MS 150 bike ride

It was an awesome two days.  Riding through sun, humidity, wind, more wind, rain, more rain and finishing in the sunshine.

On Saturday I started the day at 4:00 - up, grabbed a granola bar and coffee and headed to the Alliant energy center to hop on the bus and depart at 5:30 for Pewaukee (the start of the race).

Here are a couple of photo's of team mates at the start.

There are approximately 2000 bikers and volunteers - so it was crowded at the start.  They send out the riders in approximately 200 biker waves.  It was pretty intense for the first 10 -15 miles because there were so many bikers on the road.  We saw one accident - all it took, was for someone to be following a little too close and a slight shift and . . . . crash.  

Once we hit the first rest stop the bikers spread out - but there were always people near by - chatting and offering support.  The ride is fully supported - there are rest stops every ~15 miles with food and drink, medical support and bike repair people.  There are also SAG trucks covering the course - so if you do get a flat or have bike problems . . . or simply have reached your limit - you can wave them down and get a ride to the next rest stop.  The temperatures were pretty nice on Saturday - but it was windy - 15-17 miles per hour.  I was salty when I got done.  I left Pewaukee at 7:50 and got to Whitewater . . . 75 miles later right around 3:00.  Checked into the dorm - showered and then gathered at our tent . . . ate, drank some beer, played some cards and chatted.  Headed to bed at 9:00 - back up at 5:45.

Here are the girls - right after lunch.  

This morning we got up and packed up - ate breakfast and got on the road by 7:30.  It was raining / REALLY raining!!!! And although I thought it was windy on Saturday - after experiencing the wind today - Saturday was just a little breezy.  Today the wind was up to 29 miles per hour with wind gusts of 33!!!!.  Since the ride travels East to West - you are almost always biking with the wind in your face.  Oh and did I mention it was pouring.  .  .  .  POURING and BLOWING!!!!

We stopped for lunch at 11:30 and decided that we would do the shortened route.  We did a slightly shorter route - due to the weather they actually were discouraging people from the 75 mile course - instead we did 68.  Once we got back on the road after lunch and about 10 miles - the rain stopped and the sun started to come out.  Hallelujah!!!  We cruised into Madison at 1:30.

Two days - 143 miles - overall the ride raised $1,500,000 for MS research.  Amazing.  Our team raised over $20,000.  Being diagnosed with breast cancer 6 years ago - I realize that there are a lot of diseases - cancer isn't the only thing that changes your life when you hear those awful words - You have MS.  

I am planning on doing it next year.

Now on to the Mini marathon - August 21st - 13 days away.  I need to get two more long runs in.  But I think tomorrow is a rest day.

Peace