What's your snake pit?

Today I received a team cycling jersey from a pharmaceutical company.

 and I was remembering the day I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (2/18/00 incase you were wondering).  I specifically remember that I need to chose a medication to help halt my Multiple Sclerosis.  Now normally that wouldn't be an issue if oral medication were an option.  Lucky me; ok not so lucky me;  the only options we're 3 medications that could only be taken were by injection.  The options at the time were referred to as the ABC drugs. Here they are.

1) Avonex  - Injection once per week.  Giant 3 inch needle that you need to put all the way in your thigh. OUCH!

2) Betaseron  - Injection every other day.  Same needle and location as above EEEK!

3) Copaxone - Injection every day.  Small, thin 1/2 needle taken just under the skin.  

Even though my biggest fear is needles I chose Copaxone.  While there is a good portion of the world that has no issue with needles, I am not part of that world.  For me needles are my biggest phobia.  I have forever been nicely criticized for this fear.  I mean if you are taking a medication that is supposed to and does help you live with an unpredictable disease you get over it....right! Hmmmmmmm well lets think.  For some their biggest phobia may be heights, fire, spiders or even snakes. Think about your biggest phobia, in fact lets pretend you are deathly afraid of snakes.  Now imagine  being thrown into a snake pit every day.  No worries, if you do this everyday your healthy will hopefully improve.  I'm guessing you would not easily get over it, or even at all.   That is what people living with MS have to deal with.  

So I am not writing ting this to complain because I don't.  In fact I feel that there are worse things in the world than living with Multiple Sclerosis.  If I get to open my eyes everyday I feel blessed and cherish the day.  I write this only because there are many people living with MS like me that have to deal with this.

I have been very fortunate to take control of my life and accomplish many things that even people not living with Multiple Sclerosis have a difficult time doing.  I may be able to think if at least one thing.........Triathlons!  I love that I am able to call my self a Triathlete. I feel blessed that I can even train for such an endeavor.

So everyday for over 10 years i have been taking Copaxone... I have been jumping into my pit of snakes everyday.  It is the toughest thing I have to do everyday, but do it because I know it helps.   All of this being said I must ask you what your phobias are? What are you scared of? What is your Snake Pit?

Rethinking your fuel. PROBAR & GU work like magic!

So I think I have said it s few time already, but I am new to this whole endurance sport thing.  I learned really quick the hard way that in order to endure you need to have some fuel to burn.  Sounds like common sense but I just never thought about it until i was on my first group ride with a great team of cyclist.  They motivated me to join the and like everything in my life I tried it.  I was able to hang for about 1 1/2 - 2 hours at a pace that is much faster than my norm (22+ mph).....and then it happened!  Just like a car I ran out of fuel.  My legs literally had no more energy.  At first I was nervous that is was related to MS, but then after they came back for me and I told them what happened, they all asked the same thing.  What did you eat before and what food do you have with you now?  Do you GU? I had nothing with me and kept it light prior to getting out there.  They gave me a banana and some GU. It was amazing how quick I felt the affects.

Since then I started to Rethink my fuel.  Now I pack some GU and start each long work out with a PROBAR.

It's packed with tons of organic whole grains and sustainable energy.  That keeps me going for at least 1 1/2 hours.  Then I make sure I follow the rules of GU, I take one for every 45 minutes of exercise.  So that its!  

Now the only time I crash is when I forget to clip out of my pedals :)  

First day of indoor CycleOps training!

I'm feeling really good today.  No surprise MS issues.  So I spent a nice crisp fall evening training indoors on my CycleOps. 8 months ago I never would have know what the heck a CycleOps was. A mythical creature, a type of hi tech NASA equipment or fancy navigation tool? Nope its the coolest indoor cycling equipment where you lock your actual bike onto it. I popped in the movie CLUE with Tim Curry (I know its a crazy old school 80's flick, but it was awesome) and just hit the pedals.  About an hour later I finished one of the most amazing training sessions ever.  Additionally I learned that Mrs. Peacock killed Mr. Body in the study with the candle stick :) 
So if you are ever looking for a great way to still stay on you bike during the cold weather, an indoor CycleOps trainer is highly recommended.   I have this one http://miniurl.com/60666 its like cycling on glass.  


  

My First Triathlon Season 2010

Its early october here in the north east and I reflect on My First Triathlon Season 2010 and all that I was able to accomplish this past year.  I remember this past february that my friend Carl has suggested that I do a triathlon.  I thought he was crazy!  I had never done any running or could i swim more than 25 yards with out gasping for air.  Plus in my mind someone with Multiple Sclerosis is not usually the endurance sport type.  He explained the distance of Sprint Length Triathlon to me (0.5 mile swim, 12 mile bike, 5k run) and mentioned there was a race 15 minutes from my house in July 2010.  It then sounded very trainable so I signed up that day and freaked out!


As the weeks went by I try to swim and just couldn't figure out how to breath in the water.  I was thrashing like a giant sword fish in the water.  Running was a bit easier.  I have always been able to put one foot in front of the other :)  So I hit the treadmill.  1/2 mile because a full mile.  1 mile became 3 and 4,5....etc.  I signed up for my first 5k or any race for that matter in april.  It was an amazing feeling just crossing the finish line.  That day i went home all sweaty and signup for a bunch more.


It's an amazing sense of accomplishment for anyone, but it was extra special for me living with MS.  I am very involved with local MS societies and often I see people in wheel chairs and with canes.  I know these people may never have this opportunity.  I'm lucky.


So as My First Triathlon Season 2010 comes to a close for me i have the following on the books as complete!  Never say you can't do something!  Just Try it (or just Tri it! :)


2010 Races

- Daffodil Dash 5k April 10 2010 - overall 27:46 pace 8:57

- Westport Minute man www.wywl.com 5k May 2 2010 - overall 27:44 pace 8:52

- Weston Memorial day 5k May 29 2010 overall 26:25 pace 8:30

- Hope In Motion Stamford CT  www.hope-in-motion.org June 6 2010 overall 24:44 pace 7:57

- MS Bike 30 mile June 13 2010 overall 1:55:22

- Bloomin Metric Bike 25 mile www.soundcyclists.com/BloominMetric  June 23 2010 1:38:24

- Fairfield CT 5k www.fairfieldhalf.org/ June 27 2010 overall 25:57 pace 8:22

- MOSSMAN SPRINT TRIATHLON teammossman.com/ July 18 2010 .5 mile swim, 12 mile bike, 5k run 1:33:11

- Niantic Bay CT Triathlon August 8th .5 mile swim, 12 mile bike, 3.5 mile run 1:31:00

- Adventure Triathlon Brigdton Maine 2.5 mile kayak, 14 mile mountain bike, 2 mile trail run 3:31:10


- MS NY Bike Tour 60 miles 4:48:00