A Memorable 2011

This year was a memorable one for Mr. Doherty and we are as much apart of it because we helped make it happen. The latest accomplishment was his philanthropic success with Island Harvest and from my keyboard this was the crowning act for the year. Of course there were many other outstanding moments like My Green Tambourine back in April, Jessica atop Tripp’s bike in May, the passing of Jennifer Linn and Tripp’s second Iron Man in July, Tripper unplugged when the club lost electricity as a result of Hurricane Irene and the show went on anyway, the club’s support to the people of Prattsville and the Philadelphia Marathon.  

A wonderful year on many levels and I am sure each of you have a particular memory I have left out here but 2012 promises to be even more eventful if I know Tripp at all. 

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and I will see you all in the Lavender Palace this week on Tripper Tuesday.  

P.S.

Cycle for Survival is February 4, 2012.

News From Philadelphia

Tripp and Maureen Russo wanted me to tell you all that they are grateful for your support in their latest quest running the Philadelphia Marathon. I will let Tripp tell you about his race when you see him on Tripper Tuesday but he did say that he was proud of Maureen who finished her first ever marathon in a time  anyone would be proud of. 

I can’t wait until tomorrow to see our hero and heroine to congratulate them both. For Tripper it has been an ever so memorable 2011. He has accomplished so many things both personally and philanthropically that we can’t wait to see what he has in store for him and all of us in 2012. 

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my friends that read Tripp’s blog and to all of those who don’t.   

Marathon Woman

Maureen Russo takes off on her first marathon in the city of Brotherly Love Philadelphia tomorrow morning and we all wish her success and that on Monday and Tuesday morning she’s not in too much pain. Mo has set me up with text messaged service that will track her progress and I will if I am near the keyboard tomorrow pass that along to all of you.  

We truly are a unique team of people because in all the exercise clubs that I have joined and left never did I have a sense that I would have such a communality with such a great collection of members that had this sense of belonging. Some might say that I am engaging in hyperbole and that we are just close acquaintances but is that all that it is?  I don’t think so. Although I have been accused of being seeing things that are invisible to the naked eye but I think that heartfelt feelings are more genuine.  

So Mo we will be thinking about you as you conquer your next challenge. 

Spin Notes:

The rumor mill has the Island Harvest filling the bushel at nearly 30,000 dollars. What a haul.  

Island Harvest Part II

I think that for me at this juncture to recapitulate what happened on Saturday would be redundant. I believe that Constance Korol writing from Syosset Patch has done that with plenty of aplomb and kudos to her for the remarkable engineering of the event for Tripp and her relationship with Island Harvest.  

What I would like to do is mention some of the supporting cast that made the whole event run like clockwork and all the more enjoyable. The first woman that comes to mind is Janene Cangro who gave up her bike so graciously and then proceeded to capture some of the more candid images taken atop the windowsill at the corner of the studio and let us not forget how she inspired the man at the top of the studio in ways that are well frankly incalculable. Thank you Janene. By the way you are a gracious host as well.  Next I would like to thank the ubiquitous Cindy “SPOILED ROTTEN” Goldberg.  She made sure that every thirsty rider had a fresh water bottle so that they could continue their own form of pandemonium. And Cindy gave us all a carnival like sideshow outside the glass doors when she sparkled us with a demonstration of just how a hula-hoop was supposed to work when it was patented in America in 1958. I remember those plastic versions as a kid and I never could get the hang of it for more than a few turns around my waist but Cindy could have been the TV ad person for Wham-O the way she fired it around her hips. 

Then there were women like Julia and Cindy Ash that made it their goal to spin the full four hours and gave Tripp plenty of inspiration with their brand of tenacity and fortitude from the front row. And with the appearance of DJ and Mary McCann at the start of the third hour made us regulars feel even more at home. Not to mention that these two young women (who could make the cover of any fitness magazine) also added their very palpable spiritual presence. And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Maureen Russo who will be running her first marathon this weekend. Maureen is quiet but is always a delightful fixture in every class she takes with us.  She brought her beautiful daughter. (a spitting image in person and voice) There are others of course that I may have missed but without these members maybe the event to end events might not have had the exclamation point these women gave to us all.   

Superfect!

What does it take to fill 220 bike hours with cycle enthusiasts in less than three weeks? It takes Mr. Inspiration, Tripp Doherty. Never will anyone doubt what he is capable of when he sets his mind on a goal again. And I am talking about yours truly. I was dead certain Tripper could populate the room two times but four? It seemed like a task only an Ironman could pull off.   Well he did it and did it big and I’m not sure who else could have pulled it off.  

