1000 Miles For Charity

On Thanksgiving Day, November 24, at approximately 2PM, I rode my thousandth mile for charity as part of the Second Annual Bobby Mac Century Charity Ride to benefit the Foundation Fighting Blindness. It was, admittedly, a bit chilly when we started out at 8, and I found myself initially wishing for heavier gloves, my quilted shoe covers, and even my balaclava, which I normally don't break out if it's above 30. But it warmed up nicely and by 10 I was perfectly comfortable if still somewhat in the weeds after not having eaten well all week ("in the weeds" = "sluggish and tired on the charity ride"). I remain eternally thankful for the existence of caffeinated gu. We were following my Garmin, which baffled us by taking us on a route we had never seen before, but we figured the blue line had to lead somewhere, and we made it home after 102 total miles. We raised over $3,000 for the FFB, in honor of our leader Bobby Mac, and charity season ended in a blaze of glory. I wouldn't spend Thanksgiving any other way.

The Bobby Mac Century Approaches!

Bobby Mac runs my group ride. Every Saturday and Sunday, he's out there doing a 60-mile loop, encouraging--and feeding--new riders, steering us around potholes, instructing us on riding over ice, snow, fallen leaves and wet roads. Dozens if not hundreds of regular riders owe their start to him, myself included. When I began riding with Quad, Bobby encouraged me to challenge myself beyond what I would have thought possible, taught me how to eat and how to sneak up on and then pass other riders, convinced me to race, and introduced me to charity rides.

He does all this despite being legally blind.

Bobby once described macular degeneration for me like this: "Imagine smearing your glasses with Vaseline and then blacking out the centers with magic marker." He rides when it's dark. He rides when it's raining. Sometimes he rides when he can't even see the roads.

To give back, just a little, I am doing THE BOBBY MAC CENTURY CHARITY RIDE on Thanksgiving day, proceeds to benefit the Foundation Fighting Blindness. The FFB contributes to research which will one day lead to a cure for macular degeneration.

Please consider donating! If you click on the link to the right, please indicate that you are donating in honor of Bobby Mac, and notify me at 80 Everett St., Arlington, MA 02474.