Minor Meltdown

Memorial Day was the 7th consecutive day I was out on the bike and I had planned to do a century because there was not much happening at the house and the "honey-do" list was short. But at mile 50, after a leisurely ride through Key Biscayne and down toward Deering Estate, my body decided enough was enough. I had a meltdown. I limped home, finishing with just more than 55 miles and inside, I wasn't feeling very good. Maybe not enough to eat. Not enough to drink. It was a concern because I surpassed 300 miles for the week and that is what I intend to do in four days on the ride.
Fortunately, I was able to participate in my Tuesday-Thursday group ride this morning and finished strong the 50 miles I do with these riders.
I did the same route on thursday last week in the rain so it was nice to have about 12 riders with me at a leisurely pace of 18-20. Now, some six hours after the conclusion of the ride, I feel good and not at all concerned about the distances I will face in less than 3 weeks.

Largest Donation To Date Arrived Today

We received the largest donation yet today from Charlie DeLucca and the First Tee of Miami -- $500. For those who don't know, Charlie has been around golf longer than golf has been around. He was the driving force behind the creation of the Florida golf license plate and is one of the main reasons touring professionals Cristie Kerr and Erik Compton have been as successful as they are on their respective tours. Charlie and his company run International Links, the golf course directly across the street from Miami International Airport on the east side. When planes fly over the course on their way into the airport, you can actually read the name tags of the pilots on their approach. I don't know if the club has any rule if your shot is altered by hitting the bottom of an engine if you get a mulligan.
Also today, as bad as the weather was yesterday, it was that good today for my short 16 miler. Betsy and Alicia in the MMRF expressed their interest in riding with me when I am in Norwalk later next month. And another friend in New Hampshire said he was going to join me when I get there so I am fairly certain that a minimum of five days I will have company on the ride.

This is the finish line in Maine -- the Nubble Lighthouse

Condtions Can't Get Much Worse

Every Tuesday and Thursday morning from Black Point Marina in South Miami Dade a group of about 12 riders takes off for a 30 miler which goes around the Homestead Speedway and then returns. I get in 20 miles on top of that roundtrip from the house so it actually comes to 50 miles which I do in just under 3 hours.
Today, the group consisted of Travis, who rode more than 600 miles in Cambodia and Vietnam last year, Alex and myself. Why? For one thing, the rain was coming down pretty good and I actually had one mile in which it was dry (the first one today). So while my brother is always saying what a wimp I am for not riding in the wind or rain, I think I resolved that issue today.
Travis said he doesn't believe the conditions on my ride next month can possibly be any worse than what they were today, but I guess we will find out shortly.
Also today, the MMRF put me as the individual of the month on their web site. Go to

http://www.themmrf.org/donate-now-take-action/join-an-event/featured-supporters/perlmutter.html and you can read a bit about the ride and see some great pictures of me and Roy when we played golf in Canada in 2007. Wow, it was that long ago already?

One drowned rider after 50 miles in the rain today

The view of Biscayne Bay from Biscayne National Park in Homestead at 8:30 a.m.

Key West Checks In

Allison and Pete arrived Thursday night for a couple of night stay and today she handed me some money for donations from people in Key West. Didn't count it yet but I saw a couple of $100 bills so that is nice. Slowly, as we get closer to the ride (a month away), the donations are coming in again and for that I thank everyone who is participating. I certainly realize everyone has a charity or cause they contribute to and I certainly appreciate any monies sent this way for the MMRF.
Since we have an event Sunday, I had to do my long ride today and it was terrific. There was rain all around the county but not where I was riding. Some places the road was soaked, but I remained dry except for the rooster tails of water coming off the tires.
After leaving the house at 6:10 a.m., I arrived back around 11:30 after 80 miles and let me say I am tired, but a good tired. Went to Key Biscayne, south to Black Point Marina, West to the Busway and back home.
So it looks like in 8 days I rode 250 miles, the most in my training yet.
I feel like if I had to do the ride tomorrow, I could do it.

A Message From Pam

I am extremely humbled after reading this message from Pam.

To all of the wonderful people supporting Marty and his fundraising:

