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Greenway Challenge Memories are Made
of These.....
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Former Greenway Challenge Ironman prepares for Berlin Marathon
It took two years participating in the Unibank
Blackstone River Valley Greenway Challenge, as part
of a team, to take this alumnus to the category of,
“Ironman.” Training for the endeavor required
two-hour workouts an average of five days per week,
and longer workouts on the weekends. Hearing about
his training schedule would naturally leave one
wondering, “What does he eat for breakfast?” When
asked, former Blackstone River Valley Greenway
Challenge Triathlete Radek Wasiak answered, in a
rather matter of fact manner, by simply responding,
“Pop-Tarts.”
Although he does not set out to advise anyone on
their choice of diet, Radek did offer some advice to
those thinking of diving into the Greenway Challenge
as a solo athlete, “Just do it, be prepared for it,
don’t stress and have fun.” After listening to him
speak of his experience as an Ironman, it was
apparent that the “fun” part is what kept him coming
back to brave the course with the help of his
dedicated support crew for three years in a row.
Radek explained that training is essential
because injuries are possible. “Training requires
long runs and long bikes and you need to know that
pushing your body for more than four continuous
hours results in being dead tired.” He added hope
by saying, “All of this can be offset by the
motivation of knowing that there is food waiting at
the finish line.” As an added bonus he offered
additional insight, “Doing the Greenway Challenge
solo is great training for marathons!”
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Radek Wasiak, 2007 Ironman,
2009 Berlin Marathon |
The Greenway Challenge has a special
knack for creating the kind of memories that remain,
long after one has crossed the finish line and this
holds true for Radek. It was the year that the
river “had no water,” and, in the first hour of the
course, cramps set in. He found himself thinking
that he had three and a half hours to go and
wondered how he was going to make it as he
transitioned from his bike into his kayak. Once he
was on the river he found himself heading towards a
tree and wondering if he should go to the left or go
to the right. Wondering perhaps a second too long.
Instead of turning either way, the kayak made its
own decision and tipped over. Just two minutes after
finding himself in water up to his knees, Radek was
back in his kayak, fueled by an adrenal rush,
without cramps, without worries and on his way to
having fun for the rest of the course while,
“training for marathons.”
Radek last participated in the Greenway Challenge in
September 2007. When asked if he stopped
participating in the event because there was a
mountain bike leg added in 2008, he quickly answered
with a laugh, “Absolutely, when I heard they were
adding mountain biking that was it! I packed up my
bags and moved out of the country!” Although he
managed to avoid mountain biking, he hasn’t managed
to escape adventure while he has lived overseas.
While the participants of this year’s Greenway
Challenge are out practicing the course, Radek will
be running the Berlin Marathon, probably after a
hardy breakfast of Pop-Tarts, and some serious
training leading up to the event.
Radek’s final reflections of the Greenway Challenge
are of a fantastic job organizing a great event, of
enjoying seeing the sights along the way and of
perhaps joining us again. He summarized his
memories by saying, “The Greenway Challenge is a
boatload of fun………….when you finish the route, and
………….it doesn’t hurt as much as a marathon.”
Radek might be across one great big puddle residing
in his new home in London, but for the Greenway
Challenge community he is still right here, sharing
stories about the Challenge experience, as a part of
our history in the making and a Blackstone River
Valley legacy that is sure to continue for
generations to come.
The UniBank Blackstone River Valley Greenway
Challenge has become one of "New England’s premier
adventure races." Focusing on the recreational
opportunities found in the John H. Chafee Blackstone
River Valley National Heritage Corridor and the
development of the Blackstone River Bikeway, and
working in partnership with Massachusetts Department
of Conservation & Recreation, Rhode Island
Department of Environmental Management, and the 24
towns and cities throughout the Blackstone River
Valley National Heritage Corridor, a new route is
designed each year. While encouraging team building
and corporate sponsorships, participants are led to
historic sites, new river access points, and New
England country roads lined with stone walls. For
more information please visit the website
greenwaychallenge.org.
