Rain and Dogs Can't Stop Marist Teacher's Cycling Adventure

Marist High School teacher Owen Glennon is more than halfway through his New York to Chicago trek on a bike.

An avid cycling enthusiast, Mr. Glennon is using the 1,004 mile ride to connect Marist alumni, students, and families and to raise money for the high school’s scholarship fund.

Mr. Glennon pushed off last Sunday, June 28, from the Marist Retreat Center in Esopus, NY. Part of his route are the same backroads through New York and Pennsylvania that the founding Marist Brothers traveled over 50 years years ago when they arrived in Mt. Greenwood by car to build the then-Catholic boys high school that opened in 1963.

>>> He’s Off! Marist Teacher Begins 1,004 Mile Bike Ride

Last Monday, Mr. Glennon was joined by friend Tom Gouterman as the two peddled 4,500 feet up steep inclines through New York in a cold hard rain. In fact, rain was a constant companion as Mr. Glennon cycled through New York state along the Delaware River into Pennsylvania.

The teacher has been chronicling his cycling adventure on a daily blog:

“When I [rode] 3200 miles across the country 2 years ago I was chased by 17 dogs over that distance. Today, over 90.1 miles I was chased by 11 dogs. I’m not happy. Most were just playful but there were several that appeared aggressive. One got in front of me and I had to stop. He bit my tire. What is that about? If anyone knows a good trick to get the dogs not to chase, let me know. Keep them legal.”

Owen Glennon’s blog, July 5, 2015

The math teacher laid over in Correy, PA, on the Fourth of July, but was off again on Sunday, July 5, making the Shenango River Lake, PA campground (south of Greenville, PA) by late afternoon. So far, Mr. Glennon has logged 550 miles on his bike.

Accompanying Mr. Glennon on his trip is his wife and navigator, Carlin Owen, who is following him by car and pointing out the roads less traveled. When they’re not camping out in their 5-by-10-foot, teardrop, retro Little Guy trailer, generous parishes along the way have been putting the couple up for the night.

On Monday, Mr. Glennon will leave Pennsylvania and cruise into North Royalton, OH.

The Catholic high school hopes to raise $40,000 -- a thousand for each year Mr. Glennon has taught math at Marist. As of Sunday evening, July 5, the school has raised $26,675.

Marist will welcome him back to campus on Sunday, July 12. Details will be posted online and on Marist’s Facebook page and Twitter account as the day nears.

“Anything that helps Marist and its students is worth the effort,” Mr. Glennon told Patch via email.

Read all about the first week of Mr. Glennon’s cycling adventure on his blog.

Be part of Mr. Glennon’s cycling adventure by making a donation to Marist’s endowment fund.

Photo 1 - Marist math teacher Owen Glennon as he cycles through New York on his way to Mt. Greenwood (Chicago).

Photo 2 - Carlin Glennon, Mr. Glennon’s wife and navigator, unpacking supplies from the couple’s “Little Guy” trailer.

Photo 3 - A view from the “cockpit.”