I made it!

What a weekend it was. Wet, windy and cold (8-12 C)

Saturday

Airdrie – Fairview Colony 23 km, rain
Fairview Colony – Crossfield 17 km, rain that was hard enough to ring my bell
Crossfield – Carstairs 17 km, rain
Carstairs – Didsbury 14.5 km, rain stopped
Didsburry – Olds 17.5 km, first time we had a bit of wind in our favour for about 10 km. Had some fun at 60+ km/hr

Total distance = 89 km, total time = 6 hours + rest stops

Sunday

Olds – Airdrie 70km (the challenge loop was cancelled), some light sprinkles around Didsbury; wind on our backs; lots of fun. Total time = 3 ½ hours + rest stops

That wind was terrible! Luckily, Jerry was my wind block the entire way and I took advantage of drafting. The event was a lot of fun, despite the weather and I would recommend this event to anyone. The volunteers and support was excellent, although coffee at every rest stop would have been appreciated. I had my coffee mug with me (you can see my cup holder in the photo) and I got more than a few envious looks on Saturday.

We were going to tent on the campus grounds but they opened some dorm rooms so we had a dry night. I was exhausted Saturday night and my eyes were so bloodshot from wind that it looked like I had been on a bender. I'm proud of myself for making it all the way through. Jerry was also impressed and I think it was good for him to see what my physical limits (and abilities) are and what I'm like when I reach that point. He was amazing through the whole event and I wouldn't have made it without him. Mind you, I wouldn't have been in this event in the first place without him!

Charlotte handled great. I was passing people going up hills and I could hear the grumbles about a single gear as I went by. This was because many people don't know how to shift properly. She's also lighter and I kept her at a high cadence (fast pedal rotation). My bum's not sore, thanks to her wonderful saddle and I only had a twitch of pain above my left knee later in the ride. My leg did cramp up at one of the rest stops but it was caused by an improper cool down in conjunction with cold weather.

I want to thank everyone who supported me with financial contributions, advice and well wishes. My muscles are feeling surprising good today, although I can’t believe how much I’ve been eating! I had 2 suppers last night and lunch and a half so far today.

Have a great day!

Long Weekend

Hello Everyone!

I hope you had a fabulous weekend. Mine was great – the relaxation I needed.

On Friday night, I picked up a few annuals and planted them in the little flowerbed by my steps. I also had a couple friends drop by so it was nice to catch up with them.

On Saturday, I did my long bike ride. I mapped out a 30 km loop that had a majority highway style road. I did three laps, with a stop at my place to simulate the rest stops for the tour. My first loop was the hardest. I was out in the hottest part of the day and they were new roads to me so I wasn’t sure how things would go. The 2nd and 3rd loops were easier and faster.

When I first signed up for the tour, I was worried about the physical aspect. I’ve discovered that the long distance was mostly mental work. There were a few hills that I first thought, “There’s no way in he$% I’m making it up that!” But, I kept my head down (so I couldn’t see the incline) and worked on my cadence (the speed that you pedal). The timing trouble I had was when should I stand to give my legs that extra push and what speed should I be at. I have since worked it out and when I was biking last night, I noticed a huge difference.

So, I’m rather proud that I was able to bike 90 km. On Sunday & Monday, I was planning to do more biking but when I woke up, I had no muscle pain/strain to work out and no soreness. I decided against the extra riding and did a whole bunch of stuff around the apartment.

I was in an organizing mood for the rest of the weekend so my place looks rather messy with its piles of stuff everywhere. I should have everything back in its place tonight.

Jerry got home last night so I went up to his place for dinner. We’ll be putting in the garden this weekend so we’re going to postpone the Bragg Creek trip.

Yummy product to tell you about – Astro yogurt. They have a type called “Original All Natural Yogurt” and it’s Balkan yogurt sweetened with honey. I bought it because most of the yogurt in the store was low fat with lots of chemicals in it. I was able to pronounce everything in this yogurt and it tasted delicious. It is a bit runnier than regular yogurt but I liked its texture and the sweetness level.

Have a great day!

Training Day

Hello Everyone!

Did a ride yesterday, exploring the pathways of the city. It was a very nice loop that gave me a rest stop at J's place. The main loop was 30 km and then the ride home was 6 1/2 km. The pathway took me through a wild park, around the Glenmore Resevoir, through some very expensive real estate areas, and then along the Elbow and Bow rivers.

I didn't have good time since I had to drastically reduce my speed to avoid other pathway users. I think I'll use at least portions of this loop again since it was a very pretty ride.

