A New Year is on the Way

So I didn't make my Century ride this year - but I have since been told by a professional trainer that with the wind as bad as it was that day I can count it as 100 miles.  Anyway 2012 is on it's way and I plan on making it the year of Randi so watch out!  Memorial weekend I will ride in the Tour de Frankenmuth again at either the 90 or 130 mile distance - I will decide later.  I am also already signed up to ride the MS Rona Grand Bend - London ride again in July, and this year I signed my hubby up as well.  We have turned a corner of our basement into a home gym and had our first workout today.  I am gonna try to work on a 'schedule' - so far I know Sundays I will be riding at 'Finish In Time' cycling studio in downtown PH - Sunday's are a 'movie ride' where we all just ride on trainers while watching a movie.  During the week I will be using the RealRides DVDs I have (101, Strength, Climbing and Race Day) as well as working upper body on Jim's new Marcy Platinum Home Gym.  I also have Just Dance 3, Biggest Loser and Wii Fit to incorporate.  I'll post the schedule I come up with  but any input is appreciated.

Wow - what a beautiful day

When I woke up this morning at 7:30 to the sounds of rain I convinced myself today would be a basement riding day.  But the rain stopped and by 10:00 I was heading out to the Macomb Orchard Trail.  My first time on this 23+ mile trail and it was great!  Of course finding parking in Richmond at the trail head was impossible due to the Richmond Good Ole Days parade so I wound up parking a few miles up trail and backtracked on the bike to make sure I got to see the whole thing.   I think I will rate it tops on my rails-trails list so far.  The nature around the trail is beautiful, the length of the trail allows for a non-repetitive ride and it has a hill!  I still like Wadhams for the convenience of it as well as the beautiful scenery, and Fort Gratiot is great for the three of us to ride together since it is such a short trail.

I went for 52 miles in 4 hours today so I think my 8-8.5 hour goal for my 100 is reasonable as long as I don't stop too long for lunch.

It's almost here part 2

Wow I just realized I have 3 more Sunday's until my Century!  I know that I will be able to handle it if I ride smart and use the rest stops for gatorade/fruit refills.  I still am in awe that I am actually going to be doing this.  I feel as though finishing this will prove to me that anything is possible.  Who would have thought that 2 years ago and 70 pounds heavier I would even be thinking of attempting this.  Time wise I am hoping to be 8-8.5 hours, but will be happy just to finish.

 I have also set my 'ride calendar' for next year and it includes the Tour de Frankenmuth (100 miles this time), the PALM (Pedal Across Lower Michigan a week long 300+miles ride), the MS Rona Ride in London Ontario and the Blue Water Ramble again (this time hoping to take 1 hr off my finish time from this year).  Also I have to race Jeremy as he says he can beat me when we take off the training wheels.

On a genealogy note I am very happy to report that the 2012 version of Family Tree Maker will be able to sync with Ancestry.com online tree which I had been really annoyed by in the past.

Now I am a true cyclist...pictures attached...not for the squeamish

So I went for a ride when Jim got home...I rode up to the Fort Gratiot trail and while circuiting came across the Chain Gang.  So I joined up with them for the ride back downtown.  It was nice to be able to ride with them and hold my own!!! I was so proud...too proud...I rode up to the front to talk to the guy in the lead and as I was dropping back my front wheel tapped his rear.  2 seconds later I was on the ground.  Jim thinks I am psycho to be proud, but my pride comes from the fact that I was able to handle it with grace and to know that I was able to ride with the gang with ease!  And for my Thursday night crew - we will still ride!

riding can be so healing

I woke up in the worst mood this morning.  I really didn't want to ride but I knew my friends from Sarnia were coming state-side for a ride...I had to go.  2 seconds into the ride I felt much better.  Jim and I both know that riding works for me that way so he knew that I would "leave it on the road".

I signed up for the Blue Water Ramble today.  It's official - I'm nuts!

Short entry today...but I want to give a shout-out to my friend Jenn who also signed up for the Ramble.  I'm proud of you and I know you can do it!

Thank you.

I made it through these last few days.  It started on Saturday morning, we woke up at 5:30 to drive to Grand Bend, Ontario for the start of the MS Society Charity ride.  We got there in time for the 7:30 start.  The team rode great and we took breaks at the rest stops in order to refuel with Gatorade, fruit and water.  We rode a total of 55 miles on Saturday and were cheered along the way by grateful Canadians.  Little girls stood on the side of the road with squirt guns asking if we wanted a squirt - YES!!!  I got to the finish line slightly ahead of my team, but as I crossed the line the people were cheering and I could feel Pops and Donna cheering me on and found myself in tears as I crossed the finish line.  There were 1852 riders and we all made it across the finish line healthy on Saturday.  After we finished we got to enjoy University of Western Ontario dinner (really good) and free massages.  There were evening ceremonies where different awards were given for biggest team, most creative team name, biggest fundraisers etc.  Then we all got to sleep in the University dorm....wow has it been a while.  Sunday morning I woke at 6 to eat breakfast and be ready for a 7:30 start again.  we didn't actually start until 8ish.  Going back to Grand Bend was a slightly different route and only 48 miles.  I made good time and got in about 11:45.  Jim and Jeremy were there at the finish cheering me on and a guy they call "High Five Mike" was there too.  He is in a wheelchair and sits just beyond the finish line to high five every rider as we cross.  It was an awesome experience.  There were hills that I thought I'd never make it up, and just as I was ready to get off and walk up the rest of the hill I felt that extra burst and knew that Pops and Donna were pushing me up that hill.

As soon as I got across the finish line we went straight to the car and had to miss more free massage and BBQ.  We were able to get across the border by 2 which allowed me enough time to get a shower and some lunch before we had to leave for the airport.  All our flights were right on-time and Jeremy was a great traveler.  We got into Jacksonville about 10:45 and then went to mom's cousin Tommy's house for the two nights we were there.  Monday we woke up and had breakfast with Tommy and Becky and Tommy's brother Steve and his wife Karen.  It was nice to see some Lee's.  We then headed over to Aunt Susan's to get ready for the service.  It was a beautiful service and I finally let myself mourn.  I'm still mourning so beware I may break down on you.  It is always great to see the family and I got to see many cousins I haven't seen in a while.  It was so nice to touch base in the physical world not just the facebook world.  Jeremy loved being able to play with all the cousins and did not want to come home.

We are home now and life is getting back to normal - at least for a few weeks.  The MS Society is always accepting donations and If you want to help support me in this ride the website for donations is

 MS Society of Canada.

1 week to go!

This time next week I will be on my way to the airport to catch a flight to FL...after completing my 150km in 2 days to raise funds for MS.  I am hoping we will have enough time so I can shower before getting to the flight...and I think everyone else on board would like it too.  I'm just worried about crossing back, since Jim let his Nexus expire we will have to wait in line.  We should be o.k.

Feeling great after today's team ride.  We went 42 miles and took our time - we made it in 3:25.

Short entry today as I need to get moving...lots of laundry to do and grocery shopping too.