Mark Sibert Rolls in First Among Inline Skaters as Roadskater.net Carolina Century Raises $1025 for Charity

Thanks for the kind words, but this event did not happen because of me. Were it because of me it would still be simply in my head...the same idea I've mostly kept quiet about since 2005, the sweaty baking asphalt day that eebee and I learned (on yahoo mail via our cel phones in the parking lot of the K&W Cafeteria in Greenville, SC) that A2A would not happen as planned that year, but some other way, as yet undetermined. That was the day I felt closest to starting a century event, but it was best to put all we could into keeping A2A strong and celebrating that (in our own, not always beloved by others way), and to offering Tour to Tanglewood as a great preparation for and companion to Athens to Atlanta. Now, A2A is as strong organizationally as it has been in a while. This year, many of the Atlanta Peachtree Road Rollers sacrificed a great deal in terms of their own skating glory in order to put on an excellent event. It is the national treasure of roadskating that we need to keep alive. The Roadskater.net Carolina Century happened because of specific people I trust and respect who are trusted and respected by local riders. Everything hinged on communicating to these people that we roadskaters wanted to put on a cycling event for multiple sclerosis (and perhaps other local charity bike rides' causes) with smooth, safe, scenic routes, that would also by the way have a sunrise to sunset component for slow cyclists and skaters who wanted to make a century attempt. It would have been easy for this event to never happen. Many people I trust said they thought we'd do a lot of work for not much attendance and fundraising, most likely. But some of those same people said, "If you do it, I'll be there and can do whatever you need for a piece of the day." So I collected those pieces and eventually they made a nice puzzle in my mind. There's much more to tell, if I get to that, but I became convinced we'd never know what to improve until we actually did the Carolina Century, and since enough others gave their time and good names and love, the puzzle worked out to be much fun for most involved, whether cycling, skating or working in the service of others for charity. Thanks most of all to everyone who gave up something to be part of the Carolina Century 2008!