Friday April 11, 2003

Well, it's the night before my first MS 150 ride and I arrive at the TA Riders Team Dinner and Kickoff Meeting at Grisby's restaurant in Houston. We have about 90% of the team here for a hearty carbo-loading meal the night before the big ride.  After all, we want to make sure we all make it through to La Grange on the first day, which I hear is about 100 miles uphill and into the wind in all directions.  We're going to need all the fuel we can get!

About mid-way into the night's meal, my friend Don comes over to remind me that carbo-loading is a good thing as long as it's whole grain pasta and vitamin fortified vegetables but, he points out with a mild look of concern, that there's no scientific evidence that drinking beer is a good alternative for a second helping of pasta.

We go over a few last minute announcements, wish each other a good night's rest and high-five each other on our way back to our cars.   I feel ready and prepared for the next day!

Saturday April 12, 2003
Day 1 - 100 miles to La Grange!

It's 3:49 AM and I'm lying in bed, too excited to sleep and I'm going over my mental checklist for the ride: sunscreen - check.  sleeping bag - check. tent - check.  This goes on for a good hour and so I finally get up at 5:00 AM, get dressed and drive over to our TA Riders team starting point.

6:05 AM - I arrive at the TA Riders starting line and unload my gear and my bike.  I'm pumped!  So, I started to get prepared.  I loaded up on water, ate some bananas and drank some fancy cyclist drink that promises that I will make it 100 miles and feel fresh as a daisy when I arrive in La Grange. I paid $11.95 for that promise.  Priceless, don't you think? I then check out my bike, air up my tires, load my gear into the truck that transfers our gear to La Grange, eat another banana, take a few pictures, drink some water, say hello to a few friends and put on my shoes and helmet and get ready to go.

6:13 AM - I'm ready to go.  Unfortunately, we don't leave until 6:45 AM so I have a 30 minutes to do nothing.  I repeat the 6:05 AM drill 2 more times.

6:45 AM - We all gather together for the TA Riders start.  Everyone is excited and eager to get on the road.  We take a team picture, say a prayer, do a genuine Texas "yee-haa" and get on the road.  125 TA Riders heading out on our two day journey.

6:46 AM - I've yelled "yee-haa" 19 times and I'm only 2 blocks from the start.  As I reach down to click on my speedometer/odometer I notice that it's not working.  This could be a crisis.  How will I know how fast I'm going? How long it will take me to get there? How will I know what my biker's cadence is or be able to pace myself.  This could be bad, I think, but I press on with my fellow TA Riders.

8:45 AM - I am riding with Mark Detke, a team member and co-captain of TA Riders.  Mark has an unbelievable story.  Last year, he was run over by a dump truck on a weekend bike ride.  He broke his back, his ankle and had some pretty heavy duty road rash.  They even life-flighted him to the hospital.  And, miraculously, here he is less than one year later doing another MS 150.  What an inspiration Mark is!

We stop at Break Point 2.  However, I thought it was Break Point 1 and that we were only 10 miles into the ride.  Mark points out that I must have missed the first break point somehow.  Nonetheless, this proves to be monumentally positive because now I'm 15 miles further then where I thought I should be.  So, looks like not having a speedometer/odometer is really coming in handy for my mental makeup.

I'm so excited that I call my mom.  Here someone snapped a picture of me leaving the break point talking to her.


I was telling her that there was 125 TA Riders on the ride, all wearing our jersey with her name on it.  See, this year's jersey theme is "Why Do You Ride?" I tell her that the team is riding for her and thousands like her who have MS.  Down at the bottom of everyone's jersey was my reason for riding:"For my mom, Sharon".  It was a moving conversation with her.  A brief and brilliant moment and then I'm off again with Mark.

11:00 AM - Lunch at Bellville - What a great relief.  Lunch is an awesome sight.  Thousands of riders stopped over in this little town to have lunch. The day is gorgeous.  The sun is out, it's 70 degrees and I feel great.

2:00 PM - Fayetteville, Texas.  Mark and I pull over for a quick refuel. I've run out of my fancy cyclist drink and now I must replace it with, can you believe, ordinary Gatorade, though generously supplied by the volunteers at the break.  Mark and I are getting excited because we're 85 miles into the day with 15 more to go.  So far, so good.  We press on.

2:45 PM - Somewhere outside of La Grange.  Funny, when I grew up in La Grange, I didn't remember how hilly it was.  Needless to say, the last 15 miles seemed longer and harder than the first 85.  My legs are burning.  My butt is numb.  The wind has picked up and it's all up hill from here on in.

