This past Saturday, my husband completed his third Harpoon Brewery to Brewery Ride. The ride is no easy feat. The route starts at the Harpoon Brewery in Boston, MA and ends at the Harpoon Brewery in Windsor, VT. This is no ride for motorized bike folks, this is all on a road bike. The crazy people, including my husband, that participate in this ride cycle their way to the finish all for a Harpoon! The first group gets sent off around 5:15 am. Depending on your fitness level and average speed, you sign up for the group that best fits your level as to when you think you will arrive. Ideally, they want you complete the ride in 10 hours or less. Each year my husband signs up for the last and fastest group which leaves at about 7:50am. This group consists of very strong, fast and incredibly trained cyclists and athletes who average approximately 20-21+ mph.
So, once again, I woke up at the crack of dawn and brought my husband to Boston for the start of his ride. I must admit, although my husband trained weekly and is by far the fittest man I know, we have been so busy this year that I didn’t think he trained quite as much as he did the previous years. I honestly thought he may finish a little slower this year and I expected him to be exhausted and beat at the end of the ride. But let me tell you, the man proved me VERY wrong. After dropping him off I went back home to fit in my own workout, clean the house a bit, pack a bag and head on up to Vermont to meet him (I drove!) I got a text from him before 3pm stating that he was already at the last rest stop which is the 125 mile mark and that he was “flying” and he’d be there soon. It was perfect timing as I had just got to Vermont myself. I found a great little spot along the route and cheered him on when he and his group of riders flew past me. He finished in record time this year with just under seven and a half hours of moving time. Not only did he have his fastest finish time for this ride, he felt and looked great at the finish. The first year he did this ride it was 95 degrees and humid; he was totally beat at the end. Last year he was tired but felt good. This year, my husband didn’t look like he cycled one mile let alone 148 miles. In fact, I think I was more exhausted than he was at the end!
My husband was a sponsored athlete for years for both cycling and mountain biking, but the man never ceases to amaze me in his athletic abilities accomplishments. He’s not just physically strong, but mentally strong as well, and any good athlete knows that being mentally strong is a big part of being a successful. He truly inspires me and motivates me. I will never be at his fitness level, but I think I stay in decent shape trying to keep up. If you feel as inspired and intrigued, then feel free to check out his ride on Strava.
So, from the city of Boston through the hills and mountains of New Hampshire all the way to Vermont, my husband cycled a mere 148 miles, all for a beer! How far you’d travel for a beer?!
Happy cycling and drinking lovahs, readers and bloggers!
~Susieqsinger