I'm planning on some extra riding on the Victoria Day weekend. Not sure yet what my route will be but I'll likely do a long ride on Saturday, a short ride on Sunday afternoon and a long ride on Monday. This will let me experience the long term impact on my body. Oh, and I'll be staying within city limits.

J and I will do a major training ride on the 24th. We're going to Bragg Creek and back which will be similar to the distance we'll be cycling for the ride.

Total training distance on Sunday = 36.5 km

Have a great day!

Bike photos

Here's pictures of Charlotte and me! New helmet bought on Friday has pink and orange butterflies. Spent my grocery money on a helmet - where have my priorities gone! Oh well, I've got food in my cupboard - although I would prefer not to eat it.

Hooray for Akita!

I approached my work this week about sponsoring me in the tour. They were very generous in their donation and, in turn, I'll be wearing my Akita t-shirt during the tour. It's a win-win situation. They get the company profile showing their corporate citizenship and I am over my minimum donation requirement. Mind you, this doesn't mean you don't need to donate - every bit helps.

So, the roads are still snow covered (winter came again last weekend) but most of it should be melted by early next week. I'll be glad to get some longer rides in to get trained up. After all, I've only got 5 weeks to go!

MS Bike Tour Info

Hello Everyone!

So, if you’ve checked your e-mail, you already know I’m hitting up everyone I know for support as I ride in the MS Bike Tour. For those not familiar with the event, here’s a brief rundown:

What multiple sclerosis is

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). It is the most common neurological disease of young adults in Canada. AN estimated 50, 000 Canadians have MS. Prevalence rates range from one MS case per 500 population to one per 1,000 across the country. The MS Society estimates, based on current prevalence rates, that there are approximately 1,000 new cases of MS diagnosed each year. This means that three more people are diagnosed with MS every day in Canada.

MS attacks the protective myelin covering of the brain and spinal cord, causing inflammation and often destroying the myelin in patches and, at times, the verve fibres (axons) themselves. When this happens, the natural flow of nerve impulses is interrupted. The result may be vision problems, numbness, loss of balance, extreme fatigue, tremors, even paralysis.

The most common form of MS has well defined attacks (relapses) followed by periods of recovery (remissions). This pattern of attacks and recovery can continue for months or years. The unpredictable attacks can cause additional symptoms and disability. As yet, the cause and cure are unknown, but drugs to reduce the frequency and severity of MS attacks are available for the most common form of MS. In addition, almost all MS symptoms can be helped by medications and therapy.

Multiple sclerosis is usually diagnosed between the ages of 15 to 40 although it can occur at any age including in childhood. MS is more than twice as likely to occur in women as in men and is seen most commonly in people of northern European background. It is more common in countries that are further away from the equator, like Canada. Epidemiological studies have shown that Canada has one of the highest prevalence rates of MS in the world.

About the RONA MS Bike Tour

The RONA MS Bike Tour is a pledge-based fundraising even that provides Canadians with the opportunity to ride through scenic and often spectacular parts of the country. Over 10,000 cyclists are expected to participate in the 21 one- and two-day tours taking place across Canada between June and September.

The Bike Tour began in 1989 and is now one of the MS Society of Canada’s most important events. In 2007, it raised over $8.2 million, the proceeds of which have gone to fund research in the search for a cure and vital services for people currently living with MS.

Info about my participation

So, J and I had been talking about doing some longer bike rides this summer and he mentioned this event. I was rather worried about the distance but he said with a bit of training, I would have no problems with it. I did a test last weekend when I went to a youth rally in the far south. It was 25 km each way and although I was a bit tired, I wasn’t exhausted and my muscles weren’t sore the following day. This was after a 5 km bike ride in the morning so I was rather proud of my 55 km day. As well, I averaged 25km/hour on Charlotte (and yes, she's still a single gear).

Airdrie is a small community north of Calgary. The route starts there on Saturday morning (June 7) and we ride to Olds. You may be familiar with the name as they are known for their agricultural college. I will be camping at the campus and there is lots of support available on the way. They take care of food, beverages and transportation of camping gear. I also have the choice of a massage or yoga class once I reach Olds. We return on Sunday. Roundtrip is 180 km.

To participate in the ride, I need to raise a minimum of $275 before June 3. I’m hoping to achieve this through your support. I will also approach my work, and am currently looking for the best approach. If you have experience in this, any advice you have is most welcome. You can make donations online or if you don't feel comfortable giving credit card info over the internet, give me a call and I'll write your info on a pledge sheet or you can always mail a cheque. Tax receipts are issued for donations over $20.

I’ll keep you up to date with my progress on my blog. Look for the label MS Bike Tour. I’m excited and a bit nervous about the ride. I think it will be a wonderful time.

Have a fabulous day!