It's almost here.

I only have one more Sunday ride until my MS ride.  Today I went out to the Wadhams trail with my new camelbak. Mine isn't pink but I picked it up at a garage sale for $1.  Can't beat that.  Made it about 18 miles with that, then did another 12 more with my water bottle.  I'm really trying to make sure I stay hydrated.  So if you can add you see that I rode 30 miles total.  Good for you.  I wound up turning around earlier than I wanted but I was getting really low on water.  I wasn't smart in waiting until the hottest part of the day either.  It was 90 when I got there and 90 when I left.  Next Sunday I'll be riding with the team again and I will get out Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

My ride is to benefit the MS Society of Canada whose stated objective is:  to be a leader in finding a cure for multiple sclerosis and enabling people affected by MS to enhance their quality of life.  There are 22 different rides throughout Canada and they are expecting over 10,000 riders in all.  The ride I am doing is a 2-day 150km (93 miles) from Grand Bend Ontario to London Ontario on day one and back to Grand Bend on day 2.  They are expecting 2000 riders. 

On a personal level, I started cycling in June 2010 and could barely make 5 miles.  By October I completed my first 30 mile ride.  A friend of mine from Sarnia, Ontario, started a facebook group called 'My Goals for 2011'.  I joined his group and found a posting on the board about this fundraising ride.  I knew it would be difficult, but when I saw that it was for MS research I had to participate.  In 2008 I lost my Aunt Donna who had been suffering with MS since 1995.  I knew that this was something I could do for her.  I signed up and sent out my first fundraising requests.  My grandpa, Edward Rountree, was one of the first to donate - expressing his sincere appreciation that I could remember his youngest daughter this way.  I am now riding also to honor the memory of the world's best grandfather.  He always made me feel like I could accomplish anything...and knowing he and Donna are watching me, I know I'll be able to overcome this challenge and help many others worldwide who are suffering with this disease.

I have been honored by my family in their support of my ride for MS.  The family has asked that in lieu of flowers for my Pops that people send donations:

If you want to help support me in this ride the website for donations is

 MS Society of Canada.

I miss my grandpa.

This week had highs and lows. I had a great ride with the MS team on the 3rd. We rode 27 miles; 13.5 to Sombra Ontario for dinner and then 13.5 back. It was nice to ride with everyone. It got me really excited for the big ride. Then on the 4th, it couldn't have been a better 4th of July. A lazy morning watching the Tour de France with the stage won by an American; ate red, white & blue pancakes; went swimming at Sanborn pool; cooked out burgers and corn; rode to the beach and then had flag cake and to end the day...sparklers.  July 5th saw a return to normalcy, Jeremy to swim class and an evening ride for me.  

Wednesday morning I woke up to my phone ringing...it's never good news when your phone rings that early.  It was the phone call telling me that my wonderful Grandfather passed away.  Edward Archibald Rountree 1926-2011.  A great life.  Throughout my training and fundraising for my MS Society ride I have been raising funds in memory of my Aunt Donna and now I am also riding in order to honor my grandfather.  I will be leaving directly from finishing the ride on the 24th to catch a flight to Florida for his services.  It will be a tough weekend but it is the least I can do to honor them both.

If you want to help support me in this ride the website for donations is

 MS Society of Canada.

I'm a ChainGanger!

I went for my first ride with the ChainGang today.  38 miles in just under 3 hours.  We rode down to St Clair and stopped for coffee/smoothies at Sue's Coffee House and then pedaled our way back to the mall.  I was afraid I would drag them down and I did.  I had 3 of them stay back with me - they are all very nice people.  They do these rides many times a week and it really didn't seem to challenge any of them the way it did me.  But I am still so proud that I am able to accomplish this.

There is still time to make a pledge in support of my ride to raise money for the MS Society.

If you want to help support me in this ride the website for donations is

 MS Society of Canada.

We love and miss you Aunt Donna.

MS Team Ride

Had my first ride with a group today.  I went over to Sarnia and rode with people from my MS RONA Charity ride.  We rode a nice laid back 24 miles.  My official 'ActiveTrainer.com' training sessions start on Tuesday so I will really be spinning hard.  It was real fun last Tuesday to go see my teammates whom I hadn't seen in a year and a half, and to ride with them again today was great.


For those of you who may have missed my FB post, in July I will be riding in a 2day, 150km (that 93 miles) charity ride to raise money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada.  (Yeah yeah I know I'm an American...but MS knows no borders).  I was so excited when I learned about this ride because it is something I can do in memory and honor of my Aunt Donna.  Donna was one of the sweetest people I know and was stricken with MS.  She passed away in 2008.  I thank everyone for your support as I strive towards this goal.  I have been blessed with many caring friends and family that support me however they can...most of all my husband who lets me go and ride for hours at a time and then is there with my glass of chocolate milk when I come back.


If you want to help support me in this ride the website for donations is

 MS Society of Canada.

We love and miss you Aunt Donna.

Can't beat today's weather.

