Pan-Mass Challenge

[newfsmith]

Today was the first day of PMC, and my only day. The weather was perfect. The residents along the route were extremely supportive: many of them with iced water bottles to hand out, some would slap a Krispy Kreme into your hand as you rode by, bagpipers and drummers at the top of a couple hills, lots of kids wanted to slap your hand, many "Thank you" posters on lawns, ballon arches across the road, etc. The volunteers had the food ready and efficiently set up so I was able to do 2 pit stops, lunch, refill my water bottles and be on my way in 30 minutes. In spite of my training being set back by my knee injury, I finished in 6 hours 16 minutes (5:44 riding), 84 miles on my computer. The end was just as good. A volunteer valet parked my bike, but first asked me if I wanted her to take my picture. Note the parking lot behind me. By the way, 31% of the roughly 4000 riders were women.