Hopkins 4K for Cancer

June 9, 2007

by Michelle Samson
What a beautiful day for nearly a century of biking! Like every morning, we started with the team circle, and many dedicated the day’s ride to the cancer survivors we had met at the last night’s dinner. We mixed up our groups so that we’ll have to opportunity to ride with all of our wonderful teammates before we complete our first thousand miles. Then we set off along the Kankakee River with Queen’s lyrics “I Like to Ride my Bicycle” in our heads, thanks to the wake-up music.

Our beautiful paceline took us to the first water stop, which promised pbj sandwiches and leftover cookies, staples of a 4Ker’s diet. Then at lunch I made the best sandwich I’ve ever had with lunch meats, cheese, bagels, and fresh tomatoes. The groups met up, napped a little, and then started the difficult post-lunch ride. To spice it up, we played Pirates with the group behind us. This game entails slowing down or passing a group on the road and squirting as many riders as possible with all available water bottles. At the next water stop, our rival group had stepped it up with water guns and balloons. Too fun.

The next stretch of road was Old Hwy 66. Part of it was closed, allowing us to ride past corn fields and no cars, and to practice our no-hand technique. The sun started to set when we rode into town. We ate donated pizza and barbeque pork at a luxurious YMCA and got to bed early for our 4:30am wake-up time.