MSers in Training 2015

[PilatesSarah]

Hi,
So I did it on Wednesday (World MS day)! Cycled up Mont Ventoux with ever supportive husband David and my friend/coach Marion and her partner Philippe.
We had a beautiful day and I still can't believe I did it.
I'd had a few set backs during my preparation but on the day everything fell into place. I've got quite a few photos of the day but not sure how best to share these and a bit more about the day.
Reading about other peoples' stories inspired me, I'd like to do the same.
Sarah

[npavlato]

Hi guys- haven't posted but I've been busy! Good news- I've done two full length yoga classes at my gym, which kicked my ass but was amazing. It seems to actually help my function. I feel like yoga reveals all- my body can't hide anything in those classes. I have also started ballroom dancing again with my partner. Can't salsa, but trying some cha in partnership. I don't look as sharp as usual, but I'm so grateful. I got my SideStix and I shall try some hiking next week. I'm invited back to my dance company rehearsals, but out of partnership I will have to use a crutch; the only thing stopping me here is actually embarrassment. My dance buddies are trying to be supportive but have this freaked out stare at my crutch like it's a sad, contagious puppy with leprosy. I think the forearm crutch just looks so permanent. I am also in tremendous physical discomfort. I tapered off two months of steroids last week and was quite ill, and now I'm dealing with a lot of muscle spasm/ pain. Just started baclofen, which is helping. I'm making sure to keep my rest days, but I'm still getting in 4-5 days of exercise per week and stretching every day. It is so weird that I can dance better than I walk. I understand the physics of it as ballroom doesn't require much quad or glut strength, but it is bizarre. You guys are so inspiring!!

[Veronica]

Hi all: Short but sweet post.....Got this today from a good friend of mine who understands how I feel about cycling. He has been with me on BikeMS rides...knows well my struggle to find wheels that work, and my obsession to ride . This is for all the cyclists out there.... Keep riding, whatever it takes if you can relate to even one line in this..... I am craving the day I get the new trike to be "back in the saddle [aka Seat...] again. Keep rollin' and movin' everyone!

http://pages.rapha.cc/uncategorised/...lly-ritterbeck

[Steph]

Larry and Marina-- it's nice to hear I'm not the only one who has been under training on my bike! Between weather, work, and my younger daughter's upcoming high school graduation this weekend, I have basically scrapped my training plan. I'm just trying to get 2 decent rides in per week. I did ride 40 miles last Saturday and this past Sunday. However, I did have a bit of a fall on some gravel last Saturday. Luckily only cuts and bruises-- nothing that kept me from finishing the ride. But, I think I'm going to have to change my route to the 65 miles on Saturday 6/13 instead of the 100 that I really wanted to do. I just don't think there is any way I will be ready for that distance in less than 3 weeks! My husband ( who will ride with me) is actually quite pleased to hear this!!

Canadienne-- I have run marathons in my dreams, and I think that's the only place it will happen! Kudos to you!

Cyn-- I'd love to be able to join you in Disney. It sounds like so much fun! I recently ran my first 10K ever and found it hard but worth it!

Veronica-- Good luck with the new trike! I hope it works out well for you!

[Marinadca]

Welcome Canadienne29 and hello PilatesSarah. I agree with you guys. Gentle exercises and focusing on breathing and relaxing is a VERY good this for those with MS (I need to do this more) and it forces you to focus on stretching. But there is nothing like getting your heart rate up and pumping and breaking a sweat. I figure as long as I can I should, kinda a use it or lose it thing. And I dont want to keep losing things.

Thank you for the reassurance Larry and Veronica. My plan is do BikeMS "the Cheasapeake Challenge" on the Eastern Shore of MD. I picked the 69 mile route. There is a ferry ride after the lunch stop so that is a first for me!! But I will stay off of google!

And Veronica - I am thrilled to hear that you are getting a 700! Now we will really be bike twins

[AMFADVENTURES]

Canadienne, good luck with your Training, sounds like this isn't your first marathon. Hope you'll let us know how things are going.

Veronica, waiting with baited breath to hear how all of the trike dealings go. You deserve a ride you're happy with. The Bullet was complaining about how expensive cycling is too but we both agreed it's worth it, the least it will be if we ever get any decent weather.

PilatesSara, I gotta hear the blow by blow on Ventoux. What bike are you riding up that hill? Is there a story there.

I got a whopping 5 hours and 50 miles in last week, took advantage of every lull in the nearly constant rain we've been enjoying for the past month here. Now of course i'm sick with a chest cold. I'm definitely heading for gross under training going into the MS 150 end of June. This is on track to be my worst training year ever. Bummer but I'm not worried yet.

Later, Larry

[PilatesSarah]

Hello,

I agree with the previous comments. Although I teach Pilates and think this is wonderful activity for MS, I also like to push myself. I'm hoping in 2 days time on World MS Day to cycle up Mont Ventoux in the French Alps, in aid of Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis.
Will keep you posted.

[Canadienne29]

Newbie here

Hi Active MSers!

I'm a newbie here - just joined the forum.

