IT'S GO TIME!

2800 cyclists, $1.5 million raised for cancer research/treatment, 2500 calories burned, 3.5 banannas, 2 oranges, 2 peanut butter and jelley sandwiches, 2 packs of shot blocks, 3 bottles of gatorade, 2 bottles of water, 3 rest stops, 2 good climbs, lots of good company, 50 miles, and 1 sore bum later....

Yes, this would be none other than the LiveStrong ride. What a fantastic ride! I had so much fun. It was the innagural Livestrong challenge for San Jose, but Lance said it was so succesful that they will definitely be back next year! BUYAH! I can't wait. Next year will be the full 100 miles for me I think.

(Lance Armstrong downtown San Jose ride morning)

(Chis Carmichael, Lance Armstrong and gurus before the ride)

(Lance leading off the 63 mile ride)

THE DETAILS:
I pulled into the parking lot of the HP center at 6:30 yesterday morning. Got my bike unloaded and shoes on, and packed the necessities (shot blocks - to physically get me up any potential hills, i pod- to mentally get me up any potential hills, camera- just in case I run into Lance, cell phone-for emergencies) into the back pockets of my LiveStrong jersey. Had one last handful of trail mix and washed it down with a swig of orange gatorade and met my friend Peggy on the corner about 6:45. From there, we warmed up our legs as we rode the couple blocks to the start line. Peggy and I decided a few weeks ago to ride the 50 mile ride. I would've liked to have done the 100 mile, but I haven't trained at all, and haven't rode more than 30 miles at one time in 6 months or so now. And this was Peggy's first ride, so we decided to keep it casual and fun. Even though the ride was called the "LiveStrong Challenge," I really didn't think it would be challenging. I'm glad I was wrong.

At 7:45 our wave started the ride. The first 11 miles was a very casual warm up, and what I had expected of the ride route. Nice flat wide open roads and a lot of cyclists just having fun. I'll interject here to say, the road marshalls and police were absolutely fantastic! They had most of the roads downtown totally blocked off for us, and we basically had our own lane on all major streets, and the police were outstanding at controlling traffic to wave us through intersections. So the first 11 miles were pretty flat leading us out of downtown, through Willow Glen, west San Jose, Campbell, to Saratoga where we had our first rest stop.

(Peggy and I at the first rest stop)

We quickly realized just how well supported this ride was. We saw at least one SAG vehicle on every street making sure everyone was ok, and as soon as we came to the rest stop, volunteers swarmed on us handing us food and filling our water bottles for us. One of my old teammates Van was volunteering at the stop, so had a quick chat with him, then it was back on our bikes. As we were pulling out of the rest stop, I started hearing talk about Shannon Rd.... in my head I'm thinking, "what, I didn't think there were going to be any real hills on this ride..."

Shannon road is in the Los Gatos foothills and one of those rides you hear cyclists talking about a lot. It's a decent climb. It's one of those climbs I've always thought that I should go ride sometime, but have never actually gotten around to... well yesterday I got around to it.

Before we actually hit Shannon, we had a short gradual grade out of Saratoga to Highway 9. We got a little downhill pitch, and got some good speed going down Highway 9 through Los Gatos. As we approached Shannon Rd, I advised Peggy it was shot block time, and we powered up to get ready for the climb. It was actually a beautiful climb. I was pleasantly surprised. It was a little work, but I don't think it was more than 7% in any spot, and during most of the 2 mile climb, there were flats inbetween the pitches. When we reached the top, my legs were tired enough to remind me that it does take some work to ride. The pay-off was the descent down Hicks rd into almaden. Peggy and I were both incredibly grateful to our coaches for teaching us good cornering technique at this point. Taking hairpin turns at 30-40 mph on a bike does take a bit of skill (or at least some good coaching). That was a really fun downhill, and is totally worth the work it took to get to it.

(Not the best representative pic, but this is Hicks coming out of the hills.)

So cruising into Almaden I pulled up to a light next to Pinkie (I don't know her real name, but she's an ex-TNT'er who comes to hill repeats on her pink bike and pink gear). Anyhow, she asked Peggy and I if we were doing the 63. We said, no, just the 50. Pinkie tried to talk us into the 63 because she had no one to ride up Metcalf with. Hearing that Metcalf was on the 63, definitely made me think I made the right decision with the 50 this year. Metcalf is one of those bench mark climbs. I've never done it myself, but it's supposed to be a really super challenging climb. Next year...

(a view of Metcalf)

From there we turned off Hicks onto Camden. This is where the 50 milers split from the 63 and 100 mile course. I turned to Peggy and said, "last chance to keep going for a longer ride..." (I was still feeling really strong). She just wanted to get the 50 under her belt so we turned and then breezed down Coleman to the next rest stop on Santa Theresa. Refuel time. We spent a few minutes regrouping, then it was back on the road down Bernal.

