MSers in Training 2015

[Mouse]

Dave - that's possibly the most expensive bike in the world, and it's not even made of gold! Congrats! Hope the move is swift & uneventful.

I've not done any exercise for 10 days now due to tendonitis in my ankle & I am starting to crawl up walls.

Went to see a different Doc today about it. He was - unlike previous medics in our neck o'the woods - very positive.

Very supportive of running! Very keen that I continue it long term from a disease progression point of view.

He reckons that I haven't done too much damage to my tendons, and if I want to think about marathons etc. then I need to think about the fact that I have one flat foot & one normal foot (yeah, thanks Dad). So, not just orthopaedic arch supports, but also referral to a physio to strengthen my feet & ankles.

He's going to have a think about who best to refer me to, then phone me back after surgery this evening.

He also suggested that I find a "...community online, maybe? Of people with MS who are also active, athletic or sporty?" So I told him all about you guys, and he was mightily impressed!

You just don't get this kind of encouragement normally in the UK. A very positive start to today.

[Veronica]

Dave, all I can say, is if you are MOVING to be closer to a bike trail....well, you really are "Biker Dude Dave"..... congrats....sounds like heaven! ( Well, maybe not the 30 year mortgage payments....)

[ActiveMSers]

Just so you folks know, I've been following everybody and all the dynamite posts (great to see Juliet, Steph, Nicole, Suebee, etc, on the thread), just zero time to post lately. And all because of my trike. Let me explain.

My Pocket is small, but not foldable, and not fast (quick, not fast). But I've come up with two brilliant solutions. One: ride with others my own speed. In other word: runners! Laura runs, I ride, it's perfect. More on that later. Two: ride on trails that are next to your house so you don't have to transport said trike, which opens up a world of possibilities, including battery assist for the inevitable bonk. Such a trike is too heavy to transport, but cake to ride right out of your garage.

The problem? We don't live near a trail. Not just yet. But as of Friday, we now have a new 30-year mortgage and a new bike-friendly, universal design house. More on that later, too!

I kept telling Laura I didn't want to buy a $30,000 trike (cost of trike plus new pickup). Little did I realize my trike would cost waaaaay more! Doh! Y'all will have to visit.

[AMFADVENTURES]

Nicole, re: ab exercises, almost anything you do while sitting in a chair or laying on the floor with your legs in the air exercises the abs. Side planks are good and can be done from the knees instead of the feet, much easier on the shoulders. I actually agree with you, crunches suck and you shouldn't need to do them at all if you can do enough other core work.

TM, moving offices this year seems to be a tough one on you and Marina. Very impressive how well you guys are hanging in there with all that going on.

Veronica, I feel your frustration, bummer the training wheels didn't work out. Didn't Dave get a folding Cat Trike? I just remember how quick and nimble he seemed to be on whatever he got. I also remember seeing a guy on a hand crank trike at the CO MS ride one year going up the Horsetooth hills with his trike tethered to the back of his buddies mountain bike. Horsetooth is a respectable 10 mile long hill. They might have been going pretty slow toward the top but nevertheless, they made it. At any rate, I have faith you'll figure something out, you were so resourceful at last years MS ride. Glad to see your sense of humor is still in tack.

I got 45 minutes on a trainer in last week. It was cold and rainy all week. It finally played itself out on Mothers day with 8 inches of snow. It's supposed to be nice this week though so I'll be back out there pronto. Truthfully, I needed the break anyway.

Hang in there guys,
Larry

[Marinadca]

Awww I was really hoping Jill Walsh of Carole Cooke's set ups might be the next step for me, how disappointing.

I am sorry to hear that the training wheels are not working out, getting upright again sounds amazing.

Anyhow, I do love my 700 but it does not fold up in any way!

[Veronica]

Ok, I am not happy. I am giving the training wheels an "F"..... Really unsafe to ride on any surface that isn't completely flat from side to side...hard to turn...just a disappointment. I tried them out today on my rail trail and am never using them again. So, I came home from this little ride resolved to look into the racing trike set up that Suebee mentioned. I researched what Jill Walsh uses, and found the following article that basically tells me that this would be no different as far as stability.

http://www.caths.cz/storage/sekretar...UCI%20Para.pdf

So right now I am just sad/mad... had so hoped to get riding upright, and there were moments today on the rail trail through the woods that made me feel so good.... I have to adjust my thinking ....and focus on maybe trading in the Greenspeed for what Marina has, the Catrike 700.....and then figure out how I would transport it....issues, issues..... I'm gonna hang in there,my buddies...gotta see this as just another one of those challenges we face all the time....

And in the meantime, I am training on my old bike on the Rock and Roll trainer really hard, and loving it....sweating bullets, getting my heart rate up, and just having fun with my Sufferfest video... any one else use these? I love the snarkiness/ bike geekiness of them....great Techno music that normally I wouldn't care to listen to, but boy does it work with these....There is one part where one of the Schleck brothers, Andy, I think, is riding, and turns to the camera and gives a thumbs up....Always makes me smile and I give him a thumb up too!! Really!! My secret is out....

[teena marie]

Hi all,

Simply wonderful to meet all the new members. Amazing goals and accomplishments. I have to be quick so I can't respond individually but I applaud every time I log on. Congratulations to all.

