FATIGUE!!!!!

Just a quick note to say that you know you are fatigued when.....

When you are having a dream that you are being chase and your body is actually too tired to run away. Therefore I woke in a panic still thinking I was being chased. This happen to me last night.

I'm sure Jeremy is loving being married to me at this point.

Training THRILLING!!!!!!!!!!

Well since the MS 150 working out has been to say the least minimal. I haven't been to the YMCA for exercise since. I took my kids to Open Bounce to jump in bounce houses for an hour and an half and at the end of that I was exhausted. So I guess that is basically that is it.... I haven't been able to stay as active as before due to major FATIGUE. One of the horrable yet very common problems that a lot of people with MS struggle. So as a start and something fun to do I signed up for a dance class at the Brentwood YMCA that at the end of the class will thrill the nation. Check out the website.... Don't let it fool you that it is just learning the steps. After 1 hour of dancing I'm beat, but hopefully soon I'll be able to do more than the one 1hour class and run after my kids somewhat every other day of the week. On top of attempting to be more active, I get to spend time with 5 other friends, laughing and goofing off.

Hopefully by the end of the month there will be pics of us THRILLING the NATION.

http://www.thrilltheworld.com/learn

Look what I found!!!!

Look what I found while browsing photos of the MS 150 that were posted on the Gateway Chapter for MS Site.
I couldn't even tell who it was at first, but I think it is pretty cool. It is just proof positive that I was there and I did finish.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10thavenue/3918598043/in/photostream/

The hyperlink isn't working so you will have to copy and paste into your web browser.

Bike MS 150 - Columbia, MO

My MS 150 2009 goal was to finish the entire 150 miles on a bike on my own. I'm proud to say that after having a major relapse in May, barely able to walk and having to get IV steroids, I was able to finish all on my own strength. At times I was a bit discouraged because I wasn't' going as fast as I would have hoped or expected. By the end I was glad that I finished and can't wait to do it again next year. When I did get discouraged Jeremy promptly reminided me that aside from the relapse in May, I was sick for a week and a half the 2 weeks prior to the ride. This made me unable to train the last 3 weeks before the event.

This is the start line but it it only show a small portion of the people that rode in the event. It is a great sight to see all the riders there for such a good cause.

Jeremy and I are at the starting line waiting to get going. It is about the only time we were together out on the road besides rest stops and lunch. Maybe he was mad at me for accidently putting a hole in is camelback bladder and he had gatorade running all down the back of him. Jeremy rode a single speed for the first day and got many looks from those that love cycling and understood how hard that is. He could muscle up hills, which blew a lot of us away. He would cycle back to see if I was still trucking along, I was but not like him. He is a crazy strong cyclist.

This is Leah, my sister and her friend Justin. They rode our tandem together. I don't think Justin knew what he was getting himself into at this point. By the end of the weekend I think he got the cycling bug and might be coming back next year. I think he is talking of bringing friends with him.

Jeremy got hold of the camera and since he was always ahead of me he was able to get an action shot. I can't quite remember what mile this was but I was still smiling.

Overall, this was a great weekend. It is nice to be around people that are going through the same thing I am, living with this disease. Although MS shows itself different in everybody, it is just as unpredictable for all of us and that is a shared struggle in itself. We all have different levels of abilities and different levels of disability.

In the two day event, I rode 150 miles for an accumulation of over 10 hours, burned almost 10,000 calories, eating so many bananas (I can't even count), talked with so many friends just like me. I can't wait to do it all again next year. Thanks to everyone's sponsorship, support and encouraging words. Lord willing, a wild thought came in my head to attempt 100 miles (century) on day 1 next year and still do 75 miles the second day. I'm $100 away from reaching my financial contribution goal of $2500. I'm already thinking of more funraising events to help contribute next year. It is a great time, and a great organization that helps so many people. If you want to join in the fun and ride with us next year we would love to spend the weekend with you.

Next years ride is planned for Sept. 11 and 12

If you still want to donate, funds are collected till October 15th, follow the link below for my personal page.

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Bike/MOSBikeEvents?px=1934921&pg=personal&fr_id=9605

Tour of Missouri - Stage 1 Day

Not much commentary of the Tour of Missouri just because of being tired this week, but here are some pic of the day. Mark Cavendish won the first 2 stages and Thur Hushov won the third. The winner of last year had to pull out on the second day because he fell the first day. It ended up the at he had a bone break in his hand. Tried to ride the follow day, but pulled out after the cerimonial lap around the city. Now Mark Cavendish pulled out of the race due to an infection in his lung. We are going to the Time Trial in Sedalia today before we stop in Columbia to get ready for the MS 150 which starts early in the am on Saturday. I'm a bit nervouse about the MS 150 because I've been sick and really haven't riden in 3 weeks. That takes a lot of training away from me when you consider that Mother's Day I could barely walk due to a relapse from the disease that everyone is riding for. I'm just goin got have to pace and be determined, but for now it is off to Sedalia.