Trying to recapture what the day felt like in the heart is no easy task. When you talk about spirited emotion it’s hard to find the semantics that can give it the true sense of excitement that was generated in the Lavender Palace on Saturday.  Tripp galvanized us all and his “Carry Each Other” signature song became the rallying cry that was but one ingredient that made this an amazingly successful fundraiser. Many of our EQ members and their friends that gathered for this inaugural Cycle for Island Harvest benefit for the hungry on Long Island truly gave not only their hard earned dollars but they also helped raise the consciousness of just how alarming this need to feed the hungry really is. 

Being an avid spinner these past two years has dramatically changed my life in mind, body and spirit but experiencing the palpable sensation that is generated when we as a “family” get together and draw on our collective energy together like we did Saturday well it just doesn’t get any better. We at EQ have done some other benefits the biggest being Cycle for Survival which raises millions in search of the cure for rare cancers but this one, which attends to the basic   physiological need of survival the need to eat, has such immediacy to it that it demands just as much or more attention. I don’t want to make this a political talking point but in our small way we made a great dent in feeding some hungry families this holiday season. 

More to come. 

Picture courtesy of Michael Korol 

We Carry Each Other

The Big Day is tomorrow and with a late rush nearly all the bikes are filled for 4 hours but don’t give a thought to not inviting anyone and everyone because last minute no-shows are always possible with the supervening situations of life. In other words get down to EQ and take part in the Island Harvest Benefit starting from 1 PM ending gloriously at 5. 

I will do my best along with Constance Korol to lay down in words what it feels like to be part of the festivities.  I have no doubt and if this morning was any indicator that Tripp will be flying and have enthusiasm on full tilt for something that he has become so passionate about. This man is so obviously committed that his will becomes an irresistible force you find yourself wanting to comply with. 

I know that as Americans we can be inundated at times with charitable fund raisers but in this case it is the dis-ease of hunger we are talking about and as one of the basic three needed to survive it becomes crystal clear that we just have to open our pocketbooks.  Any donation is a good one and by showing up tomorrow you send a message that you are willing to sit down for hunger and spin your butt off.  

Island Harvest Benefit Saturday 1 to 5 PM

Just another day in Tripper neighborhood except that we are that much closer to The Main Event this Saturday commencing at 1 PM in the CS which of course I affectionately call the Lavender Palace. It is the benefit for Island Harvest and the hungry of Long Island. Tripp has pulled off what I personally think is a major fund raising feat collecting well into 5 figures without corporate sponsorship or even a Mother Ship like some of the other well-oiled charitable organizations have behind them. This is not to disparage any of those magnanimous entities but in this economy without advertising dollars and media driven awareness this fundraiser might not have gotten airborne except for the enthusiasm and energy from our beloved redheaded mop top.  

And whatever small form of exhortation I can provide for you from my desk I implore you to bring anyone and everyone for an afternoon that I   guarantee you will not forget. There’s nothing like the satisfaction of a great cause which makes us realize  how blessed we truly are.  

Spin Notes:

Sorry to my friend in #25 as it appeared my shouting in the 9:45 was splitting her eardrums.  Although it’s Sammy Davis for me, “I gotta be me” I have to respect that I will not impose my exuberance on anyone. Although I think that I will bring a pair of earplugs in case we should be juxtaposed at sometime in the future.  And as I caught the end of the 8:30 and took the next class, I just have to issue a challenge to the 9:45 that the 8:30 is kicking our butt. 

P.S.

Congratulations to Stacie Ries on her NYC Marathon 2011.

November 12 Island Harvest Benefit Ride Updated Nov 4

It’s finally happened a benefit  ride featuring  Tripp Doherty. I was chagrined when I would see an Equinox placard featuring a spin instructor’s arrival for a guest ride in our club and it didn’t feature Tripper. Well that’s all changed as our good friend Constance Korol has shown me the headline: Cycle For Island Harvest Tripp Doherty. Tripp has some lofty goals for Cycle for Survival in February but he might have an even more ambitious plan for Island Harvest for this Thanksgiving. 

He told me that he wants to raise $600,000 dollars and when I heard that number I was thinking, no way. Well maybe yes way. I am trying to see how far he is along in his quest and if I get this information before I post this I will pass it along. In any case next Saturday November 12 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM is the charity ride for Island Harvest. So here’s the deal: Ride for one hour and the suggested donation is $35.00 and if you are really ambitious $100.00 for the entire afternoon ride. Now you can donate more if your pocketbook can be stretched and our General Manager, Louis Cohen, will collect these donations. Please be patient if I have any of this incorrect I will correct quickly.  

Constance reminds me that we bring friends/family as non-members as well and please take a look at foodforlongisland.com as well as twitter and facebook.