New Fundraising Goal

At the Bike MS High Rollers group ride. Golden Colorado.

Oh, the long days of summer! There's nothing like 80 degree Colorado days to put me in a good mood. I'm feeling better, finally have some energy and don't feel totally wiped out. Last Saturday I thought I recovered from my intestinal virus and went on the group bike ride. As the ride went along, I realized the feeling better was mostly in my mind, and my body didn't agree with my optimistic outlook. About 15 miles into the ride, after the nice hills at Garden of the Gods, my legs felt like butter, my lungs were gasping for air, and I did not have the strength to ride up one more bloody hill! I sent Steve and the group on their way and took the short cut home. Yes, I was able to eat real food, but I hadn't gotten my strength and stamina back enough to do a 35 miles bike ride.

As the week went on, I felt much better. I've modified my training plan so that it is in line with my plan of recognizing my limits. I’m riding less and not stressing about it when I do. I am biking and running slower and having more fun doing it. Yesterday, I drove to Golden and did a training ride organized by the MS Society for the 2008 High Rollers. High Rollers are people who raised at least $2000 last year. It was a stunning Colorado day; the kind we Coloradans brag about. We have had so much rain that everything is brilliant green, the wildflowers are blooming and the mountains are still topped with snow. I left home at 6 AM and took highway 85 through Sedalia to Golden. It was so nice to cruise along the Front Range, radio blaring, sing out of tune at the top of my lungs, and have the Colorado Rocky Mountains staring at me. The group bike ride was a beautiful 40 mile ride around Golden – up lots of hills which always make me question why I’m doing this, until I get to the top and get to cruise downhill (at a safe speed of course), and hearing Steve's voice yelling at me to "quite riding my brakes!".

I am making progress on my recovery plan as well. I’m saying no more and not feeling guilty. And I am enjoying the things I say yes to much more. My recovery plan involves recognizing my limits and my limits this year don’t include meeting my original goal of raising $10,000 for the Bike MS ride. I will do it someday, but not this year. I decided to drop my big fundraising event – the Swim Bark Run triathlon for dogs and their people. I am still in love with the idea, but decided not to take it on this year. Having cancelled that event, I’ve reset my fundraising goal to $2500 for this year. I’m at $1100 so far, and I hope you will help me get to new goal of $2500. Every dollar I raise brings us that much closer to our kids never having to hear the words "you have MS".