The 2020 Pan Mass Challenge was different. With the Coronavirus on the loose, large gatherings of tired, sweaty cyclists are not recommended. The annual supported ride of 6,000+ cyclists across Massachusetts therefore did not take place. Instead, participants all over the country made their own “reimagined” Pan Mass Challenge to raise funds for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
My plan involved riding the 52 mile length of the Virginia Capital Trail from Richmond to Williamsburg, plus the return. My frequent training partner Cindy volunteered to accompany me. Shortly before 7:00am on Saturday August 1 we rode from her house to Great Shiplock Park, the Richmond end of the Trail. On the way there we encountered Bill, who joined us for the first stage of the route.
My father died in 2012. In 1944 and 1945 he witnessed the horrors of the Second World War in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Between 1996 and 2012 he repeatedly faced the horrors of cancer ….colon, bladder, prostate, lung, basal cell and finally colon cancer one more time. It was a tough way to spend his 70s and 80s.
Cindy, Bill and I rolled from Shiplock headed Southeast. We rode through Rocketts Landing and climbed the long hill to New Market Turnpike, Route 5. With minor exception the Trail runs adjacent to this road all the way to Williamsburg.
Many years ago my son’s classmate Nicole, a quiet little girl, succumbed to kidney cancer. She was nine years old. As her father calmly delivered the eulogy I wondered how he held it together.
Where the I-295 beltway crosses Route 5, the Trail diverts through the woods for several miles. We pedaled through the area, encountering other cyclists and pedestrians on this beautiful Saturday morning. Although it was still early when we entered Four Mile Creek Park, cars with bike racks occupied most of the parking spaces. It was good to see so many people taking advantage of this resource.
Uncle Dick on my father’s side and Uncle Bob on my mother’s side both suffered from colon cancer and the gruesome side effects of related treatments. My diet and lifestyle differ significantly from theirs, so perhaps I have better odds of avoiding colon cancer despite the hereditary component. My brothers and I are now on regular scoping schedules.
Over the length of the Trail the net elevation change isn’t much, but there are plenty of ups and downs along the way. Beyond Four Mile Creek we passed by the (closed) store at The Fork. At mile 17 Bill turned around and headed back toward Richmond. Cindy and I took turns riding point or drafting. I did my best to carry my share of the burden, but she is young and strong and I am neither.
My high school days are ancient history, but I’ve managed to stay in touch or reconnect with some friends from the days of my wayward youth. Joe, Joyce, Karen and Marie have all fought the cancer demons. Joe and Joyce lost their battles. Karen and Marie are still with us, living their lives but sometimes glancing furtively over their shoulders.
The August heat in central Virginia can be stifling, but cloud cover kept the temperature in a tolerable range, and the breeze from being in motion helped. At 32 miles we rolled into the historic Charles City Courthouse for a short break to eat snacks and use restrooms. I had more water left than Cindy, so I gave her some of mine.
In 1993 Michele was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. She endured a stem cell transplant, chemotherapy, radiation and repeated treatment regimens in the ensuing years as the cancer ebbed and flowed. In 2001 she received a bone marrow transplant. After nearly a decade of battle, Michele’s doctors said she should consider herself cured. A mammogram then revealed the presence of breast cancer, and she underwent a double mastectomy. Michele is one tough cookie.
We crossed the Chickahominy River Bridge at 46 miles. This structure is very steep and very high, which seems unnecessary since there is no apparent need for aircraft carriers to pass beneath and sail up the Chickahominy River.
Kim was a regular when I taught spin classes at the YMCA. A few years ago she lost her father to cancer, and just a week ago she lost her mother to cancer. It is tragic to be a cancer orphan.
My bike computer read 52.5 miles as we coasted into the “mile zero” trailhead in Williamsburg. We paused for a photo and then headed back the way we had come. Two miles later we encountered Brian, who had parked at Charles City with water, potatoes and other munchies, and ridden out to catch us on the way back. The three of us rode to the Courthouse, 73 miles for Cindy and me. For Brian this was a 36 mile ride, his longest distance ever on two wheels. We drank, ate and refilled water bottles. Brian drove back to Richmond as Cindy and I set out on the Capital Trail again.
Shirley and I met in fourth grade. On Day 1 of the Pan Mass Challenge I often have dinner in Bourne with her and her husband Conrad. In 2008 Conrad was diagnosed with both Follicular Lymphoma and prostate cancer. He was treated with chemotherapy, and eventually the prostate gland was removed. In 2017 he endured a second round of chemotherapy and in 2018 received radiation treatments to deal with remaining detected prostate cancer cells. These procedures prolonged his life. He is doing well but must be scanned regularly.
At mile 80 my quadriceps were complaining about all the hours of repetitive motion. I slowed my pace and rubbed one thigh, then switched and rubbed the other. My hope was to eliminate, or at least delay, the onset of cramps.
At my first Pan Mass Challenge in 1999 I met veteran rider Doug. In recent years he has volunteered at the Sturbridge check in. Doug’s sister Sue lost her battle with pancreatic cancer, and lately Doug has been fighting back at bladder cancer and the many complications which have resulted from his treatment. I hope to see him in Sturbridge next August.
We rolled through Four Mile Creek Park and embarked upon the final stretch. Cindy became more energetic while my quadricep cramps came and went. Nine miles later we enjoyed the long descent to Rocketts Landing, and the easy spin from there to Great Shiplock Park.
Done, after 103.6 miles.
The friends and family I have mentioned here constitute an incomplete list of cancer victims to whom I am connected. Tragically, there are others I have not named, and more of them every year.
Stay well and stay safe, my friends. I promise that this will be my final solicitation for the 2020 Pan Mass Challenge. So please consider sponsoring me in this event. You can make a safe and secure tax-deductible donation at: https://profile.pmc.org/RT0014
The 2021 Pan Mass Challenge begins in 8,834 hours.