MSers In Training 2011

[AMFADVENTURES]

I live in Longmont and ride mostly on bike trails in the evenings but am brancing out to Hygiene, Niwot and Gunbarrel areas. (being fairly new to riding, riding amongst cars has been scary).

Joey, I put a few miles in on the Niwot to Hygiene road last year but not this year yet. That is a fabulous area for riding.

Yeah, bike friendly roads help but riding with the cars and particularly the trucks, is still a good exercise in concentration for an MSer.

Banshee, congrats on your 2nd 150, I bet that does feel good.

Stay safe, look forward to getting a few rides in before the 150.

Larry

[banshee]

Roo - I did the MS150 in Dallas last year, and again this year (2nd day got rained out). It is one of the best things that I've done since I was diagnosed. You'll have a lot of fun. I'd also suggest you join a team or start one up. Makes the experience even better.

[Roo]

Joey, welcome to the ride. This will be my 5th year to do the MS 150 in Colorado. It's my #1 ride and I hope to do it for many many more years. I really think you will absolutely love it. Drop me a line if you'd like to go riding sometime, I do most of my riding in a triangle defined by Lookout Mtn., Chatfield res., and Cherry Cr. res. but I'm not allergic to traveling further. Regardless, I trust our paths will cross eventually. Glad you're here!

Speaking of crossing paths, any chance of enticing you down to Ft. Collins for a beer Sue? I'm planning to be in Ft. Collins on the afternoon of June 25th and would love to see you again.

Larry

Hi Larry!! So nice to "meet" you. I live in Longmont and ride mostly on bike trails in the evenings but am brancing out to Hygiene, Niwot and Gunbarrel areas. (being fairly new to riding, riding amongst cars has been scary). I would LOVE to get together and ride sometime. I always appreciate the company. I could definitely travel to meet you as well.

I have heard the MS150 is a great ride and a life changing experience...I'm really looking forward to it. Hopefully, this year will be the first of many.

[Roo]

Hey Joey, is the 50 mile/3 day walk you did the Wild West MS Walkabout in Fort Collins? I ride bike support for that walk every year. Welcome! S

Hi Sue, Yep!! That's the one. I'm so sad they're not doing it this year (such a fun event!!). I've probably seen you on the walk...there aren't that many support riders. I did meet someone last year that was on her bike and had MS, her neurogolist was the same as mine...so we chatted about it (I don't remember her name) but her doctor was Dr. Miller...I'm wondering if that was you.

[AMFADVENTURES]

Joey, welcome to the ride. This will be my 5th year to do the MS 150 in Colorado. It's my #1 ride and I hope to do it for many many more years. I really think you will absolutely love it. Drop me a line if you'd like to go riding sometime, I do most of my riding in a triangle defined by Lookout Mtn., Chatfield res., and Cherry Cr. res. but I'm not allergic to traveling further. Regardless, I trust our paths will cross eventually. Glad you're here!

Speaking of crossing paths, any chance of enticing you down to Ft. Collins for a beer Sue? I'm planning to be in Ft. Collins on the afternoon of June 25th and would love to see you again.

Larry

[Roo]

Doing the MS150 in Colorado

Hi Everyone,

I'm so happy I found this thread, it's nice to know that other MS'ers are as active as I am (or want to be ) and are training for endurance events. I'm doing the MS150 in June June 25th and 26th) and am actively training (well as much as the CO weather allows right now, grrrr). My pace isn't so great (trying to work on that) at 12 to 13 MPH. I have been riding about 15 miles 4 times a week and longer 25 mile rides on the weekends, tomorrow I'm riding my longer ride at 42 miles. Yikes!!

In the past I've done the endurance walks (50 miles in 3 days) but never the MS150, it's always been a dream to complete it...so this year I took the leap!

I am completely new to road biking, but LOVE it.

Anyway, thought I'd introduce myself, say hi and join in on the conversations.

Thanks!!
Joey

[AMFADVENTURES]

5/14/2011

Got a little over 140 miles in 10.5 hours this week and it included about 6,000 ft. of ascent. Did a short climb yesterday, 9 miles, 2280 ft., in 1:10 and felt great. That was also the best time I’ve turned in yet on that climb. The climbing legs could be just over the next hill.

Ouch on the saddle problems Pell, a rest week with a few short easy rides is OK but don’t take too much time off, your rides are too close! And don’t get sick.

Same goes for you Marina, your ride is getting close, stay healthy.

Later,

[pawpaw]

Larry- good point about getting the SAG phone #- I had a close relationship with one SAG driver by the end of the MS ride. I never needed her but she kept my cooling vest for me.
For the past 2 days I haven't felt great and had some other commitments, so I haven't been on the bike. My sister is coming for the weekend, so no riding then. I hope to get out tonight for an hour and tomorrow morning for a few hours. If we can get to 60 miles in the next few weeks, I feel we can do the century. We are both struggling with our saddles on the tandem. We have to solve that before much more riding.

