MS 150 Day 2

We did it!! My brother, Chuck and I crossed the finish line at the Capitol yesterday. It was such an amazing feeling!! Chuck did the entire route (ended up being 135 miles instead of 150) and I did 70 out of the 135 (50/70 on Sat and 20/65 on Sun). There was a stretch of 40 miles on Sunday that ran from Pops in Arcadia to Spencer that was a real killer...hill after hill. So, I hitched a ride from Pops to Spencer and then cycled the last 10 with Chuck.

I learned so much on my first long-distance ride and plan on learning more! For sure, I need a road bike and not a mountain bike. My new cycling friends (of course, this was a social event for me!) told me I was working too hard and could have gone farther if I'd had a road bike. Then I learned, the hard painful way, that my ten-year old cycling shorts were worn out! That's all the detail you need. Finally, I learned that even though there are rest stops every 10-12 miles, you have to be able to handle the hills. So, I'm thinking about next year and how to train.

The finish line was so awesome. My daughter, Laura, was in charge of the finish line and she did a great job. There were charcoal burgers, chicken, and hotdogs, massages, liquid refreshments (yes!), but the best part was riding in and seeing my family and friends waiting for Chuck and me with signs and cheers. I have to admit I got a little emotional, which I didn't expect.

Thanks, everyone, for your support. It meant a lot to me to know I was riding for my sister and for everyone else who struggles with MS.

Left to right: Front: Conner and Laura; Back: Patricia Ayling, Steve Powell, Risa Powell, me, Tracy, Rick Ayling

Chuck and I at the finish line!

We did it!!

MS 150...The Ride!!

Wow...what a day! My brother and I left Tulsa at 7:30am today and headed to Chandler on Route 66. There were SAG-supported stops every 10 miles which were a huge help. We saw several major wipe-outs...cyclists were wiping out when crossing train tracks...I didn't fall! :) I kept up with my brother, Chuck, who rides 30 miles/day in Lawrence, KS...home of some infamous hills...until after lunch. Well...we stopped for lunch (provided by the ride) but the line was so slow and long we decided to keep going. I should have "carbed up" because we started getting into some huge hills and I didn't have any power. By the time we hit mile 50...I was finished. So, Chuck did the last 20 on his own and I hitched a ride with several others who were finished. I think I "bonked" which is when you don't have enough carbs and glyricirites (or something like that) and you feel like you physically hit a wall.



So...we're home...getting ready to eat a steak...and be ready for Sunday!! It will be a great feeling to cross the finish line at the Capitol and see my family. Laura has worked really hard preparing for this event, so she'll be there along with her husband, Conner, and my husband, Tracy. I met some amazing people today...and am glad I'm doing this because the cause is near and dear to my heart. I just wish I knew how to ride hills. Wait a minute...I have learned how to ride hills...I just needed more practice prior to today!!



Stay tuned for tomorrow!

Here is my brother, Chuck, with me at OSU-Tulsa early this morning...

MS 150 Training Update

It's hard to believe a week from today I'll be finished with my ride. The three months of training have passed by so quickly...I hope I'm ready! Yesterday I tried to ride 60 miles before going to my OSU tailgate, but I ran into a thunderstorm. I bet some of you didn't even know it was raining at 5am!! :) You know by now that I don't like to ride in the rain...it really hurts your face. So...I turned around on Hwy. 51 and headed back home. Sad news: I had only ridden 20 miles. Good news: I wasn't "dying"...so I've definitely increased my endurance this summer!

I wonder if I could have ridden with an OSU umbrella?? hmmm...

Today Tracy and I drove from Stillwater to Tulsa to see where the ride will begin. We then drove the entire route. I started counting the number of hills I'll be encountering and then quit counting! Day 1 will be "easier" than Day 2...but, both days are full of hills. Remember several weeks ago when I wimped out on the hills on my ride I was trying to make to Perry? I should have kept riding!

Let's hope it doesn't rain next weekend...and, little to no wind would be great, too!! Make it an awesome week, and thanks, again, for supporting me. We will find a cure for this disease!!

Sept. 13, 2009 MS 150 Training Update

OK, I finally did it...had a "real" fall from my bike! Yesterday I was riding at 5am...of course I had to get my long ride in before tailgating at OSU!! My bike light went dead after 3 miles so I turned around to head back home...couldn't see a thing! I hit a pothole on Hwy 51 and there I went...The good thing was that my bike was fine so I got back on and rode slowly home. My left side is pretty banged up...at 52 I'm a little too old to be falling from my bike-at least I think so! I have a much bigger appreciation for the professional cyclists and am not sure how they survive bike wrecks like I've seen in the Tour de France.

Today it was raining which was probably a good thing so that my body could recover from yesterday. The countdown is on...I still haven't hit 60 miles in one ride but have decided that physically I can do this...so I just need to get my "mental game on" and I'll be good! I'm also excited that my brother is going to be joining me. And, my daughter, Laura, and her husband, Conner, as well as my husband, Tracy, are going to be waiting for me at the Capitol. I can do this!!

Thanks for your support. I have been very humbled by the support of my friends as well as people I don't even know. How amazing that I had to raise my fund raising goal three times!

The countdown is on...

Sept. 7 MS 150 Training Update

Today was new scenery for my training ride. Tracy and I were in Lawrence, KS, to celebrate my mom's 75th birthday. My brother lives in Lawrence and is a huge cyclist. I didn't want to bring my bike with me because I ride a LOT slower than he does, but Charlie insisted! If you have never been to Lawrence, the city is beautiful...and has LOTS of hills! That's one reason I think the KU campus is so beautiful.

