I had the chance to talk with Joe Whalen, cousin of my friend and Special Olympics MA athlete Nick Welz. Joe is a member of Kevin’s Krewe, an Xtra Mile team that rides in the Connecticut Valley Century Bike Ride (COVAC) to fundraise for Special Olympics Massachusetts. Here’s what I learned about Joe and Nick:
Anne Deforge: Where are you from?
Joe Whalen: I live in West Springfield, MA
Anne: Tell me when you started riding bikes?
Joe: I started riding when I was 7-8 years old, but then I stopped for a long time - and started back to riding in the later years of college.
Anne: When did you first ride for Special Olympics?
Joe: Four years ago, we formed our very first team and made a 100 mile route and raised over $17,000.
Anne: Do you ride for any other causes?
Joe: Yes, I’ve ridden for Best Buddies, Bikes Fight Cancer, and Special Olympics with Kevin’s Krewe.
Anne: How did you join Kevin’s Krewe?
Joe: I was riding in Best Buddies Challenge with my friend Kim, and she was talking about Kevin’s Krewe. Then I met Janice and Elliot Greenberg and I jumped in!
Anne: Why do you believe in Special Olympics?
Joe: Because everyone should have a chance to participate, no matter what your background is. Everybody should have a chance to play, and special Olympics provides that no matter who you are. I think that’s important.
Anne: Can you tell me more about your cousin and how Special Olympics has been for him?
Joe: So, Nick has always been out there doing sports for a while, he was doing skating and track and field, and all these different things when he was younger - and he participated with his younger brother Jake. Now they each do sports by themselves. Nick has been an inspiration for a long time. I never expected Nick to ice skate, and then I found out he was speed skating one year! He likes to talk about it, too. He doesn’t like to talk about a lot things, but he likes to talk about his sports.
Anne: What is your fundraising goal this year?
Joe: I’d like to raise $500 - or more than that!
Anne: Why is it important for you to support Special Olympics?
Joe: I like that we can pick which team we want to fundraise for, like the Greater Springfield program, so that the money stays here in our home for our athletes.
Anne: What are you looking forward to being a part of in Special Olympics Xtra Mile COVAC ride?
Joe: All of it and training for it! I like meeting new people on our team, meeting new people at the kickoff party in May, and meeting new people along the ride - just being a part of it. Riding a bike for Special Olympics and I loved meeting the athletes at the finish line. And last year, Nick was there at the end of the finish line to surprise me!
Anne: When you aren’t riding a bike, what else do you enjoy doing?
Joe: I like to go hiking, and working on bikes (I’m a mechanic), and playing music and teaching music - and I try not to get too hot in the summer time!
Anne: What do you do for a living?
Joe: I part-time teach band to grades 4, 5 and 6. My other job is working as a mechanic at a bike shop. Sometimes I play my guitar in shows as a part of a band.
Joe’s Tips for Getting Ready for COVAC
- Get on your bike and ride! Get used to it so you can do the distance.
- Make sure your bike is in good working order. Don’t expect it to just “work” because you have a bike. You can give it a test ride in your driveway, but if you haven’t ridden in a long time, it’s good to take it to a bike shop. They’ll be glad to help you!
- Make sure you understand “how things work” when you’re on the open road with traffic.
- Try to ride with others as a part of a group. You’re safer as a group.
- If you’re with other people you’ll ride a little faster and it will be easier.
- You might want to wear padded bike shorts, definitely wear a helmet, and if you can, wear light colors. Short finger gloves help your hands, too.
- Most of all, just enjoy the ride! It’s not a race - just have fun.
Joe’s Recommendations for 25-Mile First Time Riders
- Start with short goals - ride 5 miles on a rail trail, then gradually increase your distance up to 10 miles.
- Then go out for 12-15 miles on the open road.
- Once you can ride 20-21 miles, you know you’ll be able to do a 25 mile ride.
- Take at least 2 rides every week.
- Take the day before the ride off - stretch and hydrate and you’ll be ready to go!
Anne Deforge is a member of the Special Olympics MA Content Squad. The mission of Special Olympics MA Athlete Leadership is to empower athletes to develop communication skills and utilize their voices to assume meaningful leadership roles. As members of the Content Squad, athlete leaders contribute to Special Olympics MA story-telling through interviews, photos, video creation, and more.
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