Participating in Charity Events as Individual or as Team Member

My husband and I have participated in a number of charity bike rides over the years. For the century rides we have done, we were part of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training program. For local rides, we usually opt for the metric century ride option, and participate as individuals, without joining any of the teams.

Corporate Athletic Teams
We participated in the south Florida MS150 bike ride for the first time this year.  I am friends with a girl who’s husband is a corporate lawyer for Office Depot. She mentioned that she was doing the ride and that we could join the team if we were interested. I always thought you had to be an employee or married to someone that worked for the company that sponsored the team. But most corporate teams are looking for someone that is enthusiastic about their sport and will help the company reach their fundraising goals for each event.

Stay Motivated
Being on a team, is sure a lot of fun. It also helps you to stay motivated especially if you are always getting calls and emails from your team mates about upcoming training and social events. It’s not half as much fun getting up in the early morning, to go workout by yourself. I am currently training for my first 1/2 marathon on my own. I can’t tell you how many days I planned to run but never do. The only people waiting for me to go run is me, myself and I! It’s a different story if you have team members that are expecting you to be there. I usually volunteer to help lead out the group of bike riders that average 18-21 MPH. That way, I know I have to make it to training.

Jumping Ship
We were going to join the Office Depot team again, to participate in the 2009 MS150 ride. But I have recently met a few riders from the Zmotion team. Zimmerman Advertising is the main sponsor for the MS150 ride, their team is Zmotion. For 2009, Zmotion’s goal is to have 1,000 members on their team. The Office Depot team had 90 riders in 2008, they are hoping to reach 100 for 2009. Zmotion also wines and dines their members; they pay the event registration fee, they buy everyone a team jersey, they reserve hotel rooms, they get you a starting position at the front of the ride and they have various social and training events throughout the season. The list of perks goes on and on. We couldn’t even eat dinner at our hotel at this years MS150 ride, that hotel was the host hotel for Zmotion and they catered a private dinner for team Zmotion. Luckily there was a nice seafood restaurant next door, so we didn’t have to walk very far to go eat.

Jersey Envy
And I have jersey envy. We already have an Office Depot team jersey. If we ride for Zmotion, we will get one of their jersey’s which we can wear all over south Florida at all the rides we do. Zmotion also plans rides throughout the year, they don’t just train and ride in the MS150. They also have a semi-pro team, but I just turned 45 yesterday, so I won’t hold my breath waiting for an invitation to join that team. I also really liked the Bacardi jerseys, but I don’t think I’d ride too well with rum in my water bottle.

I’d like to hear from anyone that has been part of a team for any charity marathons, triathlons, walks or bike rides they have participated in. What’s your favorite team jersey?

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva

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