The annual Spinergize fundraiser for the Hospice of Windsor and Essex County was today. It was the best yet of the last 4 years and Keith, John and Lorraine did a great job organizing the event. This year, the event benefitted the children's program at Hospice (things like the sensory room for kids with special needs). I was told that there was 170 riders and we raised over $35,000 this year besting every year so far.
The lure of riding the entire 5 hours was again strong with a record number of people riding the whole event. In the first year, it was just me, then in the second Cheryl from a-bikes road with me for the entire event. The 3rd and now the 4th years the number got larger and larger.
This year I managed to get a bike with a fan very close and directed right at me. It was nice to not be soaked for the entire event with pools of water everywhere. Someone did move the fan during the third hour and I started to get seriously soaked and actually started to get a little sore from all the wetness. For me, Spinergize was the rough equivalent of riding a century with the first 100km being solo...I started to get tired after about 3 1/2 hours. I figured this was pretty good training as I was just coming off a nasty illness for which I had antibiotics for 10 days.
This video is from Lifestyle Family Fitness during the third hour when the LFF instructors took to the stage. It was fun all around and cool to see the different instructors taking turns over the 5 hours. There was good food and lots to drink during and after the event. I didn't win anything this year but the event was worth it.
Short 2011 Spinergize video
Event information at: 2011 Spinergize