I was with was going to the Provincetown Inn finish (the original finish line), I was planning to go to the family finish.  I said good bye to Stephanie and her friends and headed to the family finish.  The extra time at the last water stop got me in right around 10:30 a.m., but Liz and the kids go stuck in a major traffic jam.  I was sad that they weren’t there to see me cross the line, but just knowing they were on there way really made my day.

Final Thoughts:
They say the ride is the reward for all the fundraising and it was.  It is always emotional and very difficult to explain.  Riding with Eric S. and Josh again was great and Stephanie was also a great addition.  I was able to meet the $4,200 minimum and it looks like I’ll make my $5,000 goal and possibly higher.  I also know that it wouldn’t have been possible without your generous support.  Thank you and together we can defeat cancer.  I look forward to starting this process over again next year with your support!

Sunday’s Tweets:

• #PMC Up at 4am and ready to go for day 2!
• #PMC Water stop 1 Day 2 – in @ 6:12 – beautiful sun rise and always cool to ride over Bourne Bridge!
• #PMC Water stop 2 Day – in @ 7:20 – really moving in 2nd leg. Da Hedge rocked!!!
• #PMC Water stop 3 Day 2 – in @ 8:40 – Holy fog Batman! Riding well and flew up long hill overlooking ocean…I think?
• #PMC Finish P-Town – in @ 10:30. Made great time and even held up so the fam could make it. No luck, major traffic

The PMC Ride Stats:

Date	Time	Duration	Distance	Avg. MPH	Max. MPH	Avg. RPM
1/2 – Aug	5:00 am	10:03:00	192.0	18.46	39.11	88

Me and the boy walking to the car in P-Town