Editor's note: the sixth annual Rotary Cares Test of Metal Celebrity Challenge is set to run Saturday, June 17, with dozens of local celebrities racing on an abridged Test of Metal course to raise money for the Linda Carney Rotary Cares Fund, a special fund designed to aid Squamish residents with medical needs not met by government or other funding.
As part of this year's Celebrity Challenge, The Chief, Mountain FM and Shaw Cable 10 have each entered one female participant in a special Media Challenge. My Squamish Magazine host Bianca Peters has stepped up on behalf of Team Shaw, Rebecca Hall of Mike and Rebecca in the Morning will race for Mountain FM and sales representative Lynn Pasko is The Chief's racer. For the next three weeks we'll publish their training diaries.
Bianca Peters - Team Shaw
Denise Imbeau has asked me to consider riding in the Linda Carney Rotary Cares Celebrity Challenge. It's a great cause that gives medical assistance to people in our community where Medicare falls short.
Denise figures that with all the swimming and hiking I do I would be fit enough to get my butt up to the top of Perth. Only problem is I haven't ridden a bike in years!
Ironically, Helen Brownrigg from Big Brothers and Sisters through Tantalus Bike Shop donated a bike to me the other week so my eight year-old-son Jacksen and I could spend some quality time riding together. Jacks has offered his services to be my coach and has already passed my bike through a safety inspection he learned through Rotary's annual in-school bike safety course.
Week one: It has been raining cats and dogs for days. Jacks has kept me from training on a bike due to the inclement weather. However, I managed to sneak out behind his back while he was playing at Raymond's house for a test ride to the start line at Brennan Park and home again. When I hit Highlands Way North, I had to get off and push my bike all the way up to the Boulevard. It was brutal. I was a big heap of sweat and suckled back 3 boxes of apple juice and napped for two hours.
Note to self: Bring water next ride.
Lesson learned: Hydration is key.
Rebecca Hall - Team Mountain FM
Two years ago I was asked by the Squamish Triathlon committee to participate in the annual triathlon. I hesitated to do it as I'm not a swimmer, not a biker and really not much of a runner. I did commit to doing it thinking "I'm able-bodied, so really, why not?!" It was to be a great challenge for me, and then some! I headed out for my first-ever road-bike ride. I actually rode the entire 40km track of the event but then encountered some train tracks. I didn't know about the dangers of train tracks on a bike and ended up crashing, and hard! I spent the night at the hospital in Squamish and was then transferred to the city with a grade-three concussion that kept me off work for two months. So, it is with some hesitation, but with the thought that "I'm able-bodied, so really, why not?!" I've agreed to ride in the Linda Carney Rotary Cares fundraising bike ride. I haven't been on a bike since I completed the triathlon (yes, post injury I actually crossed the finish line) but I look forward to this challenge that I'm sure will be equally rewarding and a good way to help me get over my bike-riding fear!
I invite you to support all of the riders participating in this fundraising event and if you'd like to pledge me in this journey, you can drop by the station or email me at rebecca.hall@mountainfm. rogers.com.
Lynn Pasko - Team Chief
I think it is good to have goals in one's life, to push past the norm and sometimes enter that unknown territory...I just never really expected to be on a bike pedaling my butt up that great big, looong hill! Why am I doing this? That's easy...Tim said I had to! (Just kidding, he did actually ask me, sort of...). No, seriously, I am looking forward to it, I think It will be a lot of fun, as long as my body doesn't pack it in halfway up that hill from muscle burnout or heat exhaustion!
My daughter Danielle has just told me that if I do pass out from heat exhaustion, she will hop on my bike and carry on. But of course, if one is prepared, through training, it should be a piece of cake, right? Uh oh.
My training regime? I haven't quite got there yet, but I am working on it. I am using the power of the mind...I think I can, I think I can...I know I can do it! Seriously though, I am going to train around Valleycliffe, going up the hill to the Plateau a few times. If I can do more, I will, but that is my goal.
This is for a wonderful cause and I am excited to be a part of it! Bring it on! Oh yeah, and if you have any spare water on you and I'm passing by please feel free to throw some at me
