Sometimes it's not about racing

Sunday, Aug 23rd I did the Livestrong Challenge century in Philly. 6k+ riders and about 800 runners. I managed to raise $400, which surprised me. It's hard to find someone who hasn't been affected by cancer, so really, it shouldn't be much of a surprise that people are willing to donate to a cause such as this.
I got up (well, I was up almost all night) bright and early at 4:45am and got ready to drive down. Sunrise on the turnpike is actually quite pretty. After playing phone-tag with Rob, we finally met at the staging area. I met Kurt, his friend, and Pat his brother, all of us comprising Team Fish or cut Bait. We headed out, barely moving. After a while things thinned out and it became easier to keep up a decent pace. Pat would surge ahead on the descents; Kurt was pedaling like a madman up the hills; I just kept my own pace. We skipped the 1st "Power stop" and then Kurt and I pulled ahead to the 2nd stop. Waited for Rob and Pat there.
Off we went in team fashion but it soon became apparant that Kurt and I would be ridng ahead for most of the ride.
Tons of hills-Kurt kept flying. At the bottom of one of the larger climbs I passed him and then never saw him again. I waited for a bit at the next stop but didn't want to wait too long so i went on without them. Lots of killer hills; Satan at the top of 2 for reelz! saw Pat at the 80? mile stop-he was being saged back. 50+ miles for him, which was good since he apparantly hasn't been able to train much.
My legs were hurting since past mile 62 I was in uncharted territory for me; I haven't done a century in over2 or 3 yrs. Kept hydrating and pounding the gels and fruit. Got to ride with some nice people and ended up finishing what turned out to be 95 miles (on my 'puter) in 5' 38". not bad but time wasn't the goal.
I waited for quite while for them to finish and then had to go. Rob called as I was on 76 heading home; they had just finished.
I was a bit sore and extremely tired but I'll do it agin. It effs with my cross training but that's OK.