I decided against riding with the Chain Gang this morning as I am still scared that I will slow them down too much, so I'm gonna work hard this week and maybe next Sunday meet up with the gang.  I went out to the Wadhams to Avoca Trail which is a normal spot for me, but usually I only ride on the paved part.  Today I decided to push on through the gravel.  20 miles total with 14 being in gravel.  Since I had never ridden out past the pavement I wasn't sure what to expect....low and behold there is a beautiful Trestle Bridge.  There are pics on FB.  When I got home we just did regular stuff but told the boys about the bridge.  So we all went out as a family.  I spoke with a League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructor on Saturday...turns out he lives 2 miles from my library.  He tells me I am ready...If I can do 40 then I can handle my 2 day and my century.  It's just a matter of being able to sit on the bike for that long.  I asked him how long should I expect for the century and he said 8 hours would be a good time.   I am feeling very encouraged.  I can't wait to meet the rest of my MS 2-day team on Tuesday.

I Did It!

What a perfect weekend capped off by a great feeling of accomplishment!  When I originally signed up to ride the Tour de Frankenmuth Grand Fondo, I was just hoping to survive.  I was encouraged by the fact that it was an out and back ride so therefore if I needed to turn around before my mark I could.  I signed up for the minimum of 40 miles and my longest ride to date had been 30 back in October.  My nerves were running high.  I also saw that on Saturday they were having a kids race and Jeremy wanted to participate so we got up in the morning and got moving to make it there by 10.  As soon as we got to town we noticed a ton of stuff happening.  Of course they were holding the bike races so we joined up with the race crowd, got Jeremy signed in and waited for his race.  He competed in the 4-6 year old category.  There were 3 older girls (6ish) riding with out training wheels and 3 littler ones riding with training wheels.  Jeremy was fastest amongst the children with training wheels.  Of course every kids got a prize and he is soooo proud of his stuffed chicken (it's a Frankenmuth thing).  After his race we went for lunch and then drove over to the Bavarian Inn to check in.  After we checked in we went to the pools for a while...it was fun to just have a day of playing in the pool for the 3 of us.  When we were done there we walked over to RiverPlace to get fudge...low and behold they were having the Dog Bowl.  There were more dogs there than I had ever seen in one place.  They had competitions for Dock  Jumping, Frisbee Routines, Agility, Sheep Herding and other smaller races.  We got to pet one of the biggest dogs I have ever seen as well as one of the smallest.  After that we made our way back to the hotel to play arcade games and mini golf.  When we finished golf we ate dinner and then made our way outside to watch a Hot Air Balloon Glow.  Turns out that there was a Hot Air Balloon race in town too.  For the glow there were two balloons inflated and the rest of the baskets were blowing their flames, definitely one of the neatest things to see.  Finally it was time to turn in for the night.  We got back to the room and crashed hard!  I was a nervous wreck so I didn't sleep well, but I did sleep enough.  I woke at 6:30 so I could eat breakfast by 7, left the room at 7:30 for an 8:00 start time.  Like I said earlier I wasn't really expecting to make all 40 miles and if I did I just wanted to keep it under 3.5 hours.  I was extra freaked out that a) this was my first time back on the roads after Brad's accident and b) there was a categorized climb which means - steep for at least a km.  The good thing was the cat 5 climb was at the beginning (6 miles in) and that would mean going down it on the way back.  After the climb it was very flat, i decided to push it to the 20 miles and then turn around for my full 40.  The final 6 miles were the hardest because Frankenmuth is much more hilly than Port Huron.  But I did it  - all 40 miles and in 3 hours 10 minutes...well under my goal of 3:30.  After I finished I met up with the boys to load up the bike and head on home.  We got here and I finally got a shower!  Then Jim's family came up from OH and we went down to the Feast de St Clair festival.  All-in-all probably the busiest weekend I can remember but also the most enjoyable.  I am so happy I did it and hope to be able to make it an annual event.

Thanks for reading all this...just had to share.  For photos check out my FB page after Monday.

A Good Weekend

As I mentioned before I planned on riding on Friday, which I did...and the weather held out!   But I think I found my break point...I had done the Biggest Loser workout on the wii on Thursday night and then spent all day Friday walking the zoo with Jeremy and then I rode for 2 hrs. and got in 25 miles and boy that was enough...I needed Saturday to recuperate.  Saturday was perfect weather - of course since I had to work but Saturday Night was great fun.  The 3 of us with some friends went to watch the Blue Water Derby Girls.  A friend of mine from work is on the team and we've been to all their home bouts.  It is so much fun!  Not at all what I remember growing up - this is real sport and these women are tough!  Sunday morning we took it easy and then our friends from Sarnia came for a visit...it's has been too long since we got together last.  After they left I loaded up the bike and headed back to the trail.  I put in another 2 hours and 25 miles.  It's amazing how good I feel when I'm done.  Jim was telling me a story last night about the drummer for the band Rush and how he had some tragedies in his life and he just got on his motorcycle and left...I don't remember how long he was gone but it wasn't just days - it was months or years even.  When he came back he explained that we humans are soothed by motion - take for example babies and how they fall asleep in cars.  He was soothing himself by riding all across the continent.  I too find all my worries fade away when I'm on the bike.  Just something to ponder...get moving people!