A Wheely Busy Weekend!!

Maybe a little cheesy but I couldn’t resist!

It was an awesome weekend for me.  I can’t believe I managed to somehow fit everything in.  Started Thursday night with a spin class (it was almost full – 3 open bikes), dinner with the kids, Friday morning spin class, dropped kids off at school, went to work, came home to pack for a camping trip, picked up the kids from school, had dinner, drove to the campsite and spent the evening there with the kids and hubby.  Left the campsite at 9:30 to pack for the Denton Turkey Roll on Saturday.  Got up early Saturday morning, loaded the booth into my fellow teammate’s vehicle, and drove to the fairgrounds.  We set up the tent and were open for business right at 7:00 a.m.    We spent the day at the Denton Turkey roll packing up at about 2:00 p.m. or so.  I got to spend the rest of the evening with the kids and husband (who had been in California all week).  Sunday, I got up and geared up to ride with Corinth Cycling.  I rode to the start location and then rode about 25 miles or so.  I don’t know the exact number since my bike’s computer is on the blitz again.  Funny – I had a $10 computer that never let me down (Bell Wired Cycle-computer from Wal-Mart).  Last year, my husband got me a very nice computer whose price tag I will not disclose, that has not worked for me consistently.  I’m about ready to tear it off and get my $10 computer off my mountain bike and back on my road bike… but I digress. 

After the bike ride, went home, family went to church, had lunch and spent the afternoon and evening doing the mother duties – cleaning, washing, vacuuming, cleaning (again – kids would go into a clean room and make their mark on it).  This morning, after only two hours of sleep (I’m trying to get over this Insomnia), I got up at 5:00 and started my week 3 of my Couch-to-5k running program.  As I jogged I realized I was breathing a little easier and my heart rate wasn’t shooting up as much as when I first started.  It felt good.  I reflected on my past life – 200 lbs and not 5 feet tall.  I led a sedentary life – sitting at a desk, sitting in a car, sitting at home.  I have come a long way.  And I owe it to friends who turned me on to cycling and turned me on to my first big organized ride – the Sam’s Club BikeMS ride.  “It’ll be a great way to get back into shape”, they said.  I never would have thought that I could be one of “them”.  But here I am, lighter, healthier, and active for a great cause.  By the way, I’m still waiting to break 5 feet tall.  I actually shrunk ½ inch to 4’11’ – husband says it’s the fat I lost on the bottom of my feet – funny…

So back to the Denton Turkey Roll rally on Saturday!  What a great day it was!  The weather cooperated with us (no rain) and the temperatures were tolerable.  Our tent was perfectly positioned in front of the registration site.  Some people almost mistakenly signed up for the BikeMS ride – that is until they asked for a rider packet.  While we thought about keeping their money and forcing them to ride in the BikeMS event, the honest person in my fellow booth-mate and I had to direct them into the Denton Turkey Roll registration instead (L).  So many people stopped by, it was unbelievable!  The MS Marketing manager had rolled out a contest just a day earlier (Friday) announcing that anyone taking a pic with me at the rally would be entered into a contest for a free illumiNite waterproof helmet cover.  While many people hadn’t heard of the promotion, there were many willing participants ready to smile for the camera.  I had never smiled nor taken so many pictures in my life.  I have never heard “Your wife is going to wonder why you have a picture on your phone with another lady” so much either (LOL!).  Needless to say it was a lot of fun.  Friends and fellow cyclists showed up to support me as well – from my 24Cycle classes and from the group we normally ride with (Shout out to The Bicycle Path and Corinth Cycling!!).  It couldn’t have been a better day!  If any of you who took pictures with me on Saturday have come to this blog for the link to the promotion – here it is.  Sorry we didn’t have it on Saturday. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bike-MS-SAMS-CLUB-Ride/123002878860#/pages/Bike-MS-SAMS-CLUB-Ride/123002878860.

What was even more unbelievable was that so many riders had not heard of the BikeMS event in the DFW area.  It was up to Marsha (my teammate and booth companion) and I to tell them about this great ride and the opportunity to help people and their families who have been affected by MS.  Some riders took fliers and others took registration forms.  A select few registered for the event – 9 total – I think.  The one who touched my heart the most was a man who had recently been diagnosed with MS.  It didn’t look like they were going to register at first but his wife (I think) persuaded him to sign up.  She went back to her car, brought her credit card and signed right up.  As they filled out the application, you could already hear her thinking aloud on ways to gather her friends and family to ride in this event.  It would be for him.  They had a reason to ride and newfound determination to make it a great event with their closest friends.  The man stood quietly as he listened to her and then finally said – “Better to ride now before I can’t in the future”.  WOW.

Such inspiration in someone whose life has been changed by the words of his doctor – You have MS.  I felt a lump in my throat as I explained to him the route options and the fundraising.  We all ride for him, for his family, for all the people covered by the Lone Star MS Society Chapter who have MS.  I felt an uncontrollable urge to hug him, as if he was family.   In some cases, we know not the people, their faces, nor their families.  We know not their background or their financial status.  But that doesn’t stop the 3,200 riders who sign up yearly and pledge to raise that minimum fee.   The generosity of so many strangers all riding towards a common cause – to rid this world of MS – is so empowering to me.  I feel, if he can do it, if Rodney (fellow MS Ambassador – rider with MS http://no2ms.wordpress.com/) can do it, we can surely grow this ride to be the biggest and the best in Texas.  So, please, get the word out, bring in your friends and family and ride for those who can’t.  Our journey on this bike ride stops after we’ve either completed the ride or turned in our final donations – but it doesn’t stop for those with MS.  And it’s up to us to raise those funds to make sure they see an end to this disease – to see THEIR finish line.  It’s up to YOU.  JOIN THE MOVEMENT TODAY!