24 Hours of Booty

It's a bike event--with a memorable name. 24 Hours of Booty, Inc. is the official 24-hour ride of the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which brings cyclists of all abilities together to raise money for cancer research. The event unites people who are passionate about fighting cancer and ready to push themselves physically. Last year, 24 Hours of Booty events hosted 1,500 riders from 25 different states. And we're lucky enough to have one of only three rides this year right in our backyard: Columbia, MD.

Why cycle for 24-hours? There's the fund-raising part, of course. There are the bragging rights. But from what I understand, the actual event itself, with the camaraderie of fellow participants and the sharing of personal stories is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

I have a friend who did the 500+ mile AIDS ride nine years ago. It was a transformative experience for her. Not just in terms of fitness - she did drop two dress sizes - but meeting people who'd lost others or knew people struggling with the disease was incredibly moving for her. She made friends she's still in touch with. My best friend Debbie did the breast cancer 3-day 60-mile walk last year in honor of her mother whose birthday would have been the first day of the race, but she'd passed away five years ago from breast cancer. Debbie's team raised over $12,000, and she still talks about the experience.

Maryland's 24 Hours of Booty ride day is August 28th. Which means if we start training today (training tips) we'll have 5 months to prepare. Notice I said we? I think I'm ready to make a commitment to do something physically challenging that will make a difference for others. And I don't know about you, but I'm certain the reward for that five months of pain will be well worth it.