Submitted by un.retired.skater on Mon Oct 8 2012 7:31am
Great meeting Blake and Elizabeth at A2A around mile 15-20. Roadskater is responsible for helping me get back into skating and getting the proper skates, wheels etc to skate distances. I completed my first road skate by doing the 38 mile option of A2A on Sunday. The hills and roads were rough, but we made it through and the weather was great. Thank you again for your assistance back in april and may when we did our first charity event 72 Miles for Freedom. The group ride is on the Silver Comet Trail and you do not have to complete the full 72 miles... You may also run, bike, walk, or longboard. Our next one is March 23, 2013 and you can register and get more information on active.com at http://bit.ly/Qs1X1E
Here is our promotional video. We have a good amount of skaters that have joined so far. 40+ participants including the skaters, walkers, runners, cyclist. The Group Ride is free, but we are asking for donations for www.wellspringliving.org (type "72 miles" in comments when giving). If the embedded video code doesn't work you can find video at vimeo.com/42252569 (or search for #72milesforfreedom on vimeo.com).
This is the kick in the too-tight skate pants that I needed, to give my skating some relevance and scale again this year. The MS Society has posted the training ride dates for the Summer:
OK. We've been missing from this ghost town for weeks as we completed the 90 miles in 2 days at Tour to Tanglewood, the 87 miles in 1 day at Athens to Atlanta (7h58m) and did the preparations for volunteers to put on the 102-21 mile Carolina Century ride and roll for MS, while we skated as unintentional sweep much of the day. Now it is on to wrapping up lost and found and website items and participant surveys and such. Plus resting off 102 miles (10h23m) on roadskates.
Meanwhile to amuse me I looked back at my unpublished Tour to Tanglewood 2011 photos and I got 6 photos (don't worry I just aim my arrm in that direrction and crop later) during the dog incident. 4 of him passing us, and 2 blank ones probably taken during the shoulder roll or after...they are just black except for some light around the edges like a near death experience (NDE).
I don't know the technical details of their journey, but their cause is good, and this group of skaters are representing their sport for charity. You go girls!
Look for the 2011 Carolina Century on 10/22/11. A proven EPIC event. More details to come......most certainly. :-) http://carolinacentury.com
[Ed: Thanks, MikeB, for putting this out there early! From here on out this is roadskater speaking.]
With a bike to skate ratio of 15 to 1 or so...This is a bicycle event designed by roadskater to be compatible with slower or heavier cyclists, fast cyclists looking for a rolling but fast course with few challenging turns and no switchbacks, and experienced roadskaters. The Carolina Century even has a sherpa/domestique who will ride in support of a first-time centurion (or a pack of them). Thanks to John Connor for being the Carolina Century guide. We'll be rolling along near the back to make sure that the rest stops stay open and well stocked.