I was diagnosed last year. I'm a long-distance runner, and I've had a few ups and downs with it since my DX, but I am currently training for the Chicago Marathon this October. Running for the NMSS, fundraising. This race has been on my bucket list for 8 years!

I was a member of a FB forum of MSers who follow the Swank Diet/Overcoming MS, but I left it today. Most of the people there are basically anti-exercise. They frown on anything other than walking or gentle yoga. My experience so far is that I feel SO much better when I'm regularly sweating. So, here I am. Very impressed with all of you! Hoping to stay healthy and strong.

[Veronica]

Marina, I TOTALLY agree with Larry. You are there....And forget that Google search stuff...I speak from experience, it can drive you nuts and depress the heck out of you. Fact is, you've been training strong from what you've reported here, so I'd say you've got the reserve in the tank and the muscles that'll kick in..... What ride are you doing? I'll be sending you good vibes....

Short version of my epic search for the right wheels.....I should have my Catrike 700 in a week ! I am selling the Greenspeed and am hoping that it is true that trikes are hot commodities now. Mine is barely a year old, so I hope I can recoup a good amount of my investment... Let me tell you, staying active with MS can be an expensive undertaking.....but it's good for stories!

Have a good Memorial Day weekend everyone...

[AMFADVENTURES]

Marina, don't panic. Fact is, you are where you are by now and your finishing plan looks good. The main concern is to be well recovered by the ride date.

I know how much you hate to slow down but if worse comes to worse, you should be able to go quite a bit further just by dropping your speed/heart rate by a few percentage points.

Good luck and I think you got this one Marina.

Larry

[Marinadca]

Good to hear all the updates and I am loving all the new members.

I am having a bit of a tough time trying to figure out training for my Bike MS ride that will happen on 6/6.

I was off the bike for 5 days due to travel. On the trainer for 70 minutes yesterday. Off today due to other commitments. Likely off Sat-Sun because of travel (Husband is doing Mountains of Misery...100 miles and 21K feet of elevation, ouch!) and then less then 2 weeks before the ride.

I was thinking the Sunday before the ride to do a ride about 75% of the distance and then an easier ride 2 days before the event. But of course I have gotten into Google and I am hearing all kinds of things about training before the ride? Not taking time off like I have been for travel and all that stuff. So of course I am freaked out now.

What are all of your opinions?

[AMFADVENTURES]

Cyn, welcome, running with Wookies huh, sounds like fun, and you're right, Wookies, pay money, whatever it takes to motivate us, it's worth it.

Dave, hope to hear more about the new house, maybe even get a chance to see it one day. Congrats!

Bummer on the tendonitis Mouse, hope you're able to get back out there soon. I've been under the weather a bit myself, not good for the training that's for sure.

And speaking of weather, it's been abysmal here. Cold and rainy, too miserable to get out much. I only managed a couple of days for a total of 80 miles on the bike last week but did get the yoga, weights, core and a walk in so the week wasn't a bust. Kind of back to square one on the walking, not sure what that's all about.

At any rate, keep on going all,
Larry

[CEngel]

Wonderful training schedule on the Run Disney website at http://www.rundisney.com/.
Basically, it's 30 minutes on Tuesday & Thursday with a long day on Saturday. Depending on how I'm feeling (what I call the "weakness/ tingle factor"), I'll walk the 30 minutes at a very slow pace or do a brisk walk/slow jog combo. My long days, I do the same thing. I'm still adapting & adjusting to my life w/ MS, so don't know how much I can push my body before I go overboard. So, I've decided that I'm okay if I do a walk/brisk jog combo in Disneyland or walk only. This is part of my new attitude courtesy of MS. I'm taking it one day at a time, keeping myself motivated living one adventure at a time & living my life at positively as possible.
If anyone's gonna be at Disneyland in January, come cheer me on or better yet, come run/walk/roll with me :-) I'll be buying the MS is BS shirt & wearing that along with my Princess Leia hair buns :-)

[Mouse]

Mouse - I'd be honored to be part of your online community :-) That's the big reason why I joined, as to remind myself that I'm not alone.

Yay! *High five*

I decided to start the next chapter in my life by training for Disneyland's Star Wars Marathon weekend's 10k run in January 2016. This girl's gonna live out her fantasy of running with a Wookie & I'm taking my MS with me :-)

This is possibly the best motivation I have read on this site, yet! I didn't even know there was such a thing! Now I want to be an ewok in a running vest.


How is the running going?

[CEngel]

Mouse - I'd be honored to be part of your online community :-) That's the big reason why I joined, as to remind myself that I'm not alone.

So, when I posted my intro I never said anything about my fitness goals. I'm a recovering couch potato & a bit thrifty. So, I found that if I paid money to do a run, bike or duathalon, I'd actually train. I'm also a huge Star Wars fan, so on April 18th, the day after I was diagnosed, I decided to start the next chapter in my life by training for Disneyland's Star Wars Marathon weekend's 10k run in January 2016. This girl's gonna live out her fantasy of running with a Wookie & I'm taking my MS with me :-) Besides running with a Wookie, I plan on fundraising for my local MS society. That way, I can give back to the community that welcomed me with open arms the moment that I heard the word MS & stuck with me through the months of testing, and now has officially become my community.