After a few easy flat miles, we came up on a women riding by herself. I don't know how the conversation started but she informed us that the "big climb" was coming up. "WHAT??? We just finished Shannon Rd" is racing through my head. The woman quickly adds that she is a cancer survivor and this is her first 50 since her remission, and that if she can beat cancer, she can handle the climb. Peggy and I were quickly humbled and quit griping that there was another climb. Less than a mile after that, we hit a short, moderate pitch. I was relieved thinking that was the "big climb" she must have been talking about because it really wasn't bad. A slight downhill got my speed back up and as we came around a corner I saw a long line of cyclists very slowly struggling to get up a winding, steep part of Silver Creek heading into the Evergreen foothills. My relief was quickly replaced by dread. Time to pull out the ipod and take another shot block or two. I don't know what the grade on that climb was - it felt like 12% in spots and seemed to go on forever. I'm sure it was really only 8-10% and less than 2 miles. I refused to be one of the many cyclists on the road who had gotten off their bikes and were walking up the hill though. Down to granny-gear and slow spinning I finally saw the summitt and pushed my legs as fast as they would go just to get it over with and get to the top. At that point, I congratulated Peggy on finishing the climb without being one of the wusses walking, and we gave a high five to each other on our bikes as we geared back up for the descent. Maybe half a mile into the descent the course took a sharp right turn. As I came around the corner, much to my dismay, I saw more climbing ahead of us. Under normal circumstances, it wouldn't have been a big deal or too bad of a climb, it was more of a moderate grade for maybe half a mile- only at this point the legs hadn't recovered from the climb we just finished. Peggy voiced her frustration at the new challenge and I reminded her that after what we just climbed this was nothing, and we spun it out to the real end of climbing for the day.

From there it was a downhill and some flats into the next rest stop at about the 40 mile mark. We rolled in there about 11 (I had anticipated being done by 11, but I also hadn't anticipated the climbs). Oh well, it had been a great ride. We refilled our bottles one last time and hit the road for the home stretch.

Let me say at this point that not only was this the best supported ride I've ever ridden, but also the community support was so cool. All along the route people lined the streets waving and cheering. At about mile 44 we were cutting through a neighborhood and people were in their yards cheering us and spraying us down with their garden hoses. Whoever you were, THANKS! That was awesome. We cruised through the east side and back into downtown from there. Smooth sailing. About 500 yards from the finish line Peggy and I were side by side and I turned to her and just said "wanna sprint?" It was awesome. We both just took off and raced each other to the finish line. They had a huge village set up downtown with the finish line right in the middle. Tons of people on the sidelines cheering. I heard them announce my name and time over the PA as I crossed the line, and thought, "that's it - next year it's the full 100 for me."

After I finished, I tracked down the Galants who came out to cheer me on! Thanks guys, it was really fun to have you there!!! We hung out in the kid's area for awhile so Dylan could play and just chatted while I recovered a little. While I was talking to Emily, my friend Leigh Ann from last years team came over and gave me a hug. Her and another teammate, Colin were volunteering as support staff. It was fun to see familiar faces. She asked what ride I did, and I told her the 50. Her response was, "yeah, I wouldn't want to do Metcalf either..."

(My nephew, Dylan, a future cyclist? I think maybe so...)

The day wrapped up with Lance Armstrong giving a short speech in the middle of the plaza. He talked a little bit about the mission of the LiveStrong organization, and a little bit about how well the San Jose challenge went. He talked about his ride, and said that he wanted to know who picked this course because it was tough. Everyone kind of laughed, and he was like "No, I'm serious, out over Metcalf I was really wondering if this was the Tour of California (a very tough pro ride that this ride actually made me think of in parts) or something. It made me feel pretty good that I finished a ride not only with Lance, but that was challenging even to him.

(Lance giving his speech)

Everything said and done, this was the best organized ride that I've done. It was tough enough to be challenging, but not so tough that it wasn't fun. I toned it done a few notches today since I was riding with a new rider, but it was really fun. Next year I will definitely be doing this one again, and going for speed and distance. Til then, it's time to train on Metcalf, so by the time ride day comes, I know what I'm up against and it actually is still fun!

And one last afterthought: NO FLATS OR MECHANICALS! WOOHOO! I love it when things work the way they are supposed to! :) Good times all the way around!

THE REASON:

The Manifesto of the Lance Armstrong Foundation

We believe in life.
Your life.
We believe in living every minute of it with every ounce of your being.
And that you must not let cancer take control of it.
We believe in energy: channeled and fierce.
We believe in focus: getting smart and living strong.
Unity is strength. Knowledge is power. Attitude is everything.

We kick in the moment you’re diagnosed.
We help you accept the tears. Acknowledge the rage.
We believe in your right to live without pain.
We believe in information. Not pity.
And in straight, open talk about cancer.
With husbands, wives and partners. With kids, friends and neighbors. And the people you live with, work with, cry and laugh with.
This is no time to pull punches.
You’re in the fight of your life.

We’re about the hard stuff.
Like finding the nerve to ask for a second opinion.
And a third, or a fourth, if that’s what it takes.
We’re about getting smart about clinical trials.
And if it comes to it, being in control of how your life ends.
It’s your life. You will have it your way.

We’re about the practical stuff.
Planning for surviving. Banking your sperm. Preserving your fertility. Organizing your finances. Dealing with hospitals, specialists, insurance companies and employers.
It’s knowing your rights.
It’s your life.
Take no prisoners.

We’re about the fight.
We’re your champion on Capitol Hill. Your advocate with the healthcare system. Your sponsor in the research labs.
And we know the fight never ends.
Cancer may leave your body, but it never leaves your life.

LIVESTRONG