3:04 PM - La Grange, TX - I arrive fresh as a wilted daisy in La Grange. Halfway point and home of the overnight stop for the MS 150.  I'm so proud that I've made it 100 miles that I want to keep on going!  Not realistic but a nice thought anyway.  I find our TA Riders team tent and, immediately, someone hands me an ice cold beer.  Since I was out of my fancy cyclist drink, I accept.

The rest of the day is a blur.  Not because of the beer but because I'm tired.  I do remember eating, showering and getting a massage from one of our 4 team massage therapists.  But beyond that, I'm pooped.  I'm tired and I'm thinking that I have to do it all over again the next day.  But, as I settle into my sleeping bag around 9:00 PM, I rest with a smile because I'm half way through with the ride and I actually do feel better than I thought.

Sunday April 13, 2003
Day 2 - 85 miles to go to Austin.

7:00 AM - For some strange reason, I'm pumped up for Day 2!  I can't wait to get on the road.  I grab my bike and head to the starting line.  I let out a couple of "yee-haa's" as that has now become my MS 150 Fight Song.  I line up for the big start at 7:00 AM and, noticing that I'm pretty far back in line, we inch forward.  I can see the starting line every once in a while. It does get closer.  And then closer.  And then closer.  Inching along...

8:02 AM - I finally start Day 2.  "Yee-haa'd" 2 more times and I'm off.  I didn't realize that getting 10,500 riders out on the road would take so long.  Even after an hour's wait to start, I'm ready to go!

10:00 AM - Bastrop State Park.  I arrive at the park remembering all that I heard about is how beautiful the ride is through the park.  One problem though, no one really mentioned that the ride through the park was pretty much up hill for 10 miles.  Nonetheless, I'm happy to be there and determined to enjoy this incredible scenic beauty.

10:04 AM - I'm still in the park.  I haven't seem much of the scenic beauty because there's non-stop hills.  All I can see is gray asphalt that slopes upward in front of me, away from my tire, at a very steep angle.

10:15 AM - Still in the park.

10:28 AM - Still in the park.  Here's a picture someone snapped of me going up one of the hills.   Thank goodness I got the picture so that I can now see the park's natural beauty.


10:40 AM - OUT OF THE PARK - 2 "Yee-haa's".  We stop in Bastrop and have lunch.  Now I'm thinking that I'm half way to Austin and I'm 3/4 of the way through my first ride.  I'm really pumped up after a quick lunch and back on my bike.

12:05 PM - Elgin, TX - I stop over for a quick refuel because, you guessed it, I ran out of my fancy cyclist drink again.  I down a couple of waters and Gatorades and I'm back on my bike.  The road is pretty flat here and I'm picking up speed.  At least that's what I'm guessing.  My speedometer is still out and I can't really say for sure, but that's what I told myself.

12:30 PM - somewhere between Elgin and Austin - I encountered a genuine freak of nature.  It seems like my nice, flat road has once again turned into some pretty steep hills.  That's not so bad.  After all, I'm getting to be a real pro on these hills.  However, as the road winds around north and south, east and west, a gusty 20-30 mph head wind appears.  The freaky part is that no matter what direction I'm going, I'm going straight into the wind.  How cruel the gods are that, with 15 miles to go, we must face one last challenge.

1:00 PM - I crest the last hill and I can see the finish line in sight just about a mile down the road.  A chill runs through my body and tears come to my eyes.  I'm going to do it!  I'm going to finish!  I'm here, 185 miles later.

And all I can think about is my mom.  I wish she were here, right here along with me as I make it this last mile.  Everyone has their reason for doing the MS 150.  I did it for her.  I did it to raise money and awareness about this complicated, puzzling and devastating disease.  I think that it's all worth it.  That we'll raise enough money to find a cure and to end this disease.  I'm confident of this.  My butt is sore but my heart is soaring!

1:02 PM I cross the finish line.  I'm elated.  Here I am crossing over.

And now it's time to finish the ride.  I rode 185 miles to raise money and awareness for those who suffer with MS.  A lot of you have generously donated your money or your time to help out.  I appreciate it and I really thank you.  I rode.  You donated.  We did it as a team.  And hey, if you want to donate again, I won't stop you.

Just one last thing.  If you have made a pledge to donate and have not sent in your donation, you have until May 13 to do so.  You can send me a check made out to the MS Society and mailed to my contact information below.  Or, to make it easy on you, you can go online and donate with a credit card. This link is also below.

At any rate, I hope you enjoyed my story about my ride.  It was one of the greatest experiences of my life and I can't wait to do it again next year.