PMC 2012 is now a memory.

Three weeks have come and gone since the PMC 2012 ride.   I have yet to write up my "trip report" -- but rest assured I will.   In and of itself, the ride is remarkably constant.  But the way the PMC weekend unfolds is still different every year, sort of like a Rorshach Test:  physically and quantifiably similar,  but each year is still a unique experience.

Contrary to what you might think, the PMC weekend ride is not a so much a physical challenge as it is a reward.  I'm not saying that it's easy to ride a bike 192 miles -- it's not (at least not for me).   But there's just no language in my lungs  to articulate the depth and breadth of emotions one  experiences that weekend.

Until I can get my act together enough to write up my PMC weekend trip, I wanted to share a link to a video with you all.    The folks at DuVine Adventures Bike Tours were sponsors on this year's PMC and they did up a really nice video on youtube that captures a lot of the excitment of PMC weekend all the way from the Friday evening at Sturbridge, to Bourne, and up to the ferry arriving at Black Falcon Terminal in Boston on Sunday afternoon....    You can watch it here at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmtzZXT8sqM   The video is only 4 minutes long and really worth watching.   

I would be remiss if I didn't address my Prime Objective for PMC before signing off:  Money for a cure.   The overall fund-raising goal for 2012 is $36M, and last tally had us at $24M.    My personal fund-raising goal for this year is $7000 and I have yet to reach that. We only have until the end of September to close that $12M gap and meet our 2012 goal.   I will be blunt:  we don't need another Facebook posting "to show support for cancer research" --  what we need is money;  money that will actually fund research and treatment and ease people's pain.  Please show your support with your donation to the PMC Jimmy Fund here: http://www.pmc.org/donation.asp?eGiftID=DM0192    One hundred percent of the money you donate at that link will go to cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber.  One. Hundred. Percent.  I cannot over-emphasize how important funding is for cancer research and treatment, and I can't think of a more efficient way to make that happen.   

I'll be writing up my PMC 2012 trip report soon.  Until then, just enjoy the video and: "Commit.  You'll figure it out."

/doug

PMC 2012: Day Zer0 is nigh....

After all those hours of training and the non-stop begging for money...   the day is almost here... the day I get get hop on a bike and just ride - this time for 3 days!    The PMC 2012 ride officially starts Saturday, but this year I'll be doing a "Day 0 Ride" from Littleton to the start at Sturbridge on  Friday.  

I did a last-minute check-out on my bike, ran through my gear checklist and did my initial packing already.  Once I get this post out, I'll make sure my GPS is ready and try to get some sleep.  I still have to work tomorrow, but will be on the road as soon as I'm done.  The ride can't start soon enough for me.

Starting tomorrow, if you want to check in on my progress, you can check my GPS coordinates from your browser any time at this URL:  

http://meatcat.com/follow-doug.html  

This should be a lot more accurate than previous years, since I replaced my steam-powered Blackberry 8700 phone with a slick DROID phone with an honest-to-goodness GPS built-in.   

Depending on Verizon's coverage on the PMC route, you should be able to track my location  to within about 30 meters.  My location on this google maps overlay is indicated by my google avatar, something like in the picture to the right.

Go ahead. Be a stalker. You know you want to.  ;-)     

I think you'll agree with me that supporting cancer research and treatment is a Good Thing.  So please do a good thing right now and show your support with your donation to this year's PMC.   It takes less than 2 minutes to donate online here.  It's a secure transaction and every penny of every dollar you donate to a PMC rider goes directly to cancer treatment and research. Period. Full stop.  

So please help.

I'll be in touch.

/doug