I must ride!!

All last week I complained about my lower back pain. I have been training for Bike MS: Cape Cod Getaway, and the week preceding last week, being anxious to get miles in, I trained on Martha's Vineyard hitting some serious climbs in Chilmark and Aquinnah. I felt awesome when I made it to the edge of  the island. I truly felt bad ass because I came in as fast as I could right up the last hill before a team of appropriately dressed cyclist ladies in all the fanciest gear. Something about my elevated breathing combined with salt air off of Vineyard Sound and the Atlantic Ocean cast a momentary euphoric rush to my soul! That feeling trumped any back tightness that may have kicked in.

 I was anxious to get out there to test my ability and I over did it. I had planned on getting my bike tuned before a long ride like that. I also wanted to get the right clothing. I didn't have the time to do either.  I was on MV visiting family anyways on a gorgeous Mother's Day weekend so I had to go for it, as is.

 

MS Ride: Cape Cod Getaway will be my longest bike ride ever.  While I have been excited for the 150 mile challenge, which starts in South Boston and ends in beautiful Provincetown, the recent back injury has made me worry about whether or not I can physically do it.

I finally got in for a massage on Sunday. I am not one to just go get a massage, or a manicure or a pedicure. Even when I get gift cards for these services, it's almost a chore to get in there. I hate sitting still! 

The elite athletes in my life (I am lucky to have them as role models!) have told me how much getting a massage will increase my performance, endurance and help me work through the muscle tension I chronically have while training for an event like this.

I knew of a convenient place about 10 minutes away from me with Sunday hours so I went for it. I was greeted by a very helpful lady, who asked me to fill out some new customer forms.  I asked her about becoming a member, since there was a better price for members. We got to talking and it turns out that she has MS. She works there in part for the free massage benefits and also because, as a former hairdresser, she loves working with people. She pointed out her fancy walker with a Louis Vuitton bag attached to it. She was upbeat and awesome.

She told me she was eager to get back to her craft, which we all know requires a lot of standing.. She was diagnosed with MS in the 90s and I estimated her to be only a few years older than me. 
Holy crap. So I know about MS and think it's an awful disease but I don't know anyone who has it. To be perfectly honest, I wanted to do the MS Ride because the mileage and views of picturesque South Shore and Cape Cod, Massachusetts. It didn't really matter what charity I was riding for. I love cycling and love the coastal region of my home state.

She thanked me for doing it. How do you respond to that? Say I can't, I am too out of shape? Give up?


Heck no. I swallowed that self pity right as I stood in the spa entryway. 

She then introduced me to my massage therapist for the hour. She was also highly personable and funny. The upbeat Ms. Vuiton explained to the therapist why I had come, and the therapist gleefully announced that she actually does massages at the Buzzards Bay finish line at the end of the first 75 miles on Day 1 of the MS Ride.

What?!

While she worked on me, she talked to me about what an empowering event it is for everyone. She said that all kinds of people do the ride, from people who are riding for a personal friend or family member affected by MS to people who are elite cyclists to everyday folks like me, just trying to reach a fitness milestone. Regardless of the reason people sign up, everyone is raising money to help end the debilitating disease. 

After the week's worth of constant pain in my back, doubt had began to creep it's way into my head.  The little doubt demon in my head was saying "Maybe I am not strong enough after all." and "No one has joined my team, I don't want to do it by myself."
These wonderful ladies unknowingly squashed these doubts right out of my head like the vile creatures they are. My competitive side was making it like it's a race. Well, it's not. It is a well organized event that ignites community passion and lasting friendships --- all while bringing in money for research to help people, like the lovely lady I met, live the lives they were living before the disease.

On my way out, Ms. Vuitton thanked me again and said "Now you know one of the people you are riding for, good luck on your ride!"

Meeting these ladies on Sunday made me feel so blessed. There is no doubt in my mind now. I may have muscle pain, but really, It will be there whether I sit on a bus or ride 150 miles. It is nothing that I can't handle, as long as I take care of myself and be smart about the pain. My pain is nothing compared to the pain people who live with MS encounter every day.

I must do this and I know that I can! I am training this weekend and I can't wait for the Ride on 6/28! 

Interested in helping end MS? Join my team or make a donation