Exercise Helps Beat Cancer

Research is showing that being fit and exercising regularly is one of the best things that cancer survivors can do to prevent cancer recurrence.

I got serious about cycling again after my prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment in 2003. Since then, I have ridden over 31,000 miles and enjoyed every minute of it.

I have ridden gran fondos* and century rides (100 mile rides) all over the United States and helped create one of the most challenging and fun prostate cancer awareness rides in America – the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo – that takes place annually in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virgin. The 2018 Alpine Loop Gran Fondo raised over $7,000 to support prostate cancer awareness and prevention.

I also created the Around the World Cycling Challenge as a goal to keep myself motivated to ride. To complete the challenge yourself, you simply need to ride 24,901.6 miles, which is the circumference around the world. You don’t need to do it all at once. It took me 10 years to finish my first global trip. It was great fun watching the miles accumulate. Every turn of the crank made me body more fit and more inhospitable to cancer.

When you’ve completed your lap around the world – you track your miles on the honor system – email us at WordChallenge@CancerJourneysFoundation.org and we’ll tell you how to get your jersey.

There’s no better time to start than today!

Cancer Journeys Foundation board members, Robert Warren Hess, Steven Kurtz, Scott Peterson

Robert Hess (left) and board members Steve Kurtz and Scott Peterson

* Click the following link for a definition and the history of the Gran Fondo movement – Gran Fondo

Get a copy of my Around the World Mileage Tracker

I track my miles on a simple Microsoft Excel Sheet. If you would like a copy, just complete the information section below and I’ll send one along.

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    I Love Tracking My Cycling Miles

    Yup. I’m a bit of a data junkie. I love to track my mileage, my heart rate, the vertical feet I climb, and the time I spend in the various heart rate zones. I do this because:

    1. It’s fun to see how far I’ve ridden
    2. The data shows me how fit I am
    3. The data keeps me motivated to ride

    I recently found Relive.cc, which is a pretty cool little app that tracks your ride, run, walk, etc. It’s fun to see the route you followed in action. I’m testing this as an accountability tool. I’ll be posting each ride here on this using Relive.cc.

    If you use Strava.com, I hope you’ll connect with me there. I can always use another riding buddy – even a virtual one! Robert Hess on Strava.com

    My ride – October 28, 2019

    Relive ‘Easy ride down to PV.’

    Why It’s Important to Have a Cycling Buddy

    Somedays it’s just plain hard to get up and throw your leg over the bike. Especially when the weather is marginal or you’re just not motivated. Having a riding buddy – one person or being part of a club – provides that little bit of accountability you need to move. I have a friend I’ve been riding with for over 12 years. When one of us is out of town it’s easy to pass on that ride. Unless one of u gone, we ride in the rain (well, light rain!), the cold (yup), and the wind (great exercise). We’re all in.