First Training Day for the Winter 2011 Cycle Team

Just like last year (my first season with TNT), I was totally excited about the new season.  But this time, unlike last year, I had almost 3,000 cycling miles under my belt.  Yup, in just one year, I logged in almost 3,000 miles.  I remember that first day last year when the 15 mile orientation ride felt like I would never be able to do a full century.  Now, I'm mentoring for TNT and having a blast!  Our first team ride was this past Saturday 11/6/10 at 9am.  That's way too late to start riding!  :o)

I got to our meeting place, McKenzie Park in Los Altos, at 6:30am.  It was dark and cold as could be but I got my bike prepped, put on some layers, turned on the lights on the bike and started to roll on my own at 7AM on the nose.  I did a 20 mile loop from Foothill to Page Mill to Aratradero to Alpine and back down to Foothill.  Got be back to McKenzie Park at 8:30am with plenty of time to spare before the actual team ride at 9AM!  Great warm-up!

Here's a picture of a new participant, Dori (thumbs up), with two other mentors around her, Wendy and Mark, and then there's me!  We are just filling her with information and what a fantastic time she is about to have this season!  She is ready!

The first ride was simply an orientation ride, about 15 miles.  We had folks out on road bikes, as well as mountain bikes. Some in full on kits (bike uniform talk) and some in simple gym attire.  At the end of the ride, our Coach, Patrick, asked for a show of hands if this was the longest ride they had been on. There were around 8 or 9 people who raised their hands!  Awesome!  I was one of thoses who raised my hand a year ago! I still remember how excited I felt and how awesome it felt to be with this team!  I can only hope that the new participants feel the same way!

We can't forget why we are here doing what we are doing, so we had two Honorees speak during our breakfast after the ride.  Honorees are those who are fighting or who have battled cancer and are willing to tell their story.  Not only have both of these gentlemen fought Lymphoma, but they are in remission and are riding/training with us today. In fact, one of them, Tom (the guy on the left) was a TNT coach during the Summer season!  These guys were sitting there telling us how it was because of people like us that have helped them stay alive.  The drugs that cured both of them, called Rituxan, was brought about because of the help of LLS and the funding that it provided. It's because of the research and support that helped both of these awesome men stay alive.  Now, they share their story so that we could continue raising money for new medicines.  We've heard time and time again, how sometimes medicines that are around today don't work for some people so they have to try new things. With new things, you never know what the side effects are.  That's why we have to continue to research and find a cure!  That's why we do this!  Thanks to both Tom and Gene for sharing their stories with us!  They are very inspirational!

Until next time! 

H