Ironton native completes 100-mile bike ride

 

It took 10 hours, but 100 miles later, Ohio State University student Mike Lawless, of Ironton, crossed the finish line at this year’s Pelotonia bike tour as part of the OSU team on Aug. 8.

Riders on the tour raised money for the James Cancer Hospital in Columbus for cancer research.

“I raised about $1,200 myself,” Lawless said. “Our Ohio State team raised close to $2 million and close to $10 million was raised all together.”

The tour starts in downtown Columbus and riders have the option to ride between 25-185 miles. With Lawless pedaling 100 miles, he ended his tour at Kenyon College in Gambier.

Lawless said he didn’t train or do anything special to get ready for it, but that he will in the future.

“I’m in decent shape, so I just went out there and did it,” Lawless said. “Next year, I’ll train a little bit more for it.”

This was Lawless’ first year riding in the Pelotonia, but the eighth year for the event.

“Seeing people who aren’t bike riders by trade come together for one cause was my favorite part of taking part in the event,” Lawless said. “It’s good to raise money for the hospital and to find an end to cancer.”

Lawless graduated from Ironton High School in 2012 and is currently studying exercise science.