Photo via catholicanchor.org

Speedy Alaskan priest races Father Scott Medlock for charity

St. Patrick pastor Father Scott Medlock cycled 200 miles for charity in this year’s Fireweed 200 – the annual, 200-mile bicycle race from Sheep Mt. Lodge to Valdez. Backed by St. Patrick’s parishioners and other sponsors, Father Medlock raised over $4,000 for Catholic Social Services, a charitable agency of the Anchorage Archdiocese, reports CatholicAnchor.org.

The riders fought strong headwinds most of the route, which according to Father Medlock, halved speeds. “I was riding a negative two percent grade downhill, but was only going 14-15 miles per hour,” he told the Catholic Anchor, adding, “Normally, I would be riding 26-27 mph on such a grade.”

In the last leg of the stretch, from the top of Thompson Pass to Valdez, the cyclists braved rains and temperatures in the upper 40s.

Still, the 55-year-old Father Medlock completed the 200 miles in 13 hours and 36 minutes, capturing second place for the 50+ age group.

He came in just five minutes behind the first-place winner.

Two St. Patrick parishioners joined Father Medlock in the race. John Tappel, 51, came in shortly after Father Medlock, and Christopher Wolpert secured third place for the 35-49 age group.

For more than a year, Father Medlock had trained for the race. His “ultra-endurance” workouts accelerated in the winter, he said, going from four to five-hour rides once a week to eight-hour rides twice a week.

Father Medlock lauded his training partner, “the beloved” Anchorage pediatrician Tappel, who is a former long-distance runner.

“He’s a phenomenal athlete,” Father Medlock remarked, noting that Tappel once completed a marathon in just two hours and 40 minutes.

“It was a good, challenging experience,” Father Medlock said of the grueling July bike race. “I was satisfied with having completed such a tough ride – but even more satisfied to have completed all of the training that made it possible for me to finish the race.”

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TAGS: USA Father Scott Medlock 200-mile bicycle race charity St. Patrick’s parishioners

[08/11/2010]

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