I did it!!!
On Sunday, June 1st, I biked a century - 100 miles in one day.
Having just returned from 17th annual America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride in Lake Tahoe, I am on a high. I cycled this ride as a Hodgkin’s survivor celebrating 26 years disease free. What an accomplishment. Our team of almost 100 riders raised over $400,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Our ride incorporated 70 miles around Lake Tahoe and a 30-mile round-trip excursion from Tahoe City to Truckee. There were about 3,300 total riders. However, the most dominating presence was riders with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training (TNT), which had roughly 1,800 cyclists representing 60 different regions.
Sharon crossing the finish line
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TNT is the world’s largest endurance sports training program, providing coaching and support for people to cross the finish line at marathons, half marathons, triathlons and 100-mile cycling events and is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Over the last 20 years, more than 360,000 participants have raised more than $850 million for lifesaving cancer research and to help blood cancer patients live longer, better lives.
It was a festive event. While we were all wearing purple and green jerseys, each chapter attached decorative ornaments to their helmets. My chapter, the National Capital Area’s ornament was a dome of the US Capital. Others included, Coors Light cans for the Rocky Mountain chapter, cheese for Wisconsin, red chilies for New Mexico/El Paso, cans of Spam for Minnesota, plastic wine glasses for California and dolphins for South Florida. The cheerleaders on the sidelines shouted “GO TEAM” while hooting and hollering, applauding and giving us a high-5 as we cycled by. The vibes were good. Emotions flowed freely. We all cheered each other passed.
The ride was not easy. We rode elevations between 6,300-7,100 feet, we climbed switchbacks at Emerald Bay (climbing 300 feet over 3 miles) and then there was Spooner hill at mile 85 - climbing 900 feet over 6 miles. At one point, a total stranger rode next to me, asked if I needed a hand up the hill. He put his right hand on the small of my back and pushed me up the hill while pedaling his own bike.
Sharon (second from the left) with her "3+1" team
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I rode with the ladies I trained with; we are the “3+1” team – 3 blood cancer survivors plus one other. It’s not easy biking 100 miles, but it’s even harder fighting cancer.
The lake was picturesque, you could see all the way to the bottom. However, the most amazing sight was watching a one-legged cyclist pedal up the hill. If she could do it, there was no reason why I couldn’t do it too.
At mile 99, the full National Capital team gathered and waited for all riders. We rode in together, 2 by 2, survivors in the front (there were 7 of us) followed by our other teammates. If words could only express the feeling that I had while crossing the finish line.
All in all, it was an extraordinary experience that I will cherish for a lifetime. I was so moved, that I signed up again to ride with a new team this October at the Seagull Century on the eastern shore. I will begin training with this new team as soon as my bike returns from Tahoe. I look forward to new friendships and experiences. If you want to join me or support me in this event, please stop by and see me – room 4411 or send me an email – srobinson@abmg.org
You can also sign up to cycle a century, walk or run a full or half marathon, or complete a triathlon through TNT. The mission of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is to find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life for their patients and families. - Sharon Robinson
Sharon Robinson is the Administrator for the American Board of Medical Genetics (ABMG) and can be reached at extension 7315.
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Monday. Include something you like to do. If you think about work on Saturday or Sunday, you'll have something enjoyable to anticipate. It can take the pressure off Sunday night and Monday morning.
