Wow, what a great and logistically challenging weekend! After months of training on the bicycle the MS 150 is finally here and gone. 2 days, 160 miles ridden, over 7000 calories burned, gallons of water and Gatoraid consumed, hundreds of dollars for Multiple Sclerosis raised.... It all began Friday evening, driving to the Day 1 finish line in New Braunfels to park Jennifer's truck so we will have a way home upon arrival the next afternoon, then driving back to San Antonio to get our bikes and gear ready. Saturday morning we pack everything into Betty's truck and drive over to the Alamo-Dome for the start of the ride. 
The crowd was buzzing with anticipation and at 8:30am after the line-up was announced and the National Anthem was sung, we were off! Day 1 was a very good ride. The weather was absolutely beautiful. The pace was great and everyone was very friendly(of course because cyclists are among the nicest people in the world, they just want to have a good ride and then maybe drink a couple beers after.... must be all those released Endorphins or something). We stopped at about every third water-stop just to relax a minute, replenish our supplies and socialize, then it was back on the bikes and before you knew it we reached the rest-stop at mile 70 and had a decision to make.... finish up the day by going to the left were the finish line was a mere 2 miles away.... or go to the right and tack on a 30 mile loop to put us in this years Century-club for riding 100 miles in the first day. Obviously it wasn't much of a choice because we are weird-O's and like to punish ourselves and besides what's an extra 30 miles between friends? After 100 miles of Day 1 were finished and I had my Century patch in my pocket all I wanted was food and a tall cold beer. 
The crowd was buzzing with anticipation and at 8:30am after the line-up was announced and the National Anthem was sung, we were off! Day 1 was a very good ride. The weather was absolutely beautiful. The pace was great and everyone was very friendly(of course because cyclists are among the nicest people in the world, they just want to have a good ride and then maybe drink a couple beers after.... must be all those released Endorphins or something). We stopped at about every third water-stop just to relax a minute, replenish our supplies and socialize, then it was back on the bikes and before you knew it we reached the rest-stop at mile 70 and had a decision to make.... finish up the day by going to the left were the finish line was a mere 2 miles away.... or go to the right and tack on a 30 mile loop to put us in this years Century-club for riding 100 miles in the first day. Obviously it wasn't much of a choice because we are weird-O's and like to punish ourselves and besides what's an extra 30 miles between friends? After 100 miles of Day 1 were finished and I had my Century patch in my pocket all I wanted was food and a tall cold beer. 
t another 20 miles together but when there was less than 10 miles to go i switched from this 'really hurts' mode to 'I don't care if this hurts I'm going to finish this ride' mode and we powered through. We even skipped the last rest stop just to get it done! Then BANG! We were done, we rode our bikes triumphantly into the Alamo-dome like a band of conquering heroes, received our MS150 pins and complimentary hamburger and potato salad lunch, changed clothes and drove Betty's truck BACK to New Braunfels to pick up Jennifer's truck and then drove BACK to San Antonio where it all started just two short days before. Whew, I'm tired just thinking about it. Next up, San Antonio Marathon....32 days and counting.
I'll say it again, you guys are hardcore! It looks like you had tons of fun. I can't wait to see every ones calves at Christmas haha!
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