It is said that if we are fortunate, we may have 1 or 2 true, deepest friendships in our lives. I am so grateful that for Marty and my husband Roy, theirs was that kind of friendship.  We met I think somewhere near 1988 in Miami when I frequented the service station Marty then owned. And he invited Roy and I to his home to meet some friends of his that were planning a ski vacation to Lake Tahoe. Upon our arrival, Marty greeted us at the door in pink piggy slippers- and I knew right then that a bond would be formed! And sure enough for the next 24 years we skied together, visited Europe together, went on trips to the Carribean, and laughed and cried at all the events that life brings families.  But the friendship between Roy and Marty was special. They have been sending back and forth the same birthday card (with appropriate inserts) for 12 years. They called each other "Putz" and "Moron"- affectionately- from the movie Grumpy Old Men. And that is how they addressed each other for 20 years!  Marty and his amazing wife Bobbie have "pranked" Roy with incredibly complicated practical Jokes.  And although Roy tried to return the favor every chance he got- I have to bow to their expertise! And even though we moved from Miami to Coeur d'Alene Idaho in 1992 we managed to stay in touch, continue to meet for vacations and events, and remind each other that we were going to "grow old together".  Sadly, for Roy, this was not to be. He was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in June 2011 and spent a month in the hospital here. Marty called him every day, sent the funniest messages on Caring Bridge, and made Roy laugh. What a gift. And when Roy got out of the hospital, Marty informed us that he was organizing a  biking fundraiser for the following year, in June 2012, to help support myeloma research.  What can you say about a friend like that! Roy was moved to tears.. And we all hoped that he would be able to get the stem cell transplant that the doctors had planned for him and go into remission for many years.  Unfortunately God had other plans for Roy and in Feb of this year he was re-admitted to the hospital with more tumors.  And despite heavy chemotherapy, he died of this terrible disease March 9th.  And through it all Marty kept planning his biking adventure, setting up his website, setting up his blog.  I am so humbled and honored to know such a wonderful and unselfish friend. He was a blessing (and occasionally a pain in the "patooty") to Roy and I know that my husband is in heaven saying "way to go Moron"!  I hope that Marty gets all the support he deserves, not only from the myeloma foundation, but from anyone who knows someone  who is suffering from this terrible cancer. And that a cure is found soon so that no one else has to die.  It is my special pleasure and honor to call Marty and his wife Bobbie my friends.

With great admiration and love

Pam Gross

Looking For Help

Every so often you come across an individual who is tuned in to what you are trying to accomplish and this afternoon, I spoke with a man in North Carolina who, without promising anything, has given me hope that we are going to get a room on the Outer Banks.
Jeremy Miller is the general manager of the Hilton Garden Inn in Kitty Hawk and we spoke about getting the two nights we need in June. He has a big convention group coming in on those days but told me to check back in a couple of weeks because the group has a deadline 30 days before to secure all of the rooms requested.
I just feel good about the situation after talking with Jeremy that somehow, it is going to work out. If not, we have to change the route to bypass the Outer Banks on the way to Virginia Beach.
Some people take the pessimistic approach and tell you that there are slim to no chances of getting the rooms while Jeremy was just the opposite, saying he is going to see what can be worked out.

A Long Morning

Thanks to sunrise being around 6:15 these days, I have been able to get out on the road early and build some miles before meeting the other guys on weekends. Today, for example, rode 14 miles before 7 a.m., did the Key Biscayne loop and then headed south to Black Point to finish up 71 miles. For those that are keeping score, it adds up to 124 for the weekend.
Not there yet, but it's getting better. Plan to ride easy tomorrow morning for about an hour just to work the legs and then head out Tuesday for another 50 miler.

The Route Is Done

Friday before our auction, I finished the route we are going to take to Maine and it looks like 16 days on the road with one day of no riding when we are at my brother's house in New Jersey. We have enough Hilton points to book Hampton Inns and Hilton Hotels all of the way up the coast except for the two nights we need on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. All rooms are sold out which creates a big problem if we can't find a place. We were going to take 2 days to do the 100 miles on the Outer Banks so we could do a little R&R and sightsee but unless we get a room, we might have to bypass the island.
Otherwise, the rooms are booked and now I will go into details like turn by turn directions. Mapquest and Google maps are so good.
Training today was tough. Wind was steady at 17 mph from the north so going up the KB bridge the first time, we were already at 9 mph before we hit the first tenth of a mile. Of course, going the other way, it was 40.1.
Brought enough food and drink this morning to finish without any challenges and finished 53 miles.

More Work Needs To Be Done

A quick note -- Monday was not a good day for this old body. Tuesday was okay. Today my legs are still sore from the weekend rides which indicates to me that I have a long way to go and short time to do it before June 17th comes around.
Will be back on the bike for a 30 miler in the morning and then duplicate the 130 miles on this coming weekend. Got to remember to bring more food.

5-Hour Energy Joins Our Team

Friday we received word that 5-Hour Energy will supply us with enough product for the ride and officially joins our sponsor team. I sure could have used a second bottle today after I ran out of food on my 70 mile ride this morning. I didn't plan ahead.
Left the house at 0-dark-30 or just past 6 a.m. and did 12 miles before meeting Joe for the usual 46 miler. Afterwards, I went south and before I committed to going all of the way to Blackpoint Marina, realized I was low on water and out of food and I was struggling. So, instead of finishing 70 miles, I finished 66 for a total of 130 on the weekend. I think I would be feeling a lot better if I had brought another energy bar or another pack of GU with me -- will know for next week.
Went back and checked total mileage for the entire year of 2010 and discovered that here, the 6th day of May, I have gone exactly half that distance this year. Before the I start the ride next month I probably will be close to the 3,000 plus miles I rode last year.
Got two big events this week so training will have to be done inside before hitting the roads again Saturday.