I love baseball. I enjoy going to baseball games. The sites, sounds, and smells enhance the experience. Have you ever wondered how the person throwing out the first pitch gets selected? As a kid when I attended games with my family I often wondered how people got to throw out the first pitch. I always wanted to be that person. Three weeks ago I was chosen to represent a group attending a baseball game by throwing out the first pitch. It was a complete honor! Three other people also got to throw out a pitch. But it didn't matter to me that I was one of four people....I WAS one of four! How cool was that? I arrived at the game early and checked in at customer service. When the time came to walk out onto the field the only thought I had was "throw it so the catcher can catch it". I was worried that I would bounce the ball up to the plate or worse yet throw it a mile over the catcher's head. I kept thinking I should have practiced all week to make that throw. I couldn't believe how nervious I was. While I played softball in college and for many years after, I had not thrown a ball in a couple of years since I tore my rotator cuff. I really hadn't given much thought to the idea that 10,000 plus people would be watching. See, I knew better. The only people who really focus on the first pitch is your family and friends and people like me who sit in the seats wishing it was them.
e in our life time. I leave on my ride back to Cleveland a different person than I was four days ago because I was able to ride farther and faster than I ever had before, but more so because of the people with whom I shared the journey.
ot a great mental message at this point. Then "hope" kicked in. I remembered family members who wondered if they could fight on as they faced cancer. I was sure their pain was greater than mine at this moment and I smashed down on the peddles and gutted out one of the longest five miles of the whole ride. As I neared Hide Park I began thinking that I was nearing the end; the gradule hill continued. Would I ever be done? Then I saw the crest of the hill and pushed harder and harder. I crested the hill and began the descent when I began to hear cheers and yells and whoops.....the riders who had already finished were there cheering me on; imploring me to sprint home. As I arrived at the stop we all exchanged "high fives", hugs, and cheers and then turned our attention to the next set of riders cresting the hill. This went on until everyone was home at the Hide Park meeting area. Once everyone arrived we gathered together to mount our bikes one more time. With the ambulance that had been with us the whole ride in back and their support truck in front, we bunched up into one big pellaton ready to ride into the Hope Lodge together - one time; one family. As we began to ride as a group toward the Lodge the silence was deafening. I thought of the four days; the challenges, the victories, the pain, the miles. I thought of my family members who wrestled with cancer. I thought of my fellow cyclists and the stories we had shared. As we rounded 
the last turn we could hear the cheering of the countless volunteers we had aided us along our way as they stood at the Hope Lodge to greet us. Family members, friends the media all waiting our arrival. Bagpipes played as we cross into the parking lot. Tears flowed! Tears of joy, tears of accomplishment, tears of sorrow. All the emotions present in the moment. We had made it. The inauguaral Pan Ohio Hope Ride was now history. A dream of a few, shared by all of us cyclists, to raise money to support those facing their own challenge with cancer. I know that I am a better person for having shared these past four days with my fellow cyclists.
ntioch Colege and celebrate different awards for various find raising activities. One more day of 73 miles awaits. Temperatures are expected to be near 100. We leave it all out on the course tomorrow!!
e land needs to be acquired so that the various parts can be linked. The goal is to join all parts of the trail by 2010. I rode with a number of people today and shared many stories. That is the best part of the ride! One gal is riding to honor her mother who was diagnosed last fall with cancer and passed away six months later. Three riders are cancer survivors. Many of us have had loved ones who have battled cancer. Each of us seem to have a personal connection to the cause. Now for a much needed night of sleep resting a tied body that wants to ride another day! The first 40 miles of the day was relatively flat. The remaining miles took us into the foot hills of central Ohio where we experiences a number of rolling hills. The humidity of very high and the heat was a challenge to us all. We all finished strong and anticipate a hilly day for day two.
