Sunday, September 26, 2010

MS 150 Day Two

We finished! It was such an amazing feeling to turn south on to Lincoln Blvd and see the state Capitol!! Charlie rode the entire ride today (68 miles) and I did half. I was not excited about the cold weather (wind chill in the 30's early this morning), and the wind, in addition to the massive hills and my slow riding. So, Tracy dropped me off at the halfway point and I rode from there. Charlie and I met up on Lincoln Blvd and rode in together. My daughter, Laura, did a super job organzing the finish line event...of course! She is very passionate about fund raising for MS. I was so excited to see my family there and then several friends dropped by. Thanks, everyone, for your support!This is my brother, Charlie, my sister Cindy who we ride for, and me. It was an amazing experience and was a "better" ride for me this year than last year. My training paid off, and I love my new road bike. It definitely made the hills easier to ride! My goal for next year (I can't believe I'm saying that...while my body is still sore!) is to be able to keep up with my brother. So, over the next year I'm going to drop 40# and be able to average 17 mph on my rides.


Thanks for reading...thanks for your support...I can't wait until we beat this disease.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

MS 150 Ride Day One!!

We survived!! In fact, my brother, Chuck, rode the entire 70 miles! I rode 50...and am very happy with that. Chuck averaged 17mph and I averaged 12mph. I told him to ride ahead and not wait on me. It would have been too frustrating for him since he's used to riding faster! The hills were a challenge sometimes, but I never got off my bike and walked. Woo-hoo! In fact, there were many people who chose to walk up some of the tougher hills but I think it's easier to just ride even though I was only going 4-5 mph.

There were some crazy things going on today along the ride. One lady was trying to take a picture of her riding buddy as they rode...clipped their tires and wiped out! She was taken care of by the OSU medical bus and was ok...just really scraped up and battered. Don't worry...I won't try to take pics as I ride! Another young man kept having flats...refused to get a new tube but just kept patching the one tube...Let's just say he should be really good at changing a bike tire!

I'm glad the first day is over....tomorrow's harder but the wind "might" help us since it will be behind us. I can't wait to cross the finish line at the Capitol and see my family, including my sister, Cindy, who has MS. She and her husband made it to Stillwater today from Kansas. My daughter, Laura, is in charge of the finish line so I know the food/activities will be great.

I've had my delicious steak dinner...a short walk to limber up my sore legs...life is good! Tracy will drive Chuck and me back to Chandler in the morning so we can start the second day of riding. Thanks for your support...for following my progress...stay tuned for the finale as well as pics tomorrow evening!!

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Sept 19 MS 150 Training Update

OK...this is it...the last week before my big ride! Yesterday I rode 42 miles...around the lake for the most part. I was really bored so I left the path and rode through several neighborhoods close to the lake. That was awesome because I saw a part of Stillwater that I haven't seen yet. Then I finished my ride by circling the lake again and by then (9am) it had become very busy. It makes the ride more exhausting when you can't get into the "flow" of riding because you're constantly speeding up/slowing down...so I'm going to start riding Hwy 51 again. Riding the lake hasn't been the fun experience like my other rides, so I'm going back to my old path. I love the wide open spaces for cycling!!

This week my plan is ride two more times...20-30 miles...elliptical training at night...eat right...try to get some rest...and be ready for Saturday morning! My brother, Chuck, is coming down from Lawrence, KS, to ride with me again. My sister, Cindy, and her husband, are coming for the weekend so that she can be at the finish line at the Capitol on Sunday to watch us finish. That will be an emotional moment, I'm sure.

Thanks for reading my blog...and for your support...I'll try to post on both Saturday and Sunday so that you know how the ride is going...Have an amazing week!

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Sept. 12 MS 150 Training Update

Even as I write this my heart is starting to pound because I realize that "the ride" is only two weeks away!! I have been working hard to prepare but since I know what the two days are going to be like, because I rode this same route last year, I'm worried about the huge hills...I have been doing great with my training routine...until the past two weeks. Between the rainy weather (don't worry...I would never ride my bike with an umbrella!) and my early morning meetings, I haven't ridden as much as I had been. So, I know I need to get on my elliptical at night, even if it's late, to keep my legs strong.


