Winding the back roads of northern Wake County near the borders of Granville and Franklin Counties the beauty and serenity is complimented by the sound of birds chirping and tires on pavement. On a sunny day this is Raleigh businessman Greg McNamara's favorite spot for cycling.
McNamara began riding shortly after graduating college while in Portland, Oregon with AmeriCorps. Money was tight so he acquired a bicycle for his commute to work. From that time on cycling became a passion and in 2004 he began working with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training to prepare for and complete his first 100 mile ride in West Palm Beach, Florida. McNamara describes his discovery of cycling as a “game-changer.” As a result of his achievements he's been inspired to accomplish things he never could have imagined and is living a new lifestyle.
Raleigh has a fairly large cycling community with clubs and organizations throughout the Triangle. For McNamara there's an appeal to participating in rides related to charity. Some local rides he's completed include the Raleigh Five-O to benefit the Raleigh Police Department and a ride for Habitat for Humanity. Charity cycling events are fun and well supported according to McNamara. It's always nice to finish a race with a personal best time, but the camaraderie and the feeling of accomplishing something that helps others motivates him.
Not one to slow down, McNamara is currently training for another 100 mile ride or as cyclists call it a century. He and a group of friends are riding in “America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride” in Lake Tahoe in June. Preparing for an excursion like this takes dedication. Weekly rides and daily cross training are key to building strength and endurance for the big day in June. The Team in Training provides participants with information and support. Important things such as technique, nutrition, hydration all factor in when getting ready for a physical test of this magnitude.
Looking down and shaking his head, McNamara tells the story of a ride in Asheville when he became dehydrated and found himself at mile 92 in excruciating pain with severe cramps - pushing himself to the finish line. Another time he broke his concentration and took a nasty tumble. Fortunately, he wasn't hurt badly, but these and other experiences remind him how proper focus and training are vital to the sport.
However, it's not just about the big ride. It's also about the cause. Riding for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society involves a commitment of another kind. Fund raising is an integral part of participation. McNamara is focused on raising money in order to make a difference for cancer patients and their families. On days it's hard getting started, he reminds himself of the people suffering from blood cancers, counts his blessings and perseveres.
“Fund raising was hard the first time. It's never easy to ask people for money”, McNamara states. “But the money is for an important cause and with time it's gotten easier.” McNamara has become so at ease with the fund raising aspect he now works as a fund raising mentor. He's also working hard to meet his personal fund raising goal for his upcoming ride in Tahoe.
Falls Lake, Jordan Lake and scenic rural roads makes the Triangle area a great place for cycling. For McNamara the sport has introduced him to a healthy lifestyle which has also allowed him to make new friends and to make a contribution. The Raleigh businessman has taken his love of cycling and combined it with a worthy cause and is pedaling towards a goal. Or as McNamara says, “I found myself and lost myself all at once on the road.”
Comments