As some of you may know, in 2008 I trained for my first MS 150, which here in Houston, is actually two-day 180 mile bike ride. Before training for the MS 150, I was in moderate shape, but didn’t really exercise regularly. I wanted to complete the MS 150 with a smile on my face, though, so I met up with a trainer at my local YMCA who gave me a rigorous, but mostly doable, schedule.
Here is what she suggested:
10-week training plan to prepare for 2-day MS 150 bicycle ride
Week 1: 30 mile ride, 10 mile ride, 2-3 spin classes
Week 2: 35 mile ride, 10 mile ride, 2-3 spin classes
Week 3: 35-40 mile ride, 10 mile ride, 2-3 spin classes
Week 4: 40 mile ride, 15 mile ride, 2-3 spin classes
Week 5: 45 mile ride, 15 mile ride, 2-3 spin classes
Week 6: 50 mile ride, 20 mile ride, 2-3 spin classes
Week 7: 60 mile ride, 20 mile ride, 2-3 spin classes
Week 8: 65 mile ride, 25 mile ride, 2-3 spin classes
Week 9: 65 mile ride, 25 mile ride, 2-3 spin classes
** try to ride both outside rides on consecutive days this week
Week 10: 80 mile ride, 30 mile ride, 2-3 spin classes
Taper the week of the ride.
Her schedule suggested I exercise 5 days a week, but I had other priorities battling for my time, so I typically rode outside twice and took two spin classes each week.
I also experienced some back pain, so she suggested abdominal exercises daily to strengthen my abs. I call these my anti-muffin top exercises and they take about 10 minutes to do. If you click that link you can see just how to do them yourself (and see what I looked like doing them a few summers ago.)
Following this plan, I was definitely ready for my first MS 150… and that was the year of the terrible headwind that was quite a discouragement, to say the least.
Did I finish with a smile on my face as I had hoped?
No, I didn’t.
Instead I finished with tears of joy at having achieved such an accomplishment. I was also overcome with emotion thinking of how my 180 miles of effort (plus the training) was the least I could do to help those suffering the impact of Multiple Sclerosis. I signed on to do my first ride as a personal achievement. It has now become a commitment to help as long as I can. Who knows whom I will know who will be impacted next? I already know too many. One is too many. So I will ride and I will cry and I will pray and I will train others and ask for contributions to the MS Society and prayers. It’s the least I can do.
PS I am so proud of one of our Bible in 90 Days mentors who asked me for this training plan. She is training for her first MS 150 this August. Oh how I wish I could fly in and ride it with her!
