I didn't see that coming

The first annual Pelotonia ride to end cancer is in the books. What a marvelous, successful event it was. The riders were blessed with great weather given the flooding downtown on Friday, and the intial weather reports of 50% no rain. It was a bit on the cool side this morning and we couldn't see very far in front of us on the bike path this morning due to the heavy fog. We think a couple of deer crossed in front of us -- but could have been Sasquatch for all we could see!

The roads weren't lined with the as many people as yesterday but 1) No Lance 2) It was early Sunday morning and 3) The Peloton went from 2200 to about 800. Still -- all along the 80 miles there were people out cheering us on, thanking us for what we were out doing. As someone said -- this wasn't a bike ride, it was the start of a movement.

After 15 miles on a nice flat rails to trails path we started in on the hills that made us suffer so much yesterday. And with tired legs they were really no better today. The one huge climb right after the 50 mile mark yesterday though was one fun, terrifying rough road descent today. Dave and I hit about 41 mph there -- even though you couldn't see the road in the shade and it was in pretty bad shape. A bit of a kamakaze approach but heck somewhere all of those climbs (after climb after climb) had to pay off!

Despite being promised on several occasions that we'd seen the last climb they just didn't stop. And to top if off we hit some serious headwinds right before Amanda and all the way to Slate Run Metro Park. We lucked out and caught a "train" about 5 miles from the finish and were able to draft a bit as we all had tired, tired legs. Not another fun day on the bike. Beautiful scenery yet again -- but a long, tough day on the bike (and yes, I need to find slower friends to ride with!)

But how could we complain? When you hear stories like this ladies -- a volunteer at the Amanda food stop. She was diagnosed with Non-Hotchins Lymphoma all centralized in her L5 vertebrae. She went through treatment and is on her 2 year maintenance cycle, suffering through overwhelming fatigue. But at least she was through the worst of the treatment -- but as soon as the "bad stuff" was over -- her husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had surgery. They are both doing OK and her attitude is absolutely amazing -- they will not let this disease get them down. The advances in medicing and cancer research in just the last decade saved their life. If Lance had been diagnosed in 1990 instead of 1996 he would most likely be dead today. Startling.Finally we made a left hand turn into Slate Run Metro Park -- I was so glad to see that sign! We wound our way through the park towards the finish line. There were folks sitting all along the road cheering us on, more and more the closer we got. Then the barricades started with even more people.

And then -- out of nowhere it came. It surprised me -- I didn't see it coming.

I cried, then I bawled. All the way through the finish line, more and more until way past the end. For Dad, for Eric, for Linda Daniels. For all those names that shouldn't be on my jersey. I cried out all of the anger, the frustration. And left that in God's hands.

And traded it in for hope. For all those names on my jersey that are fighting back -- that will make it -- that will beat it. For you, for me. For 1 in 2 men, 1 in 3 women that may get cancer -- but with more research, better treatment -- will survive, thrive and live to fight another day.

And for the hope that in my sister's grandchildrens lifetime cancer may be an afterthought, reduced to a minor disease that so many before it have become.

Hope won today.