It's the climb....

Just like Hannah Montana sings....it is about the climb. There is always gonna be another mountain, I am always gonna wanna make it move, always gonna be an uphill battle, sometimes I am gonna have to lose, it isn't about how fast we get there - for me it isn't what, but who is waiting on the other side.

It's the climb.

I always want to do the very best that I can do - whether that is being a good Mom or caring wife or making an A on a paper - while I always WANT to do the best, I don't always accomplish that - but guess what, there is always going to be another paper or another project at work to try to work harder at. What there aren't second chances at is more important - like making lasting memories with my family and making a difference in someone else's life.

Life's dramas will come and go, but family and true friends are what makes good stuff and that is what it is all about....good stuff.

Counting down the days.....10 days!

Here we are 10 days away from the MS150, first year since 2004 I will not be riding. Hard to think about the fun I am going to miss - but it will be a good learning experience for me. I have heard that it is easier to ride than volunteer - so I need to see if from both sides to really get the full appreciation of what it takes to make this event happen.

Alyssa, the little team captain, will be my co-pilot - wait! I don't even know how to get to La Grange if I am not following a bunch of Lycra covered buns! Guess I will need to get out the map....first time for everything.

The team is a few dollars away from $80k - not including the fantastic luncheon or our company match - pretty darn good. I am so proud of my team and those special people that make my life so much easier by just being around me and pulling me through. Thanks for all your help this year - could not do it without you!

Feeling Good.....

Nexium - the little purple pill and feeling OK with saying I don't have the capacity to take additional projects on right now have made a big difference in how I am feeling. I still have a long way to go (weight, diet, exercise) but I know what was making the ticker hurt - stress and heart burn. Go figure. My cholesterol was outrageous- ah yes. Thank you Chuy's and bad genes!

Stress has really taken over way too much of my life - I have let this demon take away my quality of life. At least now I know that my heart is healthy, but will not continue to be healthy unless I make some serious changes in my life. Now I need to figure out how to carve the time out for me.

How do people do it? Work, school, family, hobbies, church, etc? Maybe stress just affects people in different ways. This weekend alone will be nuts: budgets to figure out, team paper, logistics for the MS150, and so on.....

Stress? What Stress?

I am like anyone else - stress affects me. It makes me frustrated, cry, antsy and any other descriptive word you can think of - but what I have let it do to my health is not cool. Putting on 15+ pounds (no need to tell ALL my secrets), letting aches and pains go for months at a time, drinking too much coffee and just not being good to myself - all terrible things to do to my mind and body.

Well, here I am 37 - two EKGs, a physical, 2 blood tests, and a nuclear stress test later - my heart still hurts and now I am not allowed to train for the MS (or work out for that matter). This is the definition of letting yourself go. Now the question is - what am I going to do about it? Well, I am going to wait for the cardiologist to call me on Friday to tell me good news (staying positive is good) and then I am going to move forward - carving time out for myself along the way.

Everyone can tell you to relax, but the question I keep asking myself - is then who is doing the laundry or going to write that 1500 word paper or ..... and the list goes on. Like a wonderful friend said to me...it all works out - and it does. I have a great life, wonderful family and friends and a super place that I love to work at - that is what life is all about.

The little things....in the end, who really cares? Well, I will still care, but just try and let them not bother me so much...

If one person reads this and makes an appointment for a physical, then it was worth sharing.

Am I committed or should I be committed?

Well, sent a message to my fellow teammates about commitments and it was hard to read that back to myself. With all I have going on in my work and personal life taking on the MS150 each year gets harder and harder. I asked my husband today (thanks babe) to remind me exactly why I do this each year.


Simple enough: I do this for those that are fighting the crappy disease we call Multiple Sclerosis. I ride for Doris V, Peggy S and Andy's lovely wife Susan. I ride for those that can not....and those that can.


While I want to give up the riding part to focus on volunteering, I just wonder how I would feel in my heart. I would still take care of my team, be there every step of the way, but really - I signed up to take this on and I owe it to those that would love to be in my shoes. Training has taken a backseat to family, work, school and just because I don't want to put my fat arse in some stupid spandex. Are those really good reasons? What am I saying to my daughter (who is wavering as well)? Am I saying - it is OK to quit when it gets hard?

What can I say, but I am going to try really hard and not let myself down. I am counting on me.

February 22nd - Looking for our Team!!!

SAVE THE DATE
As a cycling team we need to ensure that we look after each other and get to La Grange and Austin safely. With this in mind we have organized a comprehensive class and training ride(s) for Sunday February 22nd commencing @ 0800 at Pavilion 8 in Bear Creek Park (see attached map). For those that attend the Cycling Series Kick Off – everyone will get a FREE T-Shirt!

Bike Safety 101
If you have not done so already, please take the time to review the following presentation link before the class. http://main.nationalmssociety.org/bikesafety08/bikesafety.html

Bike Barn – check this out!
Bike Barn will be on hand performing 30 minute bike maintenance clinics on the hour starting at 8AM. For a real incentive they will also be performing FREE bike inspections on site as well! The bike inspection is mandatory for free bike maintenance (labor only) during the MS150 ride. Bike Barn will also show you all the items you need to go in your maintenance kit.

Check out Paddy’s Website
The following is a link describing the events we have planned http://www.cycleheavenusa.com/BearCreekClass.html and the attachment shows a detailed map of the area. Always look to Paddy’s website for current information on team training events and locations!

Please RSVP (by replying to this message) by Wednesday, Feb. 11th.

ALL CYCLISTS MUST WEAR A HELMET!

What was I thinking?

Running the 1/2 marathon has always been a dream and on Saturday, January 18th that dream became a reality. Just a few highlights:

• Don't shout at the lady encouraging the walkers - hey I am not a freaking walker!! (did that in my head, not out loud)
• Maybe I should have trained more
• Maybe I should have trained even more
• Maybe, just maybe I should have trained WAY even more

Will I do this again, heck yes, BUT only if I train the proper way. Walking hurts so bad it brings tears to my eyes, bending makes me want to barf and just the thought of going up or even down stairs makes my head spin - literally.

What did I learn from this: I am so proud of myself and my husband for finishing - but I am not proud of how we got there. We will do this again, but the right way - training properly!