We wanted to ride 35 miles (out and back) to a local lake, but the fog this morning was so thick we could only see about an 1/8 mile! Instead, we stuck to the biking paths and ended up riding almost 20 miles. I would like to say I rode 40 miles due to the hills, but... The fog was so thick it was dripping off of my helmet! This was definitely a new experience for me. Charlie laughed at my perception of the hills...he said these were the "easy" ones in Lawrence. They were definitely harder than the Hwy 51 hills I've been riding in Stillwater!
One thing I learned today (sorry I can't comment on what I saw as I rode...we truly couldn't see a thing due to the heavy fog!): I have GOT to ride every morning at 4am to make sure I'm ready for Sept 26-27. And, Tracy and I need to drive Route 66 so that I can see what I'll be facing. I like to "be prepared"...and I wasn't even a Scout growing up!

Thanks for your continued support...I'm very lucky to be healthy, alive, and able to ride.

August 30, 2009 MS 150 Update

Well...I almost made it to Perry today!! But, hwy 86 really killed me...the hills were a "little" hard. However, I should feel good about riding 35 miles since I haven't ridden for two weeks due to the morning rains, school starting, and my allergies. Great excuses, I mean, reasons, right?? I think that's one reason the ride was tough...I was surprised how quickly my endurance had dropped as a result of the two week layoff.

Right at the start of my ride I woke up a doe and her baby!! I don't know who was more startled-me or them! As I rode west on hwy 51, I was paying so much attention to how nice the roadsides looked due to the county mowing crew (getting ready for OSU vs Georgia on Sat!), and enjoying the smell of freshly-mowed grass, that I realized I wasn't peddling as fast I should.

I headed north on hwy 86, trying to reach Perry. It was such a beautiful ride...and fun, since I hadn't taken this route before. I loved the lake (Carl Blackwell??) and the ponds I saw...people who have a view of the water are very lucky!!

Stay tuned...thanks so much for your support. I have raised my goal twice now and am shooting for $1000 by Sept. 21. If you haven't donated yet, and would like to, please click on the MS link on the right side of my blog. I appreciate your support and hope we're able to find a cure for this horrid disease.

I did it!! Today I rode 30 miles which is my house to I-35 and back. Woo-hoo! The trip out was amazing...quiet...I love to watch the cattle...even saw a doe with her twins sitting next to Hwy 51! The ride back wasn't as much fun. My rear tire went flat but I kept on riding because I didn't have a spare with me (I will from now on) and then when I got to "my road" I decided to walk my bike because it was so hard to peddle with the flat tire. So...1.5 miles later I made it home. The bike shop is now putting new tires on my bike...and a new seat...so I'll be ready to go again tomorrow.

The best part: I bought purple socks and gloves to match my helmet. :) This is really fun...and I can tell I'm getting in shape because the ride out was the easiest it's been all summer.

Thanks for reading...and your support!

August 2, 2009 Training Update

I'm up to 25 miles! I really thought I'd hit 30 by today but I didn't ride as much due to the morning rainstorms. I sure hope it's not raining the weekend of the MS 150...not my idea of fun. But, the cause is great so...

I'm learning more about riding...taking breaks every 10 or so miles...eat protein along the way...stay hydrated. I'm also loving the chance to be by myself and think...a real rarity these days!

My goal is to ride 5 days this week (M, W, F, S, S)...and hit the magic 30 miles! Stay tuned.

July 26, 2009

The riding is getting better ! I am now up to 21 miles...and able to walk the next day. Yesterday's ride was a true test for me...arm was still sore from being stung the night before by family of red paper wasps.

Then, as I was near the end of the first half of my ride, two dogs came racing out of their farm and started barking/chasing me. The large, black dog was at my heels for a long time (well, it felt like a long time!). I'm thinking I should take something with me for protection? Reading other cyclists' blogs about dogs/bikes gave me some ideas! Yelling at the dogs to "go home" definitely did not work!

Anyway, the riding is getting easier...I feel great...now to hit the magic 30 miles!

Fund raising goal update

Thanks to everyone who has donated so far...I really appreciate the support! As of today, I am 43% to my goal...every little bit helps!! Here is the link to my fund raising page:
http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?px=6835047&pg=personal&fr_id=11357

July 19 Update

I did it!! Today was my first ride with clipless pedals. I took my friends' advice and practiced clipping on/off before beginning my ride...am so glad I did! :) I learned a lot on my first ride with clipless, like: be sure and pop your foot out before you get to the stoplight, don't tie your shoes too tight, and wave at the truckers who are nice enough to move to the other lane (like everyone else should be doing, too!)

I also learned how to use my new camelback and it worked out great. I've lost count of the number of water bottles I've knocked off my bike and run over.

Today I rode to Karsten Creek and back...17 miles. Tomorrow I'm going to ride with my iPod so that I can tune out the highway noise. Stay tuned!

A huge thanks to my daughter, Laura, for teaching me how to create my own blog!!

July 14 Training Update

OK...I've done it! My bike now has clipless pedals. In the past, I've had normal pedals...and I've worn tennis shoes. I've learned that for more power/speed/continuity in long-distance riding that I should go to clipless shoes/pedals. So...my bike now has that! I'm up to 12 miles/ride and am going to start riding at 4:30am due to the heat. And...I'll be able to ride before going to work at 7am. I'm a little worried about learning how to use the pedals. My riding buddies are telling me to practice by holding on to a tree before I venture out. Gee...I'm not worried at all! Stay tuned...thanks for your support.