MS Ride to the River 2015

Not every day is a good day. If you don't have a bad day, you can't appreciate the good days.

I am learning to love my bike. She is a great bike. She needs a better engine.

I signed up for MS Ride to the River for several reasons. Multiple Sclerosis is close to me. I've watched it slowly change people and impact families. I hate it. We don't know what causes is ... probably a combination of genetics and environment, but we don't know. There are many treatments. Most aren't good. None are curative. I have thought about a MS ride for years, but didn't think I could do the distance. Then I thought, how do I know I can't? And, I thought, at least I have a choice. People with MS don't. So ... to test myself, to motivate myself to get out there and ride more, and to raise money for MS, I signed up. I was lucky enough to have a friend of a friend of a friend who works at HEB and I joined their team. They were so supportive and friendly during weekend training rides. And, it's amazing to have a group to ride with who know lots of different routes for different scenery around time. And, they never left me behind.

My training was sporadic at best, but I had done 55 miles and felt good. I had ridden hills. But, work and other commitments got in the way at the beginning. And a trip to Africa that prevented the final 3 weeks of training. We got home on the Saturday before the ride. I'm still jet-lagged. Work has been stressful this week. The Musician left town the day after we got home to be with his ailing father. My head was not in the game. And, I did a dumb thing. I had my bike retrofit for aerobars while we were gone. So .. 5 days before the ride ... new bike position, new  bike saddle. Do you see where this is leading?

Anyway, packet pick-up was easy and friendly. Got a "congratulations on your fundraising." I set up everything for the ride the night before. Got up early and headed  to the start. 270 HEB teammates. Wow!!! We gathered for a picture. Our team raised over $200K for MS. One person single-handedly (not me) raised $100K of that. There were 1400 riders and over $1M raised. Aything that comes next, is totally worth it. I'm proud to have raised $825 (thanks to great friends and family).

The day was beautiful. Temperatures at the start were in the 60s. Amazing for Texas. And a huge improvement from last year when Day 1 was cancelled due to rain. After announcements, a prayer, the national anthem ... Team HEB was the third starting team and we were off. WOW!!! The new aero-position is amazing. Comfortable. Relaxing. Powerful. The very kind folks at Britton's bike shop were totally right. Why didn't I do this 5 years ago? I didn't stay aero all the time, because I need to get used to the position and handling. But, the saddle was higher and the flight-deck was lower, so my position was still very different than my previous "cruising" position. I did some drafting with some friends from HEB, but even with my new power, I am still not as strong as they are and I fell behind. But, that's OK. I actually like riding "alone" so I can be in my head with my thoughts. I felt great and was on the first rest stop before I knew it. I didn't "need" to stop, but I did. I promised myself, I would stop at every stop to stretch my legs. I didn't stay long. I don't even think I got water. Just a few "hellos" and "tailwinds."

The next 12-ish miles were as good as the first. This was going to be awesome!!!! Again, before I knew it ... rest stop. More greetings. This time,  I filled my bottle and had a Huma. And off we go.

Doc said I wasn't pedaling fast enough to move forward in time to the finish. 

Then ... Mile 30. Things fell apart. Headwinds. Hills. Why did I get a new saddle? It was a fight to get to rest stop #3. Several riders passed and asked if I was OK. Did I really look that bad? I asked one person and he said that he just likes to check on folks who are riding alone. OK ... maybe I don't look like I'm dying. Rest stop #3. OK ... stretch it out. Walk around. Eat something. Refill the bottle. Pretend you don't hurt. Smile for the camera. And, off again.

I needed the Force to be with me. Instead, I had set myself up for defeat. This time. 

My legs HURT!!!! BAD!!!! And, the LB (Lady Bits if you're delicate, but the Librarian calls them Lady Balls which is more appropriate to describe the suffering.)  I could feel every little bump and there was a LOT of chipseal. OK ... just a few miles to lunch stop.  Almost half-way to the hundred. My nose runs when I ride. I don't know why. Somewhere around here, I was particularly snotty. I thought I would attempt something I've never done before ... a snot rocket. OK, close the other side and blow. Fail!!! All over my face ... not one big splat on the pavement. Yuck, had to wipe with my glove. UCK!!! Mile 43 ... both legs seized up. I couldn't pedal. I could barely stand over my bike. I couldn't stretch them. I couldn't do anything. I waited for Sag. Took Sag to lunch. Decided, this was it today. After a quick lunch and conversation with friends, I took Sag to the finish. Quick leg massage made movement possible. Shuttle to the start. Home to see the pups. BUST!!! My first DNF. I have never, no matter how much it hurt, quit before. I tell people it's OK to DNF. Smart, courageous, hard. But, save yourself for another day. Don't hurt yourself. Harder to tell myself than it is to tell someone else.

I had every intention of going back out there for day 2. I had everything set up. I had iced and stretched and hydrated and fueled. But, the alarm went off Sunday morning. I got out of bed. No leg pain. Bonus. But, I was quickly reminded of the saddle and knew I couldn't sit on it again today. Bust! No medal. No conquering. But, it's OK. I have been running ragged all week. I haven't taken a break. My head was still not in the game. I took the day to unpack (finally), rest, play with the dogs, and ...

Yes ... I went there and put this up there for the world to see.

So.... what went right?

1. We raised a lot of money for MS research, treatment, cure
2. I love the new power and relaxation of aero position
3. I put Trusty Garmin on a quick release and used it for my bike computer and liked it
4. Tailwind nutrition ... still good
5. I tested a new Speedfill hydration system on my bike and I like it. No fumbling for bottles

So ... what went wrong? (aka Lessons learned)

1. Never try something new on race day. Even though not a race, perhaps I should have chosen better timing for the new position and new saddle
2. My head wasn't in the game. I thought about not going, but thought I would be filled with self-loathing if I didn't.
3. Training was inadequate. 100 miles is no joke. These hills are no joke. 
4. Snot rocket ... fail.

The positives outweigh the negatives, so I have to put this in the "win" column.

So .... what am I taking from this? 

1. There will be good days and bad days
2. Sometimes your head is not in the game, and that's OK
3. I have a goal. Something to aim for. Something to conquer. I won't let this defeat me. I will find the right saddle. I will train. And, next year, I will Conquer this hilly beast of a ride and next year, I will raise even more $$ to search for ways to defeat MS.