Bike MS NYC

So I had this entire post written out about my experience today doing the 30 mile route of the Bike MS NYC tour and when I added the photos my computer froze.

I don't have the energy to retype it so I'm just going to show you photos and tell you that I'm insanely proud of what I was able to accomplish with this ride.

I was able to keep my speed at an almost consistant 13 mph the whole ride and I met and beat my goal of pedaling up over 1 hill. I did 5 hills! I also said I was going to finish the ride by 11:00am and I rolled across the finish line at 11:10am.

I'm currently exhausted and that was the hardest I've ever pushed my body but I feel so good!

This is me getting ready to go at 4:00am.

This is the mileage I logged riding from my mom's place to the start line.

I initially went and stood by the marshals area thinking it was the start line. I finally turned around and saw that I was not where I was supposed to be and walked over to the start chutes.

Here are the starting chutes. The photos are blurry and I have zero idea why.

Took a photo of Bison

Skipped the breakfast out of the back of a truck.

The USS Intrepid

The Start

I zeroed out the pedometer so I could see my miles as I rode them.

My timing was perfect. I was one of the first folks to cross the start line.

Those folks are members of the 200 club. They have all raised a crazy amount of money for The MS Society. One of the perks is you get to be first out of the chute.

A very nice lady volunteered to take my photo. The second one I look like I'm in pain in but you can see the orange start line and how close I am to the front.

Some Teen beauty queen singing the National Anthem

Video of the teen queen singing

My feet which were completely and totaly numb. I couldn't feel them at all. It was cold this morning!

And we were off!

Mile 1 down! My legs were burning so badly at this stage I had no idea how I was going to finish.

Despite my early start at the head of the pack and my decent speed of about 13 mph people were blowing by me as though I wasn't even moving!

Frustrated at the way my legs were hurting and annoyed at people moving faster than me.

Into the Battery Park Underpass. I knew there was a rather large hill on the other side of this tunnel and I was nervous about it.

My legs that were not at all cooperating with the task at hand.

In the Underpass.

The hill. I won't lie. I was walking the bike at this point.

The FDR Drive

Apparently I lose the ability to smile when I'm on my bike.

All of these shots of my bike basket are to show you all milege and speed. Click them to enlarge.

 This was a very very evil hill. It's 218th Street in Manhattan.

 An equally looking evil hill.

 At the bottom of the evil hill was the rest stop.

The following photos were taken with my IPhone after my camera battery died.

I somehow hit the pedometer and reset it. I know I was at mile 23.

 The milage as I crossed the finish line. Add the 23 that came before it to this. 30 miles!

Back at my mom's place putting Bison away. I rode a total of 38 miles today!