Swim training is going well and have the outdoor pool almost ready to go. I have been concentrating on my kick and increase the number of reps when kicking at the ladder. To help increase muscle strength I have been working my quads when time permits. I do a static leg extension at my desk and am trying to increase my holds. I alternate intensity of kicks with endurance-kicking with less force and for longer. This in turn is really working my core. I use a noodle to support my legs but also alternate not using it so that I have to use everything to keep me afloat. I've incorporated sprints doing a series of 1 length sprint, 3 off. All this is contributing to more streamlined swimming. I start ocean training the end o June. The first team triathlon is 3rd week of July, the second mid August.

My hospital is moving and my office moved yesterday. Epic in all ways. My body really needs a rest, so I'm moving about as little as possible today as so no training today and tomorrow a little light movement.

Take care all,

Teena Marie

[npavlato]

Funny- I don't have a lot of pics of my ballroom outfits but I've got pics of every nerdy cosplay we've done. I love everyone's pictures! Here's one of my husband and I social dancing. I can't do Zumba even a little bit right now, although it's fun. I've discovered playing "Just Dance" sitting down is actually a mini-workout so I do that with the kids. I also got my ass back to the gym- I get some stares but it's worth it.
Juliet- good luck on the marathon!
And, 60 mike bike rides- impressive!
Anyone have good ab exercises that protect your back? Regular crunches are too difficult; I'm doing planks but I have a small amount of scapula winging so can't do them for too long.

[AMFADVENTURES]

A Perfect Day

Great to have so many new folks and such diversity! Welcome, I am so looking forward to hearing about practices and training.

Thanks for the pics Veronica, I wondered what a bike friday looked like. I can see the complexities of riding with the training wheels but it looks like you've got a neat place to do it! And Marina, you and that trike look like one!

Got my first 60 mile ride in last weekend and I did it the day after climbing Highgrade, the meanest hill I have near me. I've been climbing some of the other hills and so far have been pleased with how well I've done. But Highgrade was every bit as bad as I remembered it. I would have been disappointed except that my bike buddies, "The Bullet" and my bike fanatic neighbor were cursing me the whole way up. Hopefully two or three more ascents on that and I'll be ready to move on to longer and steeper, or at least longer.

The third day of my trip, from Delft to Rotterdam was the best day. The MacGyvered toe clip seemed to be working so when everyone else decided to stay on the barge I grabbed the bike guide and we split.

We did 50 km meandering through the Dutch countryside only encountering one Dutch Village and an idyllic little coffee shop at a marina on a pond. It was surrounded by canals and countryside and operated by a lovely Dutch lady who served her own version of coffee and Dutch apple pie. Very special. Pic.

I meant to get a picture of the swans nesting right next to the bike path but I wrongly thought I'd have more opportunities. I saw several pair, interesting that they felt secure enough to do that.

Exploring the countryside on a bike like that is my idea of a perfect day.

[Marinadca]

Love all the people here too

Mouse - What an amazing accomplishment to run/walk/jog/whatever a marathon! Raising funds for MS is just icing on the cake. How cool!

Nicole - I am so happy that you are back out there and moving, in whatever way that works. I love Zumba, but my coordination was never great so I just move in the right direction (I hope) and jump in place.

And Steph - wowowow! Congrads

And a picture, just cause

[Veronica]

Just jumping on here quickly...(hmm, wish I COULD jump!!) I love that there are so many now posting on here !

Steph: congrats! I know nothing about running and times, but sounds like you should be very happy with your time....we always need to strive for better anyway, right?

Nicole: I have never been a ballroom dancer, but know what you mean about when you dance with a partner....feels so good when I have a partner to hold on to me and I feel the rhythm between us... Must be a very freeing feeling for you.

Juliet: Wow, London marathon.....very exciting indeed!

[Mouse]

I love this thread!

I love seeing the pics, I love watching people's progress & the encouragement from others.

Veronica, Marina, Larry - More bike pics, please!

Suebee - keep at it!

Steph - that's a very respectable time. 10 minute miling is an ideal pace to increase you distance a little, too!

Nicole - dance your heart out, in whatever way you can! I am jealous, I have never had any rhythm (or coordination), but it doesn't stop me from 'throwing shapes' occasionally. Do you have excellent outfits to dance in, too?

This morning the ballot opened for entry to the London Marathon 2016. I have entered & registered my interest with the MS Society to run for them (need to raise at least £2000 in sponsorship). We have to wait a few months to find out whether I have a place or not. Exciting & scary in equal measure!

Keep up the good work, people.

Juliet

[npavlato]

I am so ecstatic I can even join this thread- I wasn't sure I'd be doing much of anything for a long time. Everyone here is so impressive! You guys give me so much hope.
I just started working with a trainer; who knew exercising in a chair would be rigorous? Before this happened I was dancing in a Latin Dance company. I never thought I'd be dancing again, but I was able to do some really light ballroom tonight. Victory! It's such a weird thing- I can't walk well without crutches, but as long as I'm in partnership I can dance. No more salsa, unfortunately, but my partner and I are hoping to do some bachata/tango fusion. If I attempt the body movement of salsa (shoulders/ torso/ hips) my legs just quit, but the other stuff is more structured and supported.
Red Bull may give you wings, but corticosteroids give you legs. God bless that stuff.

Nicole

[AMFADVENTURES]

Congratulations Steph, the 49 seconds doesn't count anyway because I'm sure somebody got in your way or something happened that accounts for it BUT, training harder for the next one is a great idea!

[Steph]

I finished the 10K today without walking, but I didn't quite meet my goal of finishing in under an hour. My official chip time was 1:00:49, so I will have to train harder next year! I attached a photo of me and my husband after we finished...we didn't even end up needing that ambulance!