Monday, May 05, 2008

Day two TMS to Ft. Worth

Hi there! Yes, I have survived another MS150! Sorry for the late posting but I slept close to 16 straight between Sunday and Monday. This ride was an exhausting one. Overall a good ride with no rain (I hate riding in the rain), but the cold and the wind made it interesting. The real problem was that when starting cold, about 50 degrees air temps, then the wind itself is moving at about 15 mph, you get wind chill, but just imagine what happens when you begin to move directly into that wind at about another 15 mph. If you know the math and can give me an idea of the temps it would be interesting to know. All I can say is that when you are riding in it, there is only one thing to be and that is COLD! I never felt as though my muscles warmed up. I kept drinking pickle juice to keep away muscle cramps, but I never really felt any warmth in my legs.

Sunday morning turned out to be windless and partly cloudy, which was wonderful. We started out again cold, but at a great pace of about 19mph. Here's a little taste of riding in the pack.


This tour has a lot of riders, a lot of bikes, and a lot of great volunteers who take time out of their weekend to make sure we are all well taken care of.

Finally, after enduring cold, wind, and hills, 150 miles from the start comes the moment of truth. This is not a competition, it is about completion. As of yesterday I have now completed 1200 tour miles in my effort to raise awareness, funds, and hope that one day soon those with MS can join us out on the open road.

If you'd like to get an idea of what the 150 miles looked like, here are links to the maps of the ride.

http://dallas.ms150.org/dallas/maps/2008/08SCDay1Route.pdf

http://dallas.ms150.org/dallas/maps/2008/08SCDay2Route.pdf

Thank you to all whom have donated. Your contributions are more valuable than you can imagine. Friday night when a woman in a wheelchair approached me, reached out and asked to shake my hand and thank me for riding, she was also thanking you for your support.

I'm now off the bike for 6-8 weeks as the muscles in my right leg repair and strengthen. I am currently registered for the MS150 Bike to the Beach coming up in October. Blogs will begin in July!

Till then, be safe, be healthy, and most of all BE HAPPY!

Scott

Saturday, May 03, 2008

Saturday's Activity


Here are some video's from day one. Had a few problems with the video camera here and there, but captured a few moments to give you a feel for the tour. Time for bed now, wakeup is at 4:30am!








Friday, May 02, 2008

This weekend is for Janice!

Keep Janice in your thoughts this weekend as I make my way across North Texas wearing this


Look at all the friends who love and care for her who have signed and sent messages. Once the weekend is over it will be cleaned and I will send it back to her. It's journey complete. He keepsake that will always remind her how much we all care.

I'll be thinking of her as I ride and of all of you who have donated to this great cause.

Photos and video to follow Saturday and Sunday night!

See you out on the road.

Scott

http://www.ms150.org/dallas/donate/donate.cfm?id=218280

Monday, April 28, 2008

With 5 Days to go, let's give it all we've got!

Hello everyone! This past weekend I successfully completed the Muenster Germanfest Metric Century (60 miles). It was a beautiful spring day, not too hot, not too windy, Janice did a great job giving us a great day to ride. This was my first time out with the bulk of the Irish team. There were about a dozen or so from the team. This was also my first real test of trying to shoot some video while riding.

I am going to attach a few files for you to look at when you get tot he bottom of the post. You can count on me to shoot more next weekend at the MS150.

So, far, we've done a pretty good job fundraising, but the MS Society can still use your help. Please do what you can. Even if you donate just a few dollars, but send the link out to 20 or so good friends, that would really help the cause. Once again, here is the link http://www.ms150.org/dallas/donate/donate.cfm?id=218280

Thank you to everyone who has donated so far.

Today I received the bandanna I will wear from Janice and all of her friends at Fox News. Once I complete the MS150, it will be washed and its journey will take it home to NYC where it will be with Janice.

On the training front, the Muenster ride was my last before the MS150. I really need to heal up a bit more before the ride. Once the MS150 is finished, I will be off the bike for 6-8 weeks as I continue to heal from my injuries. I plan to give this ride my all, as long as my all doesn't do much more damage. In about 10 weeks, I will begin to train for my next MS150. I have registered for the Bike to the Beach, but you never know which tour I might just end up at.

Here's some of the riding video from last weekend.


Monday, April 21, 2008

Less than 2 weeks to go and it’s wheels down to Ft. Worth!

Each week there is more news, but not every word will always be a bright one. Janice emailed me over the weekend to let me know she won’t be able to join us for the MS150. It is certainly not because she doesn’t want to be there, but a personal matter has come up that she needs to attend to. If I were in her shoes, I would make the same difficult decision. She will be with us in spirit over the MS150 and will remain the honorary team captain for the Texas Irish on this tour. It is not my place to delve into her private matters, I will just say that you can know that this is not an MS related occurrence in her life. All of our thoughts and prayers will be with her as she rises to another of life’s challenges.

Training in Full Gear!

I have done most of my training for this ride in my garage on a trainer and a rowing machine. Sunday I rode 31 miles and this coming weekend I will do a 60 and then a 30 the next day. This tour has been plagued with injury for me, so I have been taking it easier in the past. Rest assured my goal is the same as always, completion.

