Hi all! For those of you that don’t know, the PMC is an annual 100+ mile bike-a-thon that raises money for life saving cancer research and treatment at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. The PMC has raised more money for this cause than any other event in the country — $831 million since inception.
I am riding once again with Team NextGen, which has now grown from 15 to ~100 people!!! This is my 15th year riding, so a particularly special milestone :)
I know many of us are touched by cancer. Carrying out research and treating immunocompromised cancer patients at Dana Farber has never been more important. As many of you know, the Farber is particularly meaningful to my family, as my incredibly strong and inspiring mother continues her battle with multiple myeolma and breast cancer.
I believe that the most efficient way I can support world-class researchers drive toward a cure is by supporting their work. I hope you will help me make progress toward this goal. Every single dollar will help.
Please consider sponsoring my PMC ride! Thank you! Including my recap of last years ride if you’d like to re-live the fun / get a preview for what this year will be like… promise to train this time!!
Beat Cancer!
-Mads
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Preamble/Critical Background Info
As you might recall, PMC 2024 was nothing short of a dumpster fire. I was in San Francisco for my bffs wedding (shoutout Sara and Toni!) and I was by far the worst biker in a group of extremely talented reimagined riders climbing Mt. Tam in the fight against cancer. Let's just say, it was not cute. It was a story of force of will, of crying in bike shorts, of walking uphill for 2-3 hours at a time, and of the kindness of a strangers - a lovely family who gave me water and directed me home. Lastly, it is the story of realizing that biking is extremely brutal when you’re out of shape and get estranged from your group.
Mental/Physical/Spiritual Preparation
In the months that followed PMC 2024, I was left to do some deep reflection. I had to look in the mirror and really ask myself: given there is no way my family will continue to love and support me if I drop out of this event, how the hell am I going to reclaim this activity as fun and empowering?? This launched the beginning of what felt like a Rocky style fitness journey to make sure I could complete this year’s ride. Cue the music.
I became a morning workout person. I started seeing the fittest person I know (Alie Saraceno) at workout classes, indicating I was on the right track. Steph even convinced me to run a 5 mile race (I finished a full 40 minutes behind her with a brisk 12-13 mile pace but hey, at least it was completed).
One might think the best way of training for the PMC is to actually just bike even 1 time, but no! I prefer the element of surprise each year on the bike for that 1 glorious 100 mile ride. 1 ride and 1 ride only. I’m like the one hit wonder of biking.
Friday Night: Tale of 2 Biker Journies
The Friday night before the ride contained our usual shenanigans. Everyone was engaged in jersey swaps to try and get bigger sizes given the sleek n sexy fit of our new kits (ended up learning that crop tops are IN, just wear what you got). We had a big carboloading dinner at the Saracenos, a classic last minute scramble on gear, and, new tradition, watching “Project Runway” until midnight by accident fellow riders staying in Wellesley the night before. Other classic PMC activities occurred: Mackenzie and Amanda struggled to find matching shoes and pedals, my dad had us all lined up to do a final “gear check,” and PBJs / Cliff bars were piled on the table ready to go in the am.
The Start: Quick Tire Pop, NBD
This year, Team Next Gen was so big and varied that the group was split into 2 informal categories: extremely legit Tour de France style bikers, and normal people bikers (henceforth the “normies”). The Tour de France crew all left from Sturbridge to do the 2 day full ride. The normies had the same plan as usual: leave from Wellesley to do the 1 day 100 mile ride. No more no less. Get rid of the bike shorts immediately upon completion.
Bright and early, the Wellesley rider crew assembled at our house ready to hit the road. The group was small given the Tour de France crew had already biked 70 miles from Sturbridge at this point, but mighty and with huge personalities/charm.
Emily/Neeraj took home the award for “greatest biker swag” with extremely cool bike shoes and various other gadgets, Nik took home the award for “arrive in style” as he was dropped off from the cape at 5am ready to then bike back to the cape. Austin won the comeback of the year award after not having touched his bike for 2 years since the last time he did PMC. Epic bravery on display.
Within the first 2 minutes of exiting the house, my dad popped a tire and had to return. We were off with a BANG! Of course, given his vast experience in this arena, he was back on the bike in a matter of minutes, already dolling out ON YOUR LEFTS as he made his way back to the group.
First 40-50 Miles: Actually, Not That Bad
Honestly, it was pretty pleasant!! The temp was lovely, I was cruising in style (see pix below). I was making small talk and various hilarious jokes with other team members, getting passed by massive groups of extremely fast biker gangs, and soaking in the energy knowing this is just the beginning, it all becomes way worse in another hour or so.
We cruised to lunch by 9:30am where the Sturbridge Tour de Francers had already arrived. That was an extremely humbling experience as I thought I was putting up record times. This is also where I learned that someone from our team had actually won the PMC by this time, something I didn't even conceive of since I thought this was a casual fight for your life bike not a event you can win.
Alas, nothing was going to yuck my yum, I hopped back on the road quickly in hopes of not being left behind by the speedy Saracenos. I figured if I had a 5-10 min head start, they would pass me but only be waiting like 10 minutes at the next water stop. Announcers are calling this the pacing strategy of an expert.
Lakeville Water Stop: Showing Off For Your Friends
Our team volunteer crew was all at the next water stop, giving me the adrenaline I needed to not look stupid in front of my friends. Though I had walked up the massive hill right before this water stop with no shame, I hopped back on my bike as though I had been cruising the whole time, rode into Lakeville smiling and waving as though I'm the queen of england.
Osa wanted to take several group photos and make sure we waited for critical mass. I told her fyi, I need to go a little early so that I don't get left behind in a hushed tone off to the side. She nodded in knowing agreement, took a pic of me and Wally (see below), and let me get on my way.
60-80: Gossip Era / Tea Time
Typically, this next leg of the ride is the worst because it's 24 miles (longest without a break), beating sun, and usually where you're on your own. Can't speak for others, but in my experience, this is where I get left behind, am fully gassed out, and people start texting like has anyone seen Mads out there.
This year, Alie, Krissy and I actually reclaimed this section as the gossip era. We agreed to save our best stories and talking points for the 60-80 mile arena to keep us entertained, and basically floated the whole way there! I know they were going slow for my benefit but I pretended I was actually just hanging with the crew.
Final Section!! We Made It: Beers, Ice Cream & Stories Galore
Sure enough, my dad was awaiting me at the final stop, ready to bike to the end together! We got it done, grabbed a beer, and began regailing our favorite stories from the road with other Team Next Gen-ers.
Key topics included: ration of dishing vs. receiving on your lefts while on the road, who to recruit to join us next year, best snacks along the way, and how excited we were to get to Falmouth for the big AFTER PARTY!!!
Though the Tour De France crew had another 100ish miles ahead of them on Day 2, I took off those bike shoes, ready to keep them hidden from sight until next year, when we get back on the saddle, bike into the abyss, and by sheer force of will, get another PMC done!!
THANK YOU AGAIN!!! SEE YOU OUT THERE NEXT YEAR!!!!
<3 <3 <3