The peloton taking the turn in Stage 1 race
Family photo with St. Louis pride in the background

(baby girl with Grandma, hopefully next year she will be with us)
Hanging at the MS ten and getting to watch the riders out on the course on the big screen.
Big George interview
Missour slogan: Close to home, far from ordinary

This is the family hanging in the VIP area that we got bracelets by happenstance. It was close the the sign in stage, tents, TVs and food and drinks

This is just a glimpse of the spread that we got to take advantage of by getting VIP bracelets. That kind of thing never happens to us. Although it would have been a great day no matter what, it made it just all the more better.

Sick, Sick, Sick - No training this weekend

Saturday I started feeling not so hot. The problem with dealing with mulitple sclerosis is that sometimes you can't tell if you are having an exacerbation or if you are truly getting sick. I was dizzy and had ringing in my ears and my left hand hurt really bad. My hand had been hurting for over a weeks so I just thought it was par for the course. As things developed and I push forward with my day, going to Faust Park with the family, I woke from my nap and knew.... I was sick and it wasn't an exacerbation. This caused me to not do the ride planned on Sunday night. I've been living on menthol drops, airborne and ibuprophen since then. I'm trying to get myself well enough to go to get to a benifit for the MS150 that my friend put together at the Scottish Arms. I don't know if I'm that organized to do something like that but I'm excited about going to see how it all turn out.

The MS 150 Benefit is at the Scottish Arms
#8 South Sarah St.
St. Louis, MO 63108
Sept 1st, Tuesday at 8pm
There will be raffle, auction and trivia and music
They will have G.C. to the Scottish Arms and other local places, massage certificate, staff auctions and a chef auction to cook a private dinner for you up for grabs.
It will go from 8pm-12am

We would welcome anyone to come check it out.

Since there are no pics from a ride this weekend I thought I'd post this one from last weekend. I thought it was funny because one of his lens on his glasses is darker than the other. These lens self adjust and I thought that the one failed to darken, but Jeremy assures me it was just a shadow. Still make for an odd looking picture.

Then this is a picture of what we got to do this weekend before I got so ill. We went to Faust park and Big Sis is learning to slide down a pole with Jeremy. Baby Girl is watching her wondering when will she get big enough to do that.

"I Ride With MS" Jersey

This is a pic of the design of the jersey that I've been asked to wear one day of the ride this year. In celebration of their 25 year anniversary, the MS Society had made these jerseys for those that were riding in the event and have the disease. These are being provided for us for free. The MS Society wants everyone to remember the reason behind each mile, the real motivation around each turn.

2009 Participating Teams - Tour of Missouri 2009 - Tour of Missouri 2009

2009 Participating Teams - Tour of Missouri 2009 - Tour of Missouri 2009

Above is the link for the team break down and some of the highlighted professional cyclist that will be appearing in the Tour of Missouri. So of the interesting info I found is that it will be Levi Leipheimer's first race since his injury in the Tour de France. I think it is awesome that he is using this tour to see where he stands physically. Basically I think that this list is a teaser of who will be there and not a complete release of info. US favorite George Hincapie will be there and I'm sure the Long family is happy about that.

As something totally unexpected the MS Society contacted me due to be a top fundraiser in MS150 of 2008 and offered 2 tickets to a special seated area for the start and finish of the St. Louis leg. With only 50 spot available it was sort of if you RSVPed in time. Well waiting to talk with Jeremy was my downfall. When I responded to the person in charge she only had one ticket left. I was then put on a waiting list for another ticket. About 6 hours later I got an e-mail about the good news of getting another ticket. So the quite unexpected pleasant surprise for me and Jeremy and that we get to go to the Tour of Missouri start and finish Stage 1 with special seating. Hopefully get to see an awesome race and see some awesome cyclist!

Today’s ride was a get together with some old friends. We did 40 mile along the Riverfront Trail and into IL past the Chain of Rocks Bridge. There was incredible weather to be having in August. This lent us to do something almost unheard of in the Dean household. We slept in until 8AM!!!! Knowing that the weather was going to be so good and having the girls spend the night at grandma’s the night before allowed us to not have to rush in the morning to get miles in before it got too hot. We met up with Doug and Nancy and we were off on the trail.
This ride turned out the ride of mechanical difficulty. First Doug lost the screw to his glasses (thank sgoodness for Nancy to fix it with a paper clip she found) then Doug got a flat tire then…. All I have to say is that Jeremy needed to listen to his wife when she said that something seemed wrong with her shoe when she tried to get out of the clip on her pedal. I ended up losing a screw on my pedal and the clip turned completely the wrong way. We had to stop on the Chain of Rocks Bridge at the fire truck to at least get the other screw tight so that it can attempt to stay put.Jeremy and I stop briefly for a photo op by using the self timer at the fire truck. Luckily I didn’t have to get out of my pedal until the very end because it probably wouldn’t have ended well. I would have ended up falling to the ground not able to get off the bike. Actually at the end of the ride Jeremy had to help me out of my bike and take off my shoe while it stayed attached to my bike. After the ride we went to 9th Street Deli and it was awesome. We got to eat outside and Nancy and I actually felt cold after eating. I saw this painting when getting a refill on my soda. Thought it was cool cosidering his death a month ago.
After the 40 mile ride today, I'm feeling pretty good that I will make the 150 mile ride in less than a month. Not to say that I won't hurt, but I feel it can be done.

