Progress...

Hello Dear Friend,

Thanks for coming along on my ride and for your moral
support.

You wonder why in the hell am I doing this...
Because I have MS. I was diagnosed 19 years ago.
I have been extremely lucky in the form it has taken
so far, but what turned out to be a mild exacerbation
in March, gave me a terriffic scare and got me to look
at where I've been and where I'm going.

In addition, I have watched a friend with ALS(Lou
Gherig's Disease) rise to challenges equivalent to
climbing mountains and he does it daily. He is,
unintentionally, an inspiration to me and to anyone
else who sees what he does with the challenges he
faces. Watching him convicts me of mediocrity in so
many areas. And it's true. I have no excuse to not
be my best.

So, I took those factors, mixed them up, turned them
over, picked and pulled them apart in my brain. Now,
I have finally made my decisions as to where my
energies(for as long as I have them) will be spent.

This week, we're vacationing in a rental house in LBI
with the extended family of 10 adults and 6 kids.
Constant motion and lots of fun.

I'm also here training for the MS 100, a two day bike
ride in Morris County that will cover more than 100
miles in two days. The ride is a fundraiser for MS
research and support.

At home, I got up to 17.2 miles riding around the
lake. The hills were a b*&^% but the rides down are
fantastic. Big accomplishment, but it's quite a bit
shy of 53 miles, the first day's course for the MS
ride.

Here at the shore... Sunday, I rode the entire length
of the island, 18
miles from the park to the lighthouse. Then I turned
around and rode the entire length back. Coming home,
I was heading into the wind and it sure felt like it
was uphill too. It was tough, but I did it. total:
36 miles!

Yesterday, it was hot and humid, I needed a smaller
ride.
After a bit it was cooler so I kept on going(must have
been the wind on my back). There was a glorious and
much appreciated rain shower in the last few miles
before the lighthouse. 18 miles. The wind was even
worse on the way back and relentless too, but I
did it again. 36 miles a day, two days back to back.
Four hour workouts each day- amazing that my body can
pedal 4 hours straight(no real hills, no coasting).

My legs are tired, my butt is not one bit happy about
the whole deal, but I made it. Today, I expect to
do less.

Carpal tunnel syndrome reared it's ugly head
yesterday.
My fingers were numb. I couldn't zip my bike pouch,
had trouble opening my water, my fingers were so weak
I could barely shift bike gears. At the house, dinner
was a challenge as I had little hand strength to cut
my meat. The kids wanted me to do some songs for
them, but My fingers would not cooperate. The
mandolin was a real challenge even to hold. Later,
turning the key in the car and even unbuckling my
seatbelt was almost impossible,but
it's starting to ease up now.

I'll have to make some major reassessments to
positioning my hands and may even need to fit the bike
with some kind of adaptaton to keep it from happening
again. I can't afford to loose my hands to win a
challenge- even a self-challenge.

I am doing this ride for me. Symbolically, for my
ALS friend and the MS patients that can't, but
ultimately, it is for me.

If for any reason I am unable to complete this
challenge, it does not take away from what I have
done so far. To date, I have run my own personal
marathon. I have gone beyond all expectations and in
a week of training have achieved 72miles in 2 days.

It ain't over yet, let's see what tomorrow brings.

Cheering section, I need you now!

Sandie

PS I sent this note to friends who expressed an
interest and friends who I thought would be interested
'cause they support me in so many other ways. Please
let me know if you don't want me to send my progress
reports. It's okay to forward this to friends.