RATW - Day 1

I've been up since 4 am and I'm completely exhausted. I've been ingesting a steady supply of caffeine, but it seems to only be keeping me from passing out, not giving me any energy.

After taking off most of last week (although I did run 1.5 mile repeats up Gore Mountain on saturday), I jumped head first into Race Across the Window. We started yesterday at 11 am, but since my shift is from 5-8 am, I didn't have my first ride until this morning. I got up at 4, packed my backpack and rode through the darkness from Brooklyn to JackRabbit in Manhattan. When I got there, the store was completely dark save the lights in the front window. Shane was furiously pedaling shirtless in an empty store.

He let me in and while I readied for the my turn, he finished off his shift on the bike. After a quick calibration, I was off and riding. Shane stretched and showered while I clicked of the first of my miles. Just under and hour into my ride, I looked out the window to my left and saw Bev's smiling face. We let her in the store and she quickly volunteered to go get food for me and coffee for Shane. She returned with a couple bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwiches and a Mt. Dew. I quickly ate half the sandwich and started ingesting the sweet sugar and caffeine.

Bev kept me entertained, while I tried to ignore the fatigue in my legs. Killer showed up to bring Shane more coffee and chat with us. I waved to several passersby as they stopped to read the info on RATW and watch me pedal. Roz showed up a short time later with cupcakes, but unfortunately I had already met my quota for sugar and didn't really want one. Roz snapped some pictures and then I finished my shift mashing the pedals.

I ended up logging a little over 50 miles and averaged 18.5 mph. The first couple hours weren't too bad, but after that, things started getting uncomfortable. Hopefully wearing better shorts tomorrow will relieve some of the pain.

A HUGE thanks to Bev, Roz, and Killer for coming by this morning. It really helped get me through. Tomorrow I do it all over again...

Race Across the Window: Going Nowhere Fast

Now accepting Donations

More details are forthcoming, but I am joining fellow City Coach riders for Race Across the Window to benefit Young Survival. Here are the details:

On Tuesday, May 26 eight riders will begin a simulated 3,000 mile relay on a Computrainer situated in the window of Jack Rabbit Sports' Union Square store. We'll ride continuously for over a week, until we've completed the stationary cross country ride. The event is being held as a fundraiser for the Young Survival Coalition. Young Survival Coalition (YSC) is the premier international organization dedicated to the critical issues unique to young women and breast cancer. YSC works with survivors, caregivers and the medical, research, advocacy and legislative communities to increase the quality and quantity of life for women diagnosed with breast cancer ages 40 and under.

You can follow news on Twitter and Facebook. Here is the link if you feel compelled to donate.