Category: Inspiration and Joy

  • The sad tale of my 2009 MS 150 experience

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    Amy
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    This is me, ready to roll. Well, sort of… The good news is that I am at my Weight Watchers goal weight for the first time in more than one year. The bad news is that I didn’t get there the right way, so it likely won’t last. And, of course, how I got there…

  • Not such a good ride for me this year

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    Amy
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    I have a post about Sunday’s MS 150 ride half-written. I am just not in the mood to finish it. I don’t like to admit defeat. I trained. I prepared. I hydrated. And then I rode in the SAG wagon. I (unknowingly) ate unwell the night before and then lost most of it after 26…

  • We’re rolling!

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    Amy
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    Day 2 of the MS 150 is on and my husband and I are riding… Yippee!! I need to be brief as we are leaving our house in a few minutes and I still need to get a few things together. Sorry for no SOAP… I’ll be reading in the car on the way to…

  • I will praise God, even as part of the MS 150 is cancelled

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    Amy
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    Scripture: Psalm 34:1 I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak of his praises. Observation: No matter what, I will always speak great things about the Lord. Application: Today I am a bit down. The first day of the MS 150 has been cancelled due to weather. I realized this is…

  • Day one of MS 150 is cancelled

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    Amy
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    I am so bummed. The weather in Texas is stopping the MS 150 this weekend. Day One, from Houston to La Grange is definitely off.  Day Two, from La Grange to Austin, is still under consideration. I am stunned and sad. And that’s all I have to say right now. I cannot believe it.

  • My mom sent me over the top…

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    Amy
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    Ya gotta love moms. I had set a fundraising goal of $2,000 for this year’s MS 150. Last year I raised more, but I decided to be a bit conservative this year, with the economy the way it is. (Not that MS knows anything about the economy, but I digress.) I’ve been receiving emails from…

  • Seeking advice for cycling in the rain

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    Amy
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    The weather forecast for this weekend doesn’t look so glorious for the MS 150 ride from Houston to Austin. It actually looks quite thunderstorm-y. Yuck Lightening I will not do, but rain I will. I’ve got a few ideas for cycling in the rain like brake early and that sort of thing. I also plan…

  • Getting ready for some hills…

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    Amy
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    This Sunday morning, weather permitting, I plan to be in Bastrop, Texas climbing the hills of two state parks, among my 80 miles of that day’s cycling for the MS 150 ride. (I say weather permitting because the weather forecast looks a little messy right now.) The weekend before Easter I cycled through the parks,…

  • Photos from the Bluebonnet Express

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    Amy
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    When I rode in the Bluebonnet Express, an MS 150 training ride, a few weeks ago I had every intention of blogging about the 80-mile experience. But, well, so many other things came up and I never got around to it. Here is my experience in one word: AWESOME! I prayed for a confidence-boosting ride…

  • Pondering the Easter celebration…

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    Amy
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    Not too long ago I was collecting opinions on the Nintendo DS when a friend suggested that a DS might make a nice Easter present. Easter present? We don’t give our kids Easter gifts. I typically do buy new clothes for the kids for Easter Sunday and the Easter Bunny does fill baskets with candy…

  • Carbohydrate Power Smoothie

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    Amy
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    A few friends have asked what type of smoothie I drink before a long ride. I found this one in The Ultimate Smoothie Book and modified by adding ice.  It has 31.1g carbohydrates and I love it! I usually drink it with peanut butter and banana toast and also lots of water on my way…

  • Another request for MS 150 support

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    Amy
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    This is a letter I just sent to many of my ‘real-life’ friends. I do want/ need/ desire for you to consider supporting me through prayer. I do NOT want any of my cyber-friends (or anyone, for that matter) to feel obligated to contribute financially. That being said, please read on… I finally have pedaled…

  • My kids LOVE to clear the table

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    Amy
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    At the end of almost every family meal around our table, our kids can’t wait to clear the table and they giggle through almost all of it. How is it so much fun? Is our house really that cool? Well, let’s just say I have a clever (and fun ) husband. My husband has made…

  • 80 mile cycling menu

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    Amy
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    I was just packing my snacks for the 80 mile bicycle ride tomorrow and it occurred to me that my menu might make for some interesting reading. I know when I was first learning about distance cycling I was very curious as to what I should eat. The ride tomorrow will be an excellent training…

  • Too slow at 15.8 mph?

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    Amy
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    Last Friday I was able to ride with a dear MS 150 training buddy from last year. She went back to work, so it’s been a challenge for us to find ride time together. I knew she would be off work last week, so I arranged a sitter Friday morning and met her where a…