As you know, I've been riding around the lake, since the highways are so dangerous. Last week I ran into (well, not literally!) a lot of people I knew: one of my principals was running, one of my elementary teachers who is also a K-State grad was walking, our cross country team was training...In fact, the team was running four abreast, looking/talking as they ran and didn't see me approaching them. I came to an almost complete stop before they looked up and saw I was there. I can see the headlines now, if I hadn't been paying attention: "Superintendent runs over track team"!

My goal this week is to figure out how to do a 50 mile ride...that's 17 laps around the lake which does not sound like fun! Stay tuned...thanks for your support...thanks for reading...have an amazing week!

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Aug 29 MS 150 Training Update

What great cycling weather we finally have!! I stayed in Stillwater yesterday because the majority of my cycling group did the Hotter Than Hell ride, so I did an easy 30-mile ride. As you know, I've changed my route and no longer ride on our state highways. I rode from my house (5:30am on Sat), to Boomer Lake (in Stillwater), did several laps and then headed back home.

The scenery was beautiful...the morning was cool...in fact, it was so cool my feet were numb when I returned home! But, I think "everyone" decided to walk/run around Boomer Lake because of the weather. Just as I would get "up to speed" which is 15mph, I'd have to slow down to pass a walker/jogger, or take a curve...The ride was a lot different than my steep hills rides in OKC, or my long rides along the state highway. But, this was a lot safer so I'm going to stick it out!

The countdown is on...my ride is only a month away. Next Saturday I ride 50 miles of hills with my training group...yes, you read correctly!! Then, I head to my OSU tailgate....I'll be ready!!Click on the MS link to the right and check my progress...I'm halfway to my fundraising goal!! :) Thanks for reading...thanks for your support...

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Aug 22, 2010 MS Training Update

Yesterday I rode with my MS training group in OKC...we rode the hills on the east side of I-35, east of OKC. Wow! Last year these hills kicked my you-know-what and I vowed it wouldn't happen again. The ride was 38 miles and I was so excited to be able to do 33! We had amazing SAG support which was great because the HEAT about did me in. Some of the hills were so hard I wanted to get off my bike and walk, but I didn't...On one of the rest stops I was so busy talking I forgot to clip out of my pedals...fell...and now my knee/elbow/hand look marvelous. But...gotta love the battle wounds. I know you're surprised I was talking! :)

I learned later that we climbed over 2000 feet!! It's a good thing I didn't know that during the ride! Even though my leg is sore, the rest of me feels great today, which means my training this summer is paying off. Every Saturday from now until the ride is a longer ride...of hills...so that we're ready for the MS 150. I'll be ready for my OSU football tailgating after my long bike rides those mornings!

And, I've changed my riding circuit in Stillwater again. I no longer ride the state highways by myself at 4am. Instead, I'm riding through town...up to the lake and doing laps around it...then head back home. That way I can avoid some of the crazy drivers...or those who just can't see me very well.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog...and for your support!

Monday, August 16, 2010

August 16, 2010 MS 150 Training Update

Hi, everyone,
I usually don't send my blog on Mondays but this weekend Tracy and I were out of town so I didn't ride until this morning. As I headed out at 4am this morning, on Hwy 51 which connects Stillwater to I-35, the stars were out and it was only 69 degrees...woo-hoo! I have learned so much about cycling this summer so instead of thinking about work I tried to focus on my breathing and pedaling, which is a real trick for me, but I was able to do it most of the time. As I got closer to I-35, averaging 15mph, lightning moved in so I turned around and headed back into Stillwater. Needless to say, the rain started before I got home, so I tried not to think about the drops hitting my face as I peddled!


Once I got home, I read my email as I cooled off. I didn't know that a woman close to my age had been killed while riding her bike Sunday afternoon...on the same highway I ride. So, I received emails from family/friends checking on me and reminding me to be careful. When a cyclist is killed, the cycling community places a white bike, called a "ghost bike", at the site of the crash, in honor of the victim.

I am sure the Stillwater cycling community will be doing this soon. We have had several cyclists killed this summer in Oklahoma which has made me more nervous to ride my bike. But, I'm going to keep doing it and hope that drivers stay alert. Not only am I riding for a cause near and dear to me, I really love riding my bike! I'm also going to go back to riding my other route (remember the one I've been doing all summer due to the repaving of Hwy 51??) because there are shoulders on both sides of the road (Hwy 51 only has shoulders on one side).

I'm telling you all of this so that you don't worry! Instead, please keep the family and friends of Debra Miller in your thoughts and prayers. And, remember to become a friend of my blog...stay tuned...my big ride is only six short weeks away!!