Pell

[AMFADVENTURES]

Marina, you're doing super. Assuming you've got a pretty good base built up, it should be OK for you to push yourself a bit. If you can get your long ride up to 40 or 45 miles, Pell's right, you should be able to finish the 60 on the day of the event. You can always make a plan B, get a couple of cell numbers for the SAG wagons. That's a good thing to do for an MSer anyway, there are always a few variables on these rides that can influence your performance. It's part of what makes it so much fun. Just remember that you'll want to take it pretty easy the 6 or 7 days before the event.

Pell, looks like you're just about on target. Hope you get some good weather there so you can get your long rides in. Also, I'll be interested in your elapsed time on the century. I only wish I could hold 8 mph on the hills!

We did 55 miles on Saturday, what a stuff up that was. A road closure forced us onto a bike trail, but only after quite a few wrong turns. Bike trails on Saturday aren't any place to get a workout. They're pretty much wall to wall walkers, joggers, dogs on long leashes and moms with baby strollers. It got hot and ended up taking over 6 hours. Grueling at best. I did another 55 mile ride yesterday in under 4 hours elapsed time and it included a lot of short hills. I was pretty beat up last night but I'm feeling good today.

Enjoy your rides,

[pawpaw]

Marina- It sounds like you are doing great. We all slow down to 8mph on hills. What is your 60 mile ride? Is it a supported ride with rest stops? If you will be taking several stops, you can manage a much longer ride than you have previously done. You will be able to do 60 in a few weeks. Increase to 30 or 35 this week but don't push the pace. Slow is perfectly fine. You just need time in the saddle, not speed.
We are continuing to love the tandem and are having fun going so fast. Tonight we did a 28 mile ride at 19.5mph! 20 miles into the ride we were at 20.1mph. We are hoping to do a 100 mile ride in 3 weeks. We managed 42 miles on Saturday but we were hurting.
Pell

[Marinadca]

Sounds like you all are doing so well! One day I hope to be up there too

On Saturday we did our longest ride yet - 25 miles. My speed was all over the place, climbing slows me to down to 8mph, embarassing, but on a flat stretch I was able to maintain 18-20 mph, generally I was in the 15 Mph range though.

I did get the HRM and am fascinated by it. On the indoor trainers I am usually at 125-135 and on the road I am in the 150 range. Not sure if this is good or bad, I am mostly in the observational phase at this point.

As far as training plan, we've been doing 1 hour on the indoor trainers each week and trying to increase the mileage on a long weekend ride. 5 hours on the bike total this week for a total mileage of about 80 miles.

I am panicking about not being able to do 60 miles on the 11th of June, but I guess I will just see where it goes.

Since we managed the 25 miles on Saturday I wonder what to do this weekend - 30 or 35? I don't want to push too hard and end up frustrated, but with only 4 weekends before the ride, I am not sure what is best. I have an option to drop down to 30 miles, but I am sort of loathe to do it, I am definitely hard on myself in general.

Marina-

[Stella]

Hi Pell,

Well done on your bike rides! Keep up the excellent work! I also made it to the gym and am so glad I did. I almost didn't go as there was a torrent of rain just before I left but good thing it stopped and I feel all the more better for the workout. I was born and raised in California, Pell.

Stella

[pawpaw]

Good couple of days on the bike. Yesterday I felt very strong for the 33 mile ride on the single bike. Today we rode the tandem for 42 miles (shortened due to rain) and felt strong again.
The single leg presses I have been doing at the gym have really helped the imbalance I had in my hips. I still need to make some tweaks to the tandem fit, but overall it is fun to ride.
We want to ride the century in a few weeks, so we really need longer rides soon. We were pretty tired today, (long nap) so not clear we will make the century. My sister is coming next weekend so we won't ride all weekend.
I am still having the lower heart rate but it seems that I can push pretty hard. I am probably just adapting or accepting the way things are.
Stella- are you from the US or Scotland?
Pell

[Stella]

I am absolutely gobsmacked reading the amount of excercise you guys do (Larry, Pell, Dave, etc.). Absolutely incredible and a big well done! I am really inspired! And my main aim is to be up there with you guys someday in regard to endurance, strength and physical activity!

I have gathered that about the stress already Larry, lately, I have been even more stressed than usual these days and in turn, I have noticed trouble with my vision, back ache, I will definitely get my butt out there and just do it as Nike says! That is the main motto I used to keep in the back of my mind when I was more consistent with the gym. But you are right Pell, once you finish your workout, you feel so much better for it.

Pell, I thought that is what DH meant, but I didn't want to assume! I can understand though on certain days the darling husband can become that darn husband, lol

Enjoy your day you all and happy riding!

Stella

[pawpaw]

DH= darling husband or some variation of that depending upon the day.
Get to the gym- I found I have to push some days when I don't feel like it. I use the rule that I have to try but after 15 minutes at the gym, if I don't feel like continuing, I can quit. Usually, I continue and feel better after exercise than I did before.

Pell