Well, folks, as promised, the Super Crazy Awesome Prize Announcement you’ve all been waiting for. The winner of the Super Crazy Awesome Prize showed an exemplary willingness to shamelessly promote his fundraising efforts all over the interwebs. He was the first member of the Peloton to attain VIP status and he raised more money for the National MS Society than anyone else on the team, so this prize is well deserved. Without further ado, the winner and champion… THIS GUY.
And now a word (or 1,000) from our winner, Matt McCrory:
Hey everyone, Adam wants me to write an acceptance speech for having won the super crazy awesome prize. Admittedly, I came in second place. Mazy had more donations than me by the day of the ride, I honestly told him that she won but he insisted with my delicate wrist it would look better on me. I had a few last minute I.O.U.s come in which is what helped my total in the end. But all kidding aside everyone did a great job raising money for this very worthwhile cause. We kicked butt this year guys. Without getting too mushy about it, this bracelet was my main motivation to raise so much. I don’t mean that in any sort of selfish way, it was all for the cause but this little bike chain bracelet changed my life in a very real way this year. Through the announcement of the super crazy awesome prize I learned about the incredible story of Susan and Elden “Fatty” Nelson. I’d never read Fatty’s blog before [editor’s note: check out Fatty’s site and you’ll see Matt front and center in the banner image] and believe it or not had never even heard of the Livestrong Challenge before. After a short lived attempt at entering a TD Peloton team in the L.C. (That’s what Lance and I call it) I found out through Adam and Matt’s respective Twitter and Facebook accounts (ridiculous how we keep in touch these days) about the unfortunate passing of Elden’s wife, Susan. I spent half the day reading back posts of Fatty’s blog about Susan’s fight with breast cancer. I spent the rest of that day trying to get a hold of the Livestrong Challenge people for the collapse of the one man TD Peloton team and I joined Team Fat Cyclist: Fighting like Susan. I didn’t know a single person on the team but on the day of the ride that didn’t matter, we were all there for the same thing so for that day we were family. Fatty had lost his wife two weeks before the ride but was still joking and having fun with everyone, giving speeches on how much everyone on the team meant, how much money we’d raised in all four cities for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, and how he never thought that a blog about an overweight man on a bike would grow into something so different from where it started. I only had two very brief and both extremely embarrassing personal moments with Fatty both worth mentioning here. While I hope some of you join me, Elden and the other “Fattys” next year you’ll find that this course is tough. Very tough. Or maybe I’m just a wuss but that’s neither here nor there. Anyway I was doing the 70 mile course, Elden and the other “in shape” people did the 100 mile course. One of the best parts of having been on this team was that we were the biggest team that had raised the most money for the Philly L.C. so we got to leave first. If you look at Fatcyclist.com there’s a picture at the top that stands as photographic proof Elden and I left at the same time (I’m the gangly man about 4 people behind him with the giant ((as in long, not buff)) arms and sleeveless jersey). Anyway having left at the same time and my course being 30 miles shorter than his it would be natural to assume I finished at lease a few seconds ahead of Fatty. Well. embarrassing moment #1 took place at about the 55 mile mark as I pedaled squares and loudly wept up a hill. Elden shouted, “Yea, come on Fatty! You can do it!” as he didn’t so much as pass me as blew right by me. Embarrassing moment number 2 took place SEVERAL hours later as I finally got to the finish line where Fatty waited to congratulate and thank each member of the team. He was already showered and changed, no lie. Well as I approached being considerably taller than Elden what I effectually refer to as the most awkward high five in the history of the world took place. Being as beat as I was after the ride I was on my seat pushing myself on one foot when I saw him. He brought his hand up to about the level of my shoulder for the exchange while I, inexplicably, brought my hand approximately 3 inches above my top bar, forcing Fatty down to my level. My hand and wrist at a sort of inverted 45 degree angle, as our hand touched and lingered far longer than a conventional high five because of the failed mechanics. He said, “Thanks for riding”, I said “Thanks for having me on your team.” He looked at me puzzled, having been an open team, Team Fat Cyclist: Fighting for Susan had been open to the public. This was not the Tour De France, Elden had not picked me for his team. This was all done without missing a stride of my leg on my bike so I didn’t even slow down. Having been star struck by a cycling blogger and reduced to a blithering, non-highfiving idiot I just went straight to my girlfriend’s car where she had waited for me ALL DAY! Anyway, I hope I didn’t get too mushy but I’m so thankful that I won a little piece of Susan’s art and for that I’d like to thank all my fellow Pelotoners, Theresa Doherty, Bern Rhuberg, all those who donated, and my lovely girlfriend Holly who had to suffer all day in her car, using port-o-pottys while I dragged myself all over that dumb course. Thanks again to everyone, see you all next year.
Words worthy of a champion. Congratulations, Matt, and thanks for being a part of the Peloton. I expect pictures soon of you and your “delicate” wrist sporting the new merchandise.
Posted by adam on October 27th, 2009
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