I received this email from Frank Morrone, one of the Team Red members. Some parts are funny, some touching. Frank gave me the OK to post it on our blog. He lives out in Amish country - that's a bit pertinent to the story...
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First time this has happened to me, it was an great ride though.
15 miles into a 20 mile bike ride All Hills, there is no flat ground out here
so on my way home it began I could hear the barking long before I saw the dog
I knew I was in for an adventure. I just conquered a half mile climb and did not have strength to out run a flea let alone a charging canine. I was charged by the dog at the top of the hill now the question that comes to mind would be so what was your course of action?
I think my solution was rather brilliant, hey remember I am a Genius -- at least that's what I tell
myself. Anyway the dog charged, first thing I said was Oh, I'm F****d, I said to myself
This is not the time to have a Brain Fart!!----Brainstorm, Got off the bike dog was barking
and I was keeping bike between me and the dog everytime dog moved, or turned I made
sure that bike was between me and the dog finally dog gave up, just looked at me
and ran back into yard. No harm done to man or beast.
Ciao
Frank
P S
I am doing the Cancer society ride July 10th it starts at the Ben. Franklin
bridge and goes 66 miles into Jersey just wondering how many people
from team red might be interested. Cancer took my first wife, a marriage that
spanned 31 years she was diagnosed in March of 2001 and gone July of 2001
and now I tell myself Cancer is a sprint, Diabetes is a Marathon and both these affliction's must be conquered.
Forum and Blog for Team Red cyclists riding in the Greater Philadelphia Tour de Cure
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I like Frank's dog defense mechanism - that truly is genius, Frank! I'll be sure to remember that one in a pinch. ; )
ReplyDeleteI agree with Frank's analogy as well - I've done the American Cancer Society Ride and it is like a sprint. Long and flat, moves really fast. And the Tour de Cure is hilly, slower, harder - more like a marathon. It is somewhat fitting to their causes.
I can't help but be touched by Frank's postscript. Loved ones lost, such sad times. That's why we ride - to remember the ones we love and to possibly find a cure for others in the future.
Whether it's diabetes, or cancer, or kidney disease, or any of a long list of reasons, we all have our causes - and we ride to remember and to hope.
That's why we're going to keep Team Red going year round. We'll get together for other training rides, and other charity rides - whomever can make it and feels compelled.
Let's remember who we ride for on this Tour de Cure. Post who you ride for here...
I'm riding for Eric Molowitz's parents who both died from diabetes complications. Eric can't do the ride, but I'm doing it for him.
ReplyDeleteI'm also riding for my cousin and childhood friend - Rod Sakai. He's dealing with seriously advanced Type 2 diabetes. He can't do the ride. I ride for Rod.
I'm also riding for my sweet Georgie girl. She was my dog and she just passed 2 days ago. She was a good friend. I know, she's a dog. But I don't care - I'm riding for her, too. And I think she did have diabetes at the end there.
And lastly, I'm riding for everyone else out there who's flirting with Type 2 diabetes. You can avoid it, but you have to do something about it now! That's why I support the ADA - they are helping to educate people about this insidious disease.
Who are you riding for?
Joe Perretti
ReplyDeleteI am doing ride for myself
I have type 2 diabetes since 2000 but still in denial
I am riding for myself, my brother and sisters who also have same heritage as me... I agree with Anonymous....Still in denial after being diabetic for over 10 years.
ReplyDeleteThere is lot one can do to control diabetes and have healthier life... but in end it slowly erodes you from inside.
This is the ride I am doing to say....Hey I may be diabetic... but I am strong and will stay that way for hopefully long time :)
Lets all raise awareness of what one can do to avoid diabetes and if you already have diabetes, then there are many ways to control it, without diabetes controling your life.
I am riding for my parents, both are diabetic. And I am riding for myself, my sisters and my brother, so our future can be different.
ReplyDeleteI got an email from Michelle and she wanted me to post this:
ReplyDeleteI am riding for my friend BarBara. She has diabetes.
Michelle
Thanks for your comments.
ReplyDeleteI've had Type 2 diabetes since 2008. But I think I was flirting with it for many years before that. My A1C was probably elevated for a while. If you ask me, I think the fasting blood glucose test is a little late in terms of making you aware of diabetes. Looking back, I had symptoms for many years before I was officially diagnosed.
Through biking, I was able to get my A1C down to 5.4 - which is better then a lot of folks without diabetes. But, I am also in a bit of denial. I like to think that I'm out of the woods, but diabetes is something you have to live with and be aware of - always. It may catch up to me again one day, but I'm going to try to keep riding away form it. ; )
And to all of you that have come out to the rides w/ diabetes - Sanjay, George, and those of you who have commented anonymously here - biking and exercise in general is going a long way. It's great that you're doing the ride ad training for it - it'll help us in the log run, right?
Thanks for all your efforts to support the cause and spread the word, and to keep yourselves healthy!