More Miles!

Another weekend, another team ride, another 75 miles under our wheels. Another week closer to our goal.

The sun rose early on Saturday and the mercury followed, as Team South Jersey pointed our wheels east along State Highway 70. The last time we were here the rain fell in sheets and the temperature hovered near 45. That morning the challenge was the rain and the chill. We rode 40 miles and proved to ourselves we could do it. This time the challenge was the distance and the August-like heat. For many of our teammates it would be their longest ride ever. Today’s plan was to ride 70 miles. As sun beat down, water bottles were refilled and the miles fell away. We spun along the highway under newly blossomed leaves. Despite the relatively flat terrain it was not an easy ride. The heat affected muscles and baked us despite the liberal applications of SPF, but once again the team rose to the challenge and by early afternoon we were lying in the grass stretching.

A little more than 2 months ago we rode in winter’s cold as we began to organize, train and prepare ourselves for the challenge of riding 100 miles in the mountains around Lake Tahoe. Now, with less than half dozen practices remaining we are focusing on distance and climbing speed. EVERYONE has become a better cyclist. EVERYONE has pushed themselves to new levels of fitness. EVERYONE has met the challenge of our training program. And EVERYONE has helped to forward the mission of the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, raising funds and awareness of the fight to cure blood cancers.

In 5 weeks Team South Jersey will be making their last minute plans for the trip west. In just 5 weeks we will prove that all the hard work was worth it, as we once more point our wheels on a new course, face new challenges and overcome them together as a team.