Hopkins 4K for Cancer

May 28, 2007

Greensburg, PA
Today will most likely (and hopefully) be remembered as one of the most difficult days for the entire trip; however what made this particular day even more challenging than it probably should have been was the fact that at each rest stop when we asked the drivers what lay ahead of us on the road, we were thrilled to hear that there was perhaps one more small hill, followed by a wonderful descent and then flat terrain the rest of the way. Little did we know they were lying. It started out with a nice, easy 20 mile 2,900 vertical climb to the Bald Knob summit. Typically it is all down hill from the summit, but western Pennsylvania must have missed that memo. For 20 miles after the summit we enjoyed the rolling hills of the Allegheny Mountains. And by rolling hills we mean rolling uphills. About mile 45 we finally reached the Mount Laurel Summit and were treated to a 3.5 mile downhill at an 8% grade.

After a grueling 60 miles in the saddle many riders were about ready to jump off a bridge … so they did, as a group of seven riders met up with a group of local teenagers who taught us where to land. After one last climb (probably the 57th of the day) into Greensburg we had finally arrived. When we finally found the right street we were greeted very warmly by the Greensburg YMCA and they graciously invited us to enjoy their pool and hot tub, and treated us to grilled burgers and green beans. Absolutely amazing and another day in the books for the 4K.