Trailnet Fun Rides

Aside from riding with the Sunset Cyclery bike shop in Columbia, IL at times Jeremy and I will ride with the Trialnet Bicycle Fun Club. We traveled to Mills Apple Farm in Marine IL to try a ride. I think that day we expected to do 44 miles. Well the route didn't led itself to do that milage. It was either a choice of 38 or 52. We decided to do the 38.

At the end of it for me it seemed to end to quickly, but during the ride was a different story. I felt like I was experiencing a training tunnel. As you can see from the above picture it didn't seem to hinder Jeremy's ability. He seems to be held up by me and having a little fun on the flat road. There was so much wind and it took us a few miles/hour slower than what we were capable. I guess it only mattered to me because it was the first ride that I got to use my new computer. In the end it didn't matter because none of my numbers were correct because the computer was set to a wrong wheel size to do the calculating.

This last picture is a slight view of how many people come out each week to do these rides. Many of them are doing this for the same reason we are doing this, that is to prepare for the MS 150. The picture doesn't do it justice because there is that same view if you turn to the front of our car. I think it is awesome to think that it is that many people prepare for the MS 150. It also gets me excited to think that Sept 12-13 I'll be cycling with a crowd that is much larger.

Haven't trained in 2 weeks!! Yikes!

Well the last two weekends I haven’t been on a bike and workouts in the gym have been minimal. This makes me a little worried, but I’m hoping that will change this weekend given we only have 26 days left. So almost a month ago we did the St. Louis City Ride. We decided to take Big Sis along and Jeremy could have her train behind his bike. Big sis made this decision and honestly I didn’t know if she was going to be in for it.
The alternative choice was to go with Baby Girl to grandma and grandpa’s house and that normally is the more exciting choice for her. She is ultimately excited to go. It is funny that after you have two or more kids that when you get those kids alone they are almost different people. It was a great morning to show her what mommy and daddy do when she is at a grandparent’s house on the weekends. She was interested in to prep work that Jeremy did to get us going. We got food to start the ride and made a pit stop at the port a potty. Big Sis’s response was that the port a potty was fun and cool. I responded that it wasn’t so much. Now when we need to use one she says to hurry because it isn’t fun. This ride was great for getting pictures of the city and getting good at bike handling. There were so many stops along the route that shifting and clipping in and out of the bike seem a little much.
I feel that by the end of it I was more comfortable with my new bike. It was a workout for Jeremy to pull Big Sis which leveled the playing field for me. It gave me a bit of a confidence boost to be able to climb hills and pass some people also. It was fun to show Big Sis all the riders on the road. She liked the rest stops the best because she got to eat all the snacks. We packed the trailer with some toys and music to occupy her a bit so we could do longer miles.She took some good picture that we didn’t even know about. We met a family that rigged their tandem to allow their little one to be the stoker. Jeremy studied the set up and that might be in our future. Big Sis did eventually fall asleep. When we got back to the car she woke up and was ready for YOU GUESSED IT---- LUNCH! My kids can eat.

Good intentions....

Well I wanted to start this blog to give insight to my life living with MS and training for the fundraising event the MS 150. I had good intentions to get this going before now but life and fatigue has not allowed it to happen. Now we are at the point of 29 days before the MS 150 and this is my first entry. Hopefully this will be more about the cycling training from newbie rider with a little bit about having MS splashed in here.

My husband and I have done the MS150 for years. I should say my husband has done it for numerous year and I've been hit or miss due pregnancys or just delivery but this year is different. I would say more thought and effort has been put into this year for me than years past. I would say that one of the reason for this is that I got the bug. The love of riding on a bike on my own. Years past Jeremy and I have riden a tandem bike due to me not being able to keep up with him. Last year during the MS150 I got a taste of riding a single bike when my sister rode the tandem with Jeremy.

That prompted us to make a single bike purchase for me so this year I would be able to train and do the entire 150 miles on a single bike along side my husband on his single bike. Although Jeremy didn't mind riding the tandem with me, I know that he is excited about riding along side of me instead of directly infront of me.

My new toy - I love it!!!

Someone should've told Jeremy that getting me this bike would have had his wife totally invade his hobby. I don't think he minds that much as long as I can keep up, which I'm working hard at doing.

This is a little extra toy that we got. I'm having fun with it. I'm attempting to photograph it while riding therefore had to slow down to get the photo. My bike handling skills are not that great yet but are getting better with each ride that I do. As for the toy I get to see how fast I'm going, how far I've gone and how fast my heart is going. I love this toy too because I'm numbers oriented person and that way I can tell if I'm improving.