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Scott Rossiter Remembers... He remembers
the excitement during the year the Unibank Blackstone River
Valley Greenway Challenge started with a biking leg in the
city of Worcester. It was easy to get a clear visual of
what it must have been like as he described the sounds of
people cheering, the bikes screaming through the city with
the help of detail officers at every crossing, and the
visual looks like Tour de Blackstone Valley. Scott
Rossiter's first experience with the Blackstone River Valley
Greenway Challenge was as BSA Scout Master for troop 107,
Grafton, MA.. It
was the very first year of the event. As with many teams,
they encountered some challenges before reaching the
starting line and after. The troop needed to reorganize and
jump to a plan B after loosing a team member to injury and
learned that missing a handoff due to driver error can cost
some valuable time. It was during this year that Scott
adopted his Greenway mantra, try not to get passed by
anyone.
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Scott admires the Greenway Challenge for being a democratic event, one that is
for everybody. One aspect of the event he really enjoys is being exposed to the
historical vistas along the Blackstone River Valley. Last year Scott walked the
grounds of Daniels farmstead in Blackstone Massachusetts for the first time. He
has biked past the location many times, but never took the time to stop and
explore. He appreciated the time he spent there during last year's Greenway
Challenge. Hearing about Scott's cycling routes is a treat. the year he set
sites on the Tour del Gelato in Italy, his wife was motivated to join him as a
cyclist.
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This will be his third year participating in the Five
Borough Ride in New York. When planning vacations, cycling
opportunities are part of Scott's focus. The local routes
that Scott favors are pretty sweet too. He has named his
route to Connecticut, the ice cream ride because it takes
him to one of his favorite ice cream places. When staying
closer to home, he ends every ride at the spot he describes
as the most beautiful place in the Blackstone River Valley.
He expanded a bit by explaining that the Grafton Common has
long been a nine on his list of places, because nine is the
highest a place can really get until the country store on
the common started serving gelato, and the nine became a
ten. It became apparent as he spoke over ice cream at the
Dairy Queen where we met, there seems to be a great
opportunity to read between the lines and learn from Scotts
wisdom as a seasoned cyclist, great thinker and extremely
humorous speaker. His mantra is one that could be invaluable
to any participant and perhaps his love of ice cream and
gelato is something to consider for this years finish line.
(Written by Shirley Warren) |
Timothy Johnson of 'Three New Dads' created videos for
us (Well, really for them, but they sure work for us too)!
The combination of still shots, video clips and audio
voiceover are truly worth the 9 minutes! You can also view
the 2007 video through this page.
Link through here and Tim tells us that it's best if you
click on high quality! While you're at the youtube site be
sure to send Tim your feedback! |
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Susan Spencer has written about our event. She writes, "The
competition was friendly, corporate and political rivalries
were pleasantly pursued, and the finish-line party at the
Kelly House Museum meadow along the river in Lincoln, R.I.
made for a mellow afternoon."
View her blog right here.
Thanks Susan!
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Jerry Burke has prepared
a 'mock' press release. We thought you
might all enjoy his perspective. He writes,
"I want to personally thank
you and all the organizers of the Challenge
for the outstanding job you did under
adversity this year. I admire the effort you
put into this event each year and want you
to know that it is well received and
wonderful to participate. Thank you also for
recognizing Dan Bazinet from the Worcester
AMC, a dear friend who introduced me to the
Greenway Challenge four years ago.
Our team had such a
wonderful day that I took the time to
memorialize the event with a mock press
release. My teammates enjoyed it so that I
figured I would send it along to you so you
can share our chuckles and enthusiasm."
Thanks again,
Jerry Burke,
Worcester AMC
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The start of the
Greenway Challenge began at Daniel's
Farmstead. Read about the Challenges of Team
21 from Captain Jerry Burke of Worcester AMC
right here. |
To add your memories to this page,
email Barbara or Michelle - contact info
below |
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