Getting to Know Janice Part 3

Here are the last few questions I had for Janice regarding her road through diagnosis.

What are you doing to treat your MS?

“I take an injection. I don’t want to give away the brand name, because I don’t think one treatment is necessarily better than the other – I’m also frustrated that these drugs cost so much money. If I did not have insurance, I would not be able to afford the drugs I am on. That is unfair. Especially for people who don’t have insurance. How can they keep the illness at bay if they can’t afford the drugs? That’s my one big beef with the drug companies. I can’t wait til they can come up with a pill. My doctor says that’s not too far off.”

Have you had to change your life plans because of your diagnosis?

“No way! Actually, that’s one thing that has made me want to pursue goals even more. MS is not going to stop me from striving and thriving. Since my diagnosis, I’ve taken classes to become a meteorologist, I’ve gotten married and hopefully we’ll be able to start a family soon too.”

Since you have gone public with your MS, how have things changed for you?

“Not much actually. At first it was a little weird after I went on television. I almost felt a little “naked” – showing such a private part of your life, but I did it for the next person who gets diagnosed and thinks their life is over. If I can be a positive person that continues to live life to the fullest, and someone who has MS sees this, then I can bring a bit of hope back into that person life. I know I needed to see people who had the illness and were doing ok despite the possible setbacks. Attitude is everything. The support has been overwhelming! Especially from complete strangers I’ve never met. (Like you Scott!!) I am humbled by it every day.”

We need to do what we can to help raise awareness and provide support for Janice and all who are diagnosed with MS. Do all you can to spread the word. Without shouting it from the tops of buildings often, the time it will take for us to bring and end to it will be longer, and for those with MS, sooner is better.

Parting Words:

We are almost to the start line for this great event. We are almost 3,500 riders strong and growing every day. My vision is clear and I can see the path ahead of me. I look forward to taking all of you along for the ride!

Please click here to make a donation to help bring an end to MS.

Thank you and I will be back next week!

Thursday, April 10, 2008

This Just In!!!! Janice Dean is coming to Texas! Spread the Word!!!!!!!

This is one I have had difficulty holding back, but now I can let it out. Janice will be here in Texas for the MS 150 in three weeks! Yes folks, it looks like we’ve started something and it continues to grow. Plans are in the works to keep Janice busy for the cause. We’re not sure all she will be doing, but here are a few hints as to what is yet to come:

Ladies and Gentlemen, Start Your Pedals!

Janice Dean the Cycling Machine?

Stepping out and Spreading the word!


Hmm, what could all of that mean? Well stay tuned as plans come together. It seems Janice is up for anything she can do to help support the cause so let’s see what kind of trouble she can get herself into while she is here.

Trivia Time!!!!

I have come to learn that this is not Janice’s first encounter with the Lone Star Chapter of the MS Society. Does anyone out there know how she has lent her support before? When? Where? (The answers next week)

Tour of Dallas

This past weekend I rode the Tour of Dallas. It was a 30 mile ride from Downtown Dallas through the city up to White Rock Lake. It certainly was a good warm up ride, especially since I was riding in summer gear in 45 degree weather. Janice, where were the 60’s or better I could have used? Here are a few photo’s. It took my friend John and I an hour and 45 minutes to complete. We could have probably cut ten minutes off if the people in front of us would have not decided to take an unplanned detour off of the route. Oh well, what’s a few extra miles any way??








Getting to Know Janice - Part 2

Last week we learned about Janice’s experience was when getting diagnosed. The long road to diagnosis and the emotional stress of learning she had MS. Now let’s learn about what Janice knew about MS and how the diagnosis has changed her life.

What did you know about MS before you were diagnosed?

“Not much. I thought I was going to end up in a wheelchair and never be able to work again. Thankfully I had a role model already right here in the workplace – Neil Cavuto who I talked to for many hours after I was diagnosed. I cried in his office while he kept handing me tissues and telling me I would be ok, and would end up being a stronger better person because of the illness.”

How has MS changed you?

“It sounds corny, but I appreciate my life so much more – my family and friends have been incredibly supportive. I used to be a crazy career person. My career literally defined me. I was always searching for the next best thing – the next best challenge. Now I just appreciate my job and am thankful I can work and have fun at what I do…but it’s in a better perspective now – and I think I’m a little more easy-going – not as uptight or stressed out. Life is precious. It can be taken away in an instant. I appreciate that more. I also try to surround myself with positive people. A wise man once told me “negative people make positive people sick.” Those are words to live by.”

Has MS caused you to make changes in your life to this point?

“I have to get my sleep. I can’t function on 4 or 5 hours of sleep at night. It takes a tremendous toll on me. That is the most important. I’m trying to eat better – no diet sodas, more whole wheat, less sugar etc. And more exercise. I don’t smoke, and when I leave work, I try not to bring it home with me (this used to be a very hard task for me). I try as hard as I can to be a happy, upbeat and positive person. “

As with any disease, you can’t avoid the change it brings upon you, but it can bring you appreciation for the life you have and the strength to not become a victim to it. As you can tell Janice has learned to roll with the punches. Of course this is never an easy thing to do, but she made the choice to bring positive change into her life when the MS was trying to bring a negative change.

Fundraising Update

Right now we are standing at about $1,00 raised so far! Thank you to all who have donated big and small! We have three weeks left and every week the reach of this message grows. At this point if everyone donated just $10 we would be well over $10,000 raised. Wouldn’t that be great! Here’s an incentive for those who would like to receive an 8by10byScott original photograph. If you donate $100 you will receive an 8X10 print of your choice.( Check out last weeks blog entry for the choices.) Once you make your donation I will contact you for your choice. If you find a way to make ten $10 donations you qualify. Find ten people to make a $10 donation and you qualify. Let’s see if we can get to that $10,000 number!

Please click here to make a donation.

Training

Training- Is there a rehab program if you become addicted to your rowing machine? If you know of one, please pass on the info. I am out of town for 5 days, but will do a lot of walking and am bringing the protein with me to keep in shape. Until next week, be happy, and please keep spreading the news!!!!

Thursday, April 03, 2008

Breaking News!!!! Janice Dean The Weather Machine’s Texas Irish CyclingTeam!

Every once in a while in my life I open my mouth and some small idea comes out. Just a small kernel of an idea. It’s just me being me, offering advice, an idea, helping someone out, etc. and then suddenly it goes POP!!!!!

6 years ago it was the RIT Big Shot Alamo, where 1500 people came together to take a once in a lifetime photograph of one of the most historic monuments in this country.



Three years later it was the MS150 Cruisin To The Coast MS150 tour from Fresno to Monterey. 100 of us rode a tour that many said could never be done. From Kerman, across the San Andreas Fault, through Hollister straight to the coast we raised money and awareness in Central California.




And now, three years after that, my desire to ride and honor Janice has POPPED! Instead of just me riding in her honor, it will be the entire Texas Irish Cycling Team. Oh wait, I am sorry, for this tour the name will become Janie Dean The Weather Machine’s Texas Irish Cycling Team! Don’t you like how it just naturally rolls off the tongue? We will ride out as a group of 50 or so members all with the cause of raising awareness and funds to help Janice and all of those currently living with MS.





Stick with us to see how this unfolds on this tour through these updates and on Janice and my blogs. There is definitely more to come!!!!!!!!!


Getting to Know Janice

What was the road to diagnosis like?

“When I look back before diagnosis, there were signs throughout my life that told me things were a little “off” in terms of moods, fatigue, fainting spells, weakness etc., but it wasn’t until the 2005 hurricane season when I was working long hours that I really had the big flare-up. I literally woke up one morning and had no feeling at the bottom of my feet and parts of my thighs. I wanted to sleep for a week. I was in Canada visiting family, and went to a doctor there who told me straight up “you could have something as simple as a slipped disk, or you could have something as serious as MS – you need to get an MRI done. So, I had MRIs done when we got back to the U.S. which showed I had lesions on both my brain and spine. The doctor also performed a Spinal Tap to which I also showed the proteins that indicate the breakdown products of myelin. I was in denial for awhile, and went to 3 different doctors to confirm the diagnosis. I had a second flare up 2 years later which confirmed the diagnosis.”

How did you take the news that you had MS? How did your husband take it?

“I took the news horribly. I thought my life was over. I cried for days and could not believe it – until I educated myself a little more and found the right doctor to help sort through the clutter of information I was bombarding myself with over the internet. The internet is a great resource, but it can also freak you out. I told my workplace right away, and thankfully they were very supportive, and told me to take as much time as I needed off work, and that my job would still be there when I was ready to come back. Thankfully I got all the feeling in my feet back after steroid treatments, and went back to work a few weeks later.

Thank God for my husband. He was obviously worried about me, but stuck by me, and supported me through the diagnosis and still through the ongoing treatments. The best thing he ever said to me was “I am not afraid of this disease – we fight it together.” It was almost as good as “will you marry me?””

As you can see finding out you actually do have MS is a long process that does not come easy. Take a moment and put yourself in Janice’s shoes and just imagine what it must be like to hear “You have Multiple Sclerosis”. Next week we will learn how the diagnosis has impacted her life.

Fundraising Update

Right now we are standing at about $900 raised so far! Thank you to all who have donated big and small! We have four weeks left and every week the reach of this message grows. At this point if everyone donated just $10 we would be well over $10,000 raised. Wouldn’t that be great! Here’s an incentive for those who would like to receive an 8by10byScott original photograph. If you donate $100 you will receive an 8X10 print of your choice. Once you make your donation I will contact you for your choice. If you find a way to make ten $10 donations you qualify. Find ten people to make a $10 donation and you qualify. Let’s see if we can get to that $10,000 number! Please make your donation here


The Photos are:

View of a Moo


Butterfly Light


Texas River


Yosemite



Oh yea, training! This week was spent with some hard rehab time on both my bike and rower. This week I will ride the Tour of Dallas, a non-competitive tour around downtown Dallas and City side roads. Photos and a report next week. Until then, be healthy and Happy!

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