ornoth | Voice Post: 2012 PMC Sunday Sandwich Wrap-Up

The following is a transcription of a phone post that originally appeared in my main journal, here.

Well here's the end of weekend wrap-up for Pan-Mass Challenge 2012.

Overall I'm pretty ecstatic right now. The weekend went very well, despite it being a little warm (a surprise in August), and despite my legs being a little achey (a surprise after 200 miles in the saddle). Overall the weekend went fabulously.

The ride was again very inspiring and just an incredible experience. I love riding out here on the cape and just spending time out here. And having biked all the way from Sturbridge makes it kind of a special little pilgrimage.

And then on top of that, having shared a lot of the ride -- especially Day 2 -- with Jay, my buddy who's moving away... who completed his own trek across the state, having started at the New York border Friday morning. I was glad to share that with him. It was the first time he'd done that. And also with him moving away, it was a nice kind of farewell.

And then on top of all that, when I left the house on Friday I had not yet raised $9,000 this year, which was one of my goals. I thought it was an ambitious goal... but to have surpassed $10,000 total over the course of the weekend really was special. It was humbling. I have raised $10,000 or more on 2 previous years, but still to do that over the weekend, and to be able to cross the finish line... I'm certain this was the first time I'd raised that much by the end of the ride. So that was extremely special.

And that's a teastament to the support I get from a lot of very special people who are willing to give up some chunk of money to help everyone. From the riders, to the volunteers, to the people who line the route: everyone is just effusive with their thanks for this ride, which is a major, major event, raising more than 60 percent of what the Jimmy Fund raises every year. So it's a very important part of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and for that -- and for all of that -- I thank you for your support. it means a lot to me, and it really matters to a lot of people. That's the one thing that I take home from this event every year.

That's a wrap for 2012! Stay tuned for my ride writeup and other postride debriefs. And then I'll be sending out another note when the check is presented, which I beleive is the first weekend in November.

A very successful event, and again thank you for all your support. It's very much appreciated, and kind of superlative, so thank you!