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Bike Rides now Part of Sean’s Run

February 19, 2013 - The line-up of activities comprising Sean’s Run Weekend on April 27 & 28 in Chatham is expanding with the addition of a 20-mile and a 50-mile bike ride.  The all new Sean’s Run Bike Rides are part of a full weekend of Sean’s Run activities that attract over 1,500 participants from all over the region. The weekend also features a Zumbathon®, 5K, Megan’s Mile and a group run for children with special needs.

The bike rides are hosted by the newly organized Sean’s Run Bike Club, a League of American Bicyclists member club, with the assistance and cooperation of the 700-member Mohawk Hudson Cycling Club.

Sean’s Run Weekend is presented by First Niagara Bank, and the Register Star and Chatham Courier are media sponsors.

The rides, scheduled on Saturday, April 27th, are open to cyclists 18 and over, of all abilities.  Both distances are self-paced, non-competitive and supported rides.  The 20-mile pedal is a mostly flat, easy route encompassing scenic county roads.  A rest stop featuring snacks and music awaits riders at the half-way point. 

The 50-mile ride includes 1,375 feet of climbing, and the route traverses the beautiful Columbia County countryside and includes a trip up Warren Street through historic Hudson.  The longer ride will include 2 rest stops.

Both rides depart from the Chatham Fairgrounds and finish at Chatham High School where participants will enjoy a nutritious spread of refreshments and will receive their participant T-shirt.  There will be free bike inspections prior to the 8:30 AM start for the 50 miler and before the 10 AM start of the 20 mile ride.

Maps, cue sheets, rules of the ride and registration information are available at the website. 

Two for One Bonus!
The Bike Ride registration fee of $20, or $25 after 4/15/13, includes entry in Sean’s Run 5K or Meghan’s Mile the following day, Sunday, April 28. Now in its 12th year, Sean’s Run has earned the reputation as one of the largest and best organized multi-sport events in the region — attracting participants, volunteers and spectators each year from NY, MA, NJ and beyond.  The first 1,500 people to register will receive event T-shirts

Getting Ready
The Sean’s Run Bike Club offers the following easy 3-step plan to get ready for the Sean’s Run Bike Rides with two months of preparation beginning early March. 

Step 1 – Get the Gear:  Start out with equipment appropriate for 20 or 50 road miles: a multi-gear bike with relatively smooth tires is best. If you don’t have a helmet yet, get one now– they’re required for Sean’s Run Bike Rides. Make sure to fit your helmet properly. You should have your bike tuned up a month or two prior to Sean’s Run.  Make sure the seat height is correct for you.  Saddle height can make or break your cycling experience (and your knees).

Step 2 – Prepare Your Body: In early March be sure that you are following the CDC’s minimum physical activity recommendations: 150 minutes of moderate activity (like brisk walking or moderate spinning) or 75 minutes of intense activity (like running or fast spinning) each week.

Check off 60 of those required activity minutes by riding for an hour on Saturday or Sunday in early March. For company, check out rides offered by Mohawk Hudson Cycling Club throughout the region.  Ride a bit more the next weekend and the week after that.

By April, your workouts should increase to at least an hour once a week and 30 to 45 minutes twice a week. At this point you should be adding a ride during the workweek. Your weekend rides should also gradually increase to the point where you have gone at least the distance you plan to ride in Sean’s Run – either 20 or 50 miles.  We don’t recommend that you use Sean’s Run as your first attempt at these distances. 

Step 3 – Prepare for the Great Day:  Your two months of preparation will all come down to the last Saturday in April.

The night before Sean’s Run Bike Rides, eat a well-balanced dinner that includes complex carbohydrates and some protein.  On the morning of the ride, go for a bagel or low-fat yogurt and don’t forget to drink water.

Plan for a chilly start by bringing a thin hat that fits under your helmet, gloves, and a water-repellent outer layer that into your saddle bag or back pack for once you warm up.

As you and your fellow Sean’s Run riders wait for that starting horn to blow, reflect on how far you’ve come since registering for Sean’s Run. Think of this as your celebration ride–and enjoy!

Sean’s Run Weekend is produced in memory of Sean Patrick French, a Chatham HS student-athlete killed as a passenger in an underage drunk driving car crash. Money raised through sponsorships, donations and registrations fees goes to: 1) grants to schools across the region for safe driving programs, and 2) scholarships to high school seniors.

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