Hi folks!
Once again Holly & I will be heading up to New Hampshire for the Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb. Last year I became a "Lifer" contributor, so I am guaranteed entry into the race every year until either the mountain or I cease to exist.
The race supports a great cause, Tin Mountain
Conservation Center, which has provided environmental education to over
75,000 students, campers and individuals throughout schools and
communities in Northern New Hampshire and western Maine for over 30
years. The race is the primary annual fundraiser for Tin Mountain.
For those of you unfamiliar with the race, it is a 7.6 mile all-uphill race to the 6288' summit of Mt. Washington, the highest peak in the northeastern United States. Until recently, Mt. Washington held the record for the highest recorded wind speed. Conditions are unpredictable. The road averages a grade of 12%, with a 22% grade leading to the finish line.
When I first raced in 2005, I was blown over at the 5 mile mark by a stiff crosswind, causing me to miss the Top-Notch cutoff time by 29 seconds. I made the Top-Notch cutoff in 2006 and am now eligible to start with the elite racers in the first wave. The race was canceled in 2007 due to freezing conditions and 90+ mph wind gusts at the summit. I missed 2008 due to illness, but came back last year to improve my time by 4 minutes, finishing 6th in my age group and 48th overall. With a good summer of training in, I'm hoping to improve on last year's finish.
I would appreciate any contribution, no matter the size, to help support the race and its worthy cause.
Thanks,
Larry
Tin Mountain Conservation Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit providing education programs that foster greater awareness and understanding of the natural environment for school children, adults, and families. Since it was founded in 1980 by Barbara Rockwell Henry and David Henry in Jackson, NH, the Center has offered hands-on programs in the schools, at summer camps, and within communities throughout northern New Hampshire and western Maine. Each year Tin Mountain works with over 5,000 in public and private school, in addition to its homeschool programs. To